A Phenomenological Study of School Staff Perceptions of the Threat and Prevention of School Violence

<p>My study addressed the issue of school safety and student mental health in schools in the United States. The purpose of this study was to identify the concerns staff members had about the system and procedures used to track students’ mental health and how staff and students are kept safe within the school environment. The overarching research question for my study was: What are the perceptions of school staff regarding school safety and the support students with mental health issues receive? I used a quantitative research method for my study, collecting data through surveys of teachers and administrators. The survey results revealed significant discrepancies in staff perceptions regarding the efficacy of administrator support, a significant gap in staff perceptions of the availability and quality of mental health services, significant divides in staff confidence regarding the effectiveness of safety protocols and a portion of staff who believed their school system did not adequately address violent incidents. My study highlighted the importance of developing and implementing policies that not only focus on physical safety but also prioritize mental health and emotional well-being. One of the primary recommendations of my study was the implementation of strategies and policy changes aimed at creating a safer and more supportive school environment.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Linton, Rebecca

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Lorrie B. Butler
• Dr. Carla L. Sparks

• Mental health in education
• depression
• warning signs
• school violence
• staff perception of school violence
• Early Childhood Education
• Educational Administration and Supervision
• Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Educational Leadership
• Educational Methods
• Educational Psychology
• Educational Technology
• Elementary Education
• Higher Education
• Secondary Education
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/960

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-2030