Advisement Challenges And Opportunities In Pre-Service Teacher Education: Insights Into The Experiences Of Diverse Pre-Service Teachers, Latasha Casterlow-Lalla

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Effective pre-service teacher educator programs are among the most important components in preparing the nation’s next generation of educators. Today’s educators collectively work to support the diverse cultural, linguistic, and social needs of students through the unprecedented demands of a transitioning school system. This dissertation examined the components of advisement challenges and opportunities as an impact on the preparation of pre-service teachers in Northern New Jersey. The study explored the influence of approaches available to pre-service teachers in the areas of program structure, a variety of support services, and the role of the advisor-advisee relationship to discover whether such programs …

An Analysis Of The Higher Order Thinking Requirements Of Parcc Practice Assessments In Grades 3 And 4, Leslie A. Solis-Stovall

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

This mixed methods study aimed to categorize and analyze the frequencies and percentages of complex thinking in the PARCC practices assessments grades 3 and 4. The Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix was employed for the first part of the study to code each of the PARCC assessment questions in Language Arts and Mathematics Grades 3 and 4 based on pre-existing codes. Deductive category application was utilized to connect the language from Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix to the language of the questions in the tests. To ensure reliability we utilized the double-rater read behind method as in other similar studies. In …

The Potential Link Between Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement, Darrell Stinchcomb

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

The push for educational accountability and standardization in the United States gained traction with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Uniformity in the curriculum, academic standards, testing, and accountability were some of the requirements that were being touted by politicians, educators, and special interest groups. School districts across the United States were forced to develop systems to prove that teachers were teaching and students were learning. New York State enacted reform legislation under Education Law section 3012-c, which included the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) to evaluate teachers and principals. One of the components of this evaluation …

A Study Of New Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Induction Programs, Anne Mcgeehan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Teaching is one of the few professions in which the novice is expected to perform the same responsibilities as their veteran counterparts from Day 1. Induction, the process of introducing a new teacher into the profession, can be categorized as a formal or informal process that encompasses all organizational aspects of the school district, both academic and socially. It is a time when new teachers are learning to teach and having to teach. This process can be a time of growth or a time of unease for new teachers, sometimes affecting their decisions to remain in the profession. The content …

Administrator Perceptions Of The Teacher Evaluation Process And Professional Development Programming In New Jersey Independent Schools, Marissa C. Muoio

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examines administrator perceptions of the teacher evaluation process and professional development programming in New Jersey independent schools. Despite the contentious topic of teacher evaluation within the national landscape today, there is currently little research available concerning administrator perceptions of teacher evaluation and professional development within independent schools. In this study, I ask a) What teacher evaluation processes or tools are being used in the independent schools in the state of New Jersey? b) What types of professional development programs are provided for teachers in these schools? and c) How do independent school administrators perceive the relationship between the …

Organizational Induction: A Qualitative Study On Institutional Induction Programs For New Faculty In Independent School Communities, Jamie Nicole Segraves

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As job dissatisfaction continues to be a lead cause of teacher turnover (Brill & McCartney, 2008; Moore, 2012; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004) in both the public and private sectors of education, a deeper understanding of what contributes to the dissatisfaction of the profession is warranted. While several factors influence overall job satisfaction or a lack thereof, the implementation of induction and mentoring programs in education has shown, in particular, an increase in overall teacher retention, especially of teachers new to the profession (Brill & McCartney, 2008; Humphrey, Wechsler, Bosetti, Park, & Tiffany-Morales, 2008; Kelley, 2004; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004; Tak …

Perceptions: Are Mandatory Mentoring Programs Contributing To Beginning Teachers' Retention In Urban Public School Settings In Northern New Jersey?, Ronnie Estrict

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The research performed for this study examined the perceptions of beginning teachers who participated in mandatory mentoring programs, to discover whether such programs contributed to teacher retention in urban public settings in Northern New Jersey. Characteristics found to have an influence on beginning teachers’ retention rate in the existing literature were evaluated and reported. The interview questions were developed based on the literature review and advice from a jury of expert administrators. The beginning teachers participated in semi-structured interviews lasting 45 minutes each to provide insight into their experiences, their participation in mentoring programs, and their view of the teaching …

Black Mothers' Counter-Narratives Of Agency: A Pulse On Racism And Parent Involvement Strategies In Twenty First Century Schools, Sharnee N. Brown

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This qualitative study examined African American mothers’ perceptions of their children’s schools (public, charter, and private) within the context of institutional, structural, and individual racism. Employing qualitative techniques, interviews and focus groups of middle to lower working class Black mothers were conducted to explore their lived experiences with individual, institutional, and structural racism within American schools. The goal of this study was to learn how these mothers make meaning of the educational institutions that serve their children, the racial barriers they encountered and the strategies of contestation they employed in order to address these perceived barriers.

The results of the …

Developing An Internal Leadership Pipeline In Urban Districts: A Pathway To Capacity Building, Marnie G. Mckoy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand how an urban school district designs and implements leadership development programs for internal candidates. The challenge of continuously developing a cadre of committed and qualified leaders is not new (Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, Meyerson, Orr, & Cohen, 2007). To maintain the high standards of instructional leadership and to continue sound practices in teaching and learning, school districts must think and move strategically to protect their investments in professional development and coaching, and to secure the future growth of its students and staff. The literature is clear and consistent on the elements of effective …

Contemplative Practices In Higher Education: Examining Faculty Perspectives, Daria Pizzuto

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Anxiety, depression, and feeling overwhelmed are consistently reported among college students. Contemplative pedagogy is a teaching approach that incorporates yoga, meditation, and other spiritual and physical activities into an academic curriculum. It is an emerging prescription in the field of higher education to alleviate some of the emotional struggles students face, providing an alternative solution to more clinical interactions. Contemplative faculty are higher education professors who regularly implement contemplative approaches in their teaching as a response to students’ needs. Through an analysis of faculty narratives, this study explores the experiences of contemplative educators in 4-year universities in the United States. …

Beyond Socioeconomic Status: The Impact Of Principal Leadership In Urban And High Poverty Turnaround Schools, Mojisola Adejumo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The quest to transform failing urban and high-poverty schools in America has been a slippery uphill battle since the banner of war was raised against the many schools serving impoverished children. As battle rages, a few are schools leading their students, teachers, parents, and community to victory by turning their once-failing schools into institutions of academic excellence. However, the shouts of victory and strategic planning that led to their success have been overlooked or relegated to mere happenstance. As these successful schools claim unchartered territories of success, a quick glance at the battlefield reveals the reality that the battle is …

Integrating The Arts And Sciences In The Museum Setting, Emily Clare Riggins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The division between the arts and sciences appears to be deepening in America. As political leaders emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in schools, arts education is diminished to make room for STEM courses. Concerned about this phenomenon, many art educators are working to integrate the arts into STEM education through a variety of arts integration efforts. Arts integration not only helps to preserve a place for the arts in the curriculum, it also has been shown to enhance STEM learning.

Arts integration is of special interest to art museum educators who feel that they can provide resources …

Integrated Theater Arts And Strategies (Itas) Program And Its Impact On Teachers’ Integration Of Theater Arts Strategies In Targeted Literacy Skills, Cayce J. Cummins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Visual and performing arts can be taught in isolation or integrated with other core content subjects such as literacy, math, science, and social studies. Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS) implemented the Integrated Theater and Arts Strategies (ITAS) program beginning in the 2008-2009 school year and lasting through the 2010-2011 school year with eight targeted schools. Visual and performing arts standards exist in both the state’s core curriculum standards and national standards. Despite these existing standards, implementation is minimal in JCPS. JCPS plans to develop and implement the ITAS program for targeted schools with sixth and seventh grade students. Language Arts …

A Study On The Effects Of Accelerated Recruit Training On Police Officer Performance At The Port Authority Bus Terminal, Michael A. Tobia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Study Of The Perceived Relationship Between Mentoring And Job Satisfaction Among Selected New Teachers In Independent Schools, Randy Kleinman

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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