Date of Award
8-2025
Degree Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
Committee Chair
T. Lee Morgan, Ph.D.
2nd Reader
Deirdra Preis, Ed.D.
3rd Reader
Courtney Jean, Ed.D
Abstract
This mixed-methods action research study examined the systemic and perceptual barriers contributing to the under-identification and insufficient support of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in female students. Framed within Improvement Science, the study addressed how gender-based expectations influence educators’ recognition and interpretation of ADHD symptoms. Utilizing a two-phase approach, the research explored the impact of an eight-week asynchronous professional learning series aimed at enhancing educators’ skills in recognizing ADHD characteristics more frequently observed in girls, such as inattention, emotional dysregulation, and internalized behaviors. The findings show that participants developed a more nuanced, gender-aware understanding of ADHD, shifting away from hyperactivity-centered models toward more inclusive identification and support practices. Participants reported increased confidence in identifying less overt symptom presentations and implementation of more responsive, individualized instructional strategies. These outcomes underscore the limitations of traditional diagnostic frameworks and emphasize how educator bias—particularly when shaped by male-centric views of ADHD—can lead to the exclusion of girls and other marginalized students from timely support. Future research should explore how intersecting factors such as race, gender identity, and socioeconomic status influence ADHD recognition.
Recommended Citation
Davis, T. (2025). Unlocking potential: Empowering educators to support girls with ADHD through gender-informed training [Doctoral dissertation, Sacred Heart University]. https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/edd/66/
Creative Commons License
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Comments
Presented to the Faculty of Sacred Heart University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education, Sacred Heart University