Date of Award
8-2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Marie Cianca
Second Supervisor
Dr. Caroline Critchlow
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to develop an understanding of how teachers’ trauma-informed practices, attitudes, and beliefs are influenced by professional development. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s key assumptions for trauma-informed care and Guskey’s model of the process of teacher change were used in combination as a framework to study the perceptions of ten elementary teachers and an administrator in a rural elementary school in Western New York. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the teachers and the administrator, using analytic memos and professional development training materials. Three key findings emerged from the study. First, the development of knowledge through effective professional development sets the stage for changes to teachers’ practices, attitudes, and beliefs. Second, effective professional development must connect to teachers’ lived experiences. Third, effective professional development is just the beginning of the trauma-informed process. Recommendations for practice for professional development trainers and school leaders include considerations and approaches to trauma-informed professional development. Additionally, this study’s recommendations for future research into trauma-informed professional development include the use of quantitative methodology and the long-term study of trauma-informed approach implementation.
Recommended Citation
Daly, Mitchell, "Examining the Perceived Influence of Professional Development on Teachers’ Trauma-Informed Practices, Attitudes, and Beliefs" (2020). Education Doctoral. Paper 460.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/460
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.