Education Commons^™

Access Does Not Guarantee Inclusion: An Exploration Of Student Organizations Fostering Belonging For Black And Minority Students At A Faith-Based Institution, Heidi Neely

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Black and minority students often do not persist to graduation and voluntarily drop out due to dissatisfaction with the lack of inclusivity and belonging experiences at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). This research examined the sense of belonging and inclusion for Black students at Southern Cross College (SCC; pseudonym), a private, faith-based institution located in an urban city in the southeastern region of the United States. All students are welcomed at SCC; however, there is an obscure caveat. Students whose identities align with specific diverse characteristics (ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religious belief) may find themselves feeling isolated, excluded, and ostracized from the …

Holding Space: Developing Strategies To Center Education, Belonging, And Inclusion In A Black Cultural Center At A Large Research-Intensive University, Lorenzo Jameco Mckenzie

Education Projects

The story of Sankofa teaches us to look back to move forward. Concerning this consultancy project, it means that by gathering information from the past, experiences, joys, challenges, and insights, we would be able to reflect, synthesize the information, and chart a course of action for the prosperity and future of the African American Cultural Center at NC State University. As college campuses become more diverse and the need for robust diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities increases, this project seeks to provide a community engagement plan outlining comprehensive ways to build a significant Black cultural community …

You Belong: A Focus On Cultural Awareness, Inclusivity, And Diversity In Schools To Improve Recruitment And Retention, Keicha Chandler-Smith

Education Projects

The educational system in the United States of America is under attack. The attack is not in physicality but is being caused by abnormally high teaching shortages. The shortage has become an area of concern nationally, including within my home state of South Carolina.Over 6,700 teachers left the profession in the year 2017 for a variety of reasons. This type of attrition is only expected to continuously increase because universities and colleges globally have reported and that less students are aspiring to be teachers year after year. Thirty-eight percent of South Carolina’s teachers left their jobs in their first five …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And The Beginning Teacher: An Investigation Of The Role Of North Carolina Teacher Education Programs In Teacher Preparedness, Lisa D. Mccullough

Doctor of Education Dissertations

With the changing faces of America’s public school classrooms, colleges and universities that are responsible for the preparation of quality teachers will need to ensure that these future educators are equipped with the knowledge and ability to address the learning needs of students of color. This study was designed to examine how North Carolina teacher education programs prepare preservice teachers and beginning teachers with knowledge of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP). Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, beginning teacher (n=25) perceptual data were collected and analyzed utilizing a predeveloped survey instrument followed by a focus group in order to further describe …

Building A Foundation For Cultural Responsiveness, Denise Cyrus, Jill Douds, Sara Newell

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

This site provides an overview of culturally responsive teaching philosophies and practices in order to make educators aware of the importance of having a culturally responsive mindset. This module also provides research, classroom practice resources, and thought-provoking videos meant to assist educators in using a culturally responsive mindset to improve their practices and positively impact all students.

View professional learning module.

Mentoring Novice Teachers, Jessica Floyd, Kendra Lynn, Lisa Mccullough, Chandra Morrow

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

The purpose of this module is to explore key foundation skills necessary for successful mentoring of novice teachers. Participants who utilize this module will learn the four essential components of successful mentoring--building trust, communication and collaboration, meeting the needs of diverse learners through cultural responsiveness, and building ownership, through student data. This module was developed for mentors working with novice teachers, but the essential components addressed can also be applied to veteran teachers as well.

The learning module is intended for use by all educators.

View professional learning module.

Teachers’ Expectations Of Educational Leaders’ Leadership Approach And Perspectives On The Principalship: Identifying Critical Leadership Paradigms For The 21st Century, Canute Sylvester Thompson Dr.

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Using an exploratory design, with a sample of 97 teachers, this research sought to ascertain teachers’ perspectives on the behaviours and approaches that educational leaders, particularly their principals, should display. This exploration was done against the backdrop of the attitudes to, and expectations of, leaders that are deemed to be characteristics 21^st century perspectives on leadership.

The research uncovered four main behaviours that teachers expected their principals and other educational leaders to employ in their leadership approaches. These behaviours are: recognition of staff’s commitment, facilitation of participation in decision-making, embrace of teachers’ diverse strengths, and openness to criticism.

The …

Dissertation Presentation: Teacher Efficacy And Culturally Responsive Teaching Techniques, Dr. Roberta Callaway

Center for Innovative Leadership Development Summer Seminar Presentations

Teachers who believe in their ability to create meaningful learning experiences exert a powerful influence over the achievement of the students they come in contact with. Educators are currently being confronted with increasing numbers of minority students in their classrooms; in order to engage these students, issues of diversity need to be a central part of instruction. Using Villegas and Lucas's (2002) six qualities that define a culturally responsive teacher and Ball's (2009) process for preparing teachers to be effective in cul-turally diverse classrooms. We'll examine theories and best practices, which can be used to create a safe classroom space …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives In Producing Improved Productive Work Cultures, Robert T. Crouch

Education Dissertations and Projects

Organizations today view diversity in the workforce as extending beyond antidiscrimination laws. Diversity in the workplace is viewed as a means for organizations to maintain a competitive edge in the global job market by focusing on inclusion and performance. Organizations have begun to recognize that diversity results in economic benefits when initiatives are aligned with their strategic plans, goals, and core values (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999).

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of departmental personnel regarding the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives in improving and sustaining productive work cultures. Additionally, this study sought to …