This phenomenological study investigated the experiences and perceptions of special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators on inclusion, collaboration, and co- teaching in supporting the academic and behavioral growth of all students. The following themes were identified: (a) individual definition of collaboration, (b) school leader training, (c) support and feedback from administration, (d) teachers’ and principals’ perceptions, (e) student achievement, and (f) participants’ knowledge base of co-teaching models. The findings indicate that although co-teaching and inclusion has become common practice and educators generally believe in its virtues, there are some persistent difficulties based on limiting beliefs about students with disabilities, teacher roles and knowledge base, administrative support and understanding, and issues of respect and parity. Recommendations for systemic change are included.
","abstract_html":"<p>This phenomenological study investigated the experiences and perceptions of special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators on inclusion, collaboration, and co- teaching in supporting the academic and behavioral growth of all students. The following themes were identified: (a) individual definition of collaboration, (b) school leader training, (c) support and feedback from administration, (d) teachers’ and principals’ perceptions, (e) student achievement, and (f) participants’ knowledge base of co-teaching models. The findings indicate that although co-teaching and inclusion has become common practice and educators generally believe in its virtues, there are some persistent difficulties based on limiting beliefs about students with disabilities, teacher roles and knowledge base, administrative support and understanding, and issues of respect and parity. Recommendations for systemic change are included.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Penny, Lisa"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ed.D. Doctor of Education","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Disability and Equity in Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Terry Smith","Dr. Kathy Kotel","Dr. Todd Price"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-06-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2019-06-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:20:44Z","subjects":["Collaboration","Coteaching","Special educators","General educators","and Administration","Disability and Equity in Education","Special Education and Teaching","Teacher Education and Professional Development"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/359","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Terry Smith","Dr. Kathy Kotel","Dr. Todd Price"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Penny, Lisa"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-05-14T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Disability and Equity in Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Collaboration","Coteaching","Special educators","General educators","and Administration","Disability and Equity in Education","Special Education and Teaching","Teacher Education and Professional Development"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/359"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This phenomenological study investigated the experiences and perceptions of special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators on inclusion, collaboration, and co- teaching in supporting the academic and behavioral growth of all students. The following themes were identified: (a) individual definition of collaboration, (b) school leader training, (c) support and feedback from administration, (d) teachers’ and principals’ perceptions, (e) student achievement, and (f) participants’ knowledge base of co-teaching models. The findings indicate that although co-teaching and inclusion has become common practice and educators generally believe in its virtues, there are some persistent difficulties based on limiting beliefs about students with disabilities, teacher roles and knowledge base, administrative support and understanding, and issues of respect and parity. Recommendations for systemic change are included.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Two Faces Of Education: Educators' And Administrators' Perspectives On Collaboration And Co-teaching"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Terry Smith","Dr. Kathy Kotel","Dr. Todd Price"],"dc:creator":["Penny, Lisa"],"dc:date.available":["2019-05-14T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This phenomenological study investigated the experiences and perceptions of special education teachers, general education teachers, and administrators on inclusion, collaboration, and co- teaching in supporting the academic and behavioral growth of all students. The following themes were identified: (a) individual definition of collaboration, (b) school leader training, (c) support and feedback from administration, (d) teachers’ and principals’ perceptions, (e) student achievement, and (f) participants’ knowledge base of co-teaching models. The findings indicate that although co-teaching and inclusion has become common practice and educators generally believe in its virtues, there are some persistent difficulties based on limiting beliefs about students with disabilities, teacher roles and knowledge base, administrative support and understanding, and issues of respect and parity. Recommendations for systemic change are included.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/359"],"dc:subject":["Collaboration","Coteaching","Special educators","General educators","and Administration","Disability and Equity in Education","Special Education and Teaching","Teacher Education and Professional Development"],"dc:title":["The Two Faces Of Education: Educators' And Administrators' Perspectives On Collaboration And Co-teaching"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Disability and Equity in Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:20:44Z"}