First Advisor
Christopher Pinkney
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: Special and Counselor Education
Department
Special Education
Language
English
Subjects
Improvement science, Workforce development
Abstract
The recruitment and retention of a diverse early learning workforce remains a critical challenge in special education. This study explores the multifaceted issues of workforce shortages, turnover rates, and the disparity between the demographics of educators and students in the Department of Early Learning within an education service district in Oregon. Through a detailed analysis of historical and current data, this study identifies systemic challenges contributing to the difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified staff, especially those who are representative of the communities they serve. Using improvement science as a methodological framework, the study tested change ideas focused on recruitment, retention, and staff experience. Extensive feedback was gathered through staff advisory groups, surveys, and iterative data collection cycles to ensure strategies were responsive to the needs of the workforce and the goals of the department. Key findings from the implementation include a more diverse candidate pool, increased satisfaction with the hiring process, stronger perceptions of supervisory support, improved understanding of job expectations, and greater alignment between workforce demographics and the communities served. These outcomes suggest targeted, data-driven strategies—such as mentoring programs, enhanced feedback systems, and leadership development—can support a sustainable, representative workforce. This work contributes to the broader discourse on improving educational outcomes by aligning workforce composition with community demographics, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and effective early learning environment.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43688
Recommended Citation
Coker, Tonya J., "Growing Together: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Community-Reflective Early Learning Professionals" (2025). Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations. 2.
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/edu_ed_pd/2
Comments
A Dissertation in Practice submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership: Special and Counselor Education.