Congratulations to Maria Tartaglione who on Thursday, October 16, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation proposal.
The title of Maria’s dissertation is: "A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS’ IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS INITIATIVES: AN ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS."
Overview of Problem: The most urgent educational problem in America’s educational system is the disproportionate college access for economically disadvantaged students. Subsequently, economically disadvantaged schools in the U.S. require principals to plan for implementing college awareness and career readiness initiatives.
Research Purpose: To describe how middle school principals (i.e., Grades 5–8) at economically disadvantaged schools implement college and career readiness initiatives through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system.
Research Design: Qualitative interpretive inquiry methodology
Sample: Principals currently serving in public economically disadvantaged middle schools located in the US for 5 or more years that have a student population of 25% or more on free and reduced lunch, Title I designation, state/local socioeconomic indicators, and have provided leadership for the implementation of college and career readiness initiatives for one or more years.
Data Collection: Semi-structured interviews with 12-15 Principals
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Susan V. Iverson
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Nicole Joseph
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