Education Commons^™

The Narrative Journeys Of Women Of Color High-Level Educational Leaders, Alyda R. Mir

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Although their numbers are growing in the field of education, women of color are highly underrepresented in high-level leadership positions such as superintendent of schools. The purpose of this narrative research study was to explore the experiences, facilitators, and barriers of 20 women of color high-level educational leaders, including district superintendents and assistant/associate superintendents in California. Framed by the concepts of the Leadership Labyrinth, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality Theory, this study aimed to elevate the voices of a marginalized group of educators who earned high-level leadership positions in public educational organizations. This study shed light on the experiences, trajectories, …

Character Of Coaching: The Work Of Instructional Coaches In K-12 School Districts, Lorra Wells

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This multiple case study explored the relationship between school district and school site environments and the character of instructional coaching. Across the US billions of dollars are spent every year on professional development for teachers, and over the last few decades, coaching, as a form of professional development, has grown in prominence. However, studies have identified that many coaches are spending only a fraction of their overall time engaging in high-leverage coaching practices with teachers. This study sought to explain the district and site environmental factors and the personal attributes of coaches that impact the work of coaches through close …

From Classroom To Community: Cultivating Critical Consciousness In K-12 Ethnic Studies For Civic And Community Engagement, Edward Flores

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The institutionalization of K-12 Ethnic Studies in California Public Schools is the culmination of decades of grassroots community organizing to address inequities between students of color and their advantaged peers. Empirical evidence suggests that K-12 Ethnic Studies courses have positive academic and social outcomes for historically marginalized students, yet limited research documents the pedagogical practices that occur in these courses to develop students' critical consciousness and academic achievement tied to civic and community engagement. Mainstream curricula continue to perpetuate race-neutral pedagogy that does not acknowledge the racialized experiences of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, making it necessary to …

The High School English Class And Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: How Do Black And Latinx Students Respond To Their Learning Experiences?, Marnitta George

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The research explores Black and Latinx recent high school graduates' perceptions of their high school English classes and the value they placed on their experiences and their futures. This study aims to amplify the voices of students who have been dismissed from academic research on issues concerning student voice by providing recent graduates an opportunity to share their perceptions of the relevance of the English class curriculum to their lives and how they perceived their teachers' pedagogical decisions as factors that contributed to their academic success.

Through convenience sampling, 12 Black and Latinx former high school students who attended schools …

The High Maintenance Black Girl: Black Female College Students’ Experiences With Intraracial Stereotypes, Alexis Thrower

CGU Theses & Dissertations

While existing literature has extensively documented interracial stereotypes faced by Black individuals, this study delved into the lesser-explored realm of stereotypes emanating from within the Black community itself. This dissertation explored the experiences of Black female college students in predominantly white educational environments, focusing on the pervasive influence of intraracial stereotypes. Grounded in phenomenological inquiry and guided by Black Feminist Critique, the research investigated the impact of these intraracial stereotypes on relationships, sense of belonging, and coping strategies among Black female college students. Four research questions guided this dissertation: What are the intraracial stereotypes experienced by Black female college students? …

A Musically Enhanced Self-Inquiry (Mesi) Of Being & Becoming A Validating Agent For Students In Hispanic Serving Institutions And Myself: A Mesi Multimodal Critical Autoethnography, Naomi Ramirez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Through a musically enhanced self-inquiry (MESI), I reflect on factors and experiences that have impacted the ways in which I think about enact being a validating agent for students at Hispanic Serving Institutions and myself. Validation theory (Rendón, 1994) frames the need for faculty, as acting validating agents, to self- reflect and confront their own biases and assumptions that shape their classroom practices, attitudes, and pedagogy. The MESI methodology that I designed draws from arts-informed methods and methodologies, musically enhanced narrative inquiry, self-inquiry and critical autoethnography. Two forms of analysis are used. The first form of analysis is guided by …

Examining Factors Related To Access To Rigorous High School Physics For Black Males: Evidence From The High School Longitudinal Study Of 2009, Jennifer Dacosta

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In the landscape of American education, Black male students face significant barriers in accessing advanced science courses, a challenge that underscores broader issues of equity and inclusion. This study investigated the factors influencing Black male high school students’ access to earn physics credits, focusing on the interplay between school offerings, academic prerequisites, counselor support, personal efficacy in science, and socioeconomic status. Through a detailed analysis of data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, the research adopted a quantitative approach to examine how these variables collectively impact the educational trajectory of these students through multiple regression models which produced …

Culture And Community: The Importance Of Black Spaces In Community Colleges, La Quirshia Fennell

CGU Theses & Dissertations

At present, California community colleges serve a large proportion of Black students, but these students are not adequately supported to reach their educational goals (The Campaign for College Opportunity, 2019; National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2022; Cross & Carman, 2022 Simpson, J., & Bista, K., 2021). Extensive research documents the importance of culturally engaging campuses and student sense of belonging to academic success (Museus, 2014; Museus et al., 2017; Harper et al., 2009; Strayhorn et al., 2010; Sanders, 2016; Tichavakunda, 2020). A puzzle remains in understanding why these aspects of campus support may be falling short for Black students. I …

Exploring The Interpretation And Implementation Of Migrant Programs: A Migrant Director’S Perspective, Lavanya Jawaharlal

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Against the backdrop of American agriculture, a significant educational challenge persists: the academic attainment of migrant children. Each year, an estimated 850,000 young migrants accompany their families, constituting a crucial workforce responsible for 75% of our nation's agricultural output. Despite their indispensable role, migrant students confront profound educational disparities, with only 51% managing to graduate from high school, a figure notably lower than the national average of 85%. This educational gap underscores the pressing need to address the unique academic hurdles encountered by migrant children. This dissertation investigates the interpretation and implementation of policies within the Migrant Education Program (MEP), …

A Checklist To Design And Evaluate Systems-Informed Wellbeing Initiatives: A Mixed Methods Validation Study, Jaclyn Gaffaney

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on global mental health struggles, underscoring the need to prioritize wellbeing. Many disciplines currently research aspects of wellbeing, ranging from psychology, behavioral economics, public health, and public policy, to prevention, evaluation, and education. However, researchers have rarely integrated insights across disciplines or extracted meaningful nuance from real-world applications. Many wellbeing interventions can also fall short due to poor design and execution as well as inadequate application of systems thinking and culturally responsive lenses. This dissertation addressed these gaps by creating a structured framework for crafting and assessing systems-informed wellbeing initiatives in the form of the …

Examining Course Achievement In An Undergraduate Psychology Statistics Course Through The Lens Of Machine Learning Techniques, Sunny Nguyet Le

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The Introductory to Psychology Statistics course stands as a notable challenge for psychology majors, often acting as a gatekeeper course. This study embarks on two primary objectives using machine learning techniques: (1) to identify the determinants of overall course achievement, specifically course grade, and (2) to investigate the influence of statistics anxiety and statistics self-efficacy, when both are present, on overall course grade. Employing a machine-learning approach, both objectives were effectively addressed. The study involved the development of a self-reported questionnaire consisting of perceptions of statistics anxiety and statistics self-efficacy, along with other demographic and academic background variables. Conducted at …

Mentoring Latinas On Doctoral Journeys: Testimonios Of Cultural And Gender Identity, Jacqueline Rangel

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In the United States, Latinas are underrepresented in obtaining PhDs that lead to high level professional careers and academia. This may be due, in part, to patriarchal academic institutions and approaches that have historically devalued the cultural experiences and identities of marginalized populations, including Latinas in higher education. However, research suggests that mentorship can support Latinas in successfully obtaining PhDs and disrupt institutional norms and practices. Framed by LatCrit, Mestiza Consciousness, and Mujerista Mentoring, this study sheds light on the experiences of twenty-four Latinas who earned PhDs-with or without mentors during their doctoral journeys. As such, the purpose of this …

Where’S My Teacher? Factors Influencing Teacher Retention/Attrition In A Post-Covid Landscape, Kyle Robinson

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented event in modern educational history that resulted in a dramatic upheaval of the traditional school system. The shift from brick-and-mortar to virtual instruction resulted in profound anxiety and demand (Kush et al., 2021). As the quarantine ended, the return to the physical classroom brought with it new, unanticipated stressors such as COVID-19 safety protocols, shifts in student behavior, and pronounced learning gaps from virtual instruction. Coupled with existing tensions, many educators who had previously identified as career teachers became “likely pandemic leavers” as they departed the profession (Steiner, 2021). While there is ample research …

Exploring The Power Of Voice Through Testimonios And Pláticas: Bilingual Latinx Dual Language Teachers’ Experiences In The Pacific Northwest, Breann Lucienne Mudrick

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the experiences, perceptions, and voices of eight Latinx dual language teachers in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington state). This study asks how one’s Latinx identity and being a Spanish speaker influences their role as a dual language teacher. This study also captures the perceptions of Latinx bilingual teachers in dual language programs, as it pertains to identifying the needs of their emergent bilingual students in their classrooms. Finally, this study centers the experiences of Latinx dual language teachers regarding the barriers they face in addressing the needs of their emergent bilingual students. The study was conducted …

Nurturing Inclusivity And Enhancing Learning Environments: Examining Teachers’ Perspectives On Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning, Andrea Perez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and curricula have emerged as a priority in schools over the past three decades, with greater urgency since the COVID-19 pandemic. While SEL programs may show promise in supporting students’ social and emotional needs generally, current SEL practices apply color-evasive approaches, leading to White-centered practices and norms that do not acknowledge the identities and needs of students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In response, scholars have called for Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning (CRSEL) programs to support students in acknowledging their cultural strengths, recognizing their funds of knowledge, and feeling …

Empowering Voices: Perspectives And Experiences Of Latino And Black Men In Minority Serving Institutions’ Male Success Initiatives, Reginaldo Robles

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation investigates the experiences of men of color participating in Male Success Initiatives (MSIs) and examines the impact these initiatives have on their undergraduate experiences. Central to the study are two main research questions: How do MSIs influence and shape the experiences of men of color participants? And, how does participation in MSIs support or enhance their development in academics, leadership, and personal growth? This study is grounded in Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) model, which explored how various forms of capital—Aspirational, Familial, Linguistic, Navigational, Resistant, and Social—are utilized by participants to successfully navigate their college experiences. …

A Cultural Shift: Restorative Justice Relation On School Discipline And Educator Perception And Practices With Middle School Students, Hector Macias

CGU Theses & Dissertations

As restorative justice practices (RJP) in educational environments remain relatively novel, there has been limited research on its long-term effectiveness. In districts that allocated substantial resources to RJP, reports from personnel suggest a direct correlation between RJP implementation and a decrease in suspensions, diminished truancy rates, and an overall improvement in school climates. Nevertheless, further investigation is essential, particularly at the middle school level, to explore the link between RJP and institutionalized, non-punitive, relationship-centered approaches. This research extended the knowledge base of disciplinary practices, delving into the educators’ perceptions of RJP on fostering a school-wide restorative ideology.

Employing a convergent …

Opportunity Cost Of Student Loan Debt Forgiveness: Testing The Impact Of Four Policy Options On United States’ Economy, Emelia Akhlaghi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Nearly 45 million Americans are trapped in a student loan debt. In total they owe more than $1.75 trillion. Research shows that such a high amount of debt harms the U.S. economy in several ways, preventing anything from small business development to new house purchases, and even weddings and procreation. It is an issue that stakeholders have tried to address by offering different relief measures ranging from re-financing to debt cancellation. Debt cancellation has remained high on the agenda of the Democrat political leadership. This is the reason that student loan debt cancellation was on the agenda of each democrat …

#Juccostruggle: A Critical Examination Into The Lived Experiences Of Black Male Community College Athletes, Terry James Sivers

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Claremont Graduate University and San Diego State University: 2022This study investigated the lived experiences of Black male student-athletes (BMSAs) participating in football and basketball at a community college. Their psycho-social-emotional experiences and development were emphasized before, during, and after college. The study deployed Afropessimism to frame the experiences of BMSAs; as such, I assumed that the continued violence against Black people was a physical projection of a psychic and emotional web sustained by the othering of Blackness or anti-Blackness. This study was informed by the primary research question: How does anti-Blackness produce itself in community college athletics? Prior research on …

California Community College Presidents’ Leadership: Serving Latinx Students At Hispanic Serving Institutions, Christina Joy Ryan Rodríguez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how California Community College Presidents (CCCPs) make meaning of leading a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) to evaluate how CCCPs respond to Latinx student success gaps and support initiatives at their campuses. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) have been more visible within community college literature, but what remains unclear is specifically how leaders at HSIs enact their leadership and direct their efforts to serve Latinx students. This dissertation addressed the gap in MSI scholarship to explicitly focus on the role of CCCPs at HSIs and their service to Latinx students. The study applied Eddy’s Multidimensional Leadership Model …

Implementation Of Local Control Accountability Plans In A Geographically Diverse Sample Of K-12 California Public School Districts: The Impact On The Classroom And Parent Input In The Process, Rita Mongoven Miller

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The Local Control Funding Formula, executed in part through the Local Control and Accountability Plans, allows California school districts to allocate funds based on their needs as identified through goals and action items. This research project sheds light on the extent to which the funds have been utilized in the classroom and at the school sites. Surveys were sent to teachers in six California school districts. The districts varied in size, demographics, and location. The research examined the steps the districts took to include parents in the process of developing the Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) and whether parents’ input …

Dismantling Education’S “Wicked” Problems, Amanda M. Castillo

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The following papers, presented as a three-paper series format, discuss the implications of targeting three key, foundational problems within K-12 education. Designing solutions for policy or systemic problems requires more than just creativity. Since public education faces a myriad of crises, it falls under the term “wicked problem” first coined by Horst W.J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber, to identify challenges that not only seem immune to conventional solutions but are often exacerbated by standard techniques. These papers are in no order of importance, nor are they issues educators might consider highest priority. The presented papers, however, provide suggestions for …

Undergraduates’ Preparedness For College-Level Work In Stem: The Importance Of Reading And Understanding Scientific Theories, Arguments, And Data, Ewa M. Burchard

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This study focuses on undergraduates’ preparation for college level courses. In recent international PISA results United States students fall behind seventeen countries on the computer-based reading proficiency test. They have scored low for over a decade, in spite of spending more than one hundred-thousand dollars per student on education. This US score is similar to, or lower than, the scores of other countries where spending is lower. Considering reading performance statistics from the international PISA assessment and the inconclusive results from reading comprehension studies across media, the concern arose whether today’s high school students are well prepared for college level …

Experiences Of Lgbtq Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Implementation Of The Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Jonathan Carter Lee

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The hearts and minds among U.S. legislators need to change about homelessness. While homelessness is certainly a big current issue that many Americans feel that needs to be addressed by our elected leaders, in reality, there are still many debates in Congress about who should be included to receive such funding. Among them, there is bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for homeless veterans. However, when it comes to LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness, the bills are introduced by the most progressive left and is quickly defeated. A large body of existing literature exist about LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. However, few …

Prospects For Professional Art And Stem Collaborations To Create Steam Programs And Projects, Darius K. Hines

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Would STEAM project and program resources be better utilized through collaboration between STEM and Arts professionals or from creating STEAM from within the Arts and STEM disciplines organically? Four hundred nineteen STEM and Arts professionals from academia and industry were surveyed for their thoughts and opinions regarding STEAM, creating a unique data set. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the inferential methods T-test, Chi-Squared and Multivariate Regression. Respondents reported a very small number of STEM (11%) and Arts (18.9%) professionals they know studied both STEM and Arts perform both equally in their careers. The majority of the STEM …

Assisting Students With Post-Secondary Aspirations: How High School Counselors Help Different Student Groups With Post-Secondary Professional And Vocational Pathways, Roya Tabrizi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Abstract High school counselors support students across three areas or domains: academic, socio-emotional, and college and career development. Growing confusion and tensions around the time and responsibilities of school counselors have accompanied ever-evolving changes with their roles and coincided with continual efforts to address the K-12 and potential postsecondary educational opportunities, especially those from lower socioeconomic and particular racial and ethnic groups. The global health pandemic exacerbated challenges these student populations faced and greatly impacted the work of counselors. This qualitative multi-site case study draws on the triangulation of one-on-one interviews with twelve high school counselors across six school sites, …

Three Essays In Behavioral Economics, Zhou Fang

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Well-being is important because it directly impacts an individual's quality of life and overall happiness. It encompasses physical, mental, and social aspects, promoting a balanced and fulfilling existence. Optimal well-being leads to improved productivity, resilience, and positive contributions to society, creating a healthier and more harmonious world.

This dissertation delves into the realm of interdisciplinary research, bridging economics and psychology, to investigate several critical areas that affect peoples’ wellbeing. It explores gender discrimination within peer review processes, seeks advancements in the measurement of subjective well-being, and analyzes the influence of cultural factors on prosocial behaviors.

The first chapter delves into …

Social Capital And The Transition To College For Asian Americans, Chia S. Her

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Asian Americans are generally perceived to be disproportionately enrolled in four-year postsecondary education institutions despite evidence of Asian Americans being concentrated at both two-year and four-year postsecondary education institutions. This perception of Asian Americans has contributed to limited attention to Asian Americans’ transition to college. To better understand the transition to college for Asian Americans, this study explored if social capital is related to four-year college enrollment and the highest level of educational expectation. Whites were included in the study for comparative purposes.

The main research question focuses on the extent demographic characteristics, access to, and mobilization of social capital …

Evaluation Education In A World In Transformation: The Way Forward, Marcia Paterno Joppert

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The world has experienced rapid changes, leading to pressing issues such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and resource depletion. As a transdisciplinary field, evaluation has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing these challenges and promoting systemic change. However, concerns have been raised regarding the field's capacity to meet these expectations and the existing gaps in evaluation education. This research aims to address these gaps by exploring how formal evaluation education programs (EEPs) respond to the preparation of professionals for systems change evaluations, prompting discussions on the need to redefine the approach to teaching evaluation. The study adopts a sequential …

Institutional Researchers And Equitable Outcomes: An Examination Of Factors Driving Their Success, Qiana Nichole Davis

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The state of California has the largest community college system in the United States with 1.8 million students from diverse backgrounds and 64% percent of students who are economically disadvantaged (California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, 2022; Felix & Castro, 2018). California community colleges also experience inequitable outcomes for racially minoritized students and students who are economically disadvantaged (California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, 2022). McArthur (2016) posits that Offices of Institutional Research (OIR) are also critical in addressing and closing equity gaps. Through interviews with current and former institutional researchers (n=21), this qualitative case study identified environmental influences associated with institutional …