b'College of EducationDoctor of EducationEducation Systems Improvement ScienceChristopher Matthew Ferguson Hartsville, South CarolinaB.A., Coker College; M.Ed., Lesley University; M.Ed., American College of Education; J.D., Charlotte School of Law; Ed.S., University of South CarolinaA Mixed-Methods Study of the Impact of South Carolina Reading Policy on Teacher KnowledgeAdvised by Dr. George PetersenMatthew serves as deputy superintendent and chief academic officer at the South Carolina Department of Education. Ferguson has served at the S.C. Education Oversight Committee and in school and district-level leadership, primarily in rural, Title 1 schools.He was also as a Fulbright Scholar in Bali, Indonesia. As a first-generation college student, he believes that preparing all students for college and career readiness should be a promise delivered to each and every student, not just an aspirational goal.Alvilda B. Graham . Bluffton, South CarolinaB.S., Claflin University; M.Ed., Lesley University; M.S.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Ed.S., The CitadelFactors Affecting Teacher Retention in a Selected South Carolina School District: Perspectives of Administrators and TeachersAdvised by Dr. Noelle A. PauflerAlvida is currently a district-level administrator who has also worked as both a teacher and a principal.Laura S. Lusk .North Augusta, South CarolinaB.S., Augusta State University; M.Ed., University of West AlabamaStudents Willing and Ready to Motivate to Graduate (SWARM): An Alternative Pathway to GraduationAdvised by Dr. Noelle A. PauflerLaura is a school counselor at North Augusta High School, where she enjoys advocating for students and helping them prepare for their post-secondary plans. She hopes to expand the SWARM program to other schools in South Carolina.Diane Bigelow Sigmon Darlington, South CarolinaB.S., Limestone College; M.Ed., University of South CarolinaEquipping Educational Leaders to Lead Data Democracies: A Case StudyAdvised by Dr. Hans KlarDiane was a 2019 Making It Happen Award recipient by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), representing the State of South Carolina. Her work is cited in the book Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom, published in 2019.20'