Teacher Leadership prepares teachers with Level 6 certification for "providing professional development, building a school culture of continuous improvement and becoming change agents while maintaining the role of classroom teacher" (GaPSC Guidance for Educators, May 9, 2012). Graduates of this performance-based program will be teacher leaders who plan and lead professional development; who mentor and coach other teachers; who align curriculum, instruction, and assessment; who model best teaching practices; who analyze data and improve learning through data-informed decision-making; who apply research-based approaches to instructional challenges; and who collaborate with all stakeholders to improve student learning.
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Dissertations from 2025
Roses and Concrete: Black Teachers' Roles and Challenges in Marginalized Communities, Alyse N. Barry
What Is Your Why? An Exploration of Why Teachers Remain in the Professsion at an Urban Elementary School in the South., Malikah Bennett
The Impact of Focused Specific Phonemic Awareness Instruction on English Language Learners in the Kindergarten Classroom, Bethany Brewer
An Endangered Profession: Elevating the Lived Experiences of Current and Retired Black Teachers in Georgia to Confront Retention Challenges and Reimagine the Legacy of Teaching, Thelma Sharese Colbert
The Role of Teacher Leaders in Sustaining School Culture During Principal Transitions: A Case Study, Leah Curtright
Peer Mentoring and Teacher Collaboration: A Case Study of Practices and Self-Efficacy in a Rural Title I School, Whitney Ensley
Exploring the Impact of Leadership Styles on Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Comparative Case Study of Rural and Suburban High Schools, Stephanie Hill
Teacher Leadership in Social Studies: The Search for Meaning and Identity, Zachary F. Lawson
What Does It Mean To Be a Mentor? Perceptions of Mentor Teachers in a Mentoring Program, Karen M. Powell
Using iReady to Support Math Intervention After the COVID-19 Pandemic, Marvin Prather
Using the Time We Have: Exploring Collaborative Instructional Planning for 8th Grade Georgia Studies in a Title I School, Bambara Timmerman
Exploring Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions, Understanding, and Implementation of Performance-Based Summative Assessments, Gregory A. Walkup
Examining Rural High School Students’ Perceptions Toward and Experiences With the Reading Plus Intervention Program: A Qualitative Case Study, DeShonda Wolfe
Dissertations from 2024
The Value of Mentorship for Black Ballerinas, Anna Dunn
Examining Novice Teacher’s Perspectives on Mentoring Programs and their Influence on Attrition, Lakeisha Ector
Business Students’ Perceptions of the Influence of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) on Career Readiness and Graduation Outcomes, Spencer T. Fortson Jr
Teachers’ Perceptions of the Impact of iReady on Student Reading Achievement for Students in Response to Intervention, Althia Gates
The Perception of the Implementation of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Support Black Male Students in Mathematics – A Case Study, Chiquita Granville
Perceptions of the Differing Preparatory Needs of Teacher Leaders and Educational Leaders, Kimberly Green
The Impact Establishing a Focus on Learning Through PLCs has on Student Growth in Elementary Mathematics, Heather Hodge
Beyond the Classroom Walls: Examining Educational and Social Outcomes of Cross-Curricular Peer Observation in Secondary Schools, Jacinda Miller
Integration of Art Tools in Calming Corners in Various Content Areas at the Secondary Level, Kathleen Petka
Teacher Perceptions of Calming Corners in Language Arts Middle School Classrooms, Freya Sneed
Teacher Initiated Collaboration in Community: A Case Study Considering Communities of Practice at a Title I Middle School, Katherine Stewart
Thinking Outside the Box: Exploring the Instructional Conversations Model Beyond English Language Learners into Gifted Learners, Terri Thornton
The Causes of Teacher Burnout and Its Impact on the Personal Lives of Teachers, Neisha Williams
Teachers' Perceptions of Technology Professional Development and Implementation in an Urban Middle School: A Case Study, Valeria Williams
Dissertations from 2023
“We’re All Teachers Here!”: The Role Peer Relationships Play in Teacher Leaders’ Influence in Schools, Tamara Bodrick
Student Engagement in Junior High World Languages Classes, John Brittain
The Relationship Between Teacher Burnout and Physical Activity Among High School Teachers, Jonathan Davis
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in High School Science: Assessing the Implementation in Title 1 Classrooms, Micah Ducre
Exploring High School Students’ Perceptions of the Influence of Fine Arts Education on Academic Achievement, Samantha Fields
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING?, Charlotte Lester
Identifying Teacher Perceptions of Teaching At-Promise Students Online in an Alternative School, LaNadia Pugh
Classroom Teachers: Why the Mass Exodus?, MaryBeth Sanders
Teachers' Perceptions of an Inclusive STEM High School, Carlon Scholz
Powerful Partnerships: Examining Home-School Engagement in the Virtual Setting, Joshua Scott-Pineda
Dissertations from 2022
Teachers’ Burnout Experience in a Title I Suburban Elementary School, Shakoiya Aiken
Service Learning- It’s Elementary! Teacher initiated service learning at an independent school, Kate Burton
Perceptions of School Through the Lens of Black Male Elementary Students: A School Climate Study, Erica Peek
Exploring the Effects of Teachers' Motivation to Read on Students' Motivation to Read, Clarice K. Shuman
Teacher Perceptions of Collaborative Practices in a Rural High School Setting: Case Study, Leah Slimp
Dissertations from 2021
Examining Teachers’ Practices and Perspectives of Family Engagement in a Rural High School Setting, MEREDITH GULLEDGE
Hospital Home-Bound Education: Are Teachers Prepared to Implement Transition Plans Post-Hospitalization for Student Success?, Katherine Kimbro-Vincent
Cultivating Culturally Responsive Elementary Teachers in a Suburban Title I School, Angela L. Mack
Dissertations from 2020
Exploring the Perceptions of the Effectiveness of PLCs by Teachers in a Rural Middle/High School, Erin Beasley
The Twilight Program: A Phenomenographic Study, Chanda Crawley
Student Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions Toward Online Collaborative Tools: A Case Study, Jeremy Easley
Family Perceptions of Family Engagement: A Qualitative Study to Assist Stakeholders, Candis Ervin
Evidence-Based Instructional Practices for Teachers of Children With Rett Syndrome – A Case Study, Todd Geren
Are Teachers’ Formative Assessment Practices Reliable Indicators of Students’ Mastery of Standards?, Olivia Hall
The Use of E-books, Computers, and Tablets To Enhance Reading Skills, Nicole B. Ingram
Impact of Teacher Perceptions in the Disproportionality of Black People in Special Education, Chenita Jarrett-Evans
The Impact of Gamification on the Mathematics Achievement of Elementary Students, Tamisha Kimble
Elementary School Teacher's Beliefs, Organizational Change, and STEM Implementation: Factors Impacting Teacher Leadership, Shelante Patton
From Teacher to Teacher-Leader: A Phenomenographic Study of Transition, Jennifer Santi
Teacher Leaders’ Experiences and Perceptions from Program to Practice, Carolynn Stoddard
EXAMINE THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF COACHING MENTORING PROGRAMS ON TEACHER BURNOUT, Crystal Wright
Dissertations from 2019
Coaching for Change: Teacher Perceptions of the Impact of Personalized, Reflective Professional Development, Emily Davis
Student Self Perception of the Benefits of Service Learning in an Alternative Education Program, Barbara Fuqua
Teacher Perspectives on Content Literacy in Elementary Schools, Jontia Grace
Thinking Beyond the Text: Examining Teachers’ Dispositions of Critical Thinking in Elementary Social Studies Classrooms Through the Use of Socratic Seminars, Jacqueline Hunter
Dissertations from 2018
Cognitively Guided Instruction in Elementary Mathematics: Understanding Factors That Influence Classroom Implementation, Teresa A. Conowal
Teacher Practices to Help Alternative Education Students, Angela Daws
The Outcomes of Offering a Working Lunch Session in Improving Adolescent Students’ Assignment Completion Rate and Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Kristian Edgeman
On-site, Ongoing, and Individualized Professional Development: A Case Study at Rural Charter School, Ashley Funderburke
Exploring the Interpersonal Dynamics of the Supervisory Triad of Pre-Service Teacher Education: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis, Anna E. Hart
Mathematics Academic Achievement of Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Sarah Kinney Maddox
Zero Tolerance, Zero Justice: Teacher Perceptions of Using Restorative Justice, Ajayi Monell
Investigating the Lived Experiences of Teachers Implementing Response to Intervention in an Urban Elementary School Setting: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Nicole Powell Mitchell
Effects of Online Parental Remediation in Alternative School Mathematics, Thomas Rogers
English Learner Course Scheduling: Practice, Implications, and Aspirations, AZIZA SIMMONS
Pedagogical Examination of Alternative Keys with SEL-Strategies (P. E. A. K. S.): An Examination of Social Emotional Learning Pedagogy, Rezenia Wilson
Sustaining Change Through Individualized Coaching, Jody Worth
Dissertations from 2017
The Impact of Parental Involvement on Student Success: School and Family Partnership From The Perspective of Students, Tyler Bailey
Teacher Perceptions of School-Based and District Professional Development, Ashley Kennedy
A Little Birdy Told Me: Educators’ Experiences with Twitter as a Professional Learning Network, Valerie King
The Impact of Parental Involvement on Student Success: School and Family Partnership From the Perspective of Parents and Teachers, Audric Newchurch
Supporting Novice Teachers: Peer Coaching and Collaborative Inquiry as Support, Rotonya Rhodes
Crowdsourcing Cognitive Presence: A Quantitative Content Analysis of a K12 Educator MOOC Discussion Forum, Kathryn Dawson Shields
Dissertations from 2016
Efficacy of Math Video Tutorials on Student Perception and Achievement, Carol R. Kahrmann
Using Manipulatives to Investigate ESOL Students' Achievement and Dispositions in Algebra, Donna L. Marsh
Mathematics Engagement in Middle School: It's a Family Affair, Cheryl D. Pappy
Perceptions of Online Teaching Endorsement Program Effectiveness in Georgia: A Case Study, Leslie Pourreau
Beyond a Meeting: A Case Study Examining the Impact of Data-Focused Professional Learning Communities on Teacher Practice and Student Learning, Deena W. Townsend
From #edcamp to #edchat: A Case Study Exploring Innovative, Self-Directed Educator Professional Learning, Amy E. Vitala
Dissertations from 2015
Identifying Characteristics of Expert Elementary School Technology Integration Teachers - A Cognitive Task Analysis, Mark Campoli
“¡Ya Entiendo! Now I Understand!” Parents' Perceptions of the Diagnosis Process and Early Intervention Services, Jenna Hudson
Faculty Perspectives of a School-Based Mental Health Program In a Rural School District, Jennifer Lynn Massey
Critical Literacy in the Primary Grades, Whitney Talbert Spooner
How General and Special Educators’ Conceptualizations of Critical Thinking Influence Their Pedagogy for Students with Disabilities in Secondary English Inclusive Classrooms, Jeffrey R. Wheeler