Public school students in the Black Belt of Alabama suffer from food insecurity disproportionately compared with national peers. Results of a recent mixed methods study indicated food insecurity levels that were three times the national average, with very low food security an alarming 11 times the national average. In the fight against hunger in…

This narrative study explored the administrative internship experiences of five assistant principals in Alabama for the purpose of better understanding how these school leaders perceived the benefits of Alabama's policy requirement for field experience in their practice. Attention towards this comparatively brief ten-day internship sought to…

Adolescents experience challenges navigating psychological, physiological, and emotional transformations. This article contributes to research into how middle school and high school environments can reinforce the needs of students through the transition from middle school to high school. In this grounded theory study, we interviewed 11…

In the past year, the coronavirus has been one of the most unpredictable global health crises that has impacted the United States. The decision to move in person learning to remote learning caused uncertainty and unpredictable challenges for the entire education system. This article will highlight transformational leadership best practices for…

Rural school leaders are faced with challenges to close the achievement gap between subgroups, mainly general and special education. Schools and school systems face several barriers to move forward with positive trends in the data provided by the Alabama State Department of Education. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' perceptions…

In this study, the researchers examined the culture and climate of selected middle and high schools in Alabama's River Region. Teachers and administrators from nine middle and eleven high schools completed two electronic surveys: (a) the School Culture Survey (SCS) and (b) the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaires (OCDQ-RM/OCDQ-RS).…

To examine support for comprehensive counseling program implementation, we explored principals' and school counselors' perceptions and experiences from programs awarded the Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was employed. We found substantial agreement and no statistically significant…

The purpose of this research study was to determine whether participation in three years of professional learning in the Hope Leadership Academy (HLA) impacted the school as a caring community. The participants were schools that participated in the HLA and administered the School as a Caring Community Profile-II (SCCP-II) to students and adults in…

To enrich a nurturing school environment, educators must become aware of the social and emotional byproducts of student removal from traditional homes. Many schools host students while they are placed in residential facilities, a number that is increasing across the United States (Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). Educational leaders…

Without question, faculty (regardless of discipline) should be equipped with the necessary skills to assess students fairly and ethically. This study focuses on the central and prevailing importance of faculty judgment and how that judgment (or lack thereof) influences perceptions related to ethics and assessment of students. The study outlines…

In times of financial crises, it is crucial to understand how district leaders prioritize spending to ensure an adequate and equitable education for all students. This paper examines how districts in Alabama altered spending during the Great Recession. Results demonstrate that expenditure cuts were more intense for high needs student populations,…

This study investigated standard practices used by mentors participating in a new teacher mentoring program that encourages identified teachers to remain in the teaching profession. School districts nationwide spend time, money, and human resources addressing the significant turnover rate and the recruitment of highly qualified teachers. This…

Many school leaders who sought to enculturate distributive leadership and shared decision-making within their schools/school districts may not have adequate data tools that would encourage teachers and educational leaders to actively participate during times of decision-making. School organizations may struggle in this area and could benefit from…

This research informed conceptual article explores traditional and current roles and expectations of school leaders and school counselors through the lens of collaboration toward expanding notions of school leadership. The work defines collaboration in the context of K-12 schools with a focus on the roles of school leaders and school counselors…

This case study describes how one school district in Alabama was able to sustain learning and effectively educate students using technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigation of leadership practices found several established procedures that facilitated the education process differently and adapted to change abruptly. The case study…