Digital Commons Network^™

Principal Leadership And Its Perceived Influence On Teacher Morale In Elementary Schools., Anne Runyan Littleford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to construct a theoretical framework explaining the connection between principal leadership practices and the phenomenon of teacher morale. The study also focused on principal leadership practices and the perceived effects that style has on how teachers feel about themselves and their jobs. First, a review of extant literature defined what constitutes effective leadership in school related environments. Second, the researcher defined teacher morale, both high and low, and how it relates to work performance. Third, the researcher attempted to explore how teacher morale and the leadership style of their principals relate.

This qualitative …

Student Connection: How Graduate Assistants Of Rowan University Connect To The Campus Community, Janelle R. M. Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how graduate assistants at Rowan University, Glassboro campus connect to the campus community using socialization theory. Data collection consisted of interviews of 10 randomly selected first and second year graduate students during the 2006-07 academic school year. The interviews were conducted at Rowan University during the spring 2007 semester. On average the interviews took about 25 minutes to conduct. Participants were interviewed to see how the graduate assistants felt about graduate school and their programs of study. Interviews were transcribed into a word document and then analyzed for common themes.

The study …

Lmx Theory Related To Administrator And Educator Perceptions, Theodore Mauro

All Dissertations

Retaining qualified special educators has been a persistent challenge for school districts nationwide. Given that research findings have identified the presence of a supportive principal as a vital factor in the retention of special educators, it is imperative that this pressing issue be further examined. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the perceptions of principals (ADM), general educators (GET), and special educators (SET) across nine schools in a South Carolina school district regarding what constitutes a supportive and collaborative school environment. Specifically, (a) do administrators, educators and special educators have different perceptions of the collaborative nature …

The Effect Of A Required Character Education And Class-Wide Peer Tutoring Program On 5th-Grade Students’ Reading And Writing Performance, Anthony P. Dancer

Student Work

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a required school year long Character Education and Class-Wide Peer Tutoring program (CE+CWPT) for students who scored at or below proficiency in one, two, or three of their reading fluency, reading comprehension, or writing assessments at the beginning of their 5th-grade school year. The study analyzed performance on criterion referenced tests, performance on norm-referenced tests, behavioral referrals, and attendance to determine what relationship, if any, exists between levels of achievement amongst students participating in a required CE+CWPT program. Following a year of program participation, 5th-grade students with one or …

Preferred Coaching Behaviors Of Male And Female Basketball Players: Gender And Level Of Competition, Ryan Kettler

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate similarities and differences in coaching preferences among male and female basketball players based on gender and level of competition. Participants were 20 male and female basketball programs (2 NCAA Division I Teams, 4 High School Teams, and 4 Middle School Teams). The ages of the players ranged between 12 -24 years of age, with males and females having a comparable age distribution. The instrument used to collect data was the revised Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS) athlete preference version (Zhang & Jensen, 1997). The results of the statistical analyses using a two …

Leadership-Influenced Practices That Impact Classroom Instruction Related To Writing: A Case Study Of A Successful Elementary School, Barb Johnson

Dissertations

This research studied the practices of educators at an ethnically diverse suburban elementary school which had demonstrated success in the area of student writing, even among at-risk students. The overall research goal was to examine to what extent and how leadership-related practices impacted classroom instruction in a manner that helped produce successful writing scores. A case study approach was used to explore four key leadership-related practices (supervision, curriculum, professional development, and knowledgeable leaders) and their impact on classroom literacy-based instructional strategies.

The study participants included two leaders and fourteen teachers from a single elementary school located in a metropolitan Michigan …

A Study Of The Attitudes Of Selected African American Students Toward Leadership & Black Greek Letter Organizations, Elora L. Crump

Theses and Dissertations

The participants in this study consisted of 76 African-American students at Rowan University in the spring 2005 semester. The purpose of the study was to replicate the research of Kimbrough (1995) exploring the attitudes of two groups of selected African American students regarding the impact of Black Greek organizations on the development of personal leadership. Subjects completed a survey indicating their level of leadership skills and activities, attitudes of Black Greek organizations and their leadership, along with demographic information. Members of Black Greek organizations (BGOs) and-non-members were compared to determine if there were attitudinal differences. The information collected from the …

Student-Athletes And Involvement Theory, Thomas F. J. Iacovone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to better understand the level of involvement student athletes have at Rowan University. The researcher surveyed 99 student athletes at Rowan University during the 2006-2007 academic year. The subjects were administered a survey to measure their level of involvement, as well as their attitudes toward involvement at Rowan University. Surveys were statistically analyzed to determine frequency, percentages, means, standard deviations, and significant correlations between selected demographics and specific involvement activities.

The study provides insight on the relationship between student athletes' academic performance and their level of involvement, as well as insight on relationships between …

The Impact Of Option-In Longevity Enrollment Patterns On Student Achievement, Behavior, And Engagement Outcomes, Andrew J. Rikli

Student Work

The impact of option-in longevity patterns on student achievement, behavior, and engagement outcomes was evaluated. The seventh-grade pretest compared the seventhgrade posttest gains made by students who were enrolled short-term (n = 46) as they completed their first year in a middle school setting indicated that the exposure to a consistent and equitable educational program continued to result in positive student outcomes. Levels of performance for option-in students were also found to be congruent with the posttest achievement, behavior, and engagement data for students who are residents of the district (n = 46). School choice options and longevity within a …

Impact Of Standardized Testing Emphasis On Teaching And Learning In Kindergarten Through 12th Grade In United States Schools: East Tennessee Principals' Perspectives., Terri Dodge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pressure to perform on standardized tests in the United States has become intense. Increased accountability has caused principals to think about their perceptions of standardized testing with regard to accountability measures, test validity, use of test data, impact of testing on the curriculum, and stress related to testing. The purpose of this study was to investigate kindergarten- through 12th-grade principals' perceptions of standardized testing. The study included 91 principals of Title I and nonTitle I schools located in 8 rural East Tennessee school districts. Data were gathered using a survey instrument to determine principals' opinions of standardized testing.

There …

Perceived Leadership Practices Of Principals-Coaches And Principals-Noncoaches., Tony Edward Tipton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of self-reported leadership practices using the Kouzes and Posner Leadership Practices Inventory between high school principals in North Carolina who were coaches with those principals who were not coaches. This quantitative study was conducted using a survey-design method in which all 368 public high school principals in North Carolina were given the opportunity to participate. A Principal Demographic sheet along with the 2003 edition of Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Self- Form was used to gather information regarding the principals' perceptions of their leadership practices. The response rate …

An Analysis Of The Attitudes Of Higher Education Leaders In 18 High-Immigration States About The Appropriateness Of Providing Education Benefits To Undocumented Immigrants., Elizabeth Feranchak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of public higher education must meet the challenges presented by providing education services to the significantly increasing number of undocumented students. However, public policy has not clearly addressed undocumented immigrants' residency status in regard to college and university admissions standards. This issue will affect education leaders in public institutions of higher education who have the authority to define admissions criteria and influence state legislation.

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of higher education leaders' attitudes toward the appropriateness of providing education benefits for undocumented immigrants. Data collected from 384 returned surveys representing 18 states were …

A Study Of Collaborative School-University Partnerships Involving Teams Of Educators From Bulgaria And The United States, Edward L. Diden

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to analyze collaborations involving three teams of educators participating in a school-university partnership, the "My Place, Your Place, Our Place: Integrating Education for the Neighborhood and the World" project. The three groups of educators included the Tennessee team (a school-university partnership), the Bulgaria team (a school-university partnership), and the setting created by the combination of both (a cross-cultural integration).

The conceptual framework for this research was based upon Sarason’s (1972) work, The Creation of Settings and the Future Societies. Due to the intercultural nature of this project, Hofstede and Hofstede’s (2005) five …

Organizational Health And Student Achievement Gains In Elementary Schools, Christopher Lee Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations

With increasing pressures to improve student performance, schools are in need of ways to positively affect student achievement that they can control. The concept of organizational health, which includes academic emphasis, teacher affiliation, collegial leadership, resource influence, and institutional integrity, offers educators an opportunity to gauge the climate of their building and in turn positively affect academic outcomes. Using Hoy and Tarter’s (1997) concept of organizational health in elementary schools as a conceptual framework, this study undertook a mixed method approach to examining the relationship between organizational health and student achievement gains in elementary schools. The Organizational Health Inventory-Elementary Version, …

Articulation Trends In Allied Health Programs, Felicia M. Toreno

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

The educational environment emphasizes student access to instructional opportunities. Many health programs are located in community colleges or hospitals, and in order to advance educational status, students must be able to transfer credits between multiple educational institutions. Unfortunately, programs are not uniform and many fields of study are guided by strict accreditation regulations. These conflicting requirements often make transfer for students cumbersome. Transfer pathways are often considered by institutions on a program by program basis. This research was designed to analyze the existing pathways present in urban Virginian allied health programs in order to establish trends in articulation. These instructional …

A Study Of Student Involvement At Rowan University, Joseph P. Lizza

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine the reasons why students get involved in student organizations, the benefits perceived by being involved, and the impact of the "highly involved" student. Seventy-five undergraduate students from Rowan University participated in the study by completing a survey that asked about involvement in a Student Government (SGA) chartered organization, Greek Life, and Varsity Athletics and the perceived learning outcomes associated with involvement. A follow-up interview was conducted with four students who completed the survey in order to more fully answer the question of what motivated and characterized the highly involved student. The survey inquired about …

A Study Investigating The Opinions And Experiences Of Selected Teachers Regarding Teacher Bullying, Christian A. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the opinions and experiences of selected teachers regarding teacher bullying at Triton High School. The researcher surveyed teachers with instructional responsibilities. A total of 70 out of 100 teachers participated in the survey. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that measured teacher experience with bullying, interpersonal dynamics of bullying teachers, the causes of bullying, and personal experience of bullying. Surveys were statistically analyzed to determine frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations on the opinion factors.

The study provides insight on the opinions and experiences of teachers regarding teacher bullying. Teachers at …

A Pilot Study Investigating The Sophomore Experience At Rowan University, David R. Stuart Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of the study was to develop and pilot test an instrument to better understand the sophomore experience at Rowan University. The study investigated the importance and level of satisfaction of factors that contribute to the sophomore experience. Of particular interest was to identify those factors which are controlled by the university, so that improvements can be made in order to better serve students. The study was conducted at Rowan University during the 2007 spring semester of the academic year. A total of 574 students chose to participate in the study. The participants were asked to take the …

Acceptance Or Denial: What Matters Most In College Admissions, Lori Ann Getler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of selected college admissions officers regarding the most important criteria of a high school senior's application for admission into 4-year public undergraduate colleges and universities in New Jersey. The researcher surveyed admissions officers at eight 4-year public undergraduate colleges and universities in New Jersey. A total of 21 admissions officers participated in the survey. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that measured the weight given selected criteria contained in the application for admission to their institution. Surveys were statistically analyzed to determine the means, percentages and frequencies regarding the selected …

Leadership Issues, Concerns, And Competencies Of Senior Level Student Affairs Professionals: A Study Of A 4 Year Public University, Todd C. Brelsford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the leadership competencies commonly exhibited by selected student affairs professionals at a 4-year public university in the northeast. To have a deeper understanding of leadership within the field of student affairs, issues and concerns were investigated using relevant leadership theories (Eddy & VanDerLinden, 2006). The study sought to close the gap in the literature base by examining a division of student affairs from the director (or equivalent positions) up to the vice president of the division.

Twenty one participants were selected because of their rank of senior level student affairs professionals at …

The Impact Individualized Instruction With Learning Technologies Has On Student Achievement: New Directions For At-Risk Students With College Aspirations, Jorge Pena

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to measure the benefits of a remedial low-track academic program that includes individualized instruction using learning technologies by comparing the 9th grade Explore, 10th grade Plan, and 11th grade ACT standardized tests scores as a measure of academic achievement in English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning. A second purpose is to determine if there is a difference in academic achievement between male and female students that have experienced the same curriculum in a co-institutional single-sex schooling environment. The standardized test scores of male and female students from the class of 2007, the treatment group, …

The Leadership Style Of An Administrator: Influence On Teachers' Willingness To Implement Selected Instructional Strategies, Brenda Lopez Martinez

Masters Theses

This project examined an elementary public school principal with regard to their leadership style and how it influences classroom culture or climate. A 45- questionnaire was administered to one principal in a public school setting and a classroom survey instrument was administered to nine teachers in his building.

Significant findings based on literature in this project indicated a transformational leader was more inclined to support teachers and utilize different instructional modalities than a principal whose leadership style is transactional. The teacher survey collected data from teachers' perception about their administrator across different instructional domains. The researcher utilized statistical means to …

Experiences Of Michigan Elementary National Board Certification Candidates, Kristen L. Dewitt

Dissertations

Since 1987, over 55,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification (NBC), which is claimed to be the highest symbol of teaching excellence and an identifier of accomplished teaching. To become certified, teachers must demonstrate a clear understanding of rigorous standards as defined by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

This phenomenological study examined ten Michigan elementary National Board Certified Teachers and candidates in hopes of better understanding the roles that motivation, support and pressure played in their decisions to seek NBC, and the influence the process had on their teaching. Four critical findings were identified.

The first critical finding …

A Study Of Career Preparation Activities Used In Michigan’S Public High Schools, Brian L. Pyles

Dissertations

This study assessed the status of Michigan's Career Pathway high schools 2 years after state Career Preparation funding was terminated early, in order to determine the institutionalization of Career Pathway activities. In particular, this study examined the use of Career Pathway curriculum guides, Educational Development Plans (EDPs), student Career Pathway designations, student career assessments, work-based learning activities, alternative scheduling, college credits earned in high school, instructional strategies, teacher professional development, and Career Pathway high school planning committees. This study also ascertained the perceived helpfulness of having students declare a Career Pathway and using EDPs as a guide in the selection …

Planning An Employee Spanish Training Program At The Community College Level, Melissa A. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research the process of planning and creating an employee Spanish training program. The researcher determined employees' previous knowledge of the language and culture as well as training preferences utilizing two surveys (n = 120) and a personal interview (n = 15). Surveys were statistically analyzed using SPSS software to determine frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and the interviews were analyzed using a content analysis procedure. Research on adult learning theories, program planning theories and exemplary Spanish training programs complemented the quantitative and qualitative data collected.

The study revealed that CCC employees had …

Communication Theory Vs. Performance Skills: How Do Rowan Public Speaking Professors Weave Both Into Class Lectures?, Renai Ellison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how Rowan University public speaking professors blend the teaching of communication theory and performance skills in their classroom lectures. The researcher conducted one-on-one interviews and classroom observations of public speaking professors at Rowan. Five professors participated in the process. Each professor was asked open-ended questions which were created by the researcher to determine the specific methods used to impart knowledge about communication theory and performance skills. A classroom observation was conducted to provide confirmation and further elaboration of the information gathered from the interviews.

The study uncovered each professor's feelings and attitudes …

Evidence Of Heterarchical Planning Within Higher Education Institutions: Learning Garden Planning And Development At Rowan University, Sheri K. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes during the early stages of planning for an educational garden at Rowan University. This study also attempted to fill the gap in the literature that exists between garden planning and development and planning at higher education institutions. The investigator surveyed 20 committee members involved in this large-scale project, in addition to interviewing six committee members who were considered key stakeholders and have displayed high levels of involvement during the initial stages of the project. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that looked for the emergence of heterarchical practices during the development …

Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Study Of Rowan University Faculty, Sean C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of Rowan University faculty regarding accommodations for students with learning disabilities. A survey was sent to 350 full-time assistant, associate, and full professors from Rowan University's six colleges. The study aimed to discover what instructional, exam, policy, as well as university accommodations faculty members were willing to make for students with learning disabilities. The demographic data of age, gender, college, years teaching experience were correlated with the attitudinal statements included in the survey. The study revealed that, overall, faculty were willing to make accommodations for students with learning disabilities.

Journey To Leadership: Women Administrators In Architecture, Margaret Woosnam

All Dissertations

Of the 114 accredited architecture programs within colleges and universities across America, only 18 (or 16%) employ females at the highest administrative positions as deans, directors, chairs, or heads. Despite this statistic, nearly 50% of all graduates from architecture programs are female. Little is known about women administrators in architectural education, perhaps because of the fact that there are so few.
The central question that guided this research study is as follows: What personal and professional factors characterize 10 women employed as administrators in nationally accredited architecture programs, departments, schools, and colleges in American institutions of higher education? Additionally, this …

The Effect Of Instructional Delivery Method On Interaction And Satisfaction In Distance Education Courses At A Community College, Laurie Fladd

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of four formats of distance education instructional delivery (Course-in-a-Bag, Instructional Television, Online, and Mixed Mode) on interaction and satisfaction. A second purpose was to determine if significant relationships existed between the four types of interaction and satisfaction in each of the four formats of instruction.
The setting of the study was a community college in the Southeastern United States. The majority of the participants in the study were women (81%), Caucasian (63%), above the age of 25 (64%) and most participants were enrolled in online courses (79%).
The methodology …