Date
Summer 8-9-2026
ESRP 9000 Professor
Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.
ESRP 9001 Professor
Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.
Executive Summary
Improving Class Engagement, Student Motivation, and Academic Achievement in an Urban High School. Chandra Winford Fairley, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: academic success, achievement gaps, classroom engagement, ethnic match, minority students, minority teachers, school culture, student motivation
This research will provide school leaders at an urban high school with strategies to improve student academic performance, engagement, and school culture. Teachers who share similar backgrounds with their students may increase the likelihood of narrowing achievement gaps between those who succeed academically and those who do not. Cultural competence, instructional practices, and cultural awareness among educators can be leveraged to increase student success.
Exploring solutions to weak academic success for all students was particularly important to me. School terms often began with examinations of overall student course success and failure rates and then shift to those rates among different demographic groups’ performances on state assessments. It is important that students have and value role models who reflect their identities.
After evaluating 40 factors (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the organization), 16 were selected for additional analysis. From those 16 factors, four possible solutions were researched. From that, two strategies were examined: (a) recruit and hire targeted teachers and (b) mentor and retain teachers. Of those two strategies, the first was selected following analysis using a quantitative strategic plan matrix. An action plan was proposed to the school for implementation.
Document Type
Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
College
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice
Concentration
Human Services Administration
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Chandra Winford Fairley and Chandra Winford Fairley. 2026. Improving Class Engagement, Student Motivation, and Academic Achievement at An Urban High School. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice. (519)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_srp/519.