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 …

An Analysis Of Major Facilitators To Their Success As Reported By Successful Women Administrators., Lisa Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study was designed to review the history of women in leadership and to evaluate the identified facilitators of success for women in leadership positions. Participants were asked to identify the facilitators that they considered important to their success. The facilitators were then compared to determine the most commonly occurring and the most influential among those cited by the participants. The results reflected those facilitators such as mentoring programs, training programs, as well as informal opportunities. Emotional intelligence was also examined in the context of this research.

The findings of this qualitative study yielded the facilitators of success as …

College Choice Decisions Of Student Athletes, John Patrick Teeples

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is a population study of college choice criteria among student athletes at the University of Tennessee. This study surveyed 408 student athletes from an NCAA division 1A institution during their team meetings, spring semester of 2004. These participants competed in 16 sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s track and field (both indoor, outdoor, and cross-country), women’s soccer, women’s softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s volleyball and women’s rowing.

The 408 student athletes were categorized by gender, race, socio-economic status, scholarship level, and sport played. …

A Policy Discourse Analysis Of U.S. Land-Grant University Diversity Action Plans, Susan Van Deventer Iverson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Achievement Of Eighth Grade Students In Mathematics After, Megan Shanette Bray

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the three- year effect of the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) on the mathematics achievement of middle school students in a southeastern Tennessee public school district. This was accomplished by (1) comparing the mathematics achievement of eighth graders who have completed three years of CMP with their mathematics achievement after completing one and two years of CMP; (2) comparing the achievement of male and female students during the same period of time; and (3) comparing the mathematics achievement of historically underrepresented students after completing one, two, and three years of CMP.

In …

Principals' Implementation Of Exclusion Policy In Tennessee Public High Schools, Clarence Steve Moser

Doctoral Dissertations

The exclusion of students from school has been a last-resort response that principals have chosen to correct inappropriate student behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine student exclusion policies and principal policy implementation practices in Tennessee’s public high schools. The students considered were not suspected for any disability that would require consideration under IDEA or Section 504.

A questionnaire containing nineteen disciplinary scenarios of inappropriate student behaviors was completed by one hundred and ninety-two of Tennessee’s public high school principals. The disciplinary scenarios represented exclusion policies that would warrant the student being suspended from school.

The findings revealed …

A Study Of Head Coaches' Attitudes Regarding Academic Support Services For Student Athletes In The New Jersey Athletic Conference, Kenneth M. Dickson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of head coaches in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regarding the academic support services provided to student athletes. Of related interest was whether the coaches found a need for these services to be provided by the athletic department. Seventy-five head coaches in the NJAC completed the survey to evaluate the attitudes and academic support services. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between years in coaching and attitudes of academic support services. The findings suggested that the head coaches in the NJAC believe that there is a need for academic …

A Study Of Persistence In The Walters State Community College Associate-Degree Nursing Program., Jeffrey Tom Horner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The WSCC ADN program had 66.57% persistence rate between the years 2000-2004. This retrospective study analyzed 28 demographic, pre-clinical, and clinical variables to identify correlates for persistence within the WSCC ADN program. The population size was 730 first-time candidates or the entire population of five consecutive clinical classes graduating between the years of 2000-2004. The candidates were identified and the variables tabulated using the WSCC student information system. SPSS 13.0 software was employed to conduct descriptive, frequency, multiple regression, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance tests. The criterion variables included persistence within the entire population, gender-specific persistence …

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 …

A Reliability And Validation Study Of An Administrative Effectiveness Survey For Deans At Institutions Of Higher Education, Kristi Jolena Nelms

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to revise and to establish the reliability and validity of the Administrative Effectiveness Survey and to field test the survey on the performance of academic deans at selected institution of higher education. Content validity for the instrument was, in part, established by asking two expert panels to review the instrument and make comments. Revisions to the initial instrument were made based on the suggestions by those experts. As a further test of content validity, factor analysis was performed on the data from the national study.

The instrument was administered to 677 faculty members at …

Predicting The Academic Achievement Of African American Women At Two Predominantly White Women's Colleges, Tammalyn Michele Thomas-Golden

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Non-Cognitive Questionnaire (NCQ) could more accurately predict the academic achievement of first-year, African American women at two predominantly white women’s colleges than could the SAT. The participants’ first semester grade point averages were used as the dependent variable. The eight sub-scales of the NCQ, SAT-Verbal score and SAT-Math score were the independent variables. Study participants were 31 first-year, first-time students at two predominantly white women’s colleges located in the southeastern United States.

There were three findings of this study. First, “Demonstrated Community Service” was the only NCQ sub-scale to emerge …

Examining The Experiences Of Students Engaged In Online Study, Michael North

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to compare the experiences of ten community college students enrolled in either the online version or traditional lecture-discussion version of a mathematics course taught by the same teacher. Six participants were enrolled in the online section and four participants were enrolled in the traditional, lecture-discussion section.

A qualitative approach relying heavily on phenomenology served as the primary focus for data collection and analysis. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with each participant at different points in the semester. Additionally, journals were maintained by each participant about their experience in the course. The data were analyzed …

An Investigation Of Institutional Research In Tennessee Community Colleges: Functions, Technology Use, And Impact On Decision-Making By College Presidents, Randolph C. Schulte

Doctoral Dissertations

For over a decade, three issues – institutional effectiveness, competitive market forces, and demand for accountability – have indelibly impacted the governance of all institutions of higher education, not in the least the community college. In the state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Defining Our Future plan, which was developed in response to state legislation requiring higher education systems to operate more efficiently and with more limited resources, positioned the office of Institutional Research as vital with regards to information processing, effective technology application, and decision-support by Tennessee community college presidents.

The main purpose of this study was …

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 …

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 …

Why Do African American And Latino Undergraduate Students Choose To Attend Rowan University?, Jose A. Aviles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence African American and Latino undergraduate students to attend Rowan University. Sixty four African American and 56 Latino undergraduate freshmen were used in this study. Each student was given The Rowan Freshman Survey (2004), to obtain the quantitative data for this study about why African American and Latino students choose Rowan University. The analysis of the data calculated the frequency, percentage, mean as well as the standard deviation for each item. An Independent Samples T Test with a .05 level of significance compared the means of the African American …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

A Study Investigating Undergraduate Student Leader Perceptions Of Involvement And Intentionality Of Out-Of-Class Learning, Lauren M. Ackermann

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine why students get involved in student organizations, the perceived benefits of being involved, and the role of student affairs professionals in enhancing out-of-class learning. Fifty-two undergraduate students from Rowan University participated in the study by completing a survey that asked about involvement in a Student Government Association (SGA) chartered organization, perceived learning outcomes associated with involvement, and the student's perceptions about current services offered to student organizations. A follow-up interview was conducted with six students who completed the initial survey in order to more fully answer the question of what student affairs professionals can …

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 …

Women In Leadership Positions In Tennessee Public Schools: A Qualitative Study Of Female Directors Of Schools., Joy O'Dell Yates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the best methods for achieving key leadership roles in education. The problem was to define the qualities that are important in leadership positions and to determine how those qualities relate to the top-level positions in school systems across Tennessee.

Nineteen female directors of schools were interviewed. Directors also completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (5X-Short). Characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership styles were included in the study. Most of the directors scored high on using the transformational factors (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration) of leadership and on using …