Theses and Dissertations
Advisor
Smith, Kaleb
Committee Member
Moore, Jenifer
Committee Member
Herbstrith, Julie
Committee Member
Biggers, Regina
Date of Degree
5-15-2026
Original embargo terms
Embargo 2 years
Document Type
Dissertation - Open Access
Major
Education (Educational Policy & Organizational Design)
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
College
College of Education
Department
Division of Education
Abstract
States are experiencing issues in equitable access to excellent educators. Therefore, states are experimenting with various approaches to reduce equity gaps. Despite all the proposed solutions, research suggests that professional development for teachers is one of the oldest and most widely accepted strategies for improving educational outcomes. This literature review will show that professional development is widely regarded as necessary and effective because it improves staff skills and competencies needed to produce outstanding educational results for students. Given the value placed on professional development by researchers and practitioners alike, it stands to reason that job-embedded professional development will be the solution to reducing the equity gap in access to excellent educators. This research will indicate that not all professional development has a meaningful impact. Some professional development will be low quality and ineffective. However, the research shows job-embedded professional development (JEPD) will lead to positive outcomes for school improvement by addressing knowledge gaps among non-licensed individuals leading classrooms. A key characteristic that makes JEPD effective is its person-specific and need-specific nature. Additionally, JEPD eliminates and eradicates any of the barriers of time, place, and administrator buy-in that simple professional development does not address. The research concludes that ineffective professional development is too limited in its structure and complexity to successfully lead to improved teacher practice for non-licensed individuals leading classrooms. Examining the literature leads to the conclusion that JEPD is a critical mechanism for producing excellent educators and reducing the gap in equitable access to them.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Kathi, "Reducing the equitable access to excellent educators gap" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 7009.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/7009
