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A Descriptive Study Of The Student Support Team Process In Elementary Schools In Georgia, Sarah Walls

Legacy ETDs

The goal of this descriptive study was to present basic information describing the Student Support Team (SST) process in elementary schools in Georgia. The research method used for the study was a quantitative analysis of data collected from a survey of randomly selected SST coordinators in elementary schools across the state. Results from the study were used to address research questions on the following topics: (a) percentage of student population involved in SST, (b) reasons students are referred to SST, (c) goals that drive the SST process, (d) individuals serving as members and coordinators of Student Support Teams, (e) tasks …

An Analysis Of Perceptions Of Online Instruction By Department Chairs In The Field Of Higher Educational Administration In The United States, Edna Lynn Levernier

Legacy ETDs

The rapid global emergence of a multi-billion dollar electronic (e)-leaming industry has forced department chairs in the field of educational leadership and administration in higher education institutions across the United States to assess the value, quality, and legitimacy of online instruction. For many, the concept of online education significantly challenges deeply held pedagogical beliefs and educational values such as academic freedom, protection of intellectual property rights, academic integrity, and quality. For others, the "fit" of online education with existing departmental and institutional mission statements, cultures, budgets, reward systems, policies and procedures, is unclear or uncertain. In an age where "technology …

The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Referendum And The Financing Of Public School Capital Projects In Georgia, Kathy Cox Peavy

Legacy ETDs

Although taxes have risen across the nation, funding for public school capital projects still remains a critical need in education. The public outcry for no new taxes has given arise to various types of creative funding for capital projects. The use of a 1-cent sales tax for educational purposes is one type of new funding for capital projects. This study was a mixed-method, descriptive design study gathering quantitative and qualitative data on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum in Georgia. Fifty-seven school districts in Georgia, with an approved SPLSOT referendum on March 18. 1997, along with four school …

Training Needs Of School Board Members As Perceived By School Board Chairpersons And Superintendents In Georgia, Johnny W. Robertson Iii

Legacy ETDs

This study explored how the school superintendents and school board chairpersons perceived the training needs of school board members across the state of Georgia. The study examined how superintendents and school board chairpersons perceived the actual and ideal knowledge level of school board members on six educational issues (student achievement, budget, school reform, curriculum, public relations, and the roles and responsibilities of school board members and superintendents).

The study utilized a self-designed survey questionnaire to address the research questions. The 20 item questionnaire had respondents rate both the actual and ideal knowledge level of school board members in order to …

The Infusion Of Higher Education In The U.S. Army: A Sociolinguistic Study Of An Organizational Information Dissemination Process, Gerald Allen Kehr

Legacy ETDs

The present research was dedicated to uncovering sociolinguistic coupling mechanisms, specifically the metaphor, and their role in the infusion of higher education in the U S .Army It was argued that levels of ambiguity connected to inter-sociolect lexicons embedded within sociolect-specific metaphors may impede effective communication between officers and senior enlisted personnel regarding the role of higher education in the overall U. S. Army mission Information gained from this research is dedicated to the development of how the U.S military can better infuse higher education into its ongoing professional development programs. A qualitative interview method was used to conduct the …

The Relationship Between Computer Skills And The Levels Of Technostress Among Faculty And Academic Librarians From Selected Institutions Within The University System Of Georgia, Sonya Senithia Gaither Shepherd

Legacy ETDs

The struggle to adjust to rapid technological change has increased for the majority of the population, especially those in higher education. Change is an inevitable part of society and each individual handles change differently. Furthermore, technology's effect on society, and in particular on higher education, has been positive and negative. There has been resistance to the increased development and use of technology and this resistance may be dependent upon certain factors such as age, sex, and computer experience.

The intent of this study was to determine if computer skills relate to the levels of technostress among faculty in the Colleges …

Georgia Southern University's Mentoring Administrators Program: A Program Evaluation, Gina Gibbs Williams

Legacy ETDs

High stakes accountability in education has changed nearly everything in school leadership. In the past, principals were expected to simply hold school each day with classes running smoothly and in an orderly fashion. Rising expectations have prompted state legislatures across the United States to implement high stakes accountability systems that hold schools responsible for student achievement. The responsibility for raising student achievement rests student achievement. The responsibility for raising student achievement rests one way to cultivate and make ready new administrators for the challenges that they will face as they begin their careers.

The purpose of this study was to …

The Level Of Involvement Of Georgia's Principals In Providing Inclusive Special Education Services, Marie Penkunas Klofenstine

Legacy ETDs

Increased responsibility of principals for all programs, including special education, comes at a time when administrative training provides minimal information on special education programs (Malloy 1996). Even though the trend in Georgia toward more inclusive practices has resulted in a call for major changes in teacher education programs, there have been little changes requiring principals to be competent, knowledgeable, or to take coursework related to special education administration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of involvement of Georgia's school principals in special education service delivery in their schools. The dependent variables were three specific categories related …

The Perception Of Ceos And Cios In Regard To Planning And Information Systems Success In Higher Education In The Southeastern United States, Howard Chambless Woodard

Legacy ETDs

As information systems become an ever-increasing part of the educational infrastructure, their successful implementation and operation become paramount and strategic. It appears that information systems have not been utilized in a paramount or strategic fashion by education, especially in organizations of higher education.

The intent of this research was to identify the perceptions of the presidents/chief executive officers (CEOs) and the senior information systems executive'chief information officers (CIOs) in not-for-profit institutions of higher education, accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and whose highest conferred degree is a master's degree or higher. The study reviewed certain institutional and …

Educational Administrators' Perceptions Of The Use Of School Performance Profiles To Improve Student Performances, Eleanor Jean Janufka

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to examine educational administrators' perceptions of the use of school performance profiles to improve student performances. Using a survey instrument developed and validated at the University of Texas at El Paso, the perceptions of Chatham County administrators were examined and analyzed. Through the analysis of the open-ended questions and the Likert scale survey, the administrators' responses clearly showed that they accept the use of the school performance profiles to improve student performances, but they have doubts about the fairness of the documents as accountability measures. In addition, a significant difference was identified between the …

Student Perceptions And Use Of Electronic Financial Aid Service Delivery, Kerri L. Chapman

Legacy ETDs

Few argue the premise that financial aid is one of the most vital services offered to college students. Over fifty percent of today's college tuition is actually paid by some form of student aid, whether it is from federal, state, private, or institutional resources. The public perception of the role of financial aid has changed drastically since its inception, the acceleration of which over the past decade has been staggering. The face of higher education itself has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts, with technological advancements at the forefront of the change. Technology has revolutionized the way we do business in …

School Choice: Perceptions Of Magnet Schools And Charter School Principals And Parents In Georgia, Mark Lee Boyd

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of parents and administrators in selected magnet schools and charter schools in Georgia. The intent was to give administrators of schools in Georgia an understanding of which parents in Georgia are most apt to make a school choice. Additionally, the study was aimed at providing administrators with an understanding of the factors parents considered when selecting a school for their children and what sources of information the parents utilized to find information necessary to make a choice.

To collect data, a survey was distributed to parents and administrators in six magnet …

Superintendents' Perceptions Regarding The Impact Of Class Size Reduction On School Facility Planning In Georgia, Andrea Jones Williams

Legacy ETDs

During the 2000 legislative session, Georgia lawmakers felt there was a need to improve education in Georgia. The A-Plus Education Reform Act of 2000 was passed in response to their concerns. One section of this act mandated that public schools reduce class sizes. This mandated reduction in class size has had different impacts on Georgia school systems. Successful implementation has been a daunting task for some school systems. School systems have reported different experiences and challenges during the initial phases of implementation. Problem areas have ranged from a lack of classroom space to teacher availability. These problems hav e been …

Georgia High School Principals' Perceptions Of Inclusion, James Timothy Yarborough

Legacy ETDs

While considerable research has been conducted concerning the perceptions of teachers regarding the practice of inclusion, there is little corresponding research about the perceptions of principals towards inclusion. Also, much ofthe existing research is contradictory. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide educational policymakers with data regarding inclusion. Since principals are responsible for designing and instituting inclusion programs at the school level, their current and prevailing perceptions regarding inclusion were the missing pieces of the information puzzle.

In an attempt to fill this void, the researcher created a survey with quantitative and qualitative components. The survey was distributed …

Reasons For Collaboration Among European And African American Greek Councils, James David Louk

Legacy ETDs

The study examines the barriers that inhibit collaboration between traditionally European-American fraternities and sororities and historically African-American fraternities and sororities. In the study, 176 members of the fraternity/sorority community responded to the survey. The survey was developed by the researcher to address issues of collaboration between similar governing council's member organizations, reasons for collaboration with organizations in the different governing council, as well as to explore reasons collaboration had not occurred. Membership in a governing council was used as the defining variable to different responses. The results indicated that lack of knowledge ofthe cross racial council's member organizations and members …

A Description Of New Teacher Induction Programs In The State Of Georgia, Judi Harris Wilson

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to descriptively analyze new teacher induction programs across the state of Georgia regarding the support programs school districts provided for new teachers. Subjects for this study were 500 randomly selected Georgia teachers who completed their first year of teaching during the 1999-2000 school year. Participation in this study required that the subjects complete and return a survey developed in 1990 by Dr. Shelby Talley and modified by the researcher for this study. There were 327 surveys returned with a collective response rate of 65.4%.

This study found that induction practices to socialize new teachers …

The Personal And Professional Backgrounds Of Georgia's Female High School Principals, Marjorie H. Hamilton

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to describe the personal and professional backgrounds of the female public high school principals in Georgia. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to conduct the research. A demographic questionnaire, which included items addressing personal, educational, and professional background information, was mailed to all of the identified female public high school principals for the 2000--2001 school year. The quantitative data analysis resulting from the demographic questionnaire is presented in the narrative form with corresponding tables. The final item on the questionnaire asked whether or not the respondent would participate in a long, in-depth interview …

The Role Of Mentoring In Developing Professional And Personal Competencies For School Administrators, Marguerite Verble Shook

Legacy ETDs

In the state of Georgia and across the nation there was a shortage of principals. A new supply of administrators was needed to guide education through the 21st century. These leaders needed updated knowledge and skills to address the needs of an educational system affected by educational reform. Effective leadership allowed administrators to view situations in both the eyes of management and leadership. A mentoring program for beginning administrators provided guidance in developing these skills and in recruiting and retaining individuals for these critical positions.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of a mentoring program for …

What Principals Do To Minimize The Negative Effects Of The Incompetent Teacher, Georgia S. Collins

Legacy ETDs

Principals and teachers are being held increasingly accountable for student achievement. Every effort should be made to increase the chances of student success in school and in the global community. In this study, the researcher examined the perceptions of principals in the state of Georgia with regard to incompetent teachers, which according to the professional literature are a deterrent to student achievement. As previous research and literature have shown, incompetent teachers remain in school systems despite efforts of building-level administrators to dismiss them. The main focus of this study was to determine the means of minimizing the negative effect of …

The Relationship Of Financial Resources With Academic Achievement In Georgia Public Schools, Charles Richard Webb

Legacy ETDs

This study was intended to determine if certain financial resources were related to academic achievement in Georgia public schools. Four predictor variables representing different financial resources were compared with a criterion variable representing different financial resources were compared with a criterion variable representing differences were statistically held constant to reduce their possible effects. The four financial variables were Per-Pupil Expenditure, Average Teacher Salary, Per-Pupil Local Revenue, and Per-Pupil District Wealth, all measured by dollar amounts. The criterion variable was the Georgia High School Graduation Test Pass Rate, measured by percent for each school district. The three covariates were socioeconomic status, …

Role Perceptions Of Long-Term Georgia Curriculum Directors, Donovan Evans Hodges

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of the study was to describe the role perceptions of long-term Georgia curriculum directors who had been in that position at least 15 years. A qualitative method was used to conduct the research.

Employing a research instrument composed of 15 questions designed to elicit responses relating to five research subquestions, the researcher interviewed eight long-term Georgia curriculum directors to ascertain their perceptions of how their roles had evolved over their tenures. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded for recurring patterns and themes by the researcher along with the use of QSR NUD.IST 5 software.

The most common …

Georgia Elementary Principals' Role Perceptions: The Initial Phase Of The A+ Act, Amy Z. Wright

Legacy ETDs

The study explored the role of the Georgia elementary principal as the initial phase of comprehensive educational reform was implemented in the state. The study examined 320 principals' personal and professional demographics, role change as a result of implementation of selected law components, and district support during the transition phase.

The study employed a descriptive, survey approach to address the research questions. A self-designed survey questionnaire was developed to explore principals' perceptions of role change during restructuring, and included both a qualitative and quantitative orientation.

Findings indicated that the majority ofthe 320 Georgia elementary principals who responded to the survey …

Perceptions Of The Visionary Leadership Of Assistant Principals In Georgia Middle Schools, Christopher John Lemieux

Legacy ETDs

This study was intended to explore the visionary leadership of assistant principals in public middle schools. A study of this type conducted on a statewide basis provided empirical information on the visionary leadership of assistant principals as perceived by themselves and their respective teachers in Georgia middle schools. Since a limited amount of research existed on the visionary leadership role of middle school assistant principals, this study helped to fill a void in the current professional literature. Quantitative research methodology was used to analyze data generated from The Leadership Profile surveys, principals' middle school concept implementation surveys, and the assistant …

A Descriptive Study Of Public Alternative Schools In Georgia, Willie James Wiley

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to identify the types of alternative schools in Georgia, to describe the characteristics of the alternative schools, and their students, and to determine the primary goals of the alternative schools. The descriptive information was collected from 97 public alternative schools. The data collected by a 44 item multiple response survey included the perceptions of Georgia's alternative school administrators. The survey items were developed from a literature search and site visits to five different models of alternative schools in a large urban school system The responses were categorized to calculate the range, mean, percentages, and …

Barriers To Female Principals: Perceptions Of Female High School Administrators In Georgia, Jane Spires Hilliard

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this study was to determine what factors female high school principals and assistant principals in Georgia perceived as barriers to women entering high school principalships. The factors presented to the participants were determined by a thorough review of the literature. A survey instrument with two sections was developed. Section one consisted of 12 factors often mentioned as barriers to women entering high school principalships. These factors were rated on a Likert scale which ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Participants were also given the opportunity to list any other factors they perceived as barriers. The second …

Rediscovering Educational Giants: African American Schools In Bulloch County, Georgia 1920-1949, Enola Gay Smith Mosley

Legacy ETDs

This study provided in depth knowledge of the forty-three African American schools existing in Bulloch County, Georgia, between the years 1920 and 1949. The three areas studied were their physical appearances, their curricular aspects, and their funding practices. The first area dealt with their external physical appearances and the internal environment of each school. The next area concerned their curricular aspects. Information such as subjects taught, teachers, supervision, length of the school year and school day, and school closing exercises was presented. The last area concerned the funding practices of these schools. This study included Rosenwald, Barrett-Roger, and Smith-Hughes funding …

Existence Of And Responses To Violence In Georgia Elementary Schools, Marie Craig Hooks

Legacy ETDs

Most elementary schools throughout the nation are safe environments in which young children are achieving and flourishing. However, as the literature confirms that elementary schools are experiencing an increase in incidents of school violence (Petersen, 1997, National Parent Teacher Association, 1993, Sauerwein, 1995), it is imperative that principals examine both proactive and reactive means of responding to these violence issues should they arise in their schools. Disciplinary consequences addressing violent acts which have been used historically in secondary and middle schools are not always available to elementary principals nor are they developmentally appropriate for young perpetrators of violent acts.

The …

Perceptions Of Georgia Public Secondary School Principals And Counselors Regarding Counseling Program Tasks, Dorothy Frances Hall Hardy

Legacy ETDs

The purpose of this research was to determine if the perceptions of public secondary school principals and counselors differed as to actual and desired involvements of secondary school counselors in appropriate and inappropriate counseling program tasks. The counseling program tasks used for this study were specified in Sharing the Vision: The National Standards for School Counseling Programs, a publication of the American School Counselor Association.

Two survey instruments were developed using the appropriate and inappropriate counseling program tasks. Section I consisted of Likert scales for responses to actual and desired involvement in each task area. Section II asked for …

Student Leaders: Are There Differences With Institutional Satisfaction?, Ginny L. Van Rie

Legacy ETDs

This quantitative study investigates differences in student leaders" satisfaction with their institution. An adapted form of the ACT Student Opinion Survey (four-year-form) is administered to 103 student leaders representing two types of leadership positions, those selected or hired by the institution and those elected by their peers. Descriptive statistics and independent t-tests indicate only 2 significant differences in the satisfaction areas assessed. Both groups of student leaders tend to have moderate to high levels of satisfaction with their institution. However, selected/hired student leaders have more homogeneous satisfaction scores than the student leaders elected by their peers. Hired student leaders indicate …

Georgia's Globally-Minded Principals: Backgrounds, Attitudes, And Perceptions, Catherine Cummings Wooddy

Legacy ETDs

This study sought to provide information concerning the high school principal's global-mindedness and whether that global-mindedness had an effect on globally focused teaching and programming within that school. The study also attempted to identity demographic and background factors, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that have an association with the global-mindedness of the person. Underlying the study was the premise that today's students need to be prepared for the globalized world in which they will live, that their preparation will come primarily from school and home, that educators must understand the globalized world if they are to prepare students, and that the …