Education Commons^™

Principal Leadership, Teacher Morale, And Student Achievement In Seven Schools In Mitchell County, North Carolina., Morgen A. Houchard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand and measure principal leadership practices and teacher morale as it relates to student achievement in Mitchell County at two elementary schools, four middle schools, and one high school. First, a review of the related literature attempted to define teacher morale as much as possible given that it is an ever-changing individual characteristic. Second, the researcher tried to understand teacher morale and distinguish between high and low elements and characteristics of teacher morale. Third, the researcher examined the difficult task of measuring the morale of teachers in public education today. Fourth, an attempt …

Sullivan County K-12 Administrators' Perceptions And Attitudes Regarding Harassment And The Associated Legal Liability., Janie Weaver Stapleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

All students should be guaranteed a learning environment that is free from all forms of harassment that negatively affect the school climate as well as the learning environment.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of Sullivan County, Tennessee, K-12 administrators regarding harassment and the associated legal liability. The study also ascertained the attitudes of the administrators pertaining to various forms of student-to-student harassment in their schools, collected data regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of mandated anti-harassment measures, and examined administrators' attitudes toward the need for more harassment-avoidance training.

The research design was …

Leadership Practices: Perceptions Of Principals And Teachers In Sullivan County., Mary E. Rouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the teachers in Sullivan County perceive that principals used the same leadership practices as the principals reported they use.

The researcher used the survey method of data collection in which 897 teachers were given the opportunity to participate and 576 teachers returned completed surveys (63.2%). In addition, 29 out of 29 principals participated in the research (100%). The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) (Kouzes & Posner, 2003a) was used to gather information regarding the principals' leadership practices. Principals self-reported their perception of their leadership practices, whereas teachers reported their perceptions of their …

Educational Development Projects At Ied: Towards School Improvement, Khalid Mahmood, Nilofar Vazir

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The M.Ed. program at The Aga Khan University-Institute for Educational Development helps to develop Course Participants (CPs) as teacher educators / educational leaders. The institute always welcomes innovations in its various programmes. The Educational Development Project (EDP) was conceived as an alternative to research to develop CPS’ knowledge and skills required for developmental work. The EDP is concerned with capacity building at classroom and school level depending on the needs of the relevant stakeholders. A contextually relevant model was adapted for EDP at the institute. The research reported in this paper discussed the question: To what extent does the course …

Creating Independent Learners: Using Inquiry In Pakistani Classrooms, Bernadette L. Dean, Farah Huma

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Autonomy And School Success: A Case Study From Pakistan, Muhammad Babur, Qamar Safdar

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This paper reports on a case investigated as a part of several case studies conducted under ANTRIEP (Asian Network of Research and Training Institute for Educational Planning) in seven different countries. (India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal and Bangladesh) to look into the management of successful schools. Three cases studies were conducted in three different school systems in Pakistan: public school, private school and AKES (Aga Khan Education Services) managed schools. In this paper the case study of public and cross case analysis based on the findings of the three schools is reported. The findings reveal that school autonomy, …

School Reform Strategies And Normative Expectations For Democratic Leadership In The Superintendency, George J. Peterson, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The concept of democratic leadership emerged in the early decades of the twentieth century in response to the effects of social change on schools and to growing dissatisfaction with autocratic management. One of its most prominent advocates was John Dewey, an eminent philosopher who viewed scientific management’s obsession with efficiency to be detrimental to a well-balanced social interest (Razik & Swanson, 2001). Democratic school administration was not practiced widely, however, until America had suffered a great economic depression circa 1930. After many successful businesses failed, classical theory and scientific management, the philosophical pillars of the Industrial Revolution, lost much of …

Facing An Uncertain Future: An Investigation Of The Preparation And Readiness Of First-Time Superintendents To Lead In A Democratic Society, Theodore J. Kowalski, George J. Peterson, Lance D. Fusarelli

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The preparation of superintendents is a critical component, an essential element, of systemic education reform, although as (Cooper, Fusarelli, Jackson, & Poster, 2002) observed, “the process is rife with difficulties,” including synchronization of preparation and actual practice, the theory-practice disconnect, the need for life-long learning, and development of an adequate knowledge base (Cooper et al., 2002, p. 242).

The vast majority of research on the efficacy of administrator preparation programs focuses on principals. Most doctoral programs in educational administration serve as de facto preparation programs for superintendents, even though some contain little coursework specifically tailored for the position (Andrews & …

From Telematics To Web-Based: The Progression Of Distance Education In Newfoundland And Labrador, Michael K. Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

Introduction: The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is located on the east coast of Canada. The province, which has both an island and mainland portions with a total area of 505 066 square kilometres, has a population of approximately 550 000 people. With about 60% of the population living within a 150-kilometre radius of the capital region, the remainder of the province is sparsely populated. The majority of the roughly 300 schools are located in these rural communities. Approximately one-third of which have been determined as necessarily existent (ie, when a school is located so far from another school that …

Community Coalitions: Implications For Educational Policy And Administrators, A Study Of Anderson Elementary In The Anderson Weed And Seed Neighborhood., Mary A. Rausch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2001, the Anderson Neighborhood of Bristol, Tennessee, received official recognition as a Weed and Seed site by the United States Department of Justice. This designation is provided to a local coalition of committed community members organized to “weed” out the elements that contribute to crime and delinquency in a targeted neighborhood and “seed” in strategies to build strong neighborhoods. Anderson Elementary School is a key partner in the effort and the conduit for a variety of coalition initiatives.

Through investigation of measures and surveys administered at Anderson Elementary School, the study was designed to ascertain if there were improvements …

Role Expectations Of The District Superintendent: Implications For Deregulating Preparation And Licensing, Theodore J. Kowalski, Lars G. Björk

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

At this juncture when policymakers are being asked to choose between deregulation and reform, problems affecting the superintendency need to be framed appropriately and policy decisions need to be based on evidence and not raw politics or emotion. Deregulating a profession clearly is a serious matter that is prudent either when the need for the state to protect the public from practitioners is no longer valid or when the underlying knowledge has been found to be fraudulent or irrelevant (Kowalski, 2004). This paper identifies role expectations and position requirements that have evolved for school district superintendents over the past 100 …

Action Research For Female Science Teacher Development: Case Pakistan, Harcharan Pardhan

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Disproportionate Representation Of Minority Students In The Special Education Program At The Kingsway Regional School District, Anthony J. Fitzpatrick

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine the proportion of representation of minority students in special education programs on a federal, state, and district-wide level; and (b) determine the needs of the Kingsway Regional School District in addressing any disproportionate representation that exists. The subject sample was the special education population in the United States as determined by IDEA. The sample population would be studied to ascertain the proportion of representation and the determination standards used to classify them. It was concluded that Kingsway did not have a problem with disproportionate representation but rather an issue with consistent …

Roles And Expectations In Inclusion, Maryellen Lomurno

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to increase middle school teachers' awareness and knowledge of the inclusion model. This study will include research, professional development workshops on inclusion, and evaluation surveys. Through the research and teacher input, further workshops will be designed to help both general and special education teachers involved in team-teaching. The subject sample used in this study was 80 middle school teachers from Evesham Township who were involved in inclusion. The procedures used were informal interviews in August 2004, staff development workshops based on the teachers needs, and evaluations and data from workshops. This study concluded that …

Mentoring Of At-Risk Students In An Elementary Setting, Emily Withstandley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mentoring at-risk students in grades 1-5 (n=19) using action research. Students were partnered with teachers who volunteered for the study. Data regarding frequency and duration of contact, changes in academic, social, and behavioral skills, in student perceptions of school, and reactions of the mentors was collected for five months. Mentors and mentees defined their experiences of working together. The experiences for the mentors ranged from positive to negative. All mentees reported positive feelings. Mentors, mentees, and classroom teachers provided input into the strengths and weaknesses of the mentoring program. …

The Effects Of Professional Development On The Staff's Increased Awareness Of Program Changes At The Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School, Renee' C. Clark, Jennifer Peeke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of professional development on elementary school teachers at the Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School. The study did not result in an increased awareness about program changes at the school in order to inform educators. The study's findings were reported to the teachers, staff members, and administration.

Before the study, staff members completed a Needs Assessment which recorded the attitudes of staff members concerning the most important areas of need referable to professional development. After the study, a final survey was utilized to determine if the school's professional development opportunities …

Special Education Remediation Programs Promote Hspa Success, Diane L. Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of New Jersey's March 2004 High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) and the 2001 Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) to recommend remediation opportunities for high school students with special needs. Student demographics and content area scores on the GEPA and HSPA were collected. The population included: special education students who took the March 2004 HSPA test, five mathematics and language arts special education teachers, and five Child Study Team members. An analysis of the test scores and student demographics resulted in extensive correlations and percentages used for comparison. The research revealed …

An Evaluation Of The Honor Code At Cherry Hill High School East, John Edward Burns

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this evaluation were to (a) ascertain the present status of the Honor Code at Cherry Hill High School East by conducting surveys and focus groups; and (b) make recommendations for improvement of the Code, after an analysis of the feedback. Students, staff, and parents were surveyed using an open-ended question survey technique. Focus groups of these same constituents allowed for a more in-depth analysis of perceptions, feelings, and ideas about the Code. Many of the original aspects of the Code had been lost over the past five years of its existence. Students felt that in its present …

Effective Parental Communication Enhances Parental Perception Of School, Courtney P. Monillas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether mediums that become primary communications between the school district and the families within the middle school that focus on major events, educational practices, mission, goals, individual teacher communication and policies and procedures will affect a parent's perception of the school. The study focused on the impact of a monthly parental newsletter sent home to Brigantine North Middle School parents and if, in fact, it was beneficial as suggested by the New Jersey Indicators. The newsletter was distributed to students to bring home in addition to placement on the district website for …

The Aftermath Of Implementing A Standards-Based Curriculum In A K-8 District: Is There A Correlation Between Hands-On Instruction And Math Scores?, Lynne M. Triantos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Upper Deerfield Township School District's new math programs to determine if the standards-based curriculum purchased three years ago has had an impact on standardized test scores. The district's ESPA/NJ ASK and GEPA standardized test scores in math from 2002, 2003, and 2004 were analyzed and six teachers were interviewed to determine if there was a correlation between hands-on instruction and higher student achievement on standardized tests. While the number of students who were proficient/advanced proficient in mathematics gradually increased for both grade levels during the specified testing years …

New Jersey's School Funding Policy From 2002 To The Present And Its Impact On Student Achievement, Marjorie M. Workman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify how school districts were impacted by the state aid decisions made from 2002 and to then determine if there was a relationship between the excess or shortfall of state aid received and the achievement of students in each district during the same period as measured by standards used to identify schools in need of improvement. The study included 540 non-Abbott school districts and considered enrollment growth, change in total budget, and change in state aid. It used the 2004-2005 report of schools in need of improvement to identify districts that were failing …

An Analysis Of How Student Transience Is Related To Achievement Test Scores In A Northeast Tennessee Elementary School., Dixie Chapman Bowen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few data exist that specifically examine the relationship between student transiency and achievement test scores. No concrete data exist on any of the Bristol, Tennessee, City Schools that specifically examine the relationship between student transience and achievement test scores. Few studies use quantitative measures to investigate the relationship of transiency on achievement. This study is significant because the researcher used data collected through quantitative methods to examine the impact of transience on one school.

This dissertation addressed the question, “How is achievement related to transiency?” Additional questions included: “How do nontransient first through sixth graders perform on the Terra Nova …

A Comparative Study Of The Perceptions Of Elementary School Administrators, Teachers, And Students Regarding Recess And Free Play In The Public School., Amy Bennett Banner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to recent studies, the number of schools that have severely limited or eliminated recess and free-play opportunities is on the rise across the nation. School officials cite the increasing levels of state and federal pressure to perform on standardized tests as the primary reason for this shift away from the playground. The threat of lawsuits and safety concerns are also listed as factors in this change of policy.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the perceptions of directors of schools, supervisors, principals, assistant principals, teachers, and students regarding recess and free play in three East …

Factors Associated With Successful High School Distance Education Programs., Kathy Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this research project were to identify the extent to which online courses are available to high school students in Tennessee, to describe the characteristics of current online programs, to identify barriers to the implementation of online courses in school systems that are not currently offering such programs, and to offer recommendations that could facilitate implementation of these programs. The research went in two directions. A study of past and current online educational programs was completed in order to learn the nature of successful programs across the country. Then, a survey was constructed and sent to appropriate technology …

Learning For All, Barry Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that all students acquired similar learned material without considering their socioeconomic background. Through social interaction and technology, the intern provided an environment of equal learning between both groups. Through a case study, both third grade groups identified one's academic, cultural, economic, and historical backgrounds. In addition, this study demonstrated that the teachers' expectations were vital in the students' learning process. By setting attainable expectations, both groups were exposed to an academic and social learning experience.

The Effectiveness Of Successmaker For Title I Students In Grades Three And Four, Lynn Marcus

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

The Schoolwide Implementation Of Schools Attuned, A Professional Development Program Dedicated To Meeting The Needs Of Diverse Learners, Lauren Hegge Mcgroarty

Theses and Dissertations

Schools Attuned, the professional development program, was developed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of all students. Schools Attuned, based on 30 years of work by Dr. Mel Levine, had offered new methods for recognizing, understanding, and managing students with differences in learning. Parkview Elementary School in Westville, New Jersey adopted the Schools Attuned program in order to fulfill the expectations that have been prescribed by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. This qualitative study was dependent on the population of 33 educators' perceptions about the Schools Attuned program, highlighting the strengths …

A Multi-Faceted Approach To High Quality Professional Development, Meg A. Gawalis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a meaningful professional development program that promotes lifelong learning and supports continued growth through individual and group activity that includes independent study, action research, study groups, peer coaching, reflective journaling, computer applications, and training. The sample population included 170 members of the teaching staff at Absegami High School, a large comprehensive high school located in Galloway Township, New Jersey.

The study utilized an action research design in which a needs assessment was distributed to teachers to determine workshop offerings, and workshops were evaluated with respect to content, presenter, length of time, and …

Peer Coaching For History Teachers At Oakcrest High School, James M. Reina

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the utilization of Peer Coaching as a tool for increasing teacher communication and promoting the sharing of methodology and content knowledge. Within a high-school setting, scheduling and multiple course-loads kept teachers from capitalizing on the greatest resource that surrounded them; each-other. This program allowed teachers to observe and be observed in a non-threatening, supportive environment outside the domain of supervisors and administrators. Originally designed to focus solely on the History Department, the study came to also include members of the English and Special Education Departments, who work with the history teachers through …

Primary Concerns For Successful Inclusion, Ellen M. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Research on inclusion was important in order to develop successful inclusion practices, which could then be utilized in new inclusion classrooms. The purpose of this study was to learn about successful inclusion practices which included, but were not limited to, positive attitudes, supports, collaborative teaching, team-teaching, teacher training, materials and resources, and curricular modifications.

The subjects of this study were a purposive sampling of the regular and special education teaching staff, as well as teaching aides and administrators who were directly involved in an inclusive classroom setting in the Galloway Township Public School District during the school year 2003-2004. Data …