Our school boasts a dedicated faculty and staff who invest a significant amount of time and effort in conducting groundbreaking research. This page aims to showcase some of our exceptional faculty and staff members’ outstanding research.
Keith Gurley, PhD
Research Interests: Ethical Educational Leadership; Strategic Planning and Leadership: Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals; Ethical and Supportive Schooling for LGBTQ+ Youth
Methodological Interest/Expertise: Quantitative methodologies: (phenomenology, grounded theory, other qualitative approaches); Mixed methods (blending qualitative and quantitative designs)"My primary research focus most recently has involved exploring the ethical and supportive treatment of LGBTQ+ youth and others who struggle to gain success in the regular K-12 school and classroom environments. This interests interfaces with another of my research interests, that of developing ethical K-12 school leaders, teaching and enhancing moral reasoning among school leaders, and creating ethical policies and practices in K-12 schools to support the success and well-being of all students."
Highlighted Publications:Gurley, D. K., & Fifolt, M. (in press). Advancing student mental health through inclusive education: Insights from the Magic City Acceptance Academy. Alabama Journal of Educational Leadership.
Fifolt, M., Gurley, D. K. (in press). Supporting neurodiverse learners through ethical school design: The Magic City Acceptance Academy as a model for inclusive education. Submitted to: AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice.
Gurley, D. K., & Fifolt, M. (in press). Voices of parents of students attending the Magic City Acceptance Academy: An LGBTQ-affirming public charter school. Improving Schools.
Fifolt, M., Gurley, D. K., & Evans, R. (2025). Exploring how students at the Magic City Acceptance Academy experience community and belonging: A photovoice project. Sexual and Gender Diversity and Social Services.
Gurley, D. K., & Dagley, A. (2020, May).Pulling back the curtain on moral reasoning and ethical leadership for K-12 school leaders. International Journal of Research on Leadership Education,16(3), 243-274.
Check out Dr. Gurley's Scholar Page for more information
Amy Carr, PhD, MS, CHES®
Research Interests: Health and wellness, specifically related to dimensions of wellness and organizational wellness culture.
Methodological Interest/Expertise: Qualitative methodologies through in-depth interviews; grounded theory.
"My primary research has focused on wellness perceptions of teachers regarding their own personal wellness and that of their respective schools. In my dissertation, “Wellness Perspectives of Early Career Teachers: An Exploratory Study of School Culture and Environment”, I investigated teachers’ perceptions of personal wellness, the wellness culture and environment of their school system, and the impact of the culture on teacher wellness and job satisfaction. This inductive qualitative study was guided by grounded theory through a constructivist theoretical perspective and resulted in the Teacher-School Wellness Components Theory, which has four constructs: personal practices, teacher occupational factors, community resources, and school environment and systems. The theory established that teacher and school wellness is a function of the inter-connectedness between the constructs."
"I plan to work on publications from this research, as well as applying the results of the research and the new theory in practical ways to help teachers and schools increase their wellness. One recent development in my scholarship is a podcast that will start in the late spring of 2026. “Walk and Talk Wellness” and is a joint effort with Dr. Claire Mowling, my colleague and current President of the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD). Our target audience is Alabama teachers, and our goal is to get teachers moving by walking and listening to our research-based, evidence-based wellness messages that encompass the dimensions of wellness, such as physical, emotional, social, and occupational dimensions."
Recent Presentations:
Carr, A.D. (2026, January). Let’s talk about wellness: building systems to support youth health and well-being in schools. Roundtable Presentation. International Conference on the Health Risks of Youth (ICHRY). Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Carr, A.D. (2025, November). Let’s talk about wellness: understanding and supporting teacher wellness and school wellness culture. Conference session presentation. Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD) Fall Conference. Birmingham, AL.
Carr, A.D. (2025, November). Early career teacher perspectives on personal wellness and the wellness culture and environment of their schools. Research Session presentation. Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD) Fall Conference. Birmingham, AL.
Carr, A.D. (2025, October). Leading from within: wellness as a foundation for great leadership. Leading You Honors Seminar presentation. Collat School of Business, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Birmingham, AL.
Carr, A.D. (2025, August). Wellness perspectives of early career teachers: an exploratory study on school culture and environment. Dissertation. University of Alabama at Birmingham. Birmingham, AL.
Check out Dr. Carr's Scholar Page for more information