b"William Timothy Dyer Paradise Valley, ArizonaB.A., M.Ed., Arizona State University; Ed.S., Winthrop UniversityHow Can School Leaders Can Increase Teacher Satisfaction in a Rural Fringe High School in South Carolina?Advised by Dr. Noelle Paufler Will is a high school administrator with two publications in the *Palmetto Administrator*. This dissertation will be his first peer-reviewed publication. In 2022-23, he was named Clover School Districts Assistant Principal Outstanding Leader.James Ramond Ford Florence, South CarolinaB.S., Francis Marion University; M.Ed., Ed.S., Cambridge College; Ed.S., Clemson UniversityCreating a Culture of College and Career Readiness: Strategies and Interventions for African American StudentsAdvised by Dr. Brandi Hinnett-CrawfordJames is currently the director of secondary education for the Darlington County School District. Along with school and district-level administration experience, James has taught mathematics at the middle school, high school and college levels.Audrey Danielle Gilden Mount Pleasant, South CarolinaB.S., Mississippi State University; M.S., Christian Brothers University; Ed.S, CitadelDo I Belong?Advised by Dr. Edwin Nii Bonney Audrey serves as an assistant principal at Wando High School in the Charleston County School District.Katrina Jackson Bigham . Clinton, South CarolinaB.A., M.A.T., Clemson University; M.A., Winthrop UniversityAn Improvement Science Study on the Impact of Community Building Circles on Teacher Efficacy and Discipline Referrals for African American MalesAdvised by Dr. Edwin Bonney Katrina will continue to serve as an administrator in Laurens County School District 56 and will continue to use improvement science to better public education.Carlita Shenell King .Florence, South CarolinaB.A., South Carolina State University; M.Ed., University of South Carolina ; M.S., Clemson UniversityDon't Waste Our Time: Key Transformative Structures for Fast Track LearningAdvised by Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford and Dr. Edwin BonneyCarlita is a former district assistant superintendent who has served as a key project advisory board member for Clemson University and the Pee Dee Center of Excellence for Teaching Children of Poverty. She has received gold and silver leadership certifications from the state of South Carolina and multiple Educator of the Year awards. While serving as a middle school principal, she received exemplary federal report card ratings and state-level accolades for closing the achievement gap between students in various subgroups. Carlita will use what she has learned about improvement science at Clemson in her new job at Studer Education, where she will advise district and higher education leaders on effective strategies that develop the culture and the people within their organizations.17"