Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Transitional Math In Illinois: A Quantitative Study On Eligible And Enrolled Students, Whitney Lynn Martino

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Completing a post-secondary degree is crucial to being competitive in the current job market. By 2020, the majority of all jobs in the United States require post-secondary education and training; however, barriers to access and attainment exist among individuals working to obtain post-secondary degrees, and there is an overall slowdown in post-secondary attainment. Students entering college identified as under-prepared is one of the attainment barriers to a post-secondary degree. This is particularly problematic at open admissions institutions like community colleges. When students arrive at college academically unprepared, they are often required to take developmental or remedial education coursework. In response …

Women Obtaining The Superintendency: An Examination Of Internal And External Barriers That Influence A Woman's Career Trajectory, Jodi J. Megerle

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The role of public school superintendent is one of the most gendered executive positions in the United States, with men twenty times more likely than women to advance from teacher to superintendent. Although the majority of teachers and central office administrators in schools are women, the majority of superintendents are men. Women have made gains, yet under-representation continues to exist. As women break through the barriers, it is important to understand their experiences in administrative leadership as they navigate their careers. How do women in administration think and feel about working toward a male-dominated occupation? What barriers or opportunities have …

College Leadership Opportunities' Impact On Life During And After College, Mark Anthony Pietrowski Jr.

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the personal experiences of 14 individuals who engaged in leadership opportunities during their college educations. Through in-depth interviews, this study sought to explore how those leadership experiences impacted their leadership, both in their careers and/or in the community, after their graduation from both 2 and 4-year institutions. Findings from this study indicate that participants identified that their leadership experiences had impacts upon their careers and leadership after graduation. Yet, participants also shared that they engaged in leadership because they were self-motivated to do so, rather than learning about these opportunities on their campus. The final finding indicated …

The Second Prong Of The Tinker Test: A Constitutional Right To Not Be Offended?, Jonathan Pilkington

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In the landmark 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines case, the Supreme Court ruled school districts could censor student speech if it caused a material and substantial disruption to the educational process or if the speech infringed upon the rights of others. Since then, the Supreme Court has also allowed schools to abridge students’ speech rights if the speech was obscene, if the speech was part of a school-sponsored activity, or if the speech promoted illegal drug use. Most of the court cases since Tinker have applied the first prong of the Tinker decision, focusing on disruption to education as the …

Excess Credit Accumulation Impact On Degree Attainment For Community College Students, Stacy Riley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between excess credit accumulation and timely degree completion for community college degree-seeking students. The research model used in this study is based on quantitative logistic and linear regression models, whereby the dependent variable was degree attainment within 150% of normal time and time to degree measured in months respectively. This study included all students admitted to a technical diploma or associate degree program excluding one-course technical diplomas over a five-year period (2011-2016) for a total of 27,133 observations at a southeastern Wisconsin technical college.

The study’s findings showed there was no statistically …

The Relationship Of The First-Year Seminar Course And Degree Completion At Kishwaukee College, Michelle Rothmeyer

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether there is a relationship between students’ enrollment in the First-Year Seminar (FYS) course of Counseling and Student Development 100 (CSD 100), which is called The College Experience course at Kishwaukee College, and completion of an associate degree in a three-year period at Kishwaukee College. Specifically, what was the relationship between students who took the FYS course of CSD 100 and completed an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree over a three-year period, and does the effect of the relationship between students who took the FYS course …

Effectiveness Of Online Credit Recovery Programs, Diana Barbara Schill

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This case study evaluating three high schools’ blended online credit recovery programs spanned the course of three years. The first part of the study examined the student demographics and outlined the basic structure of the programs. The demographics showed a disproportionate number of students of color and students receiving Free/Reduced Lunch in the online credit recovery programs at each school when compared to the school population. Each program shared the blended structure – online instruction with teacher facilitation. While there were over 24 online courses offered in the program, this study focused on the core courses that all ninth graders …

A Phenomenological Study Of First-Generation Latin@ Community College Students As They Successfully Persist In College, Michelé Elaine Smith

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Research has shown that community colleges are essential to the economic development of the communities they serve; therefore, it is imperative attention be given to ensuring the academic success of today’s fastest growing college population: first-generation Latin@ students. This study was founded on the principle that understanding the supports (experiences that decrease individual stress levels), challenges (experiences that increase individual stress levels), and coping strategies (behaviors used by the individual to relieve stress) described by first-generation Latin@ community college students who successfully persist in college will provide valuable information for reform efforts in higher education for all students.

Utilizing the …

Gulf Coast Marine Laboratories Past, Present And Future, Donald F. Boesch

Gulf and Caribbean Research

I spent my nearly 50—year career in marine science working at marine laboratories, most of that as a chief executive officer. So, it is appropriate that my reflections are about marine laboratories, rather than my own science. After relating my career course, I turn my attention to the history and development of marine laboratories along the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Surprisingly, the region’s first laboratory was actually constructed in 1903 at Cameron, LA, but operated less than a decade before closing. It was not until after World War II that the university—affiliated marine laboratories of today …

An Examination Of Nature Relatedness, Nature Exposure, And Quality Of Work-Life Among Student Affairs Professionals, Breanne Hiivala

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study explored the relationship with nature within the realm of career development. More specifically, it examined the relationship between nature relatedness, nature exposure, and quality of work-life among student affairs professionals. The participants identified as members of the American College and Personnel Association (n=275). A Pearson Product Moment Correlation Matrix (r) and a simple linear regression were used in this study. There were significant small correlations found between nature relatedness and quality of work-life variables such as home-work interface, job and career satisfaction, working conditions, and stress at work. Additionally, significant relationships were found between nature exposure and nature …

Students' Preparation For College Through Advancement Via Individual Determination (Avid) Programs And Dual Enrollment, Brian P. Jones

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify opportunities to expand access to higher education. The research specifically explored the combination of two interventions that support college readiness: the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and dual enrollment. Evidence indicated that each of these programs individually improved students’ readiness for college, but there was no research that explored the success of students involved in both programs. This quantitative analysis used the chi-square statistic to compare the proportion of students from a suburban school district who were involved in both programs to students who were not. The analysis evaluated whether participation …

Developing Teacher Leaders Through Professional Development Offered In A District Teacher Forum, Suzanne T. Koty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is an ongoing problem in education, and the lack of leadership opportunities contribute to that problem. Teachers who serve in leadership roles are more likely to remain in the profession and positively impact students and the profession as a whole. However, there is little qualitative research to address how teachers develop the needed leadership skills to take on additional leadership roles. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of participants in a District Teacher Forum. The District Teacher Forum is a cohort of teachers identified as Campus Teachers of the Year led by the …

Media’S Influence On Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Roles And Attrition, Sophronia D. Beckford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have argued that teacher attrition rates result from burnout, job dissatisfaction, and lack of support, but they have not explored the possibility of the media’s ability to influence the perception teachers have regarding their roles. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into whether the media influenced secondary teachers’ self-perceptions and attrition in a public high school in the Midwest. Social influence theory served as the theoretical framework. The research questions focused on how the media’s portrayal of educators in print and film influenced how teachers perceived themselves and teacher attrition. For this qualitative case study, …

Association Between Perceived Department Chair Leadership Characteristics And Faculty Job Satisfaction, Dr. Braylon Jacob Gorman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low faculty job satisfaction observed in higher education institutions can result in high rates of turnover and lack of commitment. With limited research on department chair leadership and faculty job satisfaction, there is also a gap in research in small liberal arts college settings. Guided by Avolio and Bass’s full-range leadership model, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between faculty perceptions of department chair leadership characteristics and faculty job satisfaction at 3 small, liberal arts institutions in the southeastern United States. For this nonexperimental study, the college’s self-developed Adapted Employee Satisfaction Survey was distributed to 720 …

Principal Leadership For The Establishment Of Family-School Partnership, Mickelli Dunn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The area of family engagement and its benefits to the academic outcomes of students has been well researched. Educators, including practitioners and those who prepare them, and community members need to understand more about the leadership actions of principals, especially in urban, low-income predominantly African American schools, that lead to effective communication and learning at home partnerships. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the leadership actions of principals that support teachers establishing productive communication and learning at-home family engagement practices. Epstein’s school, family, and community partnership model was the framework that guided this research. Research questions …

Leadership For The Implementation Of Standards-Based Grading In Asian Expatriate High Schools, Virginia Leigh Prairie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Expatriate high schools in Asia needed to explore administrative practices used in securing teacher buy-in of standards-based grading and reporting (SBGR). School leaders in this region needed help addressing the challenges of change and securing teacher buy-in of SBGR to successfully transform grading practices in their schools to improve learning for all students. The purpose of the study was to explore the reasons described by administrators for SBGR implementation, administrative practices used to facilitate teacher implementation of SBGR, and the mechanisms put in place to support successful implementation. The exploration of administrators’ perceptions and strategies provided insight into the planning …

Instructor-Initiated Communication And Student Success In Online High-Impact Community College Courses, Tonia J. Benton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is low student success in online high-impact courses. Researchers have shown that instructor-initiated communication contributes to student satisfaction and success. The purpose of this study was to determine any relationship between instructor-initiated communication and student pass rates in online high-impact courses offered at a community college in the United States. The Community of Inquiry (CoI), which identifies teacher, social, and cognitive guidelines supporting learning experiences for students, was the theoretical foundation of the study. The research question was designed to explore relationships among the percentage of students passing a course with an A, B, …

Texas Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Data Chats, Candace Christina Hopkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A gap in practice at CES Elementary School (pseudonym) was the lack of data driven instructional decision making. This lack has contributed to the problem of low school scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Low STAAR scores have negatively impacted student, teacher, and administrator retention. Data chats were implemented to help overcome the problem and improve practice, but this did not work. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of data chats that occurred within CES’s professional learning communities. The study was conceptually guided by the theory of action. Teachers’ perceptions …

African American High School Graduates’ Perceptions Of Their African American Principal’S Leadership, Patricia Mitchell Marzett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a need to increase high school graduation rates for African American students, decrease dropout rates, and narrow or close the achievement gap between African American students and White students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to determine the perceptions of African American students who graduated from high school regarding the leadership of their African American principal. Delgado and Stefancic’s critical race theory and Bass’s transformational leadership constitute the conceptual framework for this study. Nine participants who graduated from high schools led by an African American principal were interviewed, and transcripts were analyzed using in vivo coding. …

Understanding Causes For Jamaican Dropouts From The Career Advancement Program, Eron Garfield Mclean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Jamaica, a significant number of at-risk older youths do not attend school, nor are they employed. The government created the Career Advancement Program (CAP) to provide skills and career options for them, but many students drop out of the program. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the reasons why students were dropping out of CAP and what could be done to retain them longer. The study was designed to explore why students dropped out of the CAP before completion, to what extent experiences in CAP satisfied student needs, and how experienced …