Online professional development (online PD), the acquisition of new skills and knowledge related to the teaching profession via the Internet, is an emerging field for teachers. This mixedmethods research explored the impact of an online PD program on high school teachers’ selfefficacy levels, classroom instruction, and the role that school culture played on teachers accepting or rejecting the online PD. Within a social cognitive theory lens, this study helped frame teacher attitudes and adult learning in the context of school culture. Phase 1 of this study used quantitative data from two surveys called PRE and POST, which were taken before and after the online PD program, respectively. Qualitative data were collected in Phase 2, using the International Society for Technology in Education Classroom Observation Tool (ICOT), participants’ journal reflections, and interviews. Findings indicated statistically significant changes in self-efficacy levels for eight of the 21 survey items and minimal changes in technology use during instruction. Furthermore, various aspects of school culture independently affected teachers’ inclination to accept or reject the online PD. Findings supported the concept of designing personalized professional development programs tailored to the individual’s specific learning styles, attitudes, and experiences of school culture.

Teacher attrition compromises efforts to provide a quality teacher in every classroom, and attrition brings high financial and organizational costs to school districts. Yet, there are few studies on retention of veteran teachers. Within a framework of economic, organization, and attrition theories, the purpose of this study was to provide a clearer focus on factors that contribute to the retention of veteran teachers using Q-methodology. The independent variables were 49 participants from a large school district in the southwest United States. The dependent variable was the Q-sample of multiple factors. Using previous literature, a concourse was developed. The P-sample of veteran teachers sorted various retention perception statements into categories of most definitely influencing to most definitely not influencing their retention. Factor analysis including varimax rotation was completed. Four factors emerged defining groups of teachers and what influences retention: empowerment with emotional support, family lifestyle with intellectual growth, family lifestyle with serving students, serving students with physical support. Interfactor retention elements that positively or negatively affected retention included standardized testing, time challenges, administrator, empowerment, family lifestyle, serving students, adequate facilities and materials, and intellectual enjoyment. Recommendations for action included modifying standardized testing; providing supports for time, family lifestyle, and disadvantaged students; encouraging empowerment through a supportive administrator; and implementing further research clarifying veteran teacher retention. Positive social change may occur if local, district, state, and national policies address retention factors to provide better retention of teachers for increased stability and student learning with decreased financial and emotional costs.

This study of non-attendance of the pupils in the city schools of Biloxi, Mississippi, was undertaken to ascertain the reasons for their absence and to determine, if possible, the remedies to be applied.

This study sought to determine the current status of the nuclear armament/disarmament issue as a topic for the moral decision-making model in secondary social studies curriculums and to establish guidelines for its inclusion in future lessons. A review of the relevant literature provided the basis for a questionnaire mailed to four hundred, randomly selected social studies department chairpersons. Their attitudes regarding the legitimacy of the topic and methods employed in instructional lessons were addressed. Survey results were categorized according to respondents' incorporation of the topic into their curriculum and whether they taught in public or private institutions. A majority of the respondents indicated they taught lessons regarding nuclear disarmament and employed at least a portion of the commonly accepted steps of the decision-making model. The related literature and questionnaire results suggested certain recommendations for the development of effective units of instruction in this area.

This case study describes one professional development approach to support technology integration at all public schools in one large county in central Virginia. Using data obtained from daily time logs, the frequency of Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) use by classroom teachers was analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to describe overall percentage of ITRT use, the various types of professional development requested by teachers, the consistency of those activities over time, and if the frequencies of activities varied as a function of school level, Title I status at the elementary level, or subject area taught by teachers at the secondary level. Qualitative data was collected via focus group interviews of the involved ITRTs, and an exploratory attempt to understand the reasons behind their use was made. Data indicated that ITRTs were used 52% of the time offered with 5% variation over 3 years. Across school levels, ITRT time was used more at the secondary level and use varied no more than 9% over time. Google Apps for Education and web-based programs represented 73% of the training requests. Over time, fluctuations in the number of requests for assistance with different applications were explained by contextual factors. Elementary schools classified as Title I accounted for 23% of the total time elementary ITRTs were used. At the secondary level, teachers of science and language arts requested ITRT assistance more often. ITRTs made sense of these results by identifying first order barriers as more influential than second order barriers. Of these, access barriers were the most frequently cited barrier by the ITRTs followed by subject culture, institution, assessment, attitude and beliefs, and knowledge and skills. Elementary ITRTs cited more instances of barriers than secondary. Recommendations for practice and future research were made.

While traditionally underrepresented groups are attaining degrees at a higher rate than ever before, these students still receive bachelor’s degrees at significantly lower rates than other groups of students (Avery & Kane, 2004; Wilds, 2000). As a result of the educational attainment gap in the United States, precollege outreach programs have been established to provide resources for underrepresented youth to aid them in completing a post-secondary degree. Current research focuses on these participants’ college enrollment and, as a result, minimal information is available to describe these programs and their outcomes concerning students’ first year experience and college success (Hooker & Brand, 2009; Orr et al., 2007; Swail & Perna, 2002; Yeung, 2010). Framed around resiliency theory, this phenomenological study exams college access program alumni’s acclimation process into a four-year, post-secondary institution. Through the data analysis, four essentials features emerged: 1) Program Connections as External Factors, 2) Connections as External Factors in the College Setting, 3) Determination, Self-Advocacy and Willingness to Try New Things as Internal Protective Factors, and 4) Nurturing College Knowledge. Recommendations are shared to further the program in being a degree attainment intervention, in addition to a college access strategy. These include: providing development to educators in behavior management and inclusion, integrating parent involvement throughout the curriculum, providing continual support to alumni and establishing stronger partnerships with surrounding colleges. As a result of this study, leaders in secondary and post-secondary education as well as policymakers are able to gain insight on how Upward Bound services in Louisiana can nurture external and internal protective factors of resiliency that assist participants in embracing constructive responses to stressors in the first year of college.

The purpose of this study was to determine the beliefs of Tennessee principals and teachers in relation to national standards and national goals. This was a descriptive study, which utilized a survey methodology. The population under study was limited to 232 principals and 268 teachers randomly selected from the 1992-1993 membership of the Tennessee Education Association. The instrument, developed by the researcher for this study, was the National Standards/National Goals Questionnaire. The 32 item instrument was designed to determine the level of belief of national goals and national standards. Descriptive statements were used to analyze the data gathered from the 32 position statements, with the t-test for independent groups and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). When the overall F-test was significant, a Student-Newman Keuls Post-Hoc Multiple Comparisons Test was used to identify pairwise differences. The descriptive analysis of the 11 null hypotheses warranted the following conclusions: (1) The key to the success of the national standards/national goals program lies within the hands of the local community. (2) National goals will enforce the idea that Tennessee students can learn as well and as much as any student in the world. (3) National goals would cause school curricula to be redesigned. (4) The school system's goals must be in line with national goals. (5) Educators have a high level of commitment to national standards and national goals. (6) National standards would have a positive influence on the quality of public education. (7) National standards would enhance instructional improvement. (8) National standards would not decrease paperwork for educators. (9) National standards would offer a vision of excellence and raise the expectations of all children. (10) By the year 2000, schools would not be free of drugs and violence and offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning.

The purpose of this study is to reveal what technological skills are inquired about by superintendents/directors of schools in the state of Tennessee when hiring high school principals. The study further reveals perceptions that superintendents/directors of schools have for the desirability of high school principals to possess technological skills and their perceptions of how capable current high school principals are for possessing those skills. The study was based on a total population of 139 school superintendents in the state of Tennessee. Surveys were mailed in early Nov, 1995. One hundred-two surveys were completed and returned. Findings were divided into two categories, the results of the testing conducted for the research questions and the results of the hypothesis testing. The findings revealed that more than half of the superintendents/directors of schools in the state of Tennessee had hiring procedures that inquired about technological skills. The ability to budget technology was not a skill that most superintendents/directors of schools inquired about. More than three-fourths of the superintendents/directors of schools desired high school principals to possess technological skills. Fewer than one-fourth of the superintendents/directors of schools perceived current high school principals to have much knowledge and experience with technology. Significant differences were found in hiring procedures and perceptions of the technological abilities of current high school principals. The significant differences were between appointed and elected superintendents/directors of schools, superintendents/directors of schools with different degrees of education, and superintendents/directors of schools employed at school systems with different levels of per pupil expenditure. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were suggested: (1) superintendents/directors of schools should evaluate hiring procedures to assure there is inquiry into the technological abilities of candidates seeking high school principalships, (2) training for technological skills should be provided for students studying school administration, current high school principals, and superintendents/directors of schools, and (3) better communication channels should be established between administrators concerning technology, rules and regulations concerning technology, and incentives to encourage the development of technology.

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of Machiavellian attitudes acknowledged by secondary school principals as measured by the Mach V Attitude Inventory Scale. The data were collected from an ex post facto survey of 169 public and nonpublic secondary school principals, grades 9-12. Principals completed the Mach V scale and a 13-item demographic survey. Sixteen research questions were formulated to examine the relationship among the variables which produced seventeen null hypotheses. Of the seventeen null hypotheses, four were found to be significant and thirteen were nonsignificant. A review of the descriptive data indicated that the majority of Tennessee secondary school principals acknowledge low-Machiavellian attitudes. In addition, the data indicated that the gender of the principals reflected a significant difference in Machiavellian attitude. Significant differences were found in the subgroups of views, morality, and tactics based on their total Machiavellian score. The descriptive data were generated by using a frequency distribution, t-tests for independent means, and one-way analysis of variance. The following conclusions of the study are offered: (1) Principals acknowledge that they possess low-Machiavellian attitudes. (2) The findings of this study are parallel with those of Christie and Geis who found that educators tend to be low-Machiavellian. (3) Female principals are more Machiavellian than male principals. (4) leadership at exemplary secondary schools is not provided by high-Machiavellian principals. (5) On the basis of the demographic information, a typical secondary school principal is defined as follows: a male Caucasian who has served 1 to 7 years as a public school principal and has 24 to 31 years of educational experience and who is satisfied with his position, serves an appointed superintendent, and desires to remain in his position as principal. (6) Based on the high rate of return and the even distribution of responses from the three areas of East, Middle, and West Tennessee, the results of the survey are descriptive of all secondary school principals. In addition, the even distribution and rate of return indicate that principals are interested in responding to research studies involving leadership attitudes. (7) Low-Machiavellian principals are serving superintendents who were appointed. (8) The subscores of views, morality, and tactics reflect a level of Machiavellian attitudes similar to the total Machiavellian scores of Tennessee secondary school principals, indicating that the Mach V Attitude Inventory Scale is a valid instrument for measuring Machiavellian attitudes.

A descriptive study was conducted to identify teachers' and principals' perceptions of school climate in four stages of a change to block scheduling: Initiation, the first year of Implementation, the second year of Implementation, and the third year of Implementation or Institutionalization. Data were collected from 442 teachers and principals in nine high schools in the First Tennessee Regional District in a stratified purposeful random sample using the Organizational Health Index (OHI), a 44-item survey, and a demographic information sheet. The survey has seven dimensions: Institutional Integrity, Initiating Structure, Consideration, Principal Influence, Resource Support, Morale, and Academic Support. These dimensions and the Total Climate scores were analyzed in the four stages of the change process. Demographic variables included gender, job title, age, level of education, years of experience, and subject assignment. The data were analyzed with a t-test or an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences between and within groups, and a post-hoc test determined specific significant groups. There were no significant differences found in Total Climate scores or the Consideration dimension. There were also no significant differences in perceptions based on gender or education. There were significant differences found in all other dimensions and demographic variables. Block scheduling was found to have no effect to some positive effect on student learning and the way teachers teach. Block scheduling was not found to negatively affect school climate, and there is a need for continual professional development at each stage of the change process to address concerns revealed in this study.