The Integration Of The Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council Into A Post-Secondary Education Tri-Cameral Governance Institution, Heather Mccagg-Nystrom

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The 2015 release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) final report documented the historical impact of Canadian Indigenous residential schools through 94 Calls to Action requiring redress. Supporting post-secondary institution (PSI) educational reconciliation, Calls to Action #62 appeals to incorporate Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) knowledge, philosophies and approaches into the post-secondary system which has historically been built on a Western colonial worldview. An arctic Canadian PSI (referred to by the pseudonym Big River College, BRC) has made reconciliation an institutional priority, as it aligns with BRC strategic, academic, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plans. Consequently, this …

Thriving Schools: The Role Of Middle Leadership During Change, Michelle M. Juhasz-Stevens

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

European Academy (EA; a pseudonym) has recently become authorised as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, with full implementation of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Career-related Programme (CP) in addition to the Diploma Programme (DP) which has already been in place for 25 years. This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) presents a problem of practice (PoP) that addresses the sense of overwhelm associated with large scale change in schools and the approaches that mitigate cultural impact. This DiP is informed by EA’s legacy as an international school at the forefront of innovation which compels leadership to seek MYP …

When Good Intentions Aren't Good Enough: Dismantling Colonial Praxis In Educational Leadership, Peter Francis Barron

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Addressing the inequitable educational outcomes of Indigenous students in K-12 education in Alberta is a moral imperative, a mandate of the provincial government and a response to Call to Action #10 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This dissertation-in-practice, viewed through the lens of critical theory, interrogates systemic barriers within Three Bear Hills School Division (a pseudonym) that hinder Indigenous students' graduation and post-secondary transition rates. Indigenous students in K-12 education are adversely impacted by the influence of settler colonialism on leadership praxis, as evidenced by the achievement gap discourse, deficit thinking, and unconscious bias. These factors lead to the …

No Longer Eating Their Young, But Eating Their Own: Developing Capacity To Decrease Lateral Aggression Among Nurses And Leaders, Janny Proba

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Nursing is generally known as a profession of caring. The public identifies these professionals as one of the most trusted roles in a healthcare setting. Despite this, many behaviours contradict this paradigm. These uncivil behaviours may be overt or subtle, but they are contributing to a psychologically unsafe environment where nursing instability and increased turnover threaten the ability to provide competent care for current and future patients. The nursing literature often refers to the term, eating their young, to summarize a harmful concept where experienced nurses neglect, betray, or belittle junior nurses who are in need of support from …

Toward Inclusive Excellence: Forging Inclusive Police Organizations Through Leadership Training And Development, Tiffany A. Castell

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Over the last several years, social and political events both in Canada and abroad, have resulted in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) being brought to the forefront in society, and intensifying calls for police reform. Police organizations, like many others, have responded with a greater commitment to address these issues through things like DEI training, policy changes, and targeted recruitment of diverse employees. However, these efforts have failed to yield the desired change. Due to the tendency in police organizations to provide leadership training after employees have entered senior leadership positions, as well as the tendency to …

Homeschooling And Publicly Funded Education - Achieving The Best Of Both Worlds, Thomas D'Amico

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) provides a roadmap to address the trend of increased numbers of parents choosing homeschooling in the Central Catholic School Board (CCSB, a pseudonym). The CCSB is a publicly funded Ontario Catholic school district serving more than 40,000 students across a mixed urban, rural, and suburban region. A critical theory approach to addressing the increase in homeschooling by students from underserved marginalized communities provides an explicit focus on social justice. The selected solution to address the complex problem is a system-wide implementation of flexi-schooling. A future state sees flexi-schooling providing alternatives to status quo structures by allowing personalized …

Imagining The Possibilities: Co-Creating School-Wide Equity, Belonging, And Success, Suzanne L. Martin

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) seeks to address the growing opportunity gap adversely impacting marginalized students at an Albertan elementary school. Through a critical theoretical lens, this DiP interrogates the various systemic barriers, contextual factors, and educator biases that perpetuate and reinforce socially and academically stratified learning opportunities that restrict holistic student engagement, belonging, and success. Despite teachers’ desire to meet the needs of all students, increasing levels of student diversity and complexity are decreasing the effectiveness of the school’s traditional pedagogical practices and structures. Employing a blended transformative and compassionate leadership approach, critically educative possibilities towards deep cultural …

Passport To Prosperity: Enhancing Student Advising And Support For International Students At An Ontario College, Cory J. Seney-Coletta

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

International students are underserviced and increasingly unsupported in Ontario’s post-secondary education system. This dissertation-in-practice (DiP) explores the complex challenges confronting international students in Ontario, with a primary focus on Polytechnic College. Through an in-depth analysis of existing literature and institutional practices, the DiP uncovers gaps in current support systems and proposes strategic interventions, particularly within student advising services, to address these gaps. Embracing principles of inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and collaborative partnership, the DiP employs a multifaceted approach to enhance the academic and personal success of international students. The Problem of Practice (PoP) centers on the disparities in support needed and …

From Bureaucracy To Belonging: An Equity-Oriented Cultural Shift In Preservice Teacher Placements, Mitchell Miller

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This dissertation-in-practice presents a planned cultural shift in the teacher education fieldwork placement process at a Quebec university. The author, with a commitment to social justice-oriented transformative leadership, outlines significant logistical and cultural challenges in addressing placement considerations of equity-deserving preservice teachers. These challenges are particularly pronounced due to the bureaucratic and inter-organizational nature of the placement network. To address this problem of practice, distributed and subversive-resistant change leadership approaches are employed, guided by a change management framework combining processual and social justice-oriented models. Through the change plan, there is a fostering of a cultural shift away from placements solely …

Dim Guxws Dibakwi’Mhl K’Uba Tk’Ihlkw (Bringing Our Children Home), Jason G. Morgan-Gottschall

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

For Indigenous leaders in British Columbia, the over-representation of children in the child welfare system, is a longstanding issue. K’uba Wilksihlkw Society (KWS) is an Indigenous-led non-profit delegated Aboriginal agency (DAA) operating under the Child, Family, and Community Services Act (CFCSA) in British Columbia, whom place Indigenous culture at the centre of its child and family programming and service delivery. In January 2020, Canada passed Bill C-92, affirming and recognizing Indigenous peoples' right to exercise full jurisdiction over child and family services. Efforts by KWS to pursue a jurisdictional readiness framework under Bill C-92 require collaboration with Indigenous communities to …

Learning To Feed: Integrating Practical, Theoretical, And Experiential Aspects Of Breast And Infant Feeding Into Nursing Curricula, Jeff Biletchi

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This dissertation-in-practice (DiP) introduces a targeted improvement plan designed to elevate the proficiency of nursing faculty in X College (a pseudonym), focusing on the delivery of infant and breastfeeding education within the nursing curricula. Anchored in the principles of educational leadership and utilizing action research methodologies, this initiative addresses a pivotal gap in nursing education. It proposes a curriculum framework that intricately blends theoretical knowledge with experiential learning opportunities, aiming to enhance educational development in the nursing discipline. This comprehensive approach not only seeks to equip nursing students with the critical skills required for effective infant and breastfeeding support but …

Championing Belonging: A Community Where Students Can Flourish, Carol D. Grant-Watt

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

In a K-12 independent school educational setting, belonging is crucial for fostering a positive learning environment where students, faculty, and staff feel valued, supported, and motivated to engage actively in their academic pursuits contributing to increased academic achievement, higher levels of motivation, and improved mental health outcomes. Moreover, belonging plays a key role in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. When individuals feel they belong, regardless of their background, identity, or abilities, it leads to a more inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can flourish and contribute positively to the community. By integrating transformative and authentic leadership and critical and …

More Than Caring: Building A Foundation Of Skills And Competencies To Teach Self-Advocacy In A Female-Dominated Profession, Laura Perri

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

External patriarchal interventions and market-driven forces have limited professional advancements and autonomy of the female-dominated dental hygiene (DH) profession since its foundation. The DH profession defines itself though caring and advocating for public access to its essential services. However, the lack of voice and autonomy are reported causes of DH practitioner burnout and labour shortages. DH education lacks training and foundational skills for self-advocacy. This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) explores the organizational context of a South-Western Ontario DH college (SWO College or the school) and addresses a complex problem of practice (PoP) that recognizes the barriers, both past and present, that kept …

In Search Of Belonging In A Grade 6-8 Public School In Western Canada, Jasbir Singh

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Systemic racism and oppressive practices within and outside British Columbia institutions are negatively impacting students’ sense of belonging in schools. The Metro School District (MSD, a pseudonym) and BC Ministry of Education (BCMoE) have responded with the district equity plan and the K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan, respectively, to address this issue. However, a gap remains between their goals and the current reality of creating inclusive school environments. Valley Middle School (VMS, a pseudonym) has seen instances of racism and exclusion affecting students and teachers from minoritized backgrounds, including myself as a Sikh, South Asian principal. My Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) focuses on …

Human-Centred Leadership In Higher Education Student Services: Strategies For Preserving A Values-Driven Team Culture During Organizational Change, Christine A. Klaray

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

In the dynamic Canadian higher education landscape, leaders of student services units face mounting pressures to ensure teams remain agile, responsive, and efficient while meeting students' needs. By nurturing a values-driven team culture characterized by shared beliefs, values, and assumptions, leaders cultivate thriving work environments that mitigate risks associated with staff burnout and attrition, while safeguarding against the shift towards transactional operations over student-centric approaches. The student services team described in this dissertation-in-practice (DiP) is preparing for the transition to a new institution-wide student software system, and staff expressed concerns about preserving the team’s core values amid increased workload and …

The Heart Of School Leadership: Supporting The Health & Well-Being Of Teachers In The Face Of Occupational Pressures, Lindsay Avramovic

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) investigates the Problem of Practice (PoP) regarding the growing concern for teacher health and well-being within Prairie Land Catholic School (PLCS), a K-9 school in southern Alberta. Teachers at PLCS are facing increased demands, including implementing new curricula, addressing growing student complexities, and managing additional administrative duties, leading to feelings of fatigue, stress, and burnout. The persistent workload demands, compounded by limited resources and support, exacerbate feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced self-efficacy. By imploring the Heart of Leadership, encompassing servant leadership, compassionate leadership, and transformative leadership principles, the intent is to analyze the interplay between …

Crisis Management: Addressing The Impact Of Insufficient Resources And Supports On Middle School Students' Mental Health, David G. Sparrow

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) addresses a problem of practice which is an urgent need for enhanced mental health supports at Alpine Prairie Middle School (APMS) within the Western Canadian School District (WCSD). Amidst resource and budgetary constraints, this study explores holistically informed strategies grounded in the principal's positionality and grounded by critical theory. This DiP focusses on transformative and distributed leadership approaches, considering the school as a complex adaptive system. A leadership framework integrates critical theory, transformative leadership, distributed leadership, and pragmatism to effectively lead the change process. The implementation plan includes a four-step change model: awakening, mobilization, acceleration, and institutionalization, …

Learning To Lead: Leadership Development For Academic Administrators At A Canadian Community College, Brian Edward Benoit

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Dissertation-in-Practice addresses the Problem of Practice of a lack of intentional leadership development for academic administrators at College X (a pseudonym), a comprehensive community college in western Canada. Academic administrators typically come from the ranks of faculty. As Academic administrators, they serve particular functions and roles within the organization, functions and roles that are in many ways distinct from their previous work as faculty members. Academic administrators often lack the management and leadership knowledge or experience to prepare them for their roles and careers. The absence of adequate leadership development opportunities often contributes to low job satisfaction, burnout, …

Empowering Faculty To Support International Students To Overcome The Academic Challenges Faced In Higher Education, Wilson Javier Vasquez Calderon

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The landscape of higher education is increasingly globalized with greater mobilization of international students (IS), which in turn requires the most effective teaching practices. Canada is a country with the most rapidly growing IS population that face multiple challenges. The realities faced by IS are different than those of domestic students. These facts compel the faculty to enhance their teaching practices and leadership role as pivotal components in addressing the learning needs of IS, while supporting them to overcome academic challenges. In this Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP), I investigate the lack of means of faculty to address the academic challenges faced by …

Balancing Workplace Flexibility And Responsive Service Models In A Postpandemic Learning Services Department, Erin Howard

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Following the end of the public health emergency of COVID-19, workplaces began to navigate the need to provide flexibility for employees who valued its positive effects on well-being and productivity. In hopes of retaining employees, many colleges developed policies and procedures for flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, whilst attempting to maintain in-person support needs. Workplace leaders are often torn between balancing employee flexibility and campus partners' expectations, and they face complexities such as manager bias and inconsistent policy application. This emerging paradigm of hybrid teams is challenging to implement due to the newness of policies and …

Wyi Wah! Mamaskacikiwey Itota: An Integration Of Indigenous Culture And Academics At A Manitoba High School, Wayne B. Davies

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Indigenous student success has been a long-standing challenge for schools in Manitoba, as in other areas of Canada. This Dissertation-in-Practice examines the central question of how a high school that employs the same programming for all students has been effective with non-Indigenous students but has struggled to engage and assist Indigenous students. Albeit from different perspectives, Indigenous caregivers, their children, and the staff who support those students, agree that change is necessary. Research is clear that student voice is a necessary component of school success. It also points to the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing, the desire of Indigenous caregivers to …

Creating A Culture Of Knowledge-Sharing Within The Public Sector: A Collaborative Approach, Jennifer L. Saulnier

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The Department of X is a public sector provincial department moving towards a more modernized approach to client service delivery. The Department of X is a mature organization with clearly defined reporting and hierarchical structures, where employees are organized by branches, units, and teams. Employees on each team bring a variety of unique skill sets; however, it is noticeable that work teams create their own subcultures, known as siloes, as a result of the structure, leading to systemic issues, such as lack of communication across teams. Employees often feel less engaged in the overall achievement of the department’s goals, and …

Weaving New Stories: Decolonizing And Transforming Secondary Schools For Equity, Belonging, And Learning, B. M. Lynn Archer

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

School belonging is important for adolescents’ psychological wellbeing, identity formation, and academic achievement, yet there is an equity and belonging gap as approximately half of secondary students surveyed in British Columbia (BC) indicate a lack of school belonging. To address the need for belongingness, this Dissertation-in-Practice, set in a diverse, suburban BC school district, focuses on decolonizing and transforming praxis in secondary schools for equity, belonging, and learning. Fostering equitable school-wide praxis is a problem of practice for school leaders as secondary schools continue to function within the Eurocentric hegemony of Western, individualistic perspectives. A two-eyed change model combining Indigenous …

Redressing The Underrepresentation Of Racialized Faculty At An Ontario Polytechnic, John Stilla

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Racialized faculty are underrepresented across Ontario’s colleges of applied arts and technology. This dissertation-in-practice (DiP) uses critical theory and critical race theory to position the underrepresentation of racialized faculty in the delivery of curricula as a problem of practice (PoP) within a Faculty at an Ontario polytechnic. This underrepresentation not only contributes to homogenous teaching and learning but also can create a negative climate for racialized students who do not have the opportunity to see their identities reflected in the faculty teaching them. Racialized faculty also face significant challenges as minorities navigating spaces in which they do not feel a …

Support For Mid-Level Leaders To Build A Learning Organization In Complex Times, Shailau Spivak Mrs.

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

More attention should be paid to an innovative mindset and a framework to support educators in complex educational landscapes. As leaders, we rarely take the time to focus our efforts on preparing schools for the inevitability of change. Agility College (AC) is a school that takes pride in its dedication to teaching and learning. We can rise even higher to support mid-level leaders (MLL) and be better prepared for our school’s future. An emerging problem of practice represented in my dissertation-in-practice which was highlighted during the pandemic was the need for a comprehensive change framework to support innovation and adaptability …

Turning The Dial Towards Belonging: How Leadership Teams Can Support And Sustain Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In An International School Context, Ryan Persaud

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Studies indicate that students who feel a strong sense of belonging - a connection with their school, peers, and teachers - tend to perform better academically. This sense of belonging is particularly influential in boosting the academic outcomes of students from historically marginalized, oppressed, and racially and culturally diverse backgrounds. This Dissertation-in-Practice examines the pivotal roles of culturally responsive and transformative leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within international schools. The problem of practice examines leadership confidence, ability, awareness, and knowledge with DEI. It leverages culturally responsive leadership and transformative leadership to argue for a systemic approach to …

Overcoming Barriers To Effective Technology Integration In The Engaged, Innovation Classroom, Robert G. Hofstatter

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) aims to support educational leaders in effectively implementing technology in senior grade high school pedagogy to foster deep learning, experiential and intellectually engaging experiences for classroom students. Therefore, this DiP responds to the Problem of Practice (PoP) by deconstructing the existing organizational barriers contributing to the lack of effective technology integration in pedagogy to promote inclusive and equitable student intellectual engagement through a constructivist lens and premised on a foundation of ethics of responsibility, justice and care. Transformational leadership will be used to inspire excitement with the change vision. Distributed leadership will be leveraged to inspire trust …

Shakamohtaa: Connecting And Coming Together To Support International Student Career Readiness, Sabreena Macelheron

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

In the evolving Canadian landscape, permanent residency acquisition has undergone a transformative shift from land sales to educational credential procurement. Canadian higher education markets post-secondary qualifications to international students (IS) seeking migration routes, posing nuanced challenges. IS, despite holding higher education credentials, often find themselves relegated to non-field specific jobs due to existing disparities in the Canadian job market. Amid this equation, IS grapple with the essential need for pre-and-post graduate career experiences to fulfill eligibility criteria for permanent residency application. This pursuit extends beyond merely aligning with their credentials, requiring conformity to approved national occupation codes aligned with …

Indigenization Of Postsecondary Education Applied Learning Curriculum Development, Gabriel Y. Chung

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (2015) Calls to Action have awoken Canadian society to the reconciliation. Although there is a growing body of knowledge on the individual topics of Indigenous education, knowledge, and leadership, there is relatively little research bringing together these topics in curriculum development practices in a postsecondary education skilled learning context. My problem of practice (PoP) is one that strives to address a low enrolment of Indigenous adult learners and lower positive outcomes from skilled training programs. Situating this problem from my perspectives as a Canadian-born visible minority Settler on Turtle Island and postsecondary education …

Head, Heart, And Hands: A Relationships First Approach To Indigenizing And Decolonizing Education, Sherra Lee C. Robinson

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Student engagement within District X is at an all-time low. As District X strives for more equitable learning opportunities, they also work to serve the unique and varying needs of students despite the rising physical and mental health concerns, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that shook students and adults alike, resulting in a global collective trauma and led to the shutdown of schools worldwide in March 2020. These issues are especially prevalent within our most underfunded and underserved populations, such as Indigenous populations. As Canadians, Indigenous relations and calls to adopt Indigenous ways of knowing and being …