Identifying Barriers to Reporting Concerning Behaviors in a Public Secondary School

Author

• Will Durgin, Lynn University

Date of Award

9-24-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Granting Institution

Lynn University

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Degree Program

Educational Leadership

Department

College of Education

First Advisor

Dr. Joseph Melita

Second Advisor

Dr. Jennifer J. Lesh

Abstract

Threat assessment is an effective school safety practice that allows schools to identify concerning behavior and intervene before it reaches a crisis. Because this process often begins with a staff member recognizing and reporting a concern, this study examined how school staff interpret concerning behavior, understand their responsibility to report it, and what can make reporting more difficult.

The study used a two-phase action research design in a small, rural public school district in western New York. The first phase used a survey built around five behavior vignettes, while the second phase consisted of staff interviews.

Staff generally agreed when a behavior presented a clear danger. There was less agreement when behaviors were lower-level, ambiguous, or internalizing. Across all five vignettes, staff were more likely to report behaviors they viewed as concerning. Very few indicated that they would remain silent once they recognized a concern. The more difficult part occurred earlier, when staff did not initially recognize that a behavior required action. Noticing these changes often depends on knowing how a student typically behaves. Other barriers included an unclear reporting process, limited feedback, time constraints, and inconsistent administrative support.

Staff wanted a shared understanding of what should be reported, a clear reporting process, training on early warning signs, and confirmation that their concerns had been reviewed. The findings suggest that schools must help staff recognize concerning behavior earlier and provide a reporting process they can depend on once a concern is raised.

Recommended Citation

Durgin, W. (2026). Identifying Barriers to Reporting Concerning Behaviors in a Public Secondary School [Doctoral dissertation, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/467