Title

Informing the Principalship: Educators' Lived Experiences with Received Professional Development for English Language Learners and the Impact on Instructional Practices and Student Outcomes

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Department

Educational Administration

Date of Award

Summer 2020

Abstract

The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to explore the lived experiences of educators’ received professional development (PD) for English language learners and the subsequent impact on daily instructional practices and student outcomes. As demographics change in some regions of the United States, teachers and leaders of education struggle to conquer the challenges of a diverse classroom of learners, specifically when teaching English language learners (ELLs). The findings of this study offer insight into the lived experiences of teachers who teach ELLs and have engaged in PD for ELLs. The eight participants in this study engaged in semistructured interviews and answered open-ended questions. Participants expounded upon their lived experiences teaching ELLs, the ability of ELL PD to build teacher capacity, and the factors of ELL PD that impact daily classroom instruction. Findings from this study revealed the following major themes: instructional barriers, rapport building with students, teacher preparation, expert modeling, hands-on PD, administrative support, frequency of ELL PD, and follow-up of PD.

Advisor

Nathan R. Templeton

Subject Categories

Education | Educational Administration and Supervision

COinS