Date of Graduation
Spring 2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Policy, Planning, and Administration
Committee Chairperson
Merry L. Staulters, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jacqueline G. Van Schoonveld, Ed.D.
Committee Member
Adam Penning, Ed. D.
Abstract
This study employed a convergent mixed-methods research design to examine the association between teacher stress and the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in the elementary school setting. Thirty-four participants completed a Qualtrics survey that assessed participants’ stress levels when implementing aspects of the MTSS framework. These participants were elementary public-school teachers in Pennsylvania and had at least one year of experience implementing MTSS. The quantitative strand examined the relationship between teacher stress and MTSS implementation using descriptive and inferential statistics. Simultaneously, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants. Qualitatively, seven participants engaged in semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of implementing MTSS and the potential stressors associated with the framework's implementation. Using thematic analysis with triangulation, the transcriptions were coded and themed. The quantitative strand of the study found a statistically significant moderate negative association between the implementation of MTSS and perceived stress. Specifically, as participants' perceptions of fundamental elements of MTSS increased, their perceptions of stress decreased. The qualitative strand identified four themes in the areas of structural and resource constraints, inconsistent implementation of MTSS, workload fatigue and decision-making demands, and supports and coping strategies to reduce stress. The integration of findings displayed convergence between the quantitative and qualitative strands.
Final Version Confirmation
1
Recommended Citation
Smerecky, Jon C., "Teachers' Stress and the Implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): A Mixed Methods Approach" (2026). West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects. 57.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_capstones/57