Education Commons^™

A Study Of The Implementation Of Multi-Tiered System Of Supports In One School, Ranya Elhady

Dissertations

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is designed to help schools identify struggling students. This study aimed to determine the perception of MTSS through the lens of kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers and teacher leaders who participate in the school-wide MTSS process. The context of this inquiry was one elementary school in a large urban district where teachers had implemented MTSS for several years. I used a mixed methods research design. A survey of classroom teachers with Likert scale items and open-ended questions and data from a focus group interview of teacher leaders provided quantitative and qualitative data. I found a disconnect …

American Education And The Black Girl, Hyacinth Dyer

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

American educators often view the Black girl as aggressive, defiant, and too challenging to educate, leading to disparities in disciplinary responses between the Black girl and her peers. This study aimed to examine the experiences of the Black girl in the K-12 system and to determine effective strategies teachers can use to establish productive educational relationships with the Black girl. The context of this inquiry was various states throughout the United States. In this study, I used a mixed method research design. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through surveys. One group of participants were Black girls who are …

How Teachers Build Relationships With Students In A Bimodal Environment, Andrew Salazar

Dissertations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers nationwide were encouraged or required to teach on a bimodal platform, forcing them to create lessons, deliver lessons, and build student relationships in a way they had not experienced before. The purpose of my study was to investigate the strategies teachers were using to build relationships with students in a bimodal environment and compile a comprehensive list of effective strategies that leaders could utilize in professional development for other teachers. The context of this inquiry was a sixth through eighth grade middle school in an urban school district. I used a mixed methodology using …

Perceptions Of Out-Of-School Reading Motivation For Female Middle School Students, Danielle Porch

Dissertations

Literacy engagement and motivation to read is lacking in middle school reading classrooms. Educators struggle with the challenge of motivating students to read and actively engage with text both inside and outside of school. Research indicates that female and male middle school students have unique characteristics and habits as readers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perspectives of female middle school students regarding their out-of-school recreational reading time, their attitudes towards reading, and their reading habits. The themes derived from this study indicated the students’ desires to have their reading instruction personalized and have their reading …

An Evaluation Of Avid As Related To Student Growth In Math And English Language Arts And Teacher Satisfaction With Avid, Gwen Lindsey

Dissertations

In education, there is a certain population of students that are overlooked. The low-socioeconomic student whose parent(s) did not attend post-secondary education is often overlooked. There is a need to provide these students with supports to become successful both in secondary and post-secondary education. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is such a support. AVID can also provide support and satisfaction for the educator. Using quantitative data, I demonstrated in my study the success of the AVID student as compared to the non-AVID student in English Language Arts and Math. I used qualitative data and quantitative data to research teacher satisfaction …

A Program Evaluation Of The Support Facilitation Model In One K-8 School, Marvin Pitts

Dissertations

The goal of my evaluation was to determine if the support facilitation model for providing Exceptional Student Education (ESE) was effective for the students' academic success in the school under study. The school under study was a charter school located in the southeastern United States and served students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The school’s community was considered low-socioeconomic based on the number of students receiving free and reduced meals. The two main questions that guided my research were: (1) What are the perceptions of general education classroom teachers and ESE teachers of support facilitation in the school under study? …

An Evaluation Of Factors Influencing Teacher Retention In Title I Elementary Schools, Marica Stewart

Dissertations

The goal of my study was to evaluate what factors support the decisions of teachers in Title I schools to remain at the same Title I school for multiple years. More specifically, my desired outcome for this study was to determine the factors which can be managed at a school-based level to positively affect teacher retention, thereby ensuring that students have access to fully qualified teachers on an ongoing basis. The study addressed the following research questions: 1) What factors motivated the teachers to accept employment at a Title I school? 2) What factors were instrumental in teachers remaining in …

How Teacher-Student Relationships Influence Student Attendance, Behavior, And Course Completion, Kristina Chowning

Dissertations

In many ways, students have become data points at the expense of their humanity, thus minimizing the benefit of healthy relationships between teachers and students. This study aims to determine the impact of positive teacher-student relationships on student attendance, behavior, and course completion. Given the nature of the topic, I cast a wide net to include teachers and parents across the United States as participants in my study. The methodology of this study was mixed methods, incorporating surveys with both Likert scale-type questions and open-ended questions and interviews from each of the participating groups. Outcomes showed that positive relationships between …

A Case Study Of Secondary Students' Perspectives On Standards-Based Grading And The Development Of 21st Century Learner Attributes, Michelle Blackley

Dissertations

Implementation of standards-based grading (SBG) practices can be a high benefit, low-cost initiative that directly impacts student achievement and growth. This case study aimed to determine if the theoretical value of SBG outlined in research aligns to the students’ perspectives of its value on academic learning, growth and development of 21^st century skills. Secondary students were interviewed and responses were organized into three themes: development of 21st century learner attributes, strengths of SBG and areas to improve. Results revealed that SBG supports individualized learning pace, development of a growth mindset, emotional well-being, student to teacher collaboration and 21^{st …}

Narratives Of Black Female Elementary School Teachers: Navigating The Normative Discourse Of Whiteness, Thera Tilmon

Dissertations

This narrative research study illuminates the experiences of Black elementary school teachers as they navigate through whiteness on their identity journey. The purpose of this study was to examine the counter-narratives of identity by Black female elementary school teachers within the discourse of Whiteness that remains dominant in the U.S. culture and public school system. This study included semi-structured interviews with six participating teachers from several school districts in a large Midwestern metropolitan city. critical race theory, Black feminist theory, intersectionality, and transcendental theories comprised the theoretical underpinnings of the study. Narrative research design was employed for data analysis resulting …

Impact Of School-Based Mentorship Programs For Students With Disabilities, Ranita Brown

Dissertations

Mentorship in secondary schools can affect the course of students’ academic and personal life trajectories. Human association based on trust is the paste that connects students’ academic and individual lives and helps them sort out their fates. The purpose of my study was to determine how strong mentoring relationships between adults and children at risk for social and academic failure have been associated with improvements in academic performance, school attendance, and self-image. My study explored the efficacy of the development and implementation of one specific school-based mentoring program for students with disabilities. Through this study, I endeavored to demonstrate the …

Activities Negatively Influencing Retention Of African American College Students And Leadership Strategies To Increase Retention, Melvaughn Thompson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the decrease in retention of African American college students. What are some of the reasons for a decrease in retention and what do the leaders do about it? Leadership can develop and implement to recruit and increase retention of some of these African American academic students. The college dropout rates on college campuses overall are 40%, with 30% of these students being freshman and sophomores. The theoretical framework for this study is based on the expectancy theory of motivation which is a process theory of motivation (Vroom, 1964). An individual's motivation (Valence) …

Centering Culture And Relationships In Learning: Culturally Responsive Teaching In Higher Education, Valerie Vistain

Dissertations

In colleges and universities all across the United States, the amount of culturally and linguistically diverse students has increased significantly. Research has shown that when educators can develop educational practices and curricula that account for and incorporate students’ cultural frameworks, outcomes improve for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Culturally responsive teaching is a pedagogical approach that does just that. This research project aimed to bring to light the various ways that general education professors define and enact culturally responsive teaching practices. It further illustrates how students receive and interpret these culturally responsive approaches. Using the general education college within a …

The Elementary School Principal's Influence On Teacher Hiring Practice & Decision Making, Courtney Goodman

Dissertations

In the role of a building principal, the hiring process is among the most critical components of the job, particularly hiring the right people for the right positions. Yet, hiring approaches vary from principal to principal, building to building, district to district. This study surveyed and interviewed principals and administrators about their hiring processes to determine the most effective and evidence-based approaches to hiring. It identifies several strategies to streamline the hiring process, including using a common set of tools for hiring, adhering to a set timeline for the hiring process, and focusing on criteria for hiring decision-making. This research …

A Program Evaluation Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Teacher Mobility, Attrition, And Retention, Carla Foord

Dissertations

Teacher mobility, turnover, and attrition have been continuous issues in public education and have only grown with the introduction of COVID-19 into our society. The purpose of this study was to determine how COVID-19 had impacted these issues and to find solutions for retaining teachers in the profession. The context of this study was to determine factors that educators, teachers, administrators, and parents from across the United States believed impacted teacher attrition and to get input from them on what changes were needed to keep teachers in the profession. My study shows via quantitative and qualitative data that teacher attrition …

The Need For A Gender Neutrality Policy In One State's 4-H Program, Nancy Ann Moores

Dissertations

Policies recognizing gender-neutrality and non-binary identities are needed in youth development programs to create a truly inclusive program and a sense of belonging for all youth. This study explored if and how written statewide policies regarding gender- neutrality can most effectively serve members, agents, and volunteers of the 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study. The context of this study was the 4-H program in one state (agents and administrators as participants) and 4-H programs around the United States (administrators as participants).Preliminary qualitative and quantitative data from my research study indicated that agents in the state under study …

White Racial Identity Development And The Tenure Process Of African American And Black Community College Faculty, Royce M. Carpenter

Dissertations

Diversity of student racial and ethnic identities are increasing at predominantly white community colleges. The faculty is not diversifying at the same rate as the student population. The majority of faculty and administrators identify as White. The purpose of this study was to explore how White Racial Identity of White faculty and administrators impacted the tenure process of African American and Black faculty. I used narrative inquiry as the methodology. Interviews were chosen to center the voices and experiences of African American and Black tenured faculty. One Midwest institution was the focus of the study. Based on the data findings, …

An Analysis Of Early Career Educator Experiences And The Impact Of Teacher Recruitment Initiatives, Induction Programs, And Retention Efforts In One School District, John Liddon Pope

Dissertations

The K-12 public education system faces a teacher shortage dilemma of unprecedented proportions. At the onset of the school year, out-of-field teachers, underqualified teachers, or long-term substitutes often fill instructional vacancies, causing many students to begin the school year with uncertainty. Recruiting, training, and retaining highly qualified teachers is critical to student success. The purpose of this study was to analyze early career educator experiences and the impact of teacher recruitment initiatives, induction programs, and retention efforts in one school district, explore common practices in recruitment, induction, and retention in other school districts, and develop strategies and actions to mitigate …

An Evaluation Of Educator Preparedness In Content Area And Disciplinary Literacies In The High School Classroom, Lauren E. Bernat

Dissertations

A secondary education debate that currently exists between the content area and disciplinary literacy is how content area and disciplinary literacy strategies and educator preparedness to teach those components to fit together to further student achievement. The purpose of my study was to evaluate if educators are prepared to teach content area and disciplinary literacy in high school content area classrooms. The context of this evaluation was to seek information from teachers and administrators about how literacy is integrated within high school classrooms in various communities across the United States. My study demonstrated both quantitative and qualitative data that reflect …

What Are The Factors Affecting African American High School Students' Decision For Applying To The University Of Central Florida?, Janet Martin

Dissertations

The number of African Americans enrolling in higher education has seen a steady decrease in recent years due to factors that act as barriers. This study examined these factors and their influence based on the students’ perspectives. The study design was based on the post-positivist paradigm and the quantitative methodology was used. Urban high school students were surveyed to determine their thoughts on the barriers they experienced as they applied to college. The Google survey included sixteen questions that required yes/no responses, Likert-scale responses, and short responses. The data were analyzed using logistic regression and Chi-square analysis. The results showed …

Assessing The Relationship Between Mandatory Faculty Development For Online Career College Instructors And Transformative Learning, Tremayne Simpson

Dissertations

Online teaching and learning has become a primary focal point for higher education administrators. Institutions have focused their strategic plans to maximize opportunities to grow their campuses, through distance education. A consistent issue that has surfaced with distance education initiatives is teacher preparation for online education. The issue is further compounded in proprietary institutions that may have limited resources and guidance for structuring effective faculty development programs. It is beneficial for faculty program developers to implement adult learning concepts into their courses to improve the overall training transfer for instructors. Transformative learning is an adult learning theory that focuses on …

Components Of Effective Instructional Coaching: Examining Instructional Coach, Teacher, And Principal Perspectives, Becky Mathison

Dissertations

Instructional coaching has been shown to be an effective way to improve teacher practice through structured partnership and goal-oriented collaboration. This qualitative study examined the perspectives of instructional coaches, teachers, and principals on the presence of six key components of effective instructional coaching programs: building relationships, remaining connected to students, developing leadership skills, modeling for teachers, building in plan time, and remaining focused on the goal. An examination of the data collected via open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews indicated that the Aqua Valley School District may strengthen their instructional coaching program through addressing how coaches build relationships, remain connected to …

Special Education Teacher Burnout: Examining The Role Of Educator Preparation Programs In Prevention, Brittany L. Straub

Dissertations

Teacher burnout is increasingly problematic, especially for special education teachers who have a unique set of job responsibilities. Survey and interview data was used in this phenomenological study to examine how the educator preparation program (EPP) experience and self-authorship journey of early career special education teachers impact their potential to experience burnout. Data findings regarding level of self-perceived burnout, recollections of being or not being taught stress management and coping strategies in their EPPs, recollections of the self-authorship journey, and intentions for remaining in the career are shared in this dissertation. The essence of this phenomenon can be summed up …

Figuring It Out: The Self-Efficacy And Self-Empowerment Of Secondary Ela (English Language Arts) Teachers Of Writing, Alma M. Vera

Dissertations

Knowing how to write well has been linked to college and career success and learning to write well is reliant on the effectiveness of highly prepared teachers of writing. However, secondary ELA (English Language Arts) teachers of writing report that they were not prepared to teach writing in their pre-service teacher preparation programs or in-service professional development. Based on personal experience, such educators engage in their own professional learning in the teaching of writing to meet their students’ needs (grades 9-12). This explanatory sequential mixed methods study sought to identify the professional learning choices made by in-service secondary ELA teachers …

To What Extent Are At-Risk Preschoolers Effectively Prepared For Kindergarten?, Eliza Santos Lopez

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent Kinder Hearts School’s at-risk preschoolers are effectively prepared with readiness skills for kindergarten academic success. Based on schoolwide assessments, program mandates, and policy changes, an evaluation of this specific program in a Midwest school could determine whether the instructional model used was indeed effective. This study consisted of analyzing data from three student categories: children who attended private preschool programming, children who attended the school’s at-risk program, and children who had no schooling. The data collected was used to determine professional development needed, grant funding allocation, and program delivery …

Racial And Cultural Competence Through The Eyes Of Public-School Educators, Laquita Mcmillion

Dissertations

The discussion of racial and cultural competence in public schools today is necessary. The student population of public schools across the United States has significantly grown racially and culturally diverse. Through the use of a narrative inquiry and a critical lens, this study explored the perception and experiences of public-school educators focused on the topic of racial and cultural competence as it relates to their classroom practice and educational policies. The focus of this research (1) describes and analyzes my personal experiences through the use of qualitative approaches, (2) shares the experiences and perceptions of three public-school educators, and (3) …

Supporting New Teacher Development Through A Quality Beginning Teacher Mentor Program, David Kostopoulos

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to evaluate the perceptions of beginning teachers and mentors to improve the components and supports provided to mentees through Birch Lake School District (BLSD) induction and mentoring practices. Qualitative data was collected through transcripts of 5 separate focus group sessions that included 9 mentees and 7 mentors. Quantitative data was collected through a survey that included 10 mentees and 13 mentors. Study results indicated that impactful components revolved around seven key themes: program set-up, materials, collaborative session dates/locations, assignments, activities observational coaching, mentor/mentee meetings/interactions, content of the sessions. Study results indicated that …

The Lived Experiences Of Latinx Parents And Their Perception Of Bilingual Programs: A Phenomenological Reflection, Manuel O. Adrianzen

Dissertations

The aim of this study is two-fold. First, to better understand and capture the lived experiences of Latinx parents as they navigate the registration/enrollment process at the school and select a language program for their Pre-kindergarten child. Second, to understand what lived experiences influence their perception about bilingual education programs. Using Van Manen’s (2016) concept of human sciences and phenomenology, data was collected through the use of conversational interviews. The responses provided by the parents and school clerk revealed five themes, fear & anxiousness, hope for things to come & for a brighter future, use of social networks to understand …

Focus, Drive, And Motivation In Secondary School Populations, Lakeshia Cook

Dissertations

This study, Focus, Drive, and Motivation in Secondary Populations, addresses the topic of middle and high school student motivation to succeed in school. The aim was to discover what motivates and inspires student success. In this study, I delved into issues of low levels of student motivation, drive, and focus and the relative effect of these issues on school performance. The central purpose of this research was to find ways to foster greater levels of student focus, drive, and motivation during their middle and high school experience. The context of the study was a medium-sized charter middle school and a …

Student Engagement And Equitable Student Learning Outcomes, Douglas K. Harter

Dissertations

Student engagement is consistently shown by research to be a critical component of student learning. An opportunity to link variables of perceived student engagement, perceived student-teacher relationship and clarity, an in-person learning format, and a remote learning format presented itself when, in March of 2020, all Illinois public schools were mandated by Governor J.B. Pritzker to teach in a fully remote structure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Student survey data results were examined using Wagner et al’s (2006) 4 C’s model to determine if there were statistically significant differences among student engagement and student-teacher relationships when compared across in-person and …