Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study On Preschool Educator Experience In Re-Imagining Play And Play-Based Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ronabeth Keh So

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how play-based preschool educators experienced and re-imagined play and play-based learning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six teachers and three administrators from three private Midwest play-based institutions. This study uncovers preschool educators’ experiences of engaging in play-based learning throughout the different phases of the pandemic and delves into the issues and challenges of online learning and the subsequent return to the classroom. Results show that despite pedagogical adjustments and limitations brought about by online learning modalities and pandemic related restrictions, the nature of play remains unchanged and continues to be vital to …

The Challenges Of Catholic Identity In American Catholic University A Case Study Of Depaul University, Andrew Ezechiugo

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This research paper examines the challenges of Catholic identity in American universities using DePaul University as a case study. Carrying out the research, two research questions were posited: 1. What is the perception of Catholic identity presently at DePaul University? 2. What are the challenges of Catholic identity at DePaul? To answer the questions an interview and survey were conducted among a selected group of faculty and students at the university. The interview and survey centered on the experience of Catholic identity, elements of Catholic identity, and the challenges of Catholic identity at DePaul. Five challenges of Catholic identity were …

The Power Of Spiritual Leadership In The Rite Of Christian Initiation Of Adults, Stefanie Mingari

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Faith and spirituality are becoming increasingly sought-after anchors in mounting challenges in the contemporary world. The need for effective leadership, spiritual guidance, and mentorship have become more pivotal. Evidence also suggests that spiritual leadership values and practices are related to leadership effectiveness and encompass the behaviors needed to motivate oneself, satisfy spiritual well-being, and positively influence others within that organization. However, more research has yet to explore how spirituality affects leadership behavior and action in faith -based programs such as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

This study explored the lived experiences of RCIA leaders and participants to …

The Process Of Designing And Revising A High-Quality Digital Math Curriculum For A Large Diverse Urban School District: Recommendations From A Math Designer, Suzan Kheireddin

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Reproduction Of An “American Dream” Or “American Nightmare”: The School Perceptions Of Low-Income African American And Latino Young Men Of Promise, Roberto Suarez

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Schooling can often function as a structure contributing to the reproduction of an American Dream of material and social success, but it can also reproduce an American nightmare of marginalization. Research studies have noted young men of color populate negative outcomes of academic achievement with trends of low test scores, overrepresentation in special education programs, and underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs, contributing toward higher rates of school failure, delinquency, and dropout with life outcomes involving poverty, despair, and legal punishment. This study is an exploration of how school rules and expectations impact the perceptions of low-income young men of …

孟母三迁 (Meng Mu San Qian): New Chinese Immigrant Parents' Narratives About Involvement In U.S. Public High School Education, Haixia Li

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The phrase 孟母三迁(Meng Mu San Qian) refers to a traditional Chinese story in which a mother moves three times to better her child’s education. The story evokes considerable parental and family sacrifices to provide educational opportunities. Meng Mu San Qian (孟母三迁) offers a powerful metaphor for the experiences of migrant and immigrant parents who undertake tremendous and profoundly life-altering journeys to secure better education for their children. The story is especially useful in capturing the experiences of Chinese immigrant parents, particularly those who moved to the U.S. after 2016 and faced unprecedented challenges, in part due to xenophobia of the …

“Young, Gifted, And Black”: Understanding The Complex Experiences Of High-Achieving Black Students In Ap Classes At A Diverse Suburban High School, Jody Elliott-Schrimmer

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the social and academic experiences of Black students in AP English classes at a diverse suburban high school. This study aimed to illuminate their experiences while giving voice to this traditionally marginalized group. Students provided recommendations for increasing academic success and belonging for future students as schools continually work toward gender and racial equity in the AP classroom. In this Critical Race Theory (CRT) oriented study, I sought to understand the essence of the Black experience in predominantly White academic spaces through a phenomenological methodology. I analyzed the significant moments and …

A Spotlight On Teachers’ Culturally Sustaining Beliefs And Responsive Practices For Students Of Color In Mathematics, Susan Ejma

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

School leaders and educators across the country are striving to improve instruction for ethnically, culturally, and socio-economically diverse students for long term learning and growth. For years, researchers and scholars praised the tenets of culturally responsive instruction as the solution to meeting the needs of this growing diversity in schools. Unfortunately, many students from ethnically and culturally diverse communities do not have schooling experiences that validate and affirm their knowledge. Culturally responsive teaching is still an area that is under researched, specifically in mathematics. Drawing on the theoretical lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this mixed methods case study aimed to …

Service Learning In The Digital Age: Understanding Nontraditional Students And Their Experiential Journey Through Electronic-Service Learning, Qianhui Hub

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Service learning (SL) is an experiential learning pedagogy that merges real-life community service activities with structured reflection. Electronic-Service Learning (e-SL) is a blended pedagogy that combines online education and SL. The pandemic has significantly prompted the evolution of SL toward e-SL. In planning pedagogy initiatives, educators must not overlook the changing demographics of their student bodies. Within higher education in the U.S., 75% of students have at least one nontraditional student characteristic. Yet, the perceptions and experiences of nontraditional students on e-SL are critically underexplored. Thus, this dissertation examined the potential and value of developing e-SL with particular attention to …

Understanding Athletics Academic Advisors’ Experience With Job Burnout And Antecedents That Shape Job Burnout, Felicia O'Rourke

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Chronic stress and burnout associated with Division I athletics is common and specifically the profession of athletics academic advising at the Division I level has reputed to be, as Meyer (2005) states, “one of the most challenging jobs in higher education.” Yet, the topic is under-explored. While roughly one thousand articles are being published each year on job burnout in general, there are very few that examine job burnout and workplace stress among Division I athletics academic advisors. Drawing on aspects of an interpretive phenomenological approach, this qualitative research study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of …

Black, Male, Juvenile: A Multi-System Perspective On Hope, Dehumanization, And Redemption In Recidivism & Education, Alexandra M. Brandt

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Across the United States millions of juveniles enter the criminal justice system each year. The foundational theories that are being used for this study are Hirschi’s Social learning theory and Shaw & McKay’s theory of Social Disorganization. The intention of this study is to explore the outcome of exposure factors on recidivism among male black juveniles from the perspectives of Juvenile Justice Professionals and Educators within the City of Chicago. Data will be collected from in-depth interviews with 10 minority participant's including Chicago Police Department Officers, Juvenile Detectives, a Cook County Juvenile Judge, Cook County Juvenile Correctional Officers, Educators, and …

Interorganizational Practices That Foster Reciprocal Trust Between Central Office Administrators And Principals, Andrea M. Derdenger

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Reciprocal trust among leaders in education improves the learning outcomes for students, which is the primary goal for educators. Researchers studying administrative teams have found the degree and level of reciprocal trust that exists in a learning organization between district-level leaders and principals can aid or impede the implementation of policies and initiatives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the practices that develop reciprocal trust between principals and district-level school administrators. This study was informed by semi-structured interviews with five principals who serve in K-8 schools. Participants identified communication, decision-making structures, relationships, and leadership styles as elements …

Northeastern Illinois University: Identifying Characteristics Associated With Low African American Student Retention And Persistence, Laural E. Johnson

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Although a recent study found that college student retention and persistence rates are on the rise, there continues to be significant differences between African American and White students at predominately white institutions (PWIs). Institutional factors such as unwelcoming campus climates, racial stereotypes, and faculty relationships have been found to be viable factors as to why the disparities between African American and other students continue to exist. This Case Study explored some of the key issues/factors/questions related to the retention and persistence of African American students at a Midwest PWI. This study found that university resources and financial support, inclusion, comfortability …

The Sanctity Of Human Life: An Examination Of The Effects Of Education And Training Of Less-Lethal Force Option Devices In The Royal Thai Police, Trak Silapaduriyang

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Under Article III of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. It is the duty of law enforcement to protect and respect these rights. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) patrol officers carry firearms as lethal weapons on their duty belts, similar to police officers in the United States (US). However, firearms are the only force option available to the RTP in stark contrast to the options police officers in the US have when they encounter resistance from suspects. For the RTP, conducted energy devices (CED) and oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays are …

Understanding Servant Leadership Through The Lived Experiences Of Higher Education Administrative Leaders, Michael Roberts

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

In a global society steeped in increasingly complex environments, immediate modes of communication, flexible work arrangements, rapid advances in technology, and greater competition, the need for sound leadership has never been more important. Progressive, innovative, stronger leaders have the potential to provide organizations with a competitive advantage. A plethora of contemporary leadership frameworks exist, included among them situational leadership, transformational leadership, authentic leadership, relational leadership, and servant leadership. Each framework has its own unique set of characteristics which are embraced by the leaders who identify with them. This qualitative study used narrative inquiry through a postmodern lens to investigate the …

The Beautiful Struggle: A Qualitative Examination Of Black Educator Experiences Creating Academic Spaces For Student Success, Catherine B. Whitfield Martin

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

While any student is susceptible to experiencing a traumatic incident, students living in socio-economically marginalized communities are often exposed at higher rates. Students from racial minority groups are more likely to experience distress from acts of violence committed against People of color than their White counterparts. For educators working in predominantly Black, Chicago communities, exposure to violence directly and via the shared experiences from students occurs disproportionately compared to educators working in other areas of the city. Educators working within particular communities battle the effects of chronic stress and structural racism, while striving to create hope and academic success within …

The Role Of Museums In Educational Pedagogy And Community Engagement, Katherine E. Weber

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Museums provide exceptional opportunity for experiential and social/emotional learning that often cannot be simulated elsewhere. Schools and communities, however, are not taking full advantage of what these spaces have to offer. Learning science has indicated the need for more progressive education initiatives, making stronger partnerships between museums, schools, and communities imperative. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with museum education departments and K-12 teachers in the Chicagoland area to discuss available programs, usage, outcomes, and feedback for improvement. Analysis of data reiterated the positive role museums play in creating well-rounded, critically-thinking, emotionally intelligent individuals, who are civically engaged and …

The Pillars That Support School Principals In Cultivating Inclusive, Equitable Practices For Diverse Learners, Karime Asaf

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Special education students benefit in important ways from receiving academic and social-emotional support in the general education classroom and natural learning environment of their nondisabled peers. This capstone proposes a theory of action that can serve as the foundation for creating a leadership development program to support principals in promoting the adoption of inclusive practices for Diverse Learners in their schools. When properly organized, inclusive schools become cohesive, supportive communities where all members learn and value each other. Autoethnography was the methodological approach used to invoke, account for, and analyze experiential data from the author’s 30 years of service as …

All The Way Up: A Qualitative Examination Of African American Male Educational Resilience In Higher Education, Junae Diamond Weathersby

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The educational resilience of African American males has been extensively studied from elementary, high school, and undergraduate perspectives. Topics such as the “School to Prison Pipeline,” which characterizes the educational and life trajectories of African American males in America with regards to criminalization and mass incarceration, dominant resilience data. However, there are not nearly as many studies that specifically focus on the educational resilience of African American males who persist to earn doctoral degrees. Research continues to substantiate the fact that African American men earn doctoral degrees at exceptionally disproportionate rates in comparison to Caucasian men. The purpose of this …

Hybrid Montessori Education: Teacher Reflections On The Care And Education Of Under-Served Black Children, Heather E. Summers

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explores how Montessori educators in a public charter Montessori school experience Montessori education for low-income Black children. Using the methodology of a qualitative intrinsic case study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight educators (six teachers and two administrators). The participants are diverse in terms of age (26 to 54), race (three white, six African American), gender (two male and six female) and educational experience (2–25 years teaching). Education for Black children in the United States recounts histories of exclusion and segregation. Montessori education for children in the U.S. over the past 100 years shows a progression …

Enrollment, Academic Persistence, Social Leveraging, And Social Support: A Multiple Case Study Of Ccampis Campus-Based Child Care, Ariel Sylvester

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The research informs the public about the CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents In School) grant program and how it is improving the academic persistence of five single-mother college students. Besides offering affordable on-campus child care that is both convenient and high quality, the CCAMPIS grant also provided these five single-mother college students the ability to improve their social leveraging and social support networks. Social support is having a support system to turn to in times of need. Social leveraging is having network ties to increase social mobility. This includes improving finances, access to better housing and job opportunities, and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Best Practices In A Facial Recognition Policy For Law Enforcement Agencies, Terry H. Smith

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) and the plethora of applications that have adopted this technology have exploded in the last decade. Most people have probably heard about local law enforcement agencies utilizing FRT to catch criminals, locate missing persons, and provide large-scale event security. Law enforcement's use of FRT has been criticized since its implementation. Critics have lambasted FRT, citing inaccuracy of the technology; potential race, age, and gender bias; the collection and retention of images; and a lack of governing standards as to when the technology can be applied. In addition, the lack of transparency has been met with fierce …

Hiding Behind The Title: Bridging The Gap Between Identity And Leadership Through Neuroscience, Emotional Intelligence And Ethical Management, Alicia S. Huddleston

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Leadership is the key determinant in the success of any organization, and leaders have an immeasurable impact on the lives and performances of those they have been entrusted to develop, support and lead. School principals are an integral part of the leadership tapestry within society and many people have been impacted by a school principal. Often enough, there are individuals who lead with or behind their title versus understanding first who they are intrinsically, and then working through those dynamics to effectively lead their own lives. When leaders are able to do this, then and only then are they equipped …

The Illusion Of Progress: The Disconnect Between The Anti-Racist Values Professed In Teacher Education Programs And The White Curriculum That Negatively Impact Students Of Color, Adrienne Kay Carmona

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that anti-racist teaching is the solution in classrooms to give students the ability to understand the origins of racism and to give them the ability to disrupt White Supremacy culture; however, there is a limited number of studies that look at anti-racist teaching in the classroom. The obstacle and challenge is how to implement an anti-racist curriculum into the secondary education classroom. With high demands from administration, teachers have struggled to successfully reach all students of color. This purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between anti-racist training for pre-service teachers and the effectiveness of implementing …

Promoting Access And Choice: A Strategic Plan Serving First-Generation Immigrant College Students Of Color At Four-Year Postsecondary Institutions, Phil J. Verpil

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Literature exploring first-generation college students is evolving to include the often-missed lived postsecondary experiences of first-generation immigrant college students of color. Research delving further into the nuanced postsecondary aspirations and experiences of those college students of color who are both first-generation and from an immigrant background is limited. College students of color whose parents did not complete a four-year postsecondary degree and are part of an immigrant family have historically pursued U.S. higher education as low-income and marginalized while balancing personal and family aspirations of social mobility. Research has shown that a leading catalyst in pursuing higher education for this …

A Study Of Addressing Chronic Absenteeism And Truancy: The Attendance Improvement Program At Emil G. Hirsch High School (Chicago, Il), Beverly Taylor-Williams

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This project examines the historical barriers and challenges of chronic absenteeism and truancy and offers an intervention strategy aimed at reducing these rates at one specific school, Emil G. Hirsch High School in Chicago, IL. The detrimental effects problematic absenteeism has on individual students, schools, the Department of Education, and the community has been researched extensively. Building on this existing literature, this project explores further the mitigating factors for chronic absenteeism and truancy and proposes a new intervention strategy to increase student attendance rates. The Attendance Improvement Program was designed through this capstone project-draws on elements of social control theory …

It’S Not Easy Being Green: An Examination Of First-Generation African American College Students’ Experiences At Predominantly White Institutions, Sabrina Marie Sanders

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

First-generation African American students often find it challenging transitioning from high school to college. Despite facing challenges, many of these students enroll and persist to degree attainment. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation African American college students at PWIs. This qualitative, phenomenological study utilizes the marginality and mattering theory as a lens to examine the lived experiences of first-generation African American college students who persevered from predominantly Black high schools to predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Much of the research on first-generation college students tends to focus on quantifiable data such as GPAs and …

College Students’ Perceptions Of Sexual Violence Climate On Their Campus, Meghan Funk

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Sexual violence continues to be an issue that impacts student safety on college campuses. Approximately a quarter of students directly face violence in higher education. In the last several decades, college professionals have implemented a variety of sexual violence prevention programming and policies. However, these efforts have not decreased the number of sexual violence acts on campuses. Although students continue to be subjected to environments where sexual violence occurs, their voices are missing from current sexual violence research. Using a phenomenological approach, this dissertation explores college students’ perceptions of sexual violence climate on their campus. In this study, interviews with …

A Phenomenological Study On African American Male Conduct Officers And Their Experiences With Code-Switching In Professional Settings, Bernard Little

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

African American male student conduct professionals consciously engage in code-switching in professional settings. Student conduct professionals hold significant responsibility within a college or university. The impact of their decisions creates immense pressure and results in lasting consequences for students involved. In this qualitative, phenomenological study the use of code-switching for six African American male conduct professionals is examined. Through semi-structured interviews, their diverse experiences are explored. Findings revealed that their use of code-switching is an intentional performance that they were taught and they use code-switching for professional survival. Findings also revealed that African American male conduct professionals weigh the risks …

In The Name Of Freedom: Racist Hate Speech On Campus, Institutional Whiteness, And Neofascism, Karlee Johnson

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Administrative language surrounding racist hate speech on campus is rooted in abstract interpretations of the liberal values of freedom and equality. Consequently, these color-blind discourses remove racist hate speech from its historical context of racial violence and discrimination and view it as merely another point of view that is deserving of tolerance in the “free marketplace of ideas.” As a result, this Critical Discourse Analysis project argues that 1) the administrative discourses surrounding hate speech on campus contribute to the maintenance of institutions of higher education as white institutional spaces, and 2) they also bring institutions of higher education into …