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Full-Text Articles in Educational Leadership

Selected Factors Related To The Mathematics Academic Achievement Of Eighth Grade English Language Learners, Anthony Garza Dec 2012

Selected Factors Related To The Mathematics Academic Achievement Of Eighth Grade English Language Learners, Anthony Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to examine selected factors related to the 8th grade mathematics achievement levels of English Language Learner (ELL) students in selected South Texas middle schools. The dependent variable, ELL mathematics achievement, was measured by the ELL student’s raw score on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) or the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness linguistically accommodated test (STAAR L). The factors examined in this study were 1) parent’s educational background, 2) socioeconomic status, 3) parental involvement status at school, 4) number of people in the household, 5) family structure, 6) primary …


Remediation In Mathematics: A Factor In The Retention Of Entering Freshmen At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Rolinda May Pena-Park Dec 2012

Remediation In Mathematics: A Factor In The Retention Of Entering Freshmen At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Rolinda May Pena-Park

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Many institutions of higher education face a common challenge - retaining students in a time when higher education is of most importance as students must be prepared to compete in today's fast growing global market. Students are dropping out of college at an alarming rate due to the lack of academic readiness. The main area of academic deficiency is in the area of mathematics (National Center for Education Statistics, 2006). The purposes of this qualitative multiple case study were to explore the effectiveness of remediation courses in mathematics and identify the factors that influence success or failure of Hispanic students …


Redesigning A Principal Preparation Program: A Continuous Improvement Model, Rosalinda Hernandez, Maria Roberts, Velma D. Menchaca Oct 2012

Redesigning A Principal Preparation Program: A Continuous Improvement Model, Rosalinda Hernandez, Maria Roberts, Velma D. Menchaca

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications and Presentations

The paper describes a mixed methods approach to the process of redesigning a principal preparation program. A qualitative approach was used to gather data from superintendents within the geographic area using a focused group approach, whereas, quantitative data, were gathered through a survey of program graduates with questions aligned to the three domains of the TExES examination for principal certification. Texas universities that offered principal preparation programs were studied and analyzed as a backdrop to the study. The superintendent responses identified various strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of the program. The graduate survey results indicated low satisfaction ratings in …


Academic Rigor In High School Curricula, College-Readiness, And Post-Secondary Performance, Sharon A. Roberts Aug 2012

Academic Rigor In High School Curricula, College-Readiness, And Post-Secondary Performance, Sharon A. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In light of the alarming statistics relating to the Hispanic population to be researched and the questions elicited with respect to the overall focus of preparing students not only to be “college-ready” but to be successful in college, the primary purpose of this study is to determine to what extent native cumulative grade point average and cumulative college credit hours during the fourth semester of postsecondary studies are a function of the level of high school English, math, science, and social studies courses, grades in these courses, standardized test scores in these courses, and gender and socioeconomic status for students …


A Study Of A High Performing, High Poverty Elementary School On The Texas-Mexico Border, Cynthia Iris Lopez Jul 2012

A Study Of A High Performing, High Poverty Elementary School On The Texas-Mexico Border, Cynthia Iris Lopez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Transforming low performing schools to ensure the academic success of Hispanic children situated in poverty remains an educational challenge. External factors impacting student learning are often targeted as the main reasons for poor academic achievement, thereby advancing the culturally deficit model. This study is about an elementary school that defied the deficit model as evidenced by its distinguished academic accolades. This instrumental qualitative case study examined a high performing elementary school on the Texas-Mexico Border in which high poverty Hispanic students made dramatic increases in academic achievement. Data were collected from interviews, observations, documents, and other media. Findings for the …


A History Of The Texas Education Agency Instructional Facility Allotment (Ifa) Program In Hidalgo County School Districts Located In The Texas Rio Grande Valley From 1997 To 2007, Michael J. Sandroussi May 2012

A History Of The Texas Education Agency Instructional Facility Allotment (Ifa) Program In Hidalgo County School Districts Located In The Texas Rio Grande Valley From 1997 To 2007, Michael J. Sandroussi

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the implementation of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Instructional Facility Allotment (IFA) Program in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) through documentation chronicling Hidalgo County school districts from 1997 through 2007 that secured IFA & EDA monies to build new facilities. Participants in this study included Hidalgo County school districts, three school architects, ten Hidalgo County school district superintendents and one Texas state senator. The fifteen school district superintendents were asked to complete an Instructional Facility Allotment (IFA) and Existing Debt Allotment (EDA) survey. The three architects, ten superintendents and state senator were interviewed in order to provide …


The 504 Program Experiences Of Parents Of Students With Type 1 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes In One South Texas Public School District, Mary Frances Cornwall-Garza May 2012

The 504 Program Experiences Of Parents Of Students With Type 1 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes In One South Texas Public School District, Mary Frances Cornwall-Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to report on the 504 Program experiences of parents of students with Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes (T1D) in one south Texas public school district. Critical Theory, with an emphasis on social justice leadership, was utilized as the theoretical framework. Six parent interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, coded and analyzed, and a review of students’ records was conducted. A pseudonym was used for the name of each child with T1D and their parents. All of the parents interviewed were in agreement that the school nurses followed the diabetic care plan prescribed by their child’s doctors and …


Examining Master Schedule Practices In Rio Grande Valley Schools: Effects On Student Attendance, Discipline, And Grade Point Averages, Benito T. Carriaga May 2012

Examining Master Schedule Practices In Rio Grande Valley Schools: Effects On Student Attendance, Discipline, And Grade Point Averages, Benito T. Carriaga

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study evaluated the impact of the master schedule design on student attendance, discipline, and grade point averages. Unexcused and excused absences, minor and major infraction, and grade point averages in three high schools during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years were included in the study. The purpose was to examine if any difference exists between schools that use traditional, block, or hybrid schedules and student success as measured by daily attendance, discipline referrals, and grade point averages. This study provides educational leaders with research data to make scheduling decisions that not only enhance student academic achievement, but also maintain …


Self-Determination, Success, And College Readiness Of First Generation Students In A Higher Education Institution, Manuel Ochoa May 2012

Self-Determination, Success, And College Readiness Of First Generation Students In A Higher Education Institution, Manuel Ochoa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to describe and compare if self-determination factors differed in first and non-first generation college students and success levels. Additionally, comparisons of college readiness levels were measured, and finally a measure of factors that contribute to college success based in first and second semester grade point averages were investigated using multiple linear regression analysis. Using a Self-Determination Theory framework of human motivation, helps identify a basic psychological need for autonomy as a central feature for understanding effective regulation and well-being (Moller, Ryan, & Deci, 2006). The target population in this study was 1,586 returning students …


Re-Envisioning Professional Development For The Teaching Of Writing: Lessons Learned From The National Writing Project And Where We Go From Here, Susan M. Diaz May 2012

Re-Envisioning Professional Development For The Teaching Of Writing: Lessons Learned From The National Writing Project And Where We Go From Here, Susan M. Diaz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In this thesis, I compare what we know about the teaching of writing from thirty years of disciplinary research and development versus what secondary pre-service and in-service teachers know about it. In terms of theoretical and practical alignment, I also examine the transition in Texas from one standardized test (TAKS) to another (STAAR) and the implications for teachers. Finally, I outline a Professional Development sequence for secondary school teachers that would better prepare teachers to teach writing across the secondary school curriculum, including an argument for particularly effective methods of delivery for communicating this information. This professional development design includes, …


Framework For A New Political Praxis: Respeto, Dignidad, Y Conocimiento, Francisco Guajardo Feb 2012

Framework For A New Political Praxis: Respeto, Dignidad, Y Conocimiento, Francisco Guajardo

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article uses story as a process to highlight the work in a South Texas community that focuses on the education of youth and the development of community. The work is guided by a new consciousness of place, community engagement, and identity formation. The work is local, but breaking the isolation of youth, families, and ideas has been part of an emerging theory of change. The document takes us in and out of stories of place in an attempt to transfer the work to other communities. It presents the voices of witnesses to take the concepts used in this Mexican-American …


Leadership: Building A Team Using Structured Activities, Olivia Rivas, Irma S. Jones Jan 2012

Leadership: Building A Team Using Structured Activities, Olivia Rivas, Irma S. Jones

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Educators strive to anticipate reactions or outcomes of instruction so that the learning or acquiring of information by others is as pain-free as possible. Leaders also strive to build cohesiveness and trust in groups or teams of employees so that the end goal or task is produced in a timely manner. However, setting the stage or mood for teamwork to occur is one step that needs to be considered for either of those goals to happen. The following paper will review successful structured activities used by the authors in a mid-size southern university.