Education Commons^™

Conceptions Of Rurality: Examining Beliefs And Their Impact On Teacher Efficacy In A Small Appalachian School, Lori Wickham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current literature documents the historical peripheralization of rural communities and the deficit narratives often imposed upon their schools, students and families. Research further suggests this history of peripheralization is often internalized by those identifying with these communities and that this internalization of deficit orientations may be impacting perceptions of possibility in educational practice. This mixed-methods study investigates more thoroughly if and how these core-periphery dynamics manifest in a small Appalachian school by examining possible connections between educators’ beliefs regarding rurality and their sense of teacher and collective efficacy. The research was guided by the following question:

How do rural …

Principal Decision-Making And Perception Of Fine Arts Programing In Curricular Design, Osvaldo Altamirano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study included an exploration of the concept of perception affecting decision- making in curriculum design and the support of school administrators toward fine art programs in West Texas School Regions 18 and 19. Research shows that the fine arts provide students the social and creative skills to become productive citizens. However, research shows that in the current realm of urban and rural public school curricula, the fine arts exist at either a limited capacity or are nonexistent. This dissertation included an attempt to answer how a school leader's fine arts perception affects a principal's ability to support, build, …

The Appalachian Commitment Of Berea College: A Review Of Historical Figures, Narratives, And An Analysis Of Programmatic Outcomes, Rebecca E. Tucker

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Since its founding in 1855 Berea College has continuously defined and redefined itself based on eight Great Commitments that collectively shape Berea’s mission. All Bereans, from students to alums to Presidents, have a responsibility to review and evaluate the ways in which Berea College is acting on each of its eight Commitments. This study offers a review of Berea’s Appalachian Commitment, “To engage Appalachian communities, families, and students in partnership for mutual learning, growth, and service” (Berea College, 2017). The following three articles seek to understand some of the ways in which Berea College leaders have interpreted and acted on …

Emerging Teacher-Leaders For English Learners: A Professional Development Model In Rural Florida, Raisa Ankeny, Nidza Marichal, Maria Coady

School Leadership Review

This paper describes an ongoing Professional Development (PD) program that aimed to prepare teacher-leaders for rural English learner (EL) students. We delineate the theoretical underpinnings of the PD design and describe the two-year graduate coursework program with onsite coaching in rural schools in detail. We define rurality and the context of ELs in the rural partner school district and describe the PD coursework, which was adapted to meet the local rural educational needs of the participants. At its outset, participants reflected on the overall PD through online discussions, surveys, and focus group interviews. Data revealed that the participants found the …

A Learning Model For Rural Yukon Educators, Alexandrea Postoloski

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

Rural educators face challenges in accessing timely, relevant, and appropriate professional learning opportunities in Yukon due to the complexities of living and working in geographically and professionally isolated communities (Hellsten, McIntyre, & Prytula, 2011). Complexities surrounding the political landscapes within Yukon also creates a unique set of challenges. Adding to the challenges, Yukon education is also in the process of implementing a new curriculum model that attempts to be more holistic and considerate of the needs of the people living and working within the Territory (Yukon Education, 2011). The current change processes and vision for Yukon education provides a …

A Learning Model For Rural Yukon Educators, Alexandrea Postoloski

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Rural educators face challenges in accessing timely, relevant, and appropriate professional learning opportunities in Yukon due to the complexities of living and working in geographically and professionally isolated communities (Hellsten, McIntyre, & Prytula, 2011). Complexities surrounding the political landscapes within Yukon also creates a unique set of challenges. Adding to the challenges, Yukon education is also in the process of implementing a new curriculum model that attempts to be more holistic and considerate of the needs of the people living and working within the Territory (Yukon Education, 2011). The current change processes and vision for Yukon education provides a unique …

Componentes Y Percepciones De La Educación Rural En La Investigación Científica Y Sus Implicaciones, Ibeth Eliana Castañeda Guerrero, Geiber Eduardo Peña Cardona

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

Esta investigación de enfoque cualitativo- descriptivo tiene como objeto de estudio la Educación Rural y la representación de esta en el medio científico. Aquí, por medio de un análisis documental de las revistas científicas indexadas de la plataforma Latindex, se estudiaron los conceptos de educación y escuela rural, sus principales componentes: el contexto, el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, los actores, sus características y cómo estos modelan la educación en la ruralidad. También se analizaron las diferencias y los efectos negativos de comparar las condiciones de la educación rural con la educación urbana; especialmente las implicaciones que tienen estos artículos de investigación sobre …

Uncovering And Responding To The Professional Development Needs Of Afterschool Program Leaders Across Rural Nebraska, Kimberly K. Larson

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

An effective state-level professional development system designed for Nebraska 21^stCentury Community Learning Centers (21^stCCLC) program leaders should consider both the unique characteristics of the program leaders themselves, as well as the rural communities where the afterschool programs are implemented. Some of these differentiating characteristics include background of the program leader and their years of experience, the size of the community, availability of staff and frequency of staff turnover, availability of potential community partners, and the quality of the relationship with the school administration and teachers where the afterschool program is implemented. Ultimately, the state-level system must …

Filling A Need: Administrative Practices In Mason County, Wv One-Room Schools From 1935-1950, Douglas A. Sturgeon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how administrative practices were carried out in Mason County, West Virginia’s one-room schools from 1935-1950. These practices were examined using Gulick and Urwick’s (1936) seven functions of the administrator and school-community relations as the framework. Twelve persons were interviewed for this study over the span of three months. Eleven of these persons were former one-room school teachers in Mason County. Of these eleven former teachers, two became central office administrators overseeing one-room schools. The twelfth person was a community leader in Mason County who attended a one-room school. The results of …