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What I Believe About Leadership And Education: A Reflective Essay, Douglas M. Spahn

Graduate Research Papers

One of the most important decisions an educational leader must make is whether or not to become a "reflective practitioner". A reflective leader is someone who takes the time to think about what has transpired or what steps should be taken tomorrow. Reflective leaders think before they act and are proactive, not reactive. A reflective leader takes responsibility for making tough decisions and is willing to admit error. Reflective leaders do not act impulsively or overreact to a situation. Instead, they carefully consider all possible options and decide on a course of action. Reflective administrators continually think about instruction and …

Impacts Of Cyberbullying, Kelly Burns

Graduate Research Papers

With the recent change in technology, bullying has taken on a new form called cyberbullying. Due to how new cyberbullying is, parents and educators may be unaware of what it is and how it takes place. There are many different forms of cyberbullying that can take place twenty-four hours a day, seven days week. Cyberbullying can take place at schools and at home while leaving an everlasting impact on an individual. This paper will discuss what cyberbullying is and the different forms it can take on. It will also address how students spend their time on the internet and why …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On Student Achievement, Meghan J. Budke

Graduate Research Papers

The goal of this research paper was to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the impact parents can have on their child's achievement. The introduction of this paper will cover an overview of the topic, along with the rationale, relevant statistics, and the purpose of the paper. The areas examined in this paper included the impact of family communication, single-parent families, cultural differences, and extracurricular involvement. The paper also covers the counselor's role, and how they can assist students and parents with academic achievement.

A Voice For Our Children : What I Believe About Leadership And Education, Angela J. Noel

Graduate Research Papers

Leadership in education will be a challenging job. The leader of a school must maintain a level of self-awareness in order to run an effective building. This level of awareness must continuously reflect upon, "Have I raised student achievement?" and "Have I created a successful educational experience for my students?" Educational leaders also need to create culture, manage the daily operations of the school, collaborate with families and community members, act with integrity and fairness, and be knowledgeable of political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.

A Preferred Vision For Leading High Schools : A Reflective Essay, Troy M. Osterhaus

Graduate Research Papers

In order to maintain our great educational system in America, it takes great school leaders. The school principal plays the most important role in the success of a school. A school leader is responsible for the management of the organization, operations, and resources. A school principal has now taken on a new role with the increased focus on accountability and student success. The principal is responsible for monitoring the improvement and success of all students. The school leader is the voice of the school and it's important to be visible around the community at businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations.

Investigating The Effects Of An Elective Abortion On Women's Mental Health, Marilyn Schneiderman

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project is to investigate evidence that an elective abortion affects a woman's mental health. Included are literature reviews and studies aimed at gathering information and quantifying these effects. Because this is a highly politicized and controversial topic, it has been difficult to find objective resources. Several areas are addressed: the difference between short vs. long-term effects on a woman's mental health subsequent to an elective abortion, evidence of delayed grief reaction and the link with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-Abortion Stress is defined and specific psychological sequelae are addressed such as grief, depression, anxiety and …

When To Refer : Religiosity And Counseling Students' Decision To Refer Glbt Clients, Cynthia R. Boyle

Graduate Research Papers

This paper sought to investigate how religious beliefs affect counseling students' thoughts about referring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) clients. A thorough review of the research literature examined: attitudes toward sexual minorities, religiosity and attitudes toward sexual minorities, and GLBT issues in counselor education. Findings suggest religious attitudes are often related to negative, or at least, non-affirming beliefs/behaviors towards members of sexual minority groups. There are serious legal and ethical implications for counselors who refuse to treat GLBT clients. The research also suggests education can be a means of moderating discriminatory tendencies in counseling students who struggle with balancing …

African Americans Participation And Counseling, Tawanna L. Moore

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature reviewed is to understand African Americans' underutilization of mental health services available to them. It is also important to understand barriers that keep African Americans from seeking mental health services, so this population of people can maintain a healthy life. This review also addresses implications for Caucasian clinicians. The following literature review will explore: The kind of support and treatment African Americans seek or receive to help them with mental health problems, effectiveness of these programs, and barriers to treatment when services are available.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Jerry L. Nelson

Graduate Research Papers

Educational leadership means doing the right thing for the people we serve. It means being committed to the education of all the students. An educational leader needs to be a committed soul, passionate about creating success in the lives of every student. This is not an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or August to May commitment, it is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year position.

As an educator, this should be a career-long commitment. To help stay committed,an educational leader needs to develop core values that help one stay focused on the task …

Psychological Barriers To White Counselors' Racial Identity Development, Kathleen Rice

Graduate Research Papers

White racial identity development includes abandoning racism and considering racial information more objectively. Racial identity is a key aspect of multicultural competency, which is a high priority within the counseling profession. Psychological barriers to White counselors' racial identity development include personal characteristics, cognitive strategies, and beliefs. Personal traits related to racism include poorer overall mental health, more anxiety, more neurotic tendencies, and less open, extroverted, agreeable, flexible, responsible, and tolerant personalities.

Cognitive processes to avoid confronting the reality of racial issues include self distortion, defense mechanisms, dysconsciousness, stereotyping, and stigmatization. Racist attitudes are maintained by specific beliefs including the myths …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Julie A. Bride

Graduate Research Papers

Exemplary educational leadership requires mastery of many essential skills. In order for a principal to be an effective instructional leader, one must support the success of all students by nurturing an environment based upon the school's developed vision. An instructional leader believes in, values, and is committed to the fact that all students have the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become successful adults. Each student is an individual with unique needs. An educational leader must be a proactive advocate for the needs of all children.

Dealing With Grief And Depression Issues In Schools, Nykole L. Conrad

Graduate Research Papers

Grief is an obstacle that every child and adolescent experiences at some point. Grief can cause or worsen depressive states. The number of children and adolescents that experience grief related depression has been rising at an alarming rate for the past few decades. Studies show that the frequency of grief and associated depression increases progressively from preschool years through adolescence. Approximately 5% of all adolescents are affected by depression. Grief is not the only cause of depression; however, grief related depression is an issue that warrants notice. It is important that school staff members are aware of the signs and …

Exercise : Nature's Defense Against Depression And Anxiety, Holly A. Dorenkamp

Graduate Research Papers

Exercise and mental health is a relatively new area of study within health care and mental health disciplines. Whereas many mental health professionals focus on the mental status of clients, research suggests that physical health, exercise in particular, has a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Currently, typical treatment approaches lean toward psychotropic medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. However, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are becoming so widespread that other effective and affordable treatment approaches and options are greatly needed and vital to the overall mental health of society. Utilizing exercise in the treatment …

A Commitment To Excellence In Educational Leadership: A Reflective Essay, Michelle A. Hunt

Graduate Research Papers

The role of a principal is an overwhelming one – many faceted, imbued with great responsibility and strict accountability. I know the perfect principal does not exist. The "perfect" robotic leader would have little, if any, positive impact on her learning community. There are, however, some very human characteristics that, if practiced, would positively contribute to the community's educational success.

These practices and values are set forth in this reflective essay. I am confident that those who share my vision – that every human being matters and makes a contribution to the entire learning community – will experience the joy …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Thomas Keegan Knight

Graduate Research Papers

The leadership quality is more of an art than a statement. A leader is a server and a debtor, whose first responsibility is to define reality and last responsibility is to say thank you (DePree, 1989). This paper will communicate my educational beliefs, the role of reflective practice in an educational setting, steps to follow in the change process and models, current research for improved learning in the classroom, as well as the importance of being a leader of service in a community. All of these elements are related to the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) and are pertinent …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Leona M. Mccall

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper I will discuss my educational beliefs, and how the current literature supports my vision for the future of education. Through my discourse I plan to affirm my mission for student achievement. As I proceed, it is my intent to convey what I believe to be essential for me as a leader of learning for the campus community. I will also express my views of the principal as change agent, along with my beliefs about service learning. As I culminate my educational beliefs, I will focus on how the Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) apply to the …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Nicholas A. Proud

Graduate Research Papers

Being a quality educational leader takes a great deal of time, effort, and experience, but it is a task that can be done successfully. The leader needs to be a reflective thinker, a leader of learning, a leader of change, and a service-minded individual. To perform and lead of all of these aspects effectively the leader must create positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and outside community patrons. Building positive relationships throughout the school community is essential. To assist others in reflection, to help people believe in the learning that is presented, and for everyone to trust you enough for …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Christopher A. Cartee

Graduate Research Papers

There are many issues facing today's educators and educational leaders. These issues are exactly why I decided to return to education after a career in law enforcement. I would like to tell you why I became an educator. I will also analyze the importance of using reflective practice as a principal or teacher. I will examine the current research pertaining to the role of the leader in terms of educational change, adult and student learning, and service.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education, Adam R. Booth

Graduate Research Papers

Every administrator at every school is different and every administrator has a different vision for their future. It is our job as educators to lead each student down the correct path. If one student's goal is to go straight to the work force after graduation, we as educators need to do everything we can for him/her to make sure he/she has the skills to be prepared. The same is true for the college bound student.

Successful leaders are those who have a vision of where their school needs to go. If a school did not have a vision, it would …

How Does Home Literacy Help Children?, Katie Pick

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature paper focuses on the importance of home literacy programs. The literature shows the importance of parental involvement in their children's formal and informal educational process. Children who are exposed to home literacy have learned literacy better than children who are not. Many literacy activities for home are described. Many schools offer home literacy programs to assist parents within the home. This review of literature has implications for parents and teachers who try to implement home literacy.

Year Round Schooling, Rita Danielle Fiala

Graduate Research Papers

Research investigating the.effects of year-round schooling on student academic achievement is reviewed in this paper. Traditional, balanced and multi-track calendars are explored and compared. Benefits and drawbacks of a balanced calendar and multi-track calendars are discussed. It is recommended that more long-term research should be conducted on alternative calendars. However, the data that is present suggests that the benefits of a balanced calendar are more prevalent than the traditional calendar.

The Benefits Of Collaboration And Co-Teaching In The Elementary Grades, Katherine Kelley Hoover

Graduate Research Papers

Collaboration between educators is an older concept that has become popular again in recent years. Due to the recent federal and state mandates, schools are implementing new teaching methods to raise school achievement and benefit all students. When collaborating, special education students are generally included in the general education classroom with two teachers co-teaching to meet the needs of the students. This paper will explore the importance of collaboration between general education and special education teachers and the benefits to all learners in the classroom.

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (Siop) : A Model For English Language Learners, Edith L. Bakley

Graduate Research Papers

With so many second language learners entering our public schools, it is imperative that educators prepare themselves with training and strategies to best meet the needs of these students. The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol, or SIOP Model, has been developed for the purpose of instructing English Language Learners (ELL) in mainstream classrooms and bestow effective methods for teaching all content areas, while promoting fluency of the English language. In this literature review, the components involved in the SIOP Model will be examined as well as the effects it has on second language learners and their ability with language fluency.

"Feelin' Blue, Oh What To Do?": Coping With Negative Emotions, Jana L. Brinkman

Graduate Research Papers

Over the past five years I have had the opportunity to work with children and youth, ages birth to eighteen, in a variety of environments. The settings in which I have interacted with children include nonprofit agency environments, after school programs, church environments, parks and recreation programs, individual and small group counseling sessions, classroom guidance settings, and home environments. My own observations and experiences along with those of parents, school staff, university faculty, fellow undergraduate and graduate students, and co-workers have supported my conclusion that children from early childhood to high school youth struggle with knowing how to appropriately respond …

The Impact Of Nutrition On Academic Achievement, Julie A. Long

Graduate Research Papers

The recent increase of obesity and malnourishment among students has prompted many researchers to question the effects of such lifestyles on the students' health and academic areas. Many factors are to be associated with the lack of knowledge and initiative to make amendments within the system. In addition, many steps can be taken to implement the correct changes. This paper outlines the causes of malnutrition, the affects of poor nutrients, the vitality of specific nutrient, and ways to help the problems cease. Attention to the strong research and statistics, leads to transformation of the traditions and barriers of individuals choosing …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Christopher J. Robertson

Graduate Research Papers

Educational administration is an extremely complex profession, which offers many opportunities and challenges. I am intrigued at the complexity of issues that administrators are faced with on a daily basis. The most complete field of study could not possibly prepare a person for every situation that will arise. School leaders of today have an awesome responsibility. Leadership is a key component of being an effective administrator. Leadership is a difficult concept to define and there are many definitions. Leadership is the ability to take someone where they could not and would not go alone.

Why Students In The Hispanic Culture Dropout Of School?, Lori A. Schoenauer

Graduate Research Papers

Many Hispanic students, almost 1/3, dropout of high school, and it is important to understand the factors leading to this extremely high dropout rate (Munk, 2004). While only 9% of white and 12% of black students dropout of high school, the number of Hispanic dropouts is on the rise. The increase in Hispanic dropouts is not fully understood; however, research has shown that factors such as the parent's education, involvement, low expectations, school attitude, limited English skills, limited school funding, and cultural differences contribute to Hispanic dropout.

The paper is organized into five different chapters. The first chapter discussed the …

The Impact Of Readers' Workshop In A First Grade Classroom, Tara Lynn Seery

Graduate Research Papers

In this research I describe the Readers' Workshop approach, the impact that it has on a first graders' motivation, self-selection, and comprehension. This study was implemented during the 2006-2007 school year over a six week period. The observations at the beginning of the study indicated that the three focus students in this study lacked motivation, struggled with self-selection, and were in need of assistance to develop their comprehension skills. However, as Readers' Workshop was implemented, the students began to develop motivation to read on their own. They developed interests in books, and their comprehension strategies improved.

Self-Injury And The School Counselor, Carla J. Wosoba

Graduate Research Papers

Self-injury is an issue that has increasingly attracted the attention of school counselors in recent years. School counselors have daily contact with students and are thus an important resource for working with adolescents who self-injure. This paper provides an overview of self-injury including demographics and risk factors, followed by ethical considerations for school counselors such as confidentiality, professional competence, and referral. The school counselor's role is addressed, providing suggestions for assessment, prevention, and interventions for use with students who self-injure.

An Administrator's Look At Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Mark Musker

Graduate Research Papers

My goal in education is obvious: students will develop their own presence of learning. The positive experience they have in school will help them grow into world-class learners. As an educator I empower my students, for at least one day, to know that this is their day to be special. Then I repeat that process for all of them the next day, the next month, and the following years.

Leadership is easy to talk about but difficult to implement. A leader does not solve other people's problems for them. I do believe that a problem will no longer exist, if …