Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Sacred Heart University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 1 - 30 of 175

Full-Text Articles in Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Bringing Our Folding Chair To The Table: Adopting Social Justice Through The Retention Of Black Women Educational Leaders, Jasmine Osborne May 2024

Bringing Our Folding Chair To The Table: Adopting Social Justice Through The Retention Of Black Women Educational Leaders, Jasmine Osborne

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) qualitative research study aimed to investigate targeted interventions and resources designed to create empowering environments for Black women educational leaders who are impacted by the intersectionality of gender and race. Intersectionality creates additional challenges for these leaders who grapple with additional challenges as Black women which negatively impact their access to leadership positions and their ability to be retained long term in that position. The loss of Black women educational leaders has a detrimental impact on the leadership pipeline for Black women, negative impacts on marginalized students, and continues to widen the gap …

Go to article

Affirming Black Girls: Creating And Sustaining Affirming And More Inclusive Learning Environments For Black Girls Through Professional Learning, Demetria Green Walters May 2024

Affirming Black Girls: Creating And Sustaining Affirming And More Inclusive Learning Environments For Black Girls Through Professional Learning, Demetria Green Walters

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) qualitative research study aimed to investigate targeted interventions and resources designed to enhance educators' cultural awareness and competence, fostering the creation of identity-affirming learning environments for Black girls as a lever for reducing racial discipline disparities. Identity validation and the provision of inclusive learning environments are necessary elements for promoting academic success while positively impacting the needs of Black girls. The intersectionality of being both Black and female poses an educational challenge that is often misunderstood and overlooked, yet it deserves significant attention to improve outcomes for this student group. Without intervention, racially …

Go to article

The Education And Generalization Of Educator Social Emotional Learning Capacities To Impact Student Success, Mariel Palombo Pipchinski May 2024

The Education And Generalization Of Educator Social Emotional Learning Capacities To Impact Student Success, Mariel Palombo Pipchinski

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of professional development (PD) on teachers' knowledge of social-emotional learning and their social-emotional competence and determine if PD leads to teacher growth in their ability to support students' social-emotional development and competence. The dissertation followed the Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) to address the problem of practice and increase students' social-emotional capacity through teacher implementation. To improve teacher's social-emotional capacity for classroom implementation, the researcher created and instructed a seven-week professional development for teachers (n=7) in a mid-sized suburban school district that focused on building social-emotional capacity and strategies …

Go to article

Love One Another! Merging Biblical Teaching And Social-Emotional Learning: A Framework For Introducing Sel In Christian Schools, Nancy Pittard Jones May 2024

Love One Another! Merging Biblical Teaching And Social-Emotional Learning: A Framework For Introducing Sel In Christian Schools, Nancy Pittard Jones

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) investigated to what extent professional development impacted teacher understanding of social-emotional learning (SEL) and its potential compatibility with Biblical teachings. The dissertation followed an Improvement Science framework to address a specific problem of practice: an increase in student maladaptive behavior. As student coping repertoires diminished following the COVID-19 and racial pandemics, teachers experienced stress and frustration. To bolster teachers' learning and provide new pathways for teachers to address student behavior and build classroom climate, the researcher introduced SEL to a group of teacher volunteers (n=21) in an independent Christian school through six professional …

Go to article

Welcoming All: Closing Racial Gaps In School Connectedness, Ashley E.T. Sherman Jan 2024

Welcoming All: Closing Racial Gaps In School Connectedness, Ashley E.T. Sherman

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods improvement science dissertation in practice (ISDiP) explores the problem of racial gaps in school connectedness at a small suburban elementary school, where Black students report the lowest rates of connection. School connectedness is a crucial predictor of academic and social-emotional success. An exploration of scholarly and professional practice identified restorative practices coaching as a high-yield strategy to close this gap. Restorative practices is a framework of proactive and responsive practices aimed at building community and repairing harm when it occurs. Six fourth- and fifth-grade teachers participated in bi-weekly coaching sessions and classroom observations of circles, a fundamental element …

Go to article

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: Promoting Teacher Retention And Preventing Burnout Among Elementary And Middle School Educators, Jacki L. Spring Jan 2024

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: Promoting Teacher Retention And Preventing Burnout Among Elementary And Middle School Educators, Jacki L. Spring

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This study aims to increase retention by providing teachers with strategies to decrease teacher burnout. Specifically, it sought to provide Tier I trauma-informed and restorative practice classroom management strategies through coaching cycles to reduce classroom disruptions and provide education on better managing challenging student behaviors. Based upon an intervention driven by weekly professional learning communities (PLC) sessions with the SEL coaching team and classroom-based coaching opportunities, this mixed-methods convergent design study utilized the improvement science framework. Quantitative data showed that although there were average decreases, there was no statistically significant difference in occupational exhaustion (EE) depersonalization (DP). Similarly, although there …

Go to article

Building Community: Strengthening Student Connectedness And Sense Of Belonging In Our Schools, Shannan D. Perry Calson Jan 2024

Building Community: Strengthening Student Connectedness And Sense Of Belonging In Our Schools, Shannan D. Perry Calson

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

All students want to attend a school they feel a sense of belonging to, one with caring adults and shared experiences for our young learners. Research shows that student connectedness and the quality of student–teacher relationships are associated with students’ engagement in school and academic performance (Bosman et al., 2018) and significantly impact student outcomes (Settanni, 2015). This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) investigated the impact intentional professional learning for teachers focused on social and emotional competencies and increased shared experiences for students has on students’ sense of belonging and connectedness in a middle school. With a two-pronged intervention …

Go to article

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Trauma Literacy And Mindfulness On Perceptions Of Educator Work-Related Stress, Carla Ann Roland Jan 2024

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Trauma Literacy And Mindfulness On Perceptions Of Educator Work-Related Stress, Carla Ann Roland

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice study aimed to examine a possible solution to reducing the negative effects of trauma and toxic stress on a child’s education through an intervention aimed at advancing educators’ trauma literacy inclusive of educator self-care. Using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design, the researcher investigated the impact the Trauma Literacy Professional Development and Mindfulness Educational Group had on the educators’ perceptions of educator work-related stress. The researcher utilized a pre- and post-intervention survey measure, group discussion group field notes, and semi-structured interviews with participants to answer the proposed research questions. Quantitative results of this study …

Go to article

Redefining The "Good Kids": A Mixed Methods Improvement Science Study In Mitigating Implicit Bias In Behavior Management Practices, Gabrielle Renee Delgado Jan 2024

Redefining The "Good Kids": A Mixed Methods Improvement Science Study In Mitigating Implicit Bias In Behavior Management Practices, Gabrielle Renee Delgado

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) focused on the problem of educator bias as it pertains to behavior management and discipline, specifically for Black and Hispanic/Latine students as well as students with disabilities. A root cause analysis coupled with a review of existing literature situated this problem within Clark High School and justified further intervention. This study used an improvement science framework, action research methodology, and a convergent mixed-methods design to explore the implementation of tier II of school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS) at Clark High School and its potential impact on educators’ awareness of implicit biases …

Go to article

Empowering Parents As Partners In Learning: Practices For Developing A Robust Home Learning Environment, Jennifer L. Bencivengo Jan 2024

Empowering Parents As Partners In Learning: Practices For Developing A Robust Home Learning Environment, Jennifer L. Bencivengo

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Parents are often considered a child’s first teacher. However, not all parents are equipped with adequate strategies or have access to equitable resources to provide a rich home learning environment for their children. Bodies of research consistently identify discrepancies in kindergarten readiness from a social, emotional, and academic learning vantage point when discussing foundational literacy skills, the overreliance on technology, and developmentally appropriate executive functioning skills (Bassok & Reardon, 2013a; Jung, 2016; Reardon & Portilla, 2016a; Wolf & McCoy, 2019a). In an attempt to address the inequities in school readiness has more recently been examined with focus on community based …

Go to article

Improving School Climate: The Impact Of A Perma-Based Intervention On Educators' Well-Being And Emotional Intelligence, Jennifer Andrews Kenney Jan 2024

Improving School Climate: The Impact Of A Perma-Based Intervention On Educators' Well-Being And Emotional Intelligence, Jennifer Andrews Kenney

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Research has demonstrated that the condition of a school’s climate substantially influences student outcomes. This study investigated the factors influencing a sub-optimal school climate in a rural school. Results indicated that educators’ unmet social and emotional needs and an absence of well-being support influenced the quality of the school climate. To address this problem, this study examined the impact of an eight-week PERMA-based multicomponent positive psychology intervention (MPPI) on rural educators’ well-being, emotional intelligence (EI), and professional practice. The participants consisted of 13 rural educators. Using a convergent mixed methods research design, the researcher merged quantitative data comprising pre-test and …

Go to article

Optimizing Partnership Impact: Prioritizing High-Quality Social-Emotional Learning In A Sports Enrichment Out-Of-School Time Program, Julie Thompson Goldstein Jan 2024

Optimizing Partnership Impact: Prioritizing High-Quality Social-Emotional Learning In A Sports Enrichment Out-Of-School Time Program, Julie Thompson Goldstein

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Research demonstrates that out-of school time (OST) programs featuring physical activity positively impact students' social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies, including self-regulation and collaboration skills. However, financial barriers prevent low-income students access to OST and sports opportunities. Grant-funded OST partnerships seeking to improve student well-being, emotional safety, and connection need ways to measure their value. A systems view indicates that OSTs play an interactive role within a school's complex system. Guided by the Improvement Science Framework, this Dissertation-in-Practice aimed to strengthen the SEL quality of 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports, a physical literacy-informed sports enrichment OST program serving primarily elementary school students. Using …

Go to article

Teacher Retention: Building Self-Efficacy To Keep Educators In The Classroom, Dawn M. White Jan 2024

Teacher Retention: Building Self-Efficacy To Keep Educators In The Classroom, Dawn M. White

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated the impact of professional development with coaching support on a novice teacher’s self-efficacy, with the goal of improving novice teacher retention in an urban district. In Phase 1 of this study, the researcher determined that the problem of practice, novice teacher attrition, impacted students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. In Phase 2, the researcher offered a six-module professional development course, in-person and online, that included classroom management strategies for teachers in their first year of employment. The researcher designed the intervention to include coaching from the novice teachers’ assigned district mentors to support implementation. …

Go to article

Ctl Impact Report (Fy23), Center For Teaching & Learning Aug 2023

Ctl Impact Report (Fy23), Center For Teaching & Learning

CTL Publications

The Sacred Heart University CTL was founded in 2022 as an integrated scaffold of teaching and learning support. Its founding brought together instructional development for SHU faculty with academic support services for SHU undergraduate and graduate students. In this report, we share our center’s reach and impact during FY23 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023), marking the first full academic year in which the CTL has operated in its current model.

Go to article

Transforming Educators' Trauma-Informed Knowledge And Skillset: Exploring The Impact Of A Trauma-Informed Intervention On Educators' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Understanding Of Trauma, Ashley Favello Aug 2023

Transforming Educators' Trauma-Informed Knowledge And Skillset: Exploring The Impact Of A Trauma-Informed Intervention On Educators' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Understanding Of Trauma, Ashley Favello

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The dissertation followed an improvement science framework to address a specific problem of practice using a mixed methods convergent design. The dissertation in practice investigated the effects of training on teachers’ proficiency in trauma-informed practice and teachers’ perspectives on training and support for students who have experienced trauma. The intervention was conducted across seven elementary schools and consisted of four professional development sessions and observation opportunities with an individual coach. This action research and mixed methods explanatory sequential design included quantitative data assessing teacher knowledge and self-efficacy pre- and post-intervention. It also included teachers’ application of strategies in the classroom …

Go to article

“I Kind Of Pushed Back”: Efficiency And Urgency In A No-Excuses Writing Curriculum, Katie Nagrotsky Jan 2022

“I Kind Of Pushed Back”: Efficiency And Urgency In A No-Excuses Writing Curriculum, Katie Nagrotsky

Education Faculty Publications

Drawing on the concept of structuring contexts (Berchini, 2016) this article explores a white teacher’s understanding of teaching writing in a no-excuses charter management organization network. Through a deductive analysis, the author traces how the teacher’s beliefs about language were shaped by the CMO’s emphasis on efficiency, influencing how he acted on and adapted centralized curriculum and assessment practices. Documenting the ways that whiteness works within the writing curriculum and assessment practices despite stated broader organizational commitments to culturally relevant teaching, the author shows how the curriculum appropriated texts written by People of Color while the assessment practices prioritized correctness …

Go to article

The Journey To Improving Student Connectedness: Exploring Teacher Self-Efficacy, Use, And Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Christopher F. Cipriano Jan 2022

The Journey To Improving Student Connectedness: Exploring Teacher Self-Efficacy, Use, And Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Christopher F. Cipriano

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Dissertation in Practice investigated to what extent professional learning impacted teacher perceptions, instruction, and self-efficacy of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) at a Catholic high school. The dissertation followed an Improvement Science framework to address a specific problem of practice: a lack of universal student connectedness at the high school level. As students begin ninth grade, the connectedness to school many experienced on the elementary level often wanes, with academic, social, and emotional impacts. To build connectedness, the researcher selected a specific change idea focused upon CSP. The intervention consisted of two professional development (PD) sessions and several opportunities for …

Go to article

"I Am Not Alone": Supporting Teachers Of Color Through Affinity Groups, Marissa J. White Jan 2022

"I Am Not Alone": Supporting Teachers Of Color Through Affinity Groups, Marissa J. White

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

While research has indicated that teachers of color need to be better supported by building and district administrators to retain higher numbers, the literature lacks the best practices for targeted support specifically for teachers of color. This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice utilizes a qualitative participatory social justice design to examine the efficacy of affinity groups as a viable practice to support and retain teachers of color. Through a Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework, this study also explores the reflections of teachers of color at a Pre-k – Grade 5 school in a large urban district in a Northeastern state. …

Go to article

Analyzing The Effects Of Mathematical Mindsets And Self-Regulation Of Middle School Students To Overcome The Challenges Of Math Anxiety, Bardhyl Gjoka Jan 2022

Analyzing The Effects Of Mathematical Mindsets And Self-Regulation Of Middle School Students To Overcome The Challenges Of Math Anxiety, Bardhyl Gjoka

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

In the rapidly changing world, schools must prepare students for jobs and careers that may not exist today. Mathematics is one of the core subject areas that help students prepare to meet the demands of the 21st-century. When students are proficient in mathematics, they have the opportunity to build problem-solving skills. Learning mathematics helps students find solutions to a problem logically and develop analytical thinking skills. However, many students struggle with mathematical content and concepts during math lessons and learning activities. Teachers need to create practical age-appropriate lessons focusing on problem-solving skills to help students who fear math and experience …

Go to article

Put Your Own Mask On First: A Supportive Group-Based Experience For Teachers Developing Competence In Employing Sel In The Classroom, Karolyn S. Dahlstrom Jan 2022

Put Your Own Mask On First: A Supportive Group-Based Experience For Teachers Developing Competence In Employing Sel In The Classroom, Karolyn S. Dahlstrom

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The demands for teachers to integrate social-emotional concepts into the classroom have never been higher, yet there is little formal or informal professional development dedicated to developing competence in this domain. This mixed-methods study examined the impact of an ongoing, professional development series on the confidence and competence of teachers to integrate social-emotional instructional strategies into the classroom. Although a small sample size, participants reported increased confidence in integrating SEL concepts, noted the overall quality of their instruction improved, perceived increased support from school administration, and reported the model of professional development delivery as effective. This study suggests the merits …

Go to article

Unlocking Classroom Discourse: Supporting Early Career Teachers In Their Development Of Culturally Inclusive Social-Emotional Teaching Practices, Kelly L. Falvey Jan 2022

Unlocking Classroom Discourse: Supporting Early Career Teachers In Their Development Of Culturally Inclusive Social-Emotional Teaching Practices, Kelly L. Falvey

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science research study investigates how school districts can support educators with one to three years of experience in developing culturally inclusive social-emotional teaching practices (CISEL). This mixed-methods study aimed to understand the early career teacher experience and their perspectives on CISEL to identify structures that support this area of pedagogical development during the transition from preparation to employment. First, an initial root cause analysis exposed the need for more explicit integration of cultural inclusivity into educator preparation and early career teacher professional learning in the state and district that employs the scholarly practitioner. Secondly, the root cause analysis …

Go to article

Moving The Needle: Impacting Teachers' Practices That Support Students' Sel Development, Tammi Y. Dockett-Wilson Jan 2022

Moving The Needle: Impacting Teachers' Practices That Support Students' Sel Development, Tammi Y. Dockett-Wilson

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Research has shown how students’ social-emotional development impacts their lives beyond school and the benefits social-emotional development has had on academic growth, as social-emotional development and academics, worked in unison (Locklear, 2020). Therefore, students should receive support in developing their social-emotional learning skills while they are receiving academic instruction (Yoder, 2014b). One suggested way to accomplish this goal is to provide teachers with the knowledge about social-emotional learning, followed by supporting them through their social-emotional learning implementations (Ferguson-Patrick, 2010). This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice utilized a convergent mixed methods intervention design to interact with the six research partners, who …

Go to article

Addressing Student Stress: The Impact Of Training On Student Assistance Team Practices, Kaitlin Stanton Jan 2022

Addressing Student Stress: The Impact Of Training On Student Assistance Team Practices, Kaitlin Stanton

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated the impact of training and continuous support on the effectiveness of a high school Student Assistance Team’s ability to identify and discuss students experiencing high stress levels. In Phase 1 of this action research, the researcher determined the problem of practice to be high stress levels that impacted students’ academic, social, and emotional development. After conducting a root cause analysis and the identification of drivers of change, the researcher selected one high leverage practice to implement. In Phase 2, the researcher implemented training and support sessions to foster the Student Assistance Team members’ …

Go to article

See Me, Hear Me, Teach Me: Addressing Equity, Diversity, And Student Engagement Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, Diana Diiorio Jan 2022

See Me, Hear Me, Teach Me: Addressing Equity, Diversity, And Student Engagement Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, Diana Diiorio

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice aimed to investigate how teachers' cultural backgrounds and potential cultural biases were manifested in their teaching and determine the degree to which student engagement is impacted as a result of teachers' proficiency in the use of Cultural-linguistic Responsiveness (CLR). Additionally, this study aims to intervene in the problem of practice (lack of use of Cultural-linguistic Responsiveness strategies) through assessment of the impact of training to increase Cultural-linguistic Responsiveness strategies. By utilizing a convergent mixed-method approach, this study follows a team of devoted school community members as they planned, implemented, studied, and reflected on the …

Go to article

A Balancing Act: Analyzing The Effects Of Embedded Versus Isolated Self-Regulation Breathing Techniques On Inattention And Phonemic Segmentation Skill Acquisition In Kindergartners, Kimberly A. Atkinson Jan 2022

A Balancing Act: Analyzing The Effects Of Embedded Versus Isolated Self-Regulation Breathing Techniques On Inattention And Phonemic Segmentation Skill Acquisition In Kindergartners, Kimberly A. Atkinson

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Using a mixed-methods convergent design within an Improvement Science framework, this Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice analyzed the effects of embedding self-regulation breathing techniques into the phonemic segmentation lesson versus conducting the techniques prior to the lesson or not at all. The project was conducted across two elementary schools, using six kindergarten educators and classes. The research began with a pre-assessment, followed by two days of applying or withholding the intervention across three groups (no intervention, isolated intervention, embedded intervention), and concluded with a post-assessment. The researcher conducted the academic lessons while the educators conducted inattention behavioral observations. After each …

Go to article

Transforming Educators' Social Emotional Learning (Sel): A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of A Trauma-Informed Sel Intervention To Mitigate Educator Implicit Bias, Kemen Holley Jan 2022

Transforming Educators' Social Emotional Learning (Sel): A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of A Trauma-Informed Sel Intervention To Mitigate Educator Implicit Bias, Kemen Holley

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

While research has indicated that social emotional learning (SEL) approaches promote essential, long-lasting individual and collective development for students, the literature indicates a lack of evidence that educators are implementing SEL approaches to affirm the assets, lived experiences, and identities of students, particularly those belonging to minoritized groups. This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) employed a mixed-methods pragmatic, researchintervention process model that utilized a community-based action research approach to evaluate a trauma-informed SEL professional learning (PL) intervention as a viable practice to mitigate high school educators’ implicit biases. Through an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework, this study sought to determine the …

Go to article

Building Emotionally Skilled Teachers: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Mbi On Perceptions Of Self-Management, Enhanced Mindfulness, Well-Being, And Stress, Emily Coffin Daigle Jan 2022

Building Emotionally Skilled Teachers: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Mbi On Perceptions Of Self-Management, Enhanced Mindfulness, Well-Being, And Stress, Emily Coffin Daigle

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) aimed to understand to what extent mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) designed for the school setting aided in the development of middle school teachers’ perceptions of self-management skills and what impact MBIs had on participants’ perceptions of enhanced mindfulness, well-being, and stress. Additionally, the study reported on the indirect impact participation in the mindfulness program had on teachers’ perceptions of classroom management, climate, and relationships with students. Using a mixed-methods design, the researcher investigated the impact of a two-phase mindfulness program designed to provide high-quality professional learning and structured intervention to a group of 20 …

Go to article

The Effects Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy On Middle School Teachers' Sel Self-Efficacy And Instructional Practices, Caitlin A. O'Keefe Jan 2022

The Effects Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy On Middle School Teachers' Sel Self-Efficacy And Instructional Practices, Caitlin A. O'Keefe

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated the impact professional learning in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy had on teacher SEL self-efficacy and instructional practices in a middle school. Educators faced many new challenges with the onset of a global pandemic, increased political polarization, and social unrest fueled by system racism. In the blink of an eye, teachers adapted their instructional practices to teach in full remote, hybrid, and, eventually, in-person instruction with strict COVID-19 guidelines. Teachers noted a decrease in student connectedness and higher disengagement from school. Students’ social and emotional needs grew, and classroom teachers became the triage nurses in …

Go to article

Addressing High School Student Stress: Exploring Student And Teacher Perceptions Of A Modified Dbt Steps-A Curriculum, Greg C. Hatzis Jan 2022

Addressing High School Student Stress: Exploring Student And Teacher Perceptions Of A Modified Dbt Steps-A Curriculum, Greg C. Hatzis

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The problem of practice investigated is high school student stress and the many detrimental effects. The setting is a public high school in Southwestern Connecticut in a community that places a high value on academic achievement and college acceptance. A root cause analysis identifies two actionable drivers of change in teacher practices and the lack of student self-management skills. A review of scholarly knowledge and local practices leads to an investigation of strategies to mitigate the problem. This review identifies Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A) as a high leverage strategy to address …

Go to article

Our Words Matter: The Impact Of Professional Development On Positive Teacher Language, Jennifer L. Hilderbrand Jan 2022

Our Words Matter: The Impact Of Professional Development On Positive Teacher Language, Jennifer L. Hilderbrand

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Research shows that quality student-teacher relationships contribute to students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional outcomes. During phase 1 of this Improvement Science study, Buck Mountain Elementary School adults expressed concern with student-adult relationships. Specifically, adults indicated that connectedness with students has deteriorated since the onset of learning in a COVID 19 impacted context. Next, phase 2 investigated the impact of professional development on positive teacher language as an effective strategy to increase quality student-teacher relationships. Using a participatory-classroom action research method, participants engaged in a five-session intervention cycle of professional development focused on positive teacher language to support teachers in rebuilding …

Go to article

Next Last