The purpose of this study was to investigate East Tennessee State University alumni's perceptions of the effectiveness of internship experiences as students learned the PSEL and TILS standards and the role of mentor support as they prepared for principalship. The participants obtained their administrative license and worked currently with an…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if an intern in a principal preparation program had a better experience during their internship if they were able to select their field-based mentor as opposed to being assigned a mentor by the administrators of the program. The literature addressed the current role of the principal and…

The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for students seeking clinical internships, and faculty have felt those obstacles trying to mentor students. The problem addressed in this study were the challenges child life specialist faculty at a local colleges face in supporting child life specialist candidates in locating internships upon degree…

The rationale for this project emerged from a significant need to encourage, promote, develop and train young men preparing for pastoral ministry in the local church setting. While the college and seminary classroom experience is of great value, the practical application of such knowledge under the tutelage of an experienced pastor helps to…

Principal Preparation Programs are a one-year intensive program to develop aspiring school Principals with at least three years of Assistant Principal experience (Solodev, 2022). The purpose of these programs is to prepare aspiring leaders for the role of school Principal adequately. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the…

In this dissertation, I present readers with three studies about the ways in which science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research experiences impact undergraduate learning, perspectives, and academic/career activities. In the first two studies I focus on this topic by investigating the ways in which undergraduates were impacted…

Teacher candidates, while completing their student teaching internship, are part of an important teaching-and-learning triad. The other members of the triad, mentor teachers and university field instructors, provide essential support to teacher candidates throughout the student teaching internship experience (Yee, 1968). Recent research has…

Teacher preparation programs include a variety of field experiences designed to support preservice teacher growth including early field experiences, student teaching, and clinical internships. Limited research was available regarding how hosting a preservice teacher may result in long-term learning and professional growth (Bruemmer, 2018;…

As graduates have transitioned into the workforce, employers have complained that these younger employees lack the soft skills that are needed to be successful in the workforce. Soft skills are personal traits and skills that employers seek in employees. Internship programs can be used to develop soft skills. Few qualitative studies have looked at…

Studies of school superintendents have captured the attention of educational researchers and practitioners alike for decades. Often, these studies have focused on the leadership styles of superintendents, their changing roles and responsibilities over time, and the politics inherently linked to being the leader of an entire school system. However,…

Many pre-service teachers (PSTs) face a common dilemma when completing their internships: they seek to display their own strengths and competencies in teaching while also adhering to the guidance of their mentor teachers and avoiding instructional risks. The underlying structure of the internship promotes a hierarchy which positions mentoring…

At the university level, peer instruction has been widely implemented as a means to offer additional resources through mentorship and academic support for courses with high enrollments and/or high levels of attrition. Peer instructors are students themselves who have typically demonstrated a proficiency in the course for which they serve. In the…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the SREB critical success factors being implemented as part of the Illinois PreK-12 principal preparation internship, as well as, the authenticity of the internship process. The following research questions guided this study: (1) To what extent do the 13 SREB critical success factors affect…

This action research study sought to understand how advisors and administrators can assist students in making relevant, meaningful connections between work-based learning opportunities and academic learning, so that students gain the actionable knowledge and skills needed to handle real-world challenges. Data was collected in three phases. Cycle 0…

There is a national shortage of highly qualified early childhood educators. For many early childhood educators, this career path begins with the Child Development Associate credential. Community colleges are well-positioned to award this credential and address the shortage of highly qualified early childhood educators. However, many students…