Congratulations to Alan Tenreiro who, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, successfully defended his dissertation proposal.
The title of Alan’s dissertation is: "THE STATE TAKEOVER OF A STRUGGLING URBAN DISTRICT: EXAMINING TEACHER MOTIVATION AND JOB SATISFACTION."
Overview of Problem: State takeover in failing school districts is often implemented to address systemic challenges. These reforms frequently disrupt and overlook the experiences of teachers, whose motivation and job satisfaction are pivotal to the success of educational initiatives. Despite teachers’ essential roles in the classroom, a significant gap exists in describing teachers’ experiences in the context of state takeover.
Research Purpose: This study aims to understand and describe teachers’ experiences regarding motivation and job satisfaction in the context of state takeover in a large urban school district. It specifically explores how teachers describe their experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as outlined by Deci and Ryan’s (2020) self-determination theory.
Research Design: This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study utilizes semi-structured interviews to capture teachers’ perspectives.
Sample: The sample will include current secondary teachers (grades 6–12) in ELA, math, and science who were employed in the district before and during the state takeover, with at least 3 years of experience in the district prior to the takeover.
Data Collection: Data will be collected through Zoom (audio-only) interviews guided by an interview protocol. All audio interviews will be recorded and transcribed using Otter.ai dictation software.
Dissertation Committee Chair:
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dissertation Committee Members:
Dr. Peter Troiano
Dr. Jack Warner
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