Education Commons^™

Mapping Anti-Racist Pedagogy Through Endarkened Storywork: Towards A Critical Race Trauma Reducing Pedagogical Framework, Jessica Michelle Schwind

Doctoral Dissertations

A critical attribute of an anti-racist English Language Arts (ELA) classroom is a curriculum that includes literary works that represent the full Black experience and readings of authentic storytelling (Toliver, 2022). When educators lack the autonomy to select their own classroom texts and/or lack the efficacy to navigate classroom discourse surrounding race and racism, an anti-racist pedagogical framework for literature instruction is critical (Johnson & Neville, 2018). My dissertation addresses the relationship between personal perceptions of literary representations of experience, relationships to race, and implications for pedagogy. The study investigates the choices teachers make when engaging students in Black authored …

Effects Of Repeated Reading With A Reader's Theater Approach On First Graders' Reading Fluency, Comprehension, And Prosody, Allison M. Murray

Masters Theses

Reading fluency is a critical skill to acquire to advance reading achievement in elementary grades and beyond. The purpose of this study was to determine how a reading fluency intervention using repeated reading methods influences first graders’ oral reading fluency, prosody, and comprehension. Participants were 21 students from a first-grade classroom (n = 9 male, 12 female) in a suburban school. The study was based on action research with the teacher engaging in educational practices and reflection. Students took part in a fluency intervention using Reader’s Theater scripts from the adopted curriculum at the school. Assessments examined accuracy, prosody, …

Designing A Serious Game To Simulate Ecological Processes On A Post-Eruption Mount St. Helens Landscape, Parker Maynard

Masters Theses

Developing strategies to successfully manage landscapes to meet ecological, economic, and social goals is an increasing concern in a world experiencing anthropogenic global changes. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state provided a major learning opportunity in managing resource effectively after a major disturbance. This information is explored through Resilience: After The Eruption: a serious game developed as part of this thesis that synthesizes research about ecological recovery and resource management following the eruption of Mount St. Helens. The digital game allows players to take on the role of four different stakeholders performing landscape-based operations while …

Early Childhood Education In India And Traces Of Colonial Regimes: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Snigdha Rampal

Masters Theses

Globalization and postcolonialism, as fields of inquiry, are vast, interdisciplinary, and marked by a diversity of concepts. These domains, while distinct, exhibit significant overlap and complementarity (Gupta, 2020). It can be argued that colonialism catalyzes globalization, disseminating and influencing human existence through Eurocentric knowledge (Bhatia, 2020; Hanson et al., 2018). Within the expansive scopes of globalization and postcolonialism, this research centers on specific conceptual ideas with a particular emphasis on their relevance to early childhood education in India. As such, the research proposed here employs a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of various global ECE texts, government documents, and national standards …

Classifying Facial Expressions Of Students Being Tutored In A Gateway College Math Course, Kriss Gabourel

Doctoral Dissertations

When it comes to tutoring, computers have not quite been able to achieve the success that humans have in helping students improve learning outcomes. This research sought to address one aspect of what makes human tutors more effective, the ability to identify and to interpret facial expressions. When a student is feeling anxious, confused, distracted or frustrated, or when a student has an ‘aha’ moment, human tutors can identify the student’s facial expressions and adjust their tutoring approach as necessary. This study sought to determine if, in the context of a gateway college math course, these particular learning-centered affects could …

The Drive H(Om)E: An Awakening To The Vibrational Language Of The Universe, Jessica Kathryn Keeble Summers

Doctoral Dissertations

We are (one). Life force energy is (one). World (language) education is my way to introduce the world of life force energy. This piece is rooted in the theory of qi, but moreso it is rooted in love and my philosophy of the oneness of life. Life is a gift. To see that we are life is a gift beyond words. To move beyond words but still know is awareness. To remember that the most essential part of what we are is timeless awareness is an opening into the light of consciousness, the wisdom of love, the whole of life …

A Qualitative Case Study Examining Teacher Perceptions Of Servant Leadership In Private K-12 Schools, Leighton Ray Upton

Doctoral Dissertations

Teachers’ values and beliefs are a key motivation to how teachers will perform in the classroom, interact with students and their colleagues, and influence the culture of a school (Borg, 2015; Davis, 2018; Finley, 2016). However, teachers do not always instruct students based on their personal values and beliefs (Fives & Gill, 2015; Diehl & Golann 2023). In this qualitative case study, the theoretical framework of servant leadership was used to understand teachers’ values and beliefs and how those beliefs influenced the culture of a school. Thirteen teachers from three private religious schools in the southeastern part of the United …

Tuned In: How Novice Teachers Navigate Personal, Professional, And Political Influences, Mary Katherine Bentley

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to begin to unlock how novice teachers navigate the tensions between their personal beliefs and those demonstrated or experienced through interactions with people and their environment. It should be of particular interest to administrators, schools, and teacher education programs that seek to support novice teachers. This study examines novice teachers' identity as seen through the stories they tell about their experiences to answer the research questions: How do new teachers interact with the stories of teaching and teaching identities? How do they embody, refuse (act against), or disregard (ignore) stories of teaching and teaching …

The Principal’S Dilemma: A Qualitative Study Of Sensemaking Through Ethical Decision Making In Response To Tennessee’S Third Grade Retention Law For El Students, Virginia R. Boles

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how elementary principals used sensemaking to implement intersecting laws when making decisions on how to provide the best educational experiences for EL students while being faced with high-stakes assessment policies—in particular, third grade retention policy in Tennessee. Participants were nine elementary school principals with five or more years of experience, in Title I schools, with 5% or more EL students. Interviews were then both inductively and deductively analyzed through Weick and Caughron’s sensemaking framework. Results suggested that long-standing Federal laws, create a set of values and ethics in principals. Principals find ways to stay true to …

“Sometimes Giving Up Is The Strong Thing:” How Women Charter School Teachers Remain Resilient In An Educational Marketplace, Gretchen N. Cook

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this three manuscript dissertation is to explore the habits and enduring patterns created by neoliberal structures that dictate how women teachers should behave within the culture of a charter school and uncover how participants resist and describe their own resiliency within the charter school institution. Specifically, this work is grounded in the assumption that teacher success in the labor force is inhibited by institutional rules that are ultimately harmful, and cause teachers to leave the field of teaching (Boe et al., 1997; Olsen & Anderson, 2007; Peske et al., 2001; Standeven, 2022; Wenk & Rosenfled, 1992). To …

“It’S A Fine Line To Walk:” Rural Identity And Global Citizenship Education Gatekeeping, Dylan Tyler Edmondson

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite growing calls for global education in the United States (NCSS 2016b) and the popularity of global citizenship education (GCE) programs internationally, education for global citizenship has not caught on in the United States (Rapoport, 2020). In this context, teachers wield considerable influence as curricular instructional gatekeepers. They may promote or resist GCE in individual ways in relation to the context in which they teach. Little is currently understood about the curricular gatekeeping practices of rural teachers regarding GCE (Moffa, 2020). Research that does examine rural GCE gatekeeping situates analysis in terms of the rural as a place but not …

Educational Experiences That Lead To Transition And Postsecondary Programs For Students With Intellectual Disabilities And Complex Needs, Alison A. Gauld

Doctoral Dissertations

This study researched Tennessee self-contained teacher perceptions of educational experiences that lead to students’ applying to Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs). This quantitative study utilized a survey, completed anonymously by Tennessee self-contained high school teachers to investigate what self-contained teachers do and what educational experiences lead a student to apply to a TPSID. A chi-square test of independence resulted in one significant result; students are more likely to apply to a TPSID if they participated in non-academic school events and/or activities. There was no significant result for any of the nine events or activities included …

Perceptions Of Tennessee Principals Of Their Supervisors’ Role In Developing Their Instructional Leadership Capacity, Brandie P. Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of Tennessee principals of their supervisor’s role in developing their instructional leadership capacity. This basic qualitative study gathered the perspectives of elementary principals. The participants included ten Tennessee elementary principals. Principals in the five participating school districts participated in semi-structured interviews for the qualitative study. Data from the interviews was collected, transcribed, coded, and analyzed. The qualitative results found the following four themes from the principal interviews: current direct support, professional development, ensuring strong relationships, and intentional communication. Principals receive support; however, the support is unstructured and primarily …

End Of The Road: A Case Study Of An Hbcu Upward Bound Program That Lost Its Funding, Kimberly R. Hill

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the factors leading to the loss of funding and subsequent closure of a long-standing Upward Bound program at Fortitude University, a Historically Black University. As one of the original federally funded Upward Bound programs established in 1964, this program played a crucial role in bridging the opportunity gap for many students in the city where this program was located, encouraging high school completion and college readiness. Despite its historical significance and impact, the program faced an abrupt end in the summer of 2017. Employing general qualitative research methods, the study draws on interviews with former Upward Bound …

English Teachers’ Perceptions Of Media And Identity In A Post-Truth World: An Arts-Based Qualitative Study Using Comic Making As Method, Jared Benjamin Huisingh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to learn from English teachers in Tennessee who worked through the pandemic. This study asked teachers to explain how they teach about media in their English classrooms, and it asked them to show how media affected their identities through art. This study found that though varied approaches exist, their comfort in teaching CML was dependent on personal safety, political influence, and administrative support. Participants showcase the media’s myriad effects in artwork while their stories are depicted in comic form. Implications for teacher practice and research are also discussed.

Building Upon Alternative-Academic Professionalization Opportunities For Phd Humanities Students, Amber J. Kent-Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation titled, “Building Upon Alternative-Academic Professionalization Opportunities for PhD Humanities Students,” I have interviewed 10 UTK English PhD alumni who graduated from the program between 2013 and 2023 to understand: (1) what they’ve experienced in their transition from academia into alt-ac careers, (2) what skills from their time in UTK’s English PhD program have transferred into their alt-ac careers, and (3) what forms of alt-ac professionalization support participants recommend adding to the UTK English PhD program. Participants were initially given a short survey to determine if their careers coincided with this study’s definition of alt-ac; that they were …

Instigators And Partners: Young Adult Literature’S Role In Readers’ Identity Formation, Cammie Jo Lawton

Doctoral Dissertations

This instrumental case study explored self-identified YA readers’ formative experiences with YAL and how their reading experiences contributed to their holistic identity. Using reader response theory, conceptualizations and varying layers of social imagination, and identity as theoretical foundations, the purpose of this dissertation is to inquire into YA readers’ experiences and determine how they describe YAL’s role in their sense of self over the course of their lives. The study was guided by the following research questions:

1. What types of transactions with YA texts have occurred with self-identified YA readers? Why have these transactions proved meaningful for the reader?
2. In …

Postsecondary Opportunities For Young Black Males From Urban Communities: The Barriers Of College Entrance Exams, Steven J. Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations

This research examines the experiences of young Black males from Tennessee urban communities regarding their postsecondary opportunities shaped by college entrance exams. Through a narrative qualitative approach, this study explores the challenges and triumphs faced by these individuals as they navigated the complex landscape of higher education admissions.

The research site encompassed urban public high schools in West Tennessee, providing a context rich in diversity yet full of systemic barriers to equitable access to postsecondary education. The participants included three young Black males who are freshmen at three different Tennessee postsecondary institutions, each offering unique insights into their journeys through …

Perceptions Of School Administrators On The Effectiveness Of Career And Technical Educator Teacher Preparation, Sheila K. Morris

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the perceptions of school administrators regarding the effectiveness of career and technical educator (CTE) teacher preparation programs. As the landscape of education continues to evolve, the importance of CTE programs in preparing students for the workforce has gained significant attention. Central to the success of these programs are the educators who deliver instruction. However, limited research exists on how school administrators perceive the preparedness and effectiveness of CTE teachers.

Utilizing qualitative research methods, this study explores the perspectives of school administrators through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis reveals themes related to the perceived strengths and weaknesses of CTE …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Planned Accommodations For English Learners: An Assessment Approach For Systematic Improvement, John C. Mooneyham

Doctoral Dissertations

As the dramatic increase in ELs in mainstream classrooms over the last decade continues to impact multiple facets of the educational system, teachers must respond and adapt to the complex and diverse needs of their students. To provide equitable instruction for ELs in the classroom teachers must understand the varied demands of EL instruction and plan appropriate accommodations to help these students grasp grade-level content. The present study investigated how intentionally pre-service teachers (PSTs) plan appropriate accommodations for English learners (ELs) to ensure comprehensibility of the content they are planning to teach. By examining lesson plans developed by PSTs using …

School Leaders' Ethical Decision-Making Related To Student Cyberbullying: A Multi-Case Study Of Two Tennessee School Districts, Jeana M. Partin

Doctoral Dissertations

This multi-case study was designed to explore cyberbullying issues and how school leaders handle student issues related to cyberbullying. I explored how ethical decisions related to student cyberbullying are processed within two school districts in Tennessee. Furthermore, understanding how districts implement and interpret Tennessee Bullying and Harassment Policies helps in exploring school leaders' ethical decision-making process regarding student cyberbullying. Shapiro and Stefkovich's (2021) multiple ethical paradigms, care, critique, justice, and the profession, provided a comprehensive framework for analyzing how school leaders process complex 21^st-century ethical decisions related to student-centered cyberbullying issues. A multi-case study supports the research questions …

World Language Teachers' Perceptions Of Efficacy In The Modern, Communicative Classroom, Valerie M. Schmidt-Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations

Approaches to second language pedagogy have evolved from their earlier iterations. Methods that once focused purely on the translation of a document from its original language into the student’s own have been replaced by communicative approaches that require students to produce the language (ACTFL, 2014b). To that end, world language teachers must create an environment in which the second language is used as much as possible (ACTFL, 2014b). Creating the environments necessary for the acquisition of language (Aljohani, 2017) depends on teachers’ beliefs about themselves (Cooke & Faez, 2019) and the pedagogical approaches they find valuable (Brown, 2009).

Through the …

The Journey Continues: Highlights From The 2024 Asma Conference, Marshall Magnusen

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The Journal of Applied Sport Management (JASM) is the official publication of the Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA), which is a scholarly organization that builds research partnerships between faculty and students. ASMA also facilitates connections between sport management faculty and students studying sport and practitioners working in the sport industry. In 2023, the annual conference was hosted by Samford University under the direction of Dr. Patrick Marsh. With 300 registrants, the 2024 conference was the most attended in ASMA history. It took place in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hosted by the University of Tennessee, the conference was spearheaded by Drs. Adam Love …

Insen 2023 Yearly Updates, Walid Metwally, Matteo Gerlini, Cristen Ford, João Claudio Batista Fiel J.C.B.F., Dr. Alpana Goel

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) is the primary international network for nuclear security educational initiatives. INSEN plays a central role in fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among nuclear security education experts worldwide. In the wake of the global pandemic, INSEN remained committed to strengthening nuclear security education and resumed in-person activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed its continued dedication and support to the network’s mission and presented new activities aimed at elevating global nuclear security efforts.

Throughout the year and during the annual and leadership meetings, working groups showcased their vibrant work and presented innovative ideas, invigorating …

Addressing The Adoption Gap: Exploring Resistance To Evidence-Based Practices Among Ncaa Coaches, Lawrence W. Judge, Jeffrey Petersen, Olivia Huffman, Selen Razon

Journal of Applied Sport Management

Athletic coaches strive to achieve optimal performance from their athletes and teams, yet many coaches fail to utilize new evidence-based practices (EBPs) with potential to improve performance. Many sport leaders and administrators seeking to assist and support positive change face resistance from coaches. This paper explores the lack of usage of EBPs among NCAA coaches and the subsequent effects on athlete performance and development. This problem is conceptualized through the theoretical underpinnings of diffusion of innovation theory and social cognitive theory. Application of resistance to change theories identifies action steps to help overcome barriers in the implementation of EBPs including …

Making (Applied) Sport Management Accessible, Adam William Love

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The Applied Sport Management Association’s Distinguished Service and Mentorship Award was initiated in 2022 as a renaming and repurposing of the ASMA Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award presented from 2009 to 2020. This service and mentorship award recognizes an ASMA member who has exhibited continued, exemplary service to ASMA, who connects sport management research with practitioners in an applied manner, and who demonstrates dedication to students and mentorship within the ASMA. Recipients of this award provide a keynote address to the ASMA membership at the annual conference. The content of this address is published in the Journal of Applied Sport Management …

Assessment Of Professional Counseling Dispositions: A Content Validity Analysis, Patrick R. Mullen, Jacob Joseph, Kaitlin Jones Hinchey, Morgan Walker, Jennifer Niles

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Counselor educators evaluate the professional counseling dispositions of trainees throughout their development within training programs. There have been few consistent articulations of professional dispositions as many programs and measures define them differently. In our study, we developed the Assessment of Professional Counseling Dispositions (APCD) and performed a content validity study of the measure. Our findings provide evidence for the content validity of the APCD. We discuss these findings, their implications, and future research using the measure.