Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Williams, Frankie

Committee Member

Tharp, Paula

Committee Member

McMullan, Leigh

Committee Member

Binford, Paul

Date of Degree

8-12-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Educational Leadership (P-12 School Leadership)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Teacher Education and Leadership

Abstract

Violence in schools and communities presents persistent challenges for K–12 students, educators, and school leaders, particularly in high-poverty contexts where exposure to violence disrupts teaching, learning, and school climate. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979). Ecological systems theory, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school administrators in supporting students exposed to violence in their schools and communities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected school administrators working in high-poverty districts and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four central themes: (a) instructional instability resulting from persistent exposure to violence, (b) the spillover of community trauma into school environments affecting student engagement and well-being, (c) reliance on reactive support systems with limited capacity for sustained, preventative intervention, and (d) barriers to effective support, including limited service continuity and resource constraints. Participants also described challenges in balancing disciplinary responses with trauma-informed and preventative approaches. The findings from the study underscore the need for trauma-informed leadership practices, coordinated school-based support systems, and proactive policies that prioritize instructional continuity and student well-being. The study contributes to the literature by illuminating how school leaders navigate the complex intersection of violence, student support, and instructional leadership in high-poverty contexts.

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