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 …

A Wicked Leadership Approach To Democratizing Stem Education, Simone M. Le Gendre

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

STEM Company Inc. (SC; a pseudonym) is an educational services company located in Canada. Over the past 4 years, the organization has worked on an international project portfolio that has reflected a niche area of education that is currently underserviced in the traditional and private educational landscape. SC’s clients have engaged in procuring curriculum, resources, and programming at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This focus has caused an organizational challenge as SC’s initial operational framework and business practices were broadly based on human capital development. My intersectional identity as the …

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 …

Remote Leadership, Centralization, And Paternalism: Leveraging Shared Leadership To Address Issues Of Autonomy Within The Political Jungle Of A Dual-Campus University, Christopher Glover

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

It is commonplace in higher education for universities to have multiple campuses, as they face growing pressures to increase enrolment and maintain the viability of their complex organizations. In speaking to this complexity, universities are often described as more of political jungles than a purely collegial environment or rigid bureaucracy. It is within this environment that decisions are made regarding an institution’s policies, administrative structure, and processes. As universities add more campuses, the level of intricacy of their operations increases. This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) identifies a lack of autonomy on a satellite campus within a dual-campus university struggling to achieve its …

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 …

"There's A Camel In My Office" Nurturing Agents Of Transformation: Equipping School Leaders To Combat Systemic Racism And Oppression And Foster Inclusive Communities, Jamila Magdalena Maliha

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation in practice (DiP) explores the critical problem of practice wherein school administrators, primarily identifying with the predominant white culture, lack the requisite equitable leadership capacity to address systemic racism within their schools and the district. The perpetuation of systemic racism in schools leads to inequitable outcomes among marginalized students. Grounded in CRT and culturally responsive leadership frameworks, this DiP seeks to identify the barriers hindering administrators from enacting meaningful change and to propose an organizational plan to enhance their capacity for equitable leadership. Utilizing a transformative leadership approach combined with aspects of distributed and collaborative leadership, …

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 …

Improving Teacher Preparedness And Capacities: Narrowing The Gap To Support Youth Mental Health In A Catholic High School, Philip Anthony Capobianco

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

A significant proportion of youth enrolled in Ontario high schools struggle with mental health challenges, and educators lack the necessary readiness and capacities to address these issues. To address the problem of practice (PoP), this dissertation-in-practice (DiP) endeavours to create subject-specific professional learning communities (PLCs) with the dual objective of improving teacher preparation to effectively deal with student mental health challenges and foster collective teacher efficacy (CTE) at Central Catholic High School (CCHS). There is a definite correlation between the recent global pandemic, student well-being, mental health, and academic achievement. Considering this, CCHS must increase teacher interventions, engage policies that …

The Sweetgrassroots Movement: An Indigenous Way Of Leading, Doing, And Changing For Indigenous Education, Jean-Paul Gauthier

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This paper explores and provides context for resolving a problem of practice which identifies Rivertown District School Board’s (pseudonym) oppression of the Indigenous learning communities it serves. This paper identifies the gaps between the current state of Indigenous Education at Rivertown District School Board against the minimum global standards for Indigenous Education defined in the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples and draws further comparison to traditional Indigenous Education through Indigenous scholarship. The writer’s personal journey with Indigenous Knowledge constructs such as land-based knowledge, Seven Generations Teachings, Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings, Mino-Bimaadiziwin, and Blood Memory are discussed …

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 …

Creating Pathways To Reconciliation Through Incorporating Indigenous Voices And Culture Into The Development Of Impact Benefit Agreements (Ibas) On First Nation Traditional Territory, Hannah M. Caicco Ms

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-practice (DiP) is a declaration for leaders to engage in ongoing and edifying activism in the form of Indigenous advocacy. Due to the unjust generational trauma of Indigenous peoples, this work promotes Indigenous authorship, participation, and empowerment, specifically in negotiated land agreements, commonly known as Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs). Red Pine Economic Development Corporation (EDC) (pseudonym), a for-profit Indigenous organization owned by Red Pine First Nation, holds two IBAs that lack Indigenous participation, voice, and culture. To address this omission, Red Pine EDC must work with Red Pine First Nation to redraft a more fulsome cultural chapter of the …

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 …

The Other 2/3 Of The Iceberg; Building Intercultural Understanding In A Monocultural Setting, E. Shannon Wellwood Ms.

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

For expat teachers embarking on an overseas sojourn, language and cultural differences can be a navigational hazard, resulting in hardships, broken contracts, and distrust. Within the monocultural setting of Vietnam, expats experience a dichotomy of their own cultures, and strong Confucian and communist underpinnings of Vietnamese society. With 35 years of experience in Asia, the author engages as change initiator and change agent, in a non-western model of leadership, culturally responsive leadership, addressing the lack of clarity about cultural nuances, and a lack of information/strategies to nurture cultural intelligence, leading to cultural dissonance between expats and Vietnamese faculty. The resulting …

Improving Work-Integrated Learning Experiences Through The Implementation Of A Quality Framework At A Multi-Campus College, Theresa M. Dobbin Pittman

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Work-integrated learning, commonly referred to as WIL, is a growing curricular experiential education practice integrating academic studies with practical experiences within a workplace setting. WIL is a strategic priority within Canadian and international post-secondary institutions, including Waterville College (a pseudonym), a multi-campus Canadian community college. WIL activities at Waterville College, while an institutional priority, have been identified through an internal review as an area with significant operational weaknesses. This dissertation-in-practice addresses the leadership problem of practice at Waterville College focusing on the inconsistent and unsystematic implementation of WIL. Grounded in principles of distributed and transformational leadership, the dissertation-in-practice examines Waterville …

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 …

Bridging Policy-Curriculum-Accommodations: A Nursing Education Initiative, Ketsa Maceus

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Supporting student academic accommodations (AAs) is an increasingly prevalent challenge for post-secondary nursing instructors in Ontario, with the growing number of students in nursing programs with mental health or medical disabilities. Historically, nursing programs have denied access to potential students with disabilities; today, the rigorous nursing program structure and the lack of support for instructors remain realities, even with the Ontario Human Rights Code and administrators' policies. The nursing faculty team (NFT) at Top College (TC) (pseudonym) must uphold educational and clinical expectations while assuring student competencies and curriculum integrity. In this comprehensive dissertation-in-practice (DiP), I explore bridging gaps in …

Improving Educational Opportunities For Indigenous Students In Alberta, Don J. Hinks Mr.

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) seeks to address the underachievement of Indigenous students in a K-9 school in the province of Alberta. Using critical theory and Indigenous knowledge as guidelines, the DiP recognizes a number of significant barriers (the perpetuation of the status quo, racism, colonization, limited relevant pedagogy in classrooms, teacher biases, and a general lack of connection to Indigenous people and culture) that create an achievement-gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Creating equitable learning opportunities for Indigenous students in a faith-based environment, that protects the institution of the Catholic church as its first priority, presents a significant challenge for educators …

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, …

Victim-Centred Policing: A Strategy For Effective Planning And Response To Mass Victimization Incidents, Karen D. Collins

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

It is becoming increasingly important for police departments to develop internal capacity to address the needs of crime victims who are affected by serious incidents such as active shooters or terrorist attacks. Supporting the family and friends of victims, witnesses and others affected by a tragic incident is a key function of the investigating police agency. Victims seek information and require support from police investigators through all phases of the response. This dissertation-in-practice addresses the lack of refined victim-centred practices in planning for, and responding to mass victimization incidents at the X Police Department (a pseudonym). Adaptive and ethical leadership …

Encouraging A Sustainable Model For Professional Learning: Implementing District Wide Initiatives As An External Consultant In The United States, Vicente C. Bustamante

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Effectuating the adoption of research proven instructional practices across the classrooms of an entire school district is a dauting task. Traditionally, the incorporation of external consultants has been met with mixed responses particularly when it involves teacher professional learning and the sustainability of learned practices in the classroom. This Dissertation-in-Practice seeks to understand the complex relationship that exists when external consultants partner with school districts to assist in the adoption and implementation of instructional practices across an entire organization. Through the incorporation of instructional and transformational leadership lenses, the role of the external consultant is leveraged as a mechanism to …

Improving The Educational Experience Of Students With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd), Sarah E. Bates

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is recognized as one of the leading causes of developmental disability in the Western world (Flannigan et al., 2018). Its prevalence is estimated at 4% of the population. This implies that approximately 4% of students have FASD, which in turn means that they may face elevated risks of encountering learning and behavioural challenges. These difficulties may manifest as developmental disabilities and speech-language deficits, often necessitating specialized educational interventions. (Flannigan et al., 2018; Chudley et al., 2005; Popova et al., 2016). As such, this Dissertation-in-Practice presents educators in the Silver Maple District School Board (a pseudonym) …