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Full-Text Articles in Education
Rural Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Math And Reading: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew James Dolegowski
Rural Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Math And Reading: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew James Dolegowski
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this multiple case study was to investigate teachers’ and school leaders’ perceptions of how school climate affects student achievement in math and reading at rural schools. The conceptual framework guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory intertwined with the U.S. Department of Education’s School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) (2019) school climate model to influence student academic achievement. Purposeful criterion sampling was used to select 13 teachers and school leaders from two rural schools in Western New York. Data was collected through a survey, teacher interviews, and school leader interviews. The data was triangulated and analyzed using …
A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Principals Who Implemented A Schoolwide-Positive Behavior Intervention And Supports Framework, John P. Frias
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of principals who had implemented Schoolwide-Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (SW-PBIS) frameworks in New York State. The theory guiding this study was Situational Leadership Theory, as it focuses on the idea that leadership is contingent on the situation that is presented. The researcher sought to understand those varying leadership experiences which surround the implementation of this framework. Research data came primarily from interviews with 10 principals who had experience implementing this framework; however, data was also collected from timelines and from analysis of documents from the implementation process. Data …
An Investigation Of Teachers' Descriptions, Understandings, And Perceptions Of Intervention And Prevention Tactics Addressing Students With Disabilities: A Collective Case Study, Will Lela Combs-Jones
An Investigation Of Teachers' Descriptions, Understandings, And Perceptions Of Intervention And Prevention Tactics Addressing Students With Disabilities: A Collective Case Study, Will Lela Combs-Jones
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this collective case study was to describe and understand teachers' perceptions of anti-bullying intervention and prevention strategies, or programs, that address the bullying of students with disabilities in elementary schools found throughout a large, suburban school district that is in the central region of the United States. The theory that guided this study was Bandura's (2002) social cognitive theory, which describes how individuals' (teachers specifically) self-efficacy beliefs play a significant role in considering and dealing with situations. The guiding research questions that evoked participant responses and revealed their self-efficacy beliefs surrounding the phenomenon included delving into the …
The Predictive Relationship Between School Climate And Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Teachers, Andrea Wood Eason
The Predictive Relationship Between School Climate And Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Teachers, Andrea Wood Eason
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Educational research continues to show that teachers are leaving the field of education in large numbers for a variety of reasons. One documented reason for teacher attrition is job-related stress. This correlational, predictive study examined the relationships between the predictor variables of school climate (collaboration, decision-making, instructional innovation, school resources, and student relations) with the criterion variable of teacher stress among fourth- and fifth-grade public school teachers from across the United States. A convenience sample of 68 teachers participated in the study by completing the Revised School Level Environment Questionnaire (R-SLEQ), which measured school climate, and the Teacher Stress Inventory …
Improving Perceptions Of School Climate In Low Income Schools: An Applied Study, Bethany Nicole Straub
Improving Perceptions Of School Climate In Low Income Schools: An Applied Study, Bethany Nicole Straub
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this applied study was to further understand the problem of teachers’ perceptions of school climate in low income schools and to formulate a solution to address the problem using both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from teachers. The problem was that factors outside of the scope of control of teachers and administrators have the potential to affect school climate because teachers use multiple factors to gather and make a decision on their perception of their building’s school climate, and educators and researchers must understand these multiple facets in order to suggest improvement. In Chapter One, the researcher …
The Relationship Between Academic Growth Percentiles And Student Perceptions Of School Climate Among Sixth Grade Students, Charles Heath Burch
The Relationship Between Academic Growth Percentiles And Student Perceptions Of School Climate Among Sixth Grade Students, Charles Heath Burch
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative, correlational design seeks to determine if students’ academic growth during the sixth-grade transition can be predicted by school climate and school climate dimensions. The results of the study will allow leaders to provide targeted support in the areas of school climate that have the greatest impact. The study consists of 150 middle schools in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Student Health Survey was used to determine sixth-grade student perceptions of the school's climate. The Georgia Department of Education determined student academic growth through the Georgia Student Growth Model in the area of language arts at each middle …
Perceptual Differences In School Climate Between Administrators And Teachers Within Christian Schools, Cheryl Turner Cavanaugh
Perceptual Differences In School Climate Between Administrators And Teachers Within Christian Schools, Cheryl Turner Cavanaugh
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
School climate has been researched for the past 100 years. However, there is a lack of school climate research focused on perceptual differences between school leaders and teachers. It is important to evaluate stakeholder differences, as principals are tasked with forming the climate of the school and teachers are responsible for relaying that climate to students. Furthermore, there is a lack of school climate studies conducted in private Christian schools. Christian school leaders need school climate data to help sustain and improve Christian education. The purpose of this causal comparative study is to evaluate perceptual differences between administrators and teachers …
How School Leaders Shape School Culture: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer L. Schreiber
How School Leaders Shape School Culture: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer L. Schreiber
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify how school leaders shape school culture and specifically what behaviors contribute to a positive school culture. The central question framing this study was: How do school leaders influence a positive school culture? I conducted a multiple case study at two central Pennsylvania public middle schools, referred to by the pseudonyms of Montem Middle School and Silvan Middle School. These schools were identified by the 2018 Niche report as having a positive school culture, which was affirmed through the district’s own survey data. Through purposeful sampling, I identified school leaders to …
The Impact Of The Success For All Classroom Model On School Climate And Teacher Satisfaction, Amy Lynn Chesnut
The Impact Of The Success For All Classroom Model On School Climate And Teacher Satisfaction, Amy Lynn Chesnut
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Providing quality education for students in disadvantaged communities has been at the forefront of educational research for decades. These schools struggle each year with budgets that fail to meet the needs of the school, low teacher and student morale, and low teacher retention. Success for All has been identified as an effective program to increase literacy skills and standardized test scores for disadvantaged children. The purpose of this quasi-experimental static-group comparison study was to investigate the impact of Success for All on teacher satisfaction and school climate in low performing schools. Teacher satisfaction and school climate have an instrumental, positive …
A Phenomenological Exploration Of Early Childhood Educators' Perseverance Experience, Alison Lee Mellott
A Phenomenological Exploration Of Early Childhood Educators' Perseverance Experience, Alison Lee Mellott
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences which motivated early childhood educators to persevere in their positions at the same early childhood education center, for five or more years, in south-central Pennsylvania. For the purpose of this research, perseverance was generally defined as continuous teaching at the same site for five or more years. The theory guiding this study was Herzberg’s (1968) motivation hygiene theory as it addressed experiences which impacted job satisfaction and dissatisfaction, directly impacting perseverance. One central research question and two supporting research questions were used to guide the study. The central …
Comparative Analysis Of Principals And Teachers' Perceptions Of Working Conditions, Brandy Sermons
Comparative Analysis Of Principals And Teachers' Perceptions Of Working Conditions, Brandy Sermons
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Prior research on school climate has focused on relationships between teachers and students, peer relationships, order and discipline, student engagement, and academic support to create an environment where students can be academically successful. No universally accepted standard definition encompasses all facets of the school climate construct. Although teacher working conditions have a direct impact on the future of students, few studies exist on teacher and principal perceptions of this construct. This comparative analysis study used archival data from the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWCS) to determine if differences existed between teacher and principal perceptions of the working environment. …
A Phenomenological Study Of Educators' Perspectives Of School Climate In Secondary Schools Implementing Positive Behavior Intervention And Support, Tory Lawrence
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a school-wide initiative implemented in many schools across the United States as an approach for addressing discipline concerns and promoting a positive school climate. This study used a phenomenological design to examine the school climate perceptions of 13 staff member from three secondary schools from two school districts in the southeastern region of North Carolina that were implementing PBIS with fidelity. The transformative learning theory, which explains how knowledge may be obtained from lived experiences of individuals, guided the research study in examining three research questions: (a) How do select secondary school staff …
Students' Perceptions Of School Connectedness At A Freshman Academy, La'keisha Newsome
Students' Perceptions Of School Connectedness At A Freshman Academy, La'keisha Newsome
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how school leadership, teacher–student relationships, and school climate impact students’ perceptions of school connectedness at a freshman academy located on a middle school campus in southeast Alabama. The research questions focused on school leadership, teacher–student relationships, and school climate. Hirschi’s social bonding theory provided a framework to understand the association between socialization and social learning by focusing on an individual’s bond to social institutions. Social bond has an impact on perception, emotional well-being, and academic achievement. Data collection included student interviews, a school connectedness survey, and focus group interviews of …
Predicting Teacher Value-Added Results In Non-Tested Subjects Based On Confounding Variables: A Multinomial Logistic Regression, Nathan Street
Predicting Teacher Value-Added Results In Non-Tested Subjects Based On Confounding Variables: A Multinomial Logistic Regression, Nathan Street
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Teacher value-added measures (VAM) are designed to provide information regarding teachers’ causal impact on the academic growth of students while controlling for exogenous variables. While some researchers contend VAMs successfully and authentically measure teacher causality on learning, others suggest VAMs cannot adequately control for exogenous influences on the classroom. Furthermore, because VAMs are primarily connected to student performance on standardized, high-stakes exams and those exams are resoundingly considered to be inadequate measures of true student learning, educators and educational leaders assert VAM results are moot. The purpose of this study was to consider the potential for student background, teacher preparation, …
Teachers' Perceptions Of School Climate In High Performing Schools And Low Performing Schools, Briget Ethier
Teachers' Perceptions Of School Climate In High Performing Schools And Low Performing Schools, Briget Ethier
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this quantitative, causal comparative research study was to determine if there was a significant difference in teachers’ perceptions of school climate between high performing schools and low performing schools. The study investigated teachers’ perceptions of overall school climate, collaboration, decision-making, instructional innovation, student relations, and school resources. Data was collected from 75 teachers in three high performing schools and 75 teachers in three low performing schools from one school district. The Revised School Level Environment Questionnaire (Revised SLEQ) was the instrument utilized in the study to measure teachers’ perceptions of overall school climate in addition to the …
A Causal Comparative Study On The Effect Of Proficiency-Based Education On School Climate, Kay York
A Causal Comparative Study On The Effect Of Proficiency-Based Education On School Climate, Kay York
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
his quantitative, causal comparative study sought to determine if proficiency-based education has an effect on school climate. With sweeping school reform across the United States, educators are seeking ways to improve student achievement and maintain a positive school climate. This study consisted of 87 teachers in proficiency-based high schools and 125 teachers in non-proficiency-based high schools in New England who were emailed the Secondary School Climate Assessment Instrument (SCAI-S-G). Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics computed for each teacher group through SPSS. SPSS was also used to conduct separate t tests for each of the eight domains of the SCAI-S-G …
The Predictive Relationship Of Teacher Leadership Dimensions On Elementary School Climate, Ashley Watson
The Predictive Relationship Of Teacher Leadership Dimensions On Elementary School Climate, Ashley Watson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Leaders exist at many levels. Within the educational arena, studies have shown the correlation of leadership styles among principals and the school culture (Pepper & Thomas, 2002; Perspective, 2012; Williams, 2009). This study attempted to extend Bass’s Transformational Leadership Theory (1985) and Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory (1976) through examining leadership dimensions among teacher team leaders - and their influence on school climate. Using a predictive correlational research design, the current study sought to investigate relationships between leadership dimensions of teacher leaders and elementary school climates. Two different groups of teachers from a school district in the northern metro …
A Causal Comparative Study Of Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of School Climate Within Elementary Schools In A School District, Clyde Alston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A school’s climate either positively or negatively affects teaching and learning within the school. School administrators have the responsibility to ensure the school climate supports both. This responsibility can only be met when school leaders have an accurate understanding of climate in the schools they serve. This causal-comparative study examines administrators’ and teachers’ perceptions of school climate among the academic, social, affective, and physical domains of school climate, as measured by the revised School Level Environment Questionnaire (r-SLEQ). Data were examined using an independent samples t-test to determine whether statistically significant differences in school climate perceptions exist between administrators and …
The Relationships Between School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Beliefs, Paige Lacks
The Relationships Between School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Beliefs, Paige Lacks
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study examined the relationship between school climate, teacher self-efficacy, and teacher beliefs. Teachers at two middle schools in rural southern Virginia participated in the study. Middle school teachers were surveyed using the School Climate Index to collect information about teacher-perceived views on their school’s climate and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale to gather information about teacher self-efficacy. Pearson Product-Moment Correlations were used to measure the relationship between school climate and teacher self-efficacy as well as teacher self-efficacy and four teacher-perceived climate factors, including collegial leadership, teacher professionalism, academic press, and community engagement. Data analysis did not provide …