Education Commons^™

Factors Affecting Superintendent Longevity In Michigan, Sally Hipp

Dissertations

Theory and research surrounding the issue o f longevity of superintendents seemed contradictory in the literature. On the one hand, the average length of time a superintendent serves in his/her position has not changed noticeably over the last few decades. Yet many researchers were reporting a crises in this field because the applicant pool seemed to be shrinking and longevity of superintendents in large urban districts was reported to be lower than the average longevity rate of 5-6 years. In addition the perception of many of the superintendents in the field was that the turnover rate of superintendents was on …

The Development And Validation Of The Ethical Climate Index For Middle And High Schools, Laura E. Schulte, Franklin Titus Thompson, Jeanie Talbott, Ann Luther, Michelle Garcia, Shirley Blanchard, Laraine Conway, Melanie Mueller

Counseling Faculty Publications

One school characteristic that needs to be considered as important in keeping schools safe is school climate. The purposes of this study were to develop and validate an instrument that measures the ethical climate of middle and high schools. To create the School Ethical Climate Index (SECI), we adapted the Ethical Climate Index for graduate and professional school programs to apply to middle and high schools. The SECI measures a school’s sense of community by assessing student and teacher interactions and relationships through the application of five ethical principles: respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity. To provide evidence …

Today's Threats Prove To Be Tomorrow's Promise: Higher Education In 2027, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The effects of technology on the instructional mission of this nation's colleges and universities have been both positive and negative. While an estimated two million students, many of whom would not have had access to higher education a few decades ago, are already engaged in distance learning, this gain has been paralleled by a proliferation of inferior, profit-driven institutions and degree programs. Some observers already have predicted the demise of the modem university, claiming that a small number of independent, entrepreneurial scholars and an army of low-paid adjunct instructors using the Web and cable television will replace regular faculties in …

Imsa 2061 Program Year 2001-2002 Summary Report, Steven R. Rogg

Steven R Rogg

In 2000 IMSA and the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Project 2061 established a partnership, IMSA 2061, to offer unique and nationally recognized professional development programs for mathematics and science teachers and education leaders. Participants in the IMSA 2061 professional development programs learn to use the tools, research, and experiences of education reform to enable all students to achieve the learning expressed in state and national standards. Activities described in this report fall into two categories, Introductory Workshops and long-term programs with districts. IMSA 2061 Introductory Workshops help educators become aware of how to apply Project 2061 publications …

Comparison Of The Transformational Leadership Practices Of Principals Of Charter Schools And Principals Of Traditional Public Schools In Louisiana, Charles W. Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the transformational leadership practices of principals of charter schools and traditional public schools in Louisiana. A causal-comparative research design was utilized. All charter schools were asked to participate in the study, and a matched sample of public schools was selected for the comparison group.

Key findings suggest that charter school and traditional public school principals possess transformational leadership skills. However, there was no difference between the groups in the extent to which they practiced these behaviors. Teachers' perceptions did not differ from principals' self-reported practices. Personal and professional characteristics did not …

Time Efficient Team Building, Kristi Alexander, Bruce Johnson, Dorothy Winslow

Essays in Education

Team building requires the knowledge of available tools to accomplish the tasks at hand while working in time constraints of school districts. This article reviews: a) effective team building strategies, b) applies team building to develop new knowledge, and c) makes use of total quality management tools to build teams in a limited time frame.

Non-Certificated Staff Evaluation Instruments That Are Meaningful And Promote Improved Job Performance, Doris J. Isaacs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine development of an evaluation instrument for non-certificated staff. This instrument would clearly recognize the valuable contributions of this important and often overlooked group of employees and provide a tool to promote improved job performance.

Individuals participating in the study were the School Business Administrator, 86 non-certificated staff, three head custodians and three principals. Non-certificated employees were surveyed using a written questionnaire to determine their opinions of evaluations and job performance motivators. The head custodians and principals participated in informal interviews regarding existing practices. Five non-certificated staff participated in personal interviews about employee …

Inclusion, The Forced Game Plan For Levelling The Playing Field: One High School's First Attempt, Rebecca Tribbett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the co-teaching as an inclusionary technique in a high school setting. Co-teaching in this study consisted of a general and special education teacher collaborating in the instruction of a group of general and special needs students.

The participants included 140 students, the general education and special education teacher. The teachers completed an Inclusion Survey that contained a twenty-item, four points, forced-choice Likert Scale. The survey measured the teachers' beliefs in four domains: Teacher training, Academic Content/Teacher Effectiveness, Social Atmosphere (students) and Academic Climate.

Interviews of the teaching staff and …

Kindergarten To Fourth Grade Student Code Of Conduct, Carrieann L. Molnar

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to develop a kindergarten through fourth grade code of conduct for the Charles L. Spragg School. The parents and faculty completed a Likert style survey about the present discipline code. The study also reviewed the number of discipline referrals before and after the implementation of the new code of conduct.

The student population was comprised of approximately 353 pre-k through fourth grade students and 44 staff members. The surveys completed by the parents and staff were compiled and used to develop the new code of conduct. The number of discipline referrals for October, November, December and …

The Effects Of A Social And Emotional Learning Curriculum On The Academic Achievement Of High School Students, Lyn J. Langford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum on students' academic achievement, classroom behavior and SEL skills. An SEL curriculum was administered to 105 randomly selected college preparatory United States History 10th grade students. Students received a pretest and a posttest measuring their perception of SEL skills. This was administered before the 10 lesson unit was facilitated and after the action research was completed. The curriculum combined SEL and American Government. Various forms of assessment were used to measure academic achievement.

Survey results were analyzed and comparison percentages tabulated to …

Discipline Problems: Ways Of Improvement, Teresa Mcganey-Guy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover new ways of assisting students that have behavioral problems and the teachers of those students.

The subjects in this study were four teachers and their first and second grade students. The teachers were three females and one male. Two of the female teachers teach first grade and the others teach second grade.

The research tool used in this study was a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed to gain knowledge about the effectiveness of the discipline strategies. The questions were used to collect general information about the respondent and the discipline strategies.

The …

Research A Formative Method And Instrument For Staff Evaluations, Mary Benatti

Theses and Dissertations

Through the creation of a formative method and instrument of staff evaluations an ongoing cycle of evaluation and professional development will be encouraged for all middle school teachers. All data collection was conducted through individual interviews at Salem Middle School in Salem City School District. Team leaders from grades 4 through 8 and the team leader from the special education department participated in the interview process. The data was analyzed by the intern at the conclusion of all interviews. Analysis was conducted through coding which led to categories, themes and patterns.

Recognizing their own areas of improvement and assessing input …

Has The Adoption Of Whole School Reform Benefitted Eighth Grade Students At Cantrell Middle School?, Derrick L. Carrington

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of Whole School Reform on the delivery of instructional services to eighth graders using a community-based action research design. The study will result in a feasibility report to inform parents, teachers, students, administrators, and board members. The use of Whole School Reform for eighth graders is a means of providing them with creative learning processes while learning in an efficient manner.

This particular study was directed towards a small cluster of eighth grade students who attended the Cantrell Middle School as fifth graders. There was also a focus …

Restructuring The District's High School Guidance Department, Margaret L. Corcoran

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and obtain the resources to create a comprehensive guidance department that would meet the needs of our school population in preparing them for the 21st century. Survey questionnaires provided quantitative data for needs analysis. The questionnaire utilized a Likert Scale. All high school students were given the student survey, approximately one-third responded. The purpose was to have an in-depth understanding of which students' needs were being met and which were not. The students were asked to only identify their grade. A stratification by grade of the high school population allowed for a …

The Relationship Between Thematic Teacher Teaming And Its Effects Upon Student Achievement And Cross-Curricula Cohesiveness, Lakecia C. Hyman

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between thematic teacher teaming and its effects upon student achievement and cross-curricula cohesiveness. The data were collected from a teacher questionnaire, student group discussions, school attendance and test scores, student assessments, and field notes. These various methods produced information about the development, understanding, enforcement, and collaboration regarding team teaching and its effects upon student achievement. A review of literature attributed initial positive teacher and student responses and later decreased lack of participation with inconsistent enforcement and support from administration. The findings of this study showed that this school did not develop a …

Community Service Plan, Joseph Depalma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to see if a school-wide discipline program with positive rewards and consequences is a need for the Happy Dale Elementary School. The study will consist of a case study design that would include all staff members, certified and non-certified to take part. The group will meet as a study team to develop a Community Service Plan in which students who do not follow school rules will have to give back to the school community by participating in school community service.

Students in grades three through five will participate in the program. The student body …

The Behavioral Effects Of Placing Emotionally Disturbed Students In An Alternative School Day Setting, Allen Randall Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the effects on student behaviors, of taking emotionally disturbed students out of the regular high school and placing them in an alternative afternoon (1PM - 5PM) program. The researcher attempted to determine whether removing the students from the regular population and placing them in a self-contained setting would improve their behaviors. The subjects of the study were all high school aged students attending a regional high school in southern New Jersey. Each of the students was classified as either emotionally disturbed or multiply handicapped. Prior to being placed in this program, the students had …

New Egypt High School's Single Lunch: "It's Common Sense", Joseph Dipietro

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine if hosting an open campus single lunch at New Egypt High School would positively affect the cultural climate of the entire school. The single lunch project involved the entire school community. As the administrative intern I served as the project coordinator, as well as a lunch monitor.

To determine the project's effectiveness, students and staff members were randomly selected to provide feedback on separate questionnaires. The intern also held informal interviews with cafeteria workers and the school custodian to better understand their perceptions of the project.

Staff members perceived the single lunch policies and …

The Effects Of Authentic Assessment In Elementary School Science, Timothy L. Trow

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of authentic assessments on Bells Elementary School students' understanding of science concepts. In this study the Washington Township Public Schools' Elementary School Science Committee created open-ended authentic assessments to enhance the district's science curriculum. The subjects of the study were of various ethnic and economic backgrounds. They were heterogeneously grouped members of self-contained fourth grade classrooms. Surveys of the classroom teachers at Bells Elementary School found that the teachers believed their instruction had changed as a result of the new assessments. They also felt that students were better able to …

Implementing A Bully Prevention Program At The Sixth Grade Level, Janis E. Gansert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine bully-victim behaviors and intervention strategies using case study research design in order to develop and implement a bully prevention program. Participants in this study were limited to students, parents, and teachers on one of three sixth grade teams. A program was presented including a survey for students to determine the level of bullying, questionnaires for students and teachers to evaluate program effectiveness, and interviews with teachers, the guidance counselor, and the assistant principal. Survey data was analyzed by tabulating responses and determining percentages of students experiencing bullying. Student questionnaire data was analyzed …

Implementing A Teacher Mentor Program, Nan L. Holland

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to develop a mentor program for novice teachers that will ease the inevitable anxiety that occurs during the first year and increase the retention rate of new teachers to the profession and at Camden High School. The intern monitored this program as its coordinator and conducted mentor training through regular workshops.

Management decisions related to mentoring influenced the quality of instruction and learning of both mentors and novices. Camden High School transmitted the school culture to novice teachers in a well-developed program. Through interviews, surveys, classroom visitations, reflective journals, and personal contact with a …

New Teachers And Old Pay Structures: An Analysis Of How Teacher Pay Influences Job Acceptance Of First-Year Teachers, Chance W. Lewis

Essays in Education

This study identified whether compensation packages were a factor in first-year teacher’s decisions to accept a teaching position in the states of Colorado and Louisiana. This study involved (a) identifying the components of a school district’s compensation package that were factors in the job acceptance decisions as indicated by respondents and (b) indicating other factors besides compensation that played a major role in job acceptance decisions.

The study surveyed a sample of 12 school districts in Colorado and Louisiana during the 2000-2001 academic school year. It included first-year teachers in the 12 approved school districts that had no previous teaching …

A Reflective Essay About Philosophy Of Education, James Dostal

Graduate Research Papers

People are the essence of education. In the education and athletic professions people were and are the source of my ideas about leadership qualities. Educational leadership is significant to the organization of schools as well as school districts. This writing will reflect on qualities of leaders and my philosophy of leadership.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Greg Fisher

Graduate Research Papers

An effective administrator has a passion for assisting children in their educational growth. Administrators strive for a quality, equitable and applicable education for all children. Leadership is developed from the core values held by the individual. Values that are essential for a distinguished leader are integrity and honesty. Respected administrators have established positive working relationships with all members of the learning community, and they challenge each individual to achieve their fullest potential.

Sustainable Results In Urban Middle Schools: How Principals Use Systems Thinking To Lead Effective Change, Peggy H. Burke

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study presents the stories of four urban middle school principals engaged in reform that is grounded on the core principle that every early adolescent has the capacity for high-level intellectual development. Data collected over two years through formal interviews and informal conversations with principals and teachers, school and district surveys and reports, student test data, and personal observations were analyzed from a systems thinking theoretical framework to assess each principal's ability to implement reform that produced sustainable results. A systems thinking framework articulates the importance of a leader's ability to: 1) conceptualize the whole and recognize patterns; 2) aspire …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Scott B. Bailey

Graduate Research Papers

The educational process has been an important part of this country since our founding fathers first stepped off the ships and started a new life. The
pioneers continued to move westward and educate their youth. Reform-minded individuals set out to improve our educational process. These educated individuals soon developed wondrous items of technology. Individuals educated by dedicated leaders in the field of education made those technological advancements possible. These leaders developed qualities, which were continually improved into the leadership ideas presented in this reflective paper. We need to expect the best of our students as they attend our institutions. An …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kimberly K. Blakesley

Graduate Research Papers

The most vital role an administrator can play is that of aiding teachers to enable students to learn. This will be done through giving and coaching unselfishly. The need of an educator in any position is to pass on the key that will enable students to renew their faith and confidence in their own abilities. Once the student finds or accepts this key and uses it, they will unlock the golden door to learning--then the rest is up to them. The constant repetition of learning will be absorbed by that other mind of theirs, the subconscious, and eventually will be …

The Album-Like Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kimberly R. Miers

Graduate Research Papers

Have you ever put together a photo album? One photograph tells a piece of the story, the photo album tells the whole story. The principal's role is much like that of a photo album creator. Principals need to focus on all aspects of the school. In effect they take snapshots of the school, collect them, and analyze them to ensure the realization of their school's vision.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Steven E. Mielenhausen

Graduate Research Papers

The world has become a very complex and dynamic place. Students today.are required to make sense of a world that increases its base knowledge at an alarming rate. These students have a general idea of what lies ahead of them when they become adults, but cannot nail down what future employment might look like. Fortunately there are dedicated professionals who understand the importance of an educated, informed and resourceful public. Educational leaders must gather these dedicated professionals with a common vision.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Shelly A. Petersen

Graduate Research Papers

The principal of the 21st century must be able to balance many activities to meet the needs of all constituents. In creating an environment that meets the needs of all, the principal must focus in on six essential concepts: 1) creating a team approach, 2) building a shared vision through communication, 3) facilitating change, 4) managing time, 5) creating climate, and 6) improving instruction. I am convinced that if a principal focuses attention on these six concepts he/she can create a vision within the school that centers its attention on student achievement. When an administrator does so a vision to …