Digital Commons Network^™

A Study To Identify The Components Of Professional Learning Communities That Correlate With Teacher Efficacy, Satisfaction, And Morale, Shirley Robinette Weathers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to provide information concerning the attributes of professional learning communities, i.e. supportive leadership, shared values and vision, collective learning and application, supportive conditions-relational, supportive conditions-structural, and shared personal practice and their correlation with teacher efficacy, satisfaction, and morale. These six characteristics of learning communities were studied to ascertain the association of those characteristics or attributes with teacher measures. The underlying premise for the study was that teachers who feel supported in their classroom practice are more committed and effective than those who do not. When teachers have a strong sense of efficacy, they tend to adopt …

Teacher Job Satisfaction In The Georgia Department Of Juvenile Justice School System, Rufus Douglas Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Job satisfaction can be viewed as somewhat of a reflection of how an employee feels they are treated within the work setting and can also affect physical and emotional well-being. Concerns about supervisory relationships, expectations, working conditions, peer relationships, and communication channels are key factors in determining job satisfaction for teachers. Consequently, the level of job satisfaction a teacher feels toward his or her job can affect organizational functioning and may become a reflection of organizational functioning. The researcher administered a Likert-scale survey, The Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, developed by Spector to 241 teachers who work in correctional facilities in the …

Teachers' Reaction To Gangs And School Violence And The Mediating Effects Of Security Measures On Intentions To Leave Teaching, Suzanne King

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The increase in youth gangs since the late 1980s and the related violence that has erupted in the schools has fueled the public's fear of these gangs. With the strong and proven correlation between the presence of gangs and guns and drugs in schools, this fear seems justified. The increase in violence on school campuses has created an environment of fear, which in turn has added to teacher stress, burnout, and attrition. In response, schools have teamed with law enforcement personnel to build and maintain safe schools and to provide for a safe teaching environment.

The purpose of this study …

The Effects Of Professional Development Efforts On Educator Beliefs And Perceptions Of Competency Within A School-Based Response To Intervention Model, Joshua Nadeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and understand relationships between educators' perceived skills, observed practices, and stated beliefs - as well as the impact of evidence-based professional development upon those relationships - during the first year of ongoing school-based implementation for Florida's Statewide Problem- Solving/Response to Intervention (PS/RtI) Project. The PS/RtI model is conceptualized as providing a data-based template to drive student service delivery decisions; as providing a tiered framework of assessment and evaluation to maximize efficiency of allocated school funds; and as defining the determination of eligibility for special education services to be based solely upon a …

Technology Education Teacher Supply And Demand In The United States, Johnny J. Moye

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This research investigated the supply and demand of technology education teachers in each of the United States. The research goals guiding this study were to determine (1) the number of technology education teachers produced in the United States, (2) the number of technology education teachers employed in the United States public schools during the spring of 2009, (3) the number of vacant technology education teacher positions in United States public schools during the spring of 2009, and (4) the projected number of technology education teacher vacancies for the fall semesters of 2009, 2012, and 2014. The 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and …

The Effect Of Teachers' Unions On Issues In School Reform, Katie Reed

Public Administration & Policy

The thesis is divided into a number of sections. Part II examines some of the relevant literature on teachers’ unions and reform in education (specifically, merit pay, charter school, and school voucher reforms). The literature review presented in Part II is split up into two sections itself; Section A which examines the actual effectiveness of the aforementioned school reform programs on student achievement, and Section B, which examines literature showing the ways in which teachers’ unions impact school reform. In Part III, primary sources, including direct statements and information from teacher union websites and newspaper articles, are analyzed to determine …

Influencing The Opinions And Beliefs Of Teachers And Counselors Middle School Advisory, Chelsea Coleman Watson

Dissertations

Developmentally responsive middle schools provide young adolescents with a culture of caring that translates into action when the adults are attentive to the needs of the students. It is necessary for teachers and counselors to address the academic, social, and emotional well being of students. A philosophy held in middle schools with advisory programs is that every child should be known well by at least one adult, and a relationship facilitated with an adult advisor and a small group of peers is noteworthy. This research included a mixed methods experimental one-group pretest-posttest formulated to answer the following question: How do …

Understanding The Use Of Video Analysis Tools To Facilitate Reflection Among Preservice Teachers, Tonya R. Tripp

Theses and Dissertations

Research states that reflection is the foundation for improved teaching (Dewey, 1933). As a result, educators have used many methods to facilitate teacher reflections. Some of these methods include keeping reflective journals, conducting peer teaching sessions, providing written feedback, giving lesson critiques, conducting action research projects, and using reflective conferences (Cook, Young & Evenson, 2001). As video has become more accessible, educators have also become interested in using video analysis tools to facilitate teacher reflections. However, very little has been published on how the use of video analysis tools influences teacher reflections. If reflection is the foundation for improved teaching, …

Uncovering Transformative Experiences: A Case Study Of The Transformations Made By One Teacher In A Mathematics Professional Development Program, Rachelle Myler Orsak

Theses and Dissertations

Effective professional development is vital for improving mathematics teaching (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2007), so studying effective professional development programs is important to the field of mathematics education. This case study presents findings on one teacher, Rebecca, and her experiences in a five-semester mathematics professional development for elementary teachers. The participants in this professional development engaged in collaborative problem solving of challenging mathematical tasks over extended periods of time. I used qualitative research methods based on grounded theory methodology (Charmaz, 2006) to analyze Rebecca's entrance and exit surveys, video data of Rebecca's individual interviews, and video data …

Kentucky Women Teachers' Education And Career Choice Decisions: An Application Of Social Cognitive Career Theory, Amanda Brooke Montgomery

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Career opportunities for women were limited until the 1970s. Teaching is a profession women have long pursued. The purpose of the study was to determine if differences exist in Kentucky women teachers’ demographic characteristics and career choice outcomes by age cohort/era. The population consisted of women who lived in the state of Kentucky and the teacher sample consisted of 110 females, ranging in age from 25-74.

Findings from this study were examined through the Social Cognitive Career Theory’s (SCCT) three constructs: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals. Five key influences were reviewed from literature: age, resources, educational attainment, teaching responsibilities, …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Knowledge And Implementation Of 21st Century Instructional Practices Among Elementary School Teachers Whose Administrators Participated In The 2006-2007 21st Century Leadership Institute, Elisabeth Michelle Samples

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to describe levels of knowledge and implementation of 21st century instructional practices among elementary school teachers whose administrators participated in the 2006 – 2007 21st Century Leadership Institute. A researcher-developed survey was used to collect data from 242 elementary teachers from 22 West Virginia schools. Teachers reported high or moderate knowledge and indicated they were implementing a majority of the 21st century instructional practices on a daily or weekly basis. Teacher knowledge of practices was significantly different based on school SES. Teacher implementation levels were not significantly different based on the variables investigated. The …

Common Strategies Used By Kindergarten Teachers To Instruct Reading To English-As-A-Second-Language Students, Emma Kaye Penn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to describe, analyze, and interpret what reading strategies experienced kindergarten teachers believe are essential to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners how to read. Through in-depth interviews, experienced kindergarten teachers were given a voice to describe what they consider essential reading strategies to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners to learn how to read.

The participants were four licensed, non-probationary kindergarten teachers instructing reading in English to a minimum of 51% English-as-a-Second-Language population. Selected kindergarten programs were consistent in program design. Processes were influenced by the gateway approach. The stories teachers told about their experiences in teaching ELLs how to read was …

Teacher Transformations: A Phenomenological Study On The Effect Of Courage To Teach On Experienced Teachers' Growth And Development: A Dissertation, Kathleen M. Nollet

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a professional development experience on ten experienced teachers who participated as a cohort in Courage to Teach. Courage to Teach, founded by Parker Palmer, is a program of quarterly retreats that foster personal and professional renewal for teachers. The program focused on renewal through deep reflection that helps teachers to investigate the inner and outer landscapes of their lives. By using seasonal themes, poetry, readings, and insights from various wisdom traditions, teachers reflect on their identity and integrity as teachers as large groups, and solitary settings.

The Relationship Clinical Faculty Training Has To Student Teacher Self-Efficacy, Jennifer Leigh Maginnis

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A southeastern American university school of education has implemented a clinical faculty program to which interested K-12 teachers apply, and if accepted are trained how to mentor student teachers. At the time of this study there were not enough clinical faculty for every student teacher; therefore, some student teachers were placed with (untrained) cooperating teachers for their clinical experience. This study compared the experience student teachers had with cooperating teachers versus with clinical faculty to begin to determine if the implementation of the clinical faculty training has an effect on student teacher self-efficacy.

Essays In Education Economics, Kitae Sohn

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation consists of three empirical works on labor in general and education in particular.

An Investigation Of The Knowledge And Beliefs Held By Teachers And Parents In A Parochial School System Regarding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And The Variables That Predict Their Knowledge, Kendra-Lee Yvonne Pearman

Dissertations

Problem

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders affecting 3 to 5% of school populations in the United States and other countries. Due to the behavioral and/or academic challenges of children with ADHD, they are at risk for grade retention, dropping out of high school, and teenage delinquency, which can lead to negative consequences in society. Children with ADHD are found in every school setting, including parochial schools. Past studies have found teachers and parents have inadequate knowledge about ADHD, which can negatively affect these children. This study investigated what teachers and parents of children in …

Beginning Teacher Induction At Three Elementary Schools In China: A Case Study, Juan Miao

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

It is urgent to study teacher induction programs to generate data-rich results that improve current practice and ultimately help beginning teachers become competent teachers and face the challenges in their profession in the 2lS century. The purpose for this study was to explore how beginning teachers at three elementary schools in Baoding, Hebei province, China were inducted The design of this study was non-experimental and descriptive. The researcher conducted this study primarily using qualitative research methods. Information on the three participating schools' profiles and 15 teachers were presented and discussed to help readers understand the context and conditions in which …

The Correlation Between Creativity And Burnout In Public School Classroom Teachers, Patricia Landeche

LSU Master's Theses

Landeche, Patricia, B.A., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1960 Master of Social Work, Summer Commencement, 2009 Major: Social Work The Correlation Between Creativity and Burnout in Public School Classroom Teachers Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Elaine M. Maccio Pages in thesis 48. Words in Abstract 162. ABSTRACT Burnout of teachers in the public schools is affecting the quality of education the students are getting. Incorporating creativity into one’s life on a regular basis produces has the potential to heal both physical and emotional complaints. The hypothesis of this study is that there is a negative correlation between creativity and the intensity …

Reading In-Between The Lines: Exploring The Experience Of Cultivating Cultural Awareness With White Teacher Candidates In A Liberal Arts University In Georgia, Holley Morris Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was to explore the use of critical literacy (Freire, 1998) to assist predominately White teacher candidates in their preparation to teach diverse groups of students. Seven White females, who were born and reared in Georgia, participated in the study. These participants were encouraged to critically examine their personal, racial, and cultural roots through autobiographical papers, literature circles using African American children's books, critical reflective papers responding to the literature circles, conversations, and interviews. Three bodies of research provided the theoretical framework for the study: White identity theory (Kunjufu, 2002, McIntyre, 1997, Wise, 2008), critical literacy theory (Freire, 1974, …

Investigating Teachers Understandings And Responses To Diversity In A Rural Ontario Classroom, Stephanie Diane Tuters

Digitized Theses

his study is critical in nature, exploring the understandings and responses a group of teachers in a rural Ontario school have of diversity. During a one on one interview participants were asked to describe their understandings and responses to the diversity in their rural Ontario School. Participants described diversity, the challenges resulting from it and the strategies they use to help students overcome the challenges. Participants described diversity as difference broadly defined. Students were found to be different in terms of race and ethnicity, socio-economic status, family life, language and learning abilities. The main chalienges associated with this difference were …