Teachers' Perceptions of an Inclusive STEM High School

<p>This qualitative case study focused on teachers’ perceptions of a Title I suburban inclusive STEM high school (ISHS) in southeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the barriers, challenges, and successes teachers encounter in an ISHS. The theoretical framework that informed this study draws on ten critical components of inclusive STEM high schools across three dimensions: design, implementation, and outcomes (Peters-Burton et al., 2014). Interviews, observations, a focus group, and reflection logs were utilized to understand the participants’ experiences at the ISHS. From the data collected, several themes emerged such as the barriers related to bringing all stakeholders to an accurate understanding of STEM education, connecting with outside and inside stakeholders, and overcoming the lack of underrepresentation in STEM fields. Themes related to the challenges include meeting the complex demands associated with STEM instruction, carrying out STEM instruction at a schoolwide level, and delivering a robust STEM curriculum with time as a limiting factor. Additional themes that emerged as successes were how an inclusive STEM experience positively impacts students, the usage of teaching strategies that can maximize student results in a STEM setting, the processes and decisions that support the inclusive mission, and the development of positive relationships that benefit all stakeholders. This information supports existing research on teachers’ perceptions of STEM education as well as contributes to the literature on ISHSs. The findings of this study can benefit stakeholders such as teacher leaders, teachers, and school and district leaders by impacting their teaching, leading, and decision-making capacity. It can also be utilized to begin critical dialogue on how to best provide STEM learning access to underrepresented groups.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Inclusive STEM, teachers’ perceptions, teacher leadership</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership (Ed.D)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Scholz, Carlon

Contributors dc:contributor

• Albert Jimenez
• Tamela Thomas

• Inclusive STEM
• teachers' perceptions
• teacher leadership
• Education
• Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/teachleaddoc_etd/68

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:teachleaddoc_etd-1073