Education Commons^™

From Classroom To College: The Impact Of Educators Of Color On Long-Term Commitment Of Students Of Color, Haley Hayes

Education | Master's Theses

Research has shown that educators of color are essential for students of color to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in their early developmental stages of education. According to Morgan (2019), “the findings of a recent study supported the idea that assigning teachers of color the same race leads to an increase in positive subjective assessments with regard to behavior and skills” (p.158). Prior research has considered issues that prevent people of color from becoming educators and/or remaining in the field, while also considering the environment and tools needed for educators of color to be successful in their jobs. …

Challenging Norms, Creating Art: An Anti-Ableist Lens On Visual Arts Education, Alexis Lino

Education | Master's Theses

This research explored the active role of disabled artists in their own descriptions of meaning making through their artistic process, utilizing phenomenological research to examine the lived experiences of intellectually or developmentally disabled and neurodiverse adult artists in the Bay Area. The literary study element of the research strove to understand and employ anti-ableism and constructivism as framing lenses, while also reviewing literature on issues such as access barriers, traditional quality standards in arts education, and the de-emphasis of art within curriculum funding priorities, indicating a need for continued reform toward promoting inclusive and process-oriented art education. With a focus …

Teacher Voices: Stress And Coping Mechanisms Among The Teaching Profession, Jasmine Suttles

Education | Master's Theses

Stress is a natural response that occurs in our body when we feel overwhelmed, and it can manifest in both positive and negative instances. The teaching profession is not exempt from this phenomenon, as it is unique in that educators have multiple roles to play and have to manage and interact with many students simultaneously. Teachers have been described as "exasperated by heavy loads of emotional labor in the classroom" (Ferguson et al., 2022). This "heavy load" can place the teaching profession at risk of stress and burnout if self-care is not addressed or mental health resources are not offered. …

Examining The Impact Of One-To-One Digital Technology Integration On Student Engagement And Academic Achievement In Elementary Education, Mark Loeffler

Education | Master's Theses

Advances in computer technology have rapidly changed the face of elementary education as we know it. These changes were exacerbated in 2020, when elementary education was forced into Emergency Remote Teaching due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and students across the globe were attending and participating in school using only computers. These developments in computers and learning technology have provided countless benefits for educators, however these changes have continued to progress at such a rapid pace, that parents, educators, and school administrators have struggled to keep up (van de Werfhorst, Kessenich, Geven, 2022).

The purpose of this thesis was to …

Enhancing School Culture Through Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (Pbis) Training And Implementation: Insights From Teacher And Administrator Educators, Grazia Benedetti

Education | Master's Theses

Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a comprehensive approach to fostering a positive school environment by supporting social behavior throughout the school community. The goal of PBIS is to enhance both educational and social achievements for all students. Research has indicated that successful implementation of school-wide practices requires initiation that includes administrative engagement, creation of a leadership team, and alignment with the school’s vision and mission (Cook & Odom, 2013). Administrator support and ongoing professional development were crucial for the success of positive behavior interventions. School-wide PBIS, described by Angus and Nelson (2019), was a proactive approach to teaching …

What's The Problem: Teacher Stress And Student Behavior, Emma Jaime

Education | Master's Theses

With student behavior and teacher stress being directly linked, there is a lack of insight into how teachers are managing that both in and out of the classroom (Clunies‐Ross, Little, & Kienhuis, 2008). This research highlights the impacts teachers have on their students, both positive and negative. It also offers insight into coping strategies teachers can use in order to maintain a positive classroom environment. I interviewed and collected reflective journals from four teachers with varied levels of experience and grade levels in a singular public elementary school. In the data collection process, common themes included personal and professional stressors, …

Empowering Achievement: Investigating Leadership, Agency, And Access For First-Generation College Students, Antonia Marcelle Pettit

Education | Master's Theses

This research demonstrates that first-generation college students excel when they can be open to new spaces, people, and experiences and have access to robust support systems and the necessary resources to build solid personal self-efficacy. The intentionality behind this research is grounded in students finding their agency and self- efficacy to become strong and confident leaders within their communities and future workplaces. One of the theoretical frameworks this research touches on is Vince Tinto’s interactionalist theory of student persistence, which identifies the importance of academic and social integration in higher education students. All six participants in the study were in …

Effective Classroom Management Practices And The Training Needs For Beginning Educators, Hannah Sinclair

Education | Master's Theses

Driven by the overarching goal of enhancing classroom management practices and addressing the training and support needs of new educators, this qualitative research project aimed to uncover insights necessary for enhancing learning environments and improving teacher and student well-being. Conducted across diverse elementary school settings in California and Washington, the study engaged eleven elementary school teachers from varied backgrounds and experience levels, who were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data included a combination of surveys and individual interviews, which were analyzed using an initial coding process to identify themes and a focused coding approach to refine and deepen …