Florida's United States History End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment performance outcomes are scheduled to impact student course grades, educator evaluation scores, and school grades. A professional learning plan to improve teaching and learning in support of student achievement on the Assessment does not exist. Neither Florida Statute nor the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) facilitate or fund professional learning in support of these influences. This dissertation in practice proposes the use of the U.S. History EOC Assessment Professional Learning Series to build educator capacity in support of student achievement on the Assessment. Implementation of professional learning could address the disparity between the legislated Assessment and its potential impacts. Tyler's (1949) curriculum development rationale and Shulman's (1986) notion of pedagogical content knowledge provided a conceptual framework for the proposed professional learning. Professional learning experiences were designed to include (1) an assessment simulation, (2) a correlation of simulated assessment items to item specifications, (3) a test item writing practicum, and (4) model lessons. The series was designed to support pedagogical content knowledge growth in planning, teaching, and assessing United States History; and improve instructional and professional efficacy. The ultimate purpose of the series is to improve teaching and learning to support student achievement on U.S. History EOC Assessment.

This study investigated the impact of a media literacy education plan on the reading test scores of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) at an urban high school in Central Florida. A team of 9th and 10th grade teachers created a professional learning community and developed a treatment to enhance language arts instruction with various forms of media. This media literacy education plan included four lessons utilizing media such as television commercials, magazine photographs and the Internet; the lessons were taught during the four months leading to the administration of the 2007 FCAT. Data were gathered from the 2006 and 2007 FCAT scores of students in a control and treatment group. Using these pre test and post test data, statistical analysis comprised two independent t-tests and one repeated measures ANOVA. The data revealed statistical significance at the 9th and 10th grade level, but did not show statistical significance at any particular reading level (Levels 1-5). Implications from this study included strong professional learning communities produce effective teachers and that student achievement increases when a media literacy education plan is included in English Language Arts instruction. Furthermore, this study illustrates the need to embrace modern media as viable classroom instructional tools. Recommendations were made for further research utilizing different materials, different forms of media, different student populations. This study also concluded that further qualitative research be conducted. Ultimately, this study makes a strong argument for the inclusion of media and media literacy education in the secondary English Language Arts classroom.

The focus of this research was to examine the professional learning of school instructional and administrative staff as they focused on the elements of becoming a professional learning community. Existing research examined the components and behaviors collectively or independently. This research describes the relational data between the critical elements of focus, the leader, teams, and individual teacher as related to student achievement. It was determined through the literature review and results of this study that there were constructs of professional learning communities that were related to student achievement. In particular, a statistically significant relationship between proficiency in reading and teacher reflection was found. Additional behaviors of teachers and leaders were discussed in relation to increased student achievement. Suggested uses for the study included the consideration of practices by leaders in creating professional learning communities that support student achievement. An additional suggestion was the utilization of reflective practice and action research as means for increased student achievement.

Many schools advocate for addressing the diverse needs of students through a multi-tiered model of prevention and intervention known as the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. This framework often incorporates the use of universal screening to obtain data concerning students' academic and/or social-emotional and behavioral needs. School teams are expected to design and implement tiered strategies in response to data concerning students' social-emotional needs; this can be a challenging facet of MTSS. To aid in this endeavor, this qualitative study elicited school psychologists' recommendations for (a) tiered interventions that target secondary students' social-emotional competency needs and (b) professional learning opportunities that may be helpful in responding to the data from a district-designed social-emotional competency survey. Participants included 15 school psychologists from a school district in a northwestern state in the United States. Two focus groups were conducted using a video conferencing online platform. Focus group transcripts were used to identify emergent themes that were relevant to the purpose of the research. Four primary themes were identified as being important in designing, implementing, and meeting secondary students' social-emotional competency needs: (a) instruction, practice, and reinforcement in each social-emotional skill; (b) the building of staff-student and student-student relationships; (c) staff efforts being consistent, integrated, simple, and unified; and (d) adaptation of fundamental interventions by tier and social-emotional skill. To date, it is believed that school psychologists' ideas concerning tiered social-emotional interventions in response to data are not a part of the extant literature. The findings of this study build upon the current literature concerning the importance of collaboration, prioritization, alignment, explicit instruction, and professional learning opportunities in addressing students' social-emotional needs, suggesting that school psychologists are familiar with and apply current, verifiable research to their practice. The results of this study can aid school and district teams in designing, implementing, and meeting secondary students' social-emotional competency needs.

Läroplanen för grundskolan, förskoleklassen och fritidshemmet (Lgr 22) ger ett tydligt uppdrag till alla verksamma lärare att ta ansvar för skolans utveckling. Tidigare forskning visar hur olika förändringsprocesser kan förstås, där finns även beskrivet vilka faktorer som gynnar ett utvecklingsarbete och vad som leder till varaktig förändring och därmed även påverkar elevers måluppfyllelse i positiv riktning. Syftet med föreliggande arbete är att tydliggöra hur lärare beskriver det utvecklingsarbete som pågår i skolan och hur de ser på sin egen och andras roll i detta arbete. Syftet är även att diskutera dessa beskrivningar för att närma sig en förståelse. För att uppnå detta syfte har en kvalitativ metodansats valts. Studiens empiriska material består av intervjuer med sex stycken lärare, som är verksamma på tre olika skolor. För att förstå såväl lärarnas beskrivning av det skolutvecklingsarbetet som de deltar i, som hur de ser på sin egen och andras roll i detta arbete, har en teoretisk analysmodell använts, vilken har utarbetats av Shulman och Shulman. Modellen beskriver de olika delar, i modellen så kallade kapital, som behövs för att ett skolutvecklingsarbete ska ha förutsättningar att lyckas. Slutsatser som kan dras är att mycket av det som återfinns i lärarnas beskrivningar skolutvecklingsarbete, bekräftar tidigare forskning, framför allt de beskrivningar som handlar om vilka faktorer som påverkar utvecklingsarbetets utfall. I lärarnas beskrivningar framträder tre olika roller, som deltar i skolornas utvecklingsarbete, det är lärarna, rektor och förstelärare. Ytterligare slutsatser som kan dras är att var och en av dessa roller, var och en på sitt vis, bidrar till att skapa innehåll och förutsättningar för de olika kapitalen, som finns beskrivna i Shulman och Shulmans analysmodell. Skolutveckling och lärares lärande hänger inte på enskilda individer, utan lärare ingår i ett större sammanhang, en organisation som påverkar, men också påverkas av de individer som finns inom organisationen.

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between teacher self-efficacy (TSES) score and observable teacher instructional behaviors (CSAS) score and student academic achievement (SOL) score. This study addressed the following question: What is the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and teacher behavior and student academic achievement? More specifically, the researcher studied the relationship between teacher self-efficacy score and observable teacher instructional behaviors score, teacher self-efficacy scores and student academic performance score, and observable teacher instructional behaviors score and student academic performance score. Research on implications that TSE has on teacher behaviors adds to a relatively limited literature base that holds possibilities for leaders to elicit positive school change through improved instructional practices and higher student achievement. To establish whether there was a relationship between TSE and observable teacher instructional behaviors, TSE and student academic achievement and observable teacher instructional behaviors and student academic achievement, this study used a quantitative analysis method that utilizes a simple linear regression model. The simple linear regression model isolated observable teacher behavior in model 1 and student academic achievement in model 2 and model 3 as the dependent variable. Control variables included limiting the study to 20 teachers who teach core curriculum subjects in grades 6-12 that also have an end of course Virginia Standards of Learning assessment (SOL). The researcher identified regression relationships and their statistical significance and interpreted results to reach a conclusion that addressed each research question. The researcher highlighted potential relationships between teacher self-efficacy and student achievement, teacher self-efficacy and observable teacher instructional behaviors and observable teacher instructional behaviors and student achievement. This included a finding that the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and student achievement for the participants in this study was significant and positively correlated. The model indicated that TSE explained 42.1% of variations in student SOL scores. The regression relationship between TSE and student SOL scores revealed a positive correlation since the standardized coefficient was 0.463 > 0. That is as the teacher's self-efficacy score increased then the student SOL scores improved. Implications for practitioners included principals considering professional development opportunities that support increased teacher self-efficacy and promote stronger student engagement in the learning process and identifying non-instructional behaviors that teachers engage in that might negatively impact student achievement. Recommendations for future investigation were also suggested by the researcher and included expanding the study to increase the number of participants. Increasing the number of participants would allow for an increase in the total number of TSES scores, CSAS scores, and student achievement scores. / Doctor of Education / This study examined the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and observable teacher instructional behaviors and student academic achievement scores. The study included 10 secondary teachers who taught a core curriculum course to students in grades 6-12 that also included an end of course Virginia SOL test for students. All of the participants in this study were from the same medium-sized school district in Virginia. The data analysis in this study determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between teacher self-efficacy and student achievement. Data analysis also determined a positive relationship between teacher self-efficacy and student achievement indicating that as the teacher's self-efficacy score increased the student achievement scores improved. The study described the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and observable teacher instructional behaviors for the participants in this study indicating TSE explained some of the variance in teacher instructional behaviors. The relationship between the variables was not statistically significant but they were positively correlated. That is, as the teacher's self-efficacy increased then the frequency of the teacher's observable instructional behaviors during the teaching process also increased. The researcher determined that the relationship between teacher instructional behaviors and student achievement (SOL scores) for the participants in this study was not statistically significant. The model supported that teacher instructional behaviors explained a small amount of the variance in student achievement.

Thesis advisor: Martin Scanlan / Thesis advisor: Nathaniel Brown / The COVID-19 global pandemic has had major implications on the work educational leaders do on a daily basis, including frequently attending to health and well-being matters as well as operations in order to ensure the safety of all community members. At the same time, school leaders are tasked with maintaining a focus on instructional leadership to close opportunity gaps that may have been exasperated due to the pandemic. One way to increase sustained improvement efforts is to maximize the impact of Middle-level Instructional Leaders (MILs) within the district. Yet, research on MILs is grim and rarely attends to cultivation of learning for these varying roles. In order to address this gap in research, the purpose of this study is to understand how MILs pursue and make sense of instructional leadership during a time of crisis. Through an analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews, two observations and a document review, this qualitative case study presents the perspectives of MILs within a single district, capturing a description of two Communities of Practice (CoPs): District MILs and school-based MILs. Findings indicate that MILs’ individual investment on vision and goals can supersede that of hierarchical accountability structures. In addition, the social-emotional well-being of students and teachers was an emergent and conflicting priority with instructional leadership. Workplace experiences and collaborative, experiential practices are amongst the exemplary practices that develop the capacity of MILs. However, limited enrollment capacity, lack of frequency of experiences, and ambiguous role expectations hinder the ability to develop the practice of MILs. These findings have implications for how to best maximize MILs to pursue instructional leadership, and identify additional areas to consider for future research. / Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Student behavior and classroom management are consistently identified as top reasons teachers leave the profession. A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in a suburban school district in north Texas to identify how teachers perceive the deficits in their classroom management knowledge and to provide school leaders with data to guide plans for professional learning about effective classroom management strategies. Findings are based on both teachers' and principals' perceptions of supports that are needed or provided. Nine teachers (three elementary, three middle, and three high school) and six administrators (two elementary, two middle, and two high school) were interviewed using semi-structured interview protocols. Data were analyzed using seven a priori codes from which themes were developed. The findings showed that teachers generally do not feel well-prepared to address student behavior and classroom management. Emerged themes from both teacher and principal interviews identified deficits in professional learning received from their teacher preparation program, campus leaders, and district leaders. The top reasons why teachers struggled with student behavior and classroom management were: (a) application of learning, (b) deficits in support, (c) deficits in training, (d) physical and emotional toll, and (e) student deficits in social skill development. To help teachers feel better prepared to address student behavior and classroom management, they need: (a) to spend time with a first-and second-year teacher cohort, (b) be part of a campus with a growth mindset culture, (c) increased campus administrator support, (d) increased coaching support, (d) increased district administrator support, (e) revamped teacher preparation programs with relevant learning, and (f) differentiated, targeted professional learning.

The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative research study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of school administrators’ support of collaborative planning in small rural schools. Although there has been much research conducted on teacher collaboration through Professional Learning Communities, there has been little documentation of teacher collaboration in small rural schools (DuFour et al., 2020; Hansen, 2015; Moore, 2018). This research study examined teachers’ perceptions of collaboration and the role that school administrators play in the work to establish, support, and maintain collaborative teaming structures. Data collection strategies included individual interviews of practicing teachers, serving in small rural schools. Analysis of data occurred in three phases: transcribing interviews, line-by-line coding, and member checking. Analysis of the data revealed the following themes that highlight the need for school administrators to (a) establish teaming structures, (b) provide needed resources, and (c) create a culture of collaboration. Recommendations are provided for school administrators’ practice of supporting professional collaboration and suggestions for future research are provided.

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of teacher professional development on student achievement measured by scores on curriculum-based assessments, CBAs. The participants in the study included 260 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade math and science teachers. Teacher participation in professional development courses was collected for curriculum, instruction, differentiation, assessment, technology integration, and continuous improvement credit types. Achievement data for 8,454 students was used: 2,883 in 3rd grade, 2,752 in 4th grade, and 2,819 in 5th grade. The dependent variable of student achievement was dichotomized at the median: half of the student participants scored above the median and half of the students scored at and below the median. A series of logistic regression models were fit to the data that included examining all main effects and interaction terms among all variables to determine the best fitting model. The results of this study indicate that for 4th grade science, teacher professional development participation in curriculum, instruction, and differentiation credit strands increased the chances for students to score above the district median on CBAs. The larger number of professional development hours in a variety of credit strands had a negative impact on student achievement in 4th grade science. In 5th grade science, the students whose teacher spent more hours in professional learning for continuous improvement had an increased likelihood of scoring above the district median on CBAs.