Educational Leadership Commons^™

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …

Reflections On The Effectiveness Of Classroom Management Training: A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Elementary-Level Teachers Trained Through Alternative Route To Licensure (Artl) Programs, Christopher Brunst

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to add to the body of research related to alternative routes to licensure (ARTL) program training by analyzing the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding how their ARTL-based knowledge, experiences, and training support their ability to manage a classroom. This research described the perceptions of elementary-level teachers who were trained in ARTL programs relative to the effectiveness of classroom management strategies they have learned on the job, through professional development from their school districts, or through their ARTL programs, and their recommendations for improving ARTL classroom management training in ARTL programs. The researcher used a …

Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions Of University Libraries’ Services, Resources, And Physical Spaces: A Descriptive Analysis, Amanda Hardin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Understanding undergraduate students' perceptions regarding university libraries’ services, resources, and physical space allows library leadership to improve student support. The purpose of this needs assessment using cross-sectional survey data of undergraduate students (N = 1733) was to examine how students use the libraries, how they perceive their ability to use resources, services, and physical spaces, and the relationship between use and perception to better understand satisfaction levels with everything academic libraries offer. Interviews with library leadership (N = 3) offer insight into how data received from the needs assessment were utilized to improve academic libraries and highlight the importance of …

Person-Centered Planning: An Improvement Science Approach To Interventions Impacting Teacher Implementation, Stacie Hutchison

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study used an improvement science framework to influence special education teachers’ behaviors and their implementation of transition service development through person centered planning and ongoing teacher support. Grounded in adaptive leadership principles and a theory of action emphasizing the need for new professional learning and sustained support, this research investigated how targeted interventions impact teacher practice.

I selected a mixed-methods design for this study, combining semi-structured interviews, Likert scale surveys, open-ended questions, and a single-participant case study to evaluate outcomes. Findings revealed that a traditional professional development model incorporating opportunities to practice skills and proactively address potential barriers led …

School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports As A Framework For Equity: Addressing The Discipline And Academic Achievement Gap In Minnesota Schools, Amy Danielle Mcguire

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to state-level legislative initiatives, many Minnesota schools have implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve student behavior and school climate, guided in part by the assumption that these improvements will lead to higher academic achievement. This study explored the possible association between PBIS implementation and academic proficiency among third-grade students, focusing on reading and mathematics outcomes on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). A t-test was conducted to determine whether statistically significant differences existed in MCA proficiency rates between elementary schools that had implemented PBIS with fidelity and those that had not. Results indicated no significant differences …

An Examination Of Clinical Self-Efficacy And Confidence After The Rolling Through The Complications Clinical Debriefing Experience, Laura Nugteren

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inadequate educational preparation for the clinical judgment demands of complex patient scenarios further perpetuates stress and burnout in the nursing profession. Self-efficacy and self-confidence have been correlated with decreased perceived stress, lower anxiety, and increased capacity for clinical decision-making underscoring the importance of their analysis. A clinical post conference activity entitled Rolling Through the Complications with the Clinical Judgment Model (CJM) was developed as a scripted debriefing experience based on the CJM framework to prompt anticipatory reflection of actual patient cues for analysis of potential complications. This study evaluated (n = 30) baccalaureate nursing students at private, nonprofit universities in …

Special Education Teachers’ Burnout: Exploring The Impact Of Special Education Setting And Teaching Experience, Adriana Noel Haugen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated the extent to which special education teachers' perceptions of burnout are associated with two contextual variables: federal instructional setting and years of teaching experience. Although burnout in special education is well documented, few studies have examined how these particular factors influence reported levels of burnout. A total of 15,412 licensed special education teachers in Minnesota, including those with Tier 1 through Tier 4 licenses and Out of Field Permission, were invited to participate. Of these, 1,468 completed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, a validated instrument measuring personal, work-related, and student-related dimensions of burnout. Participants were grouped by …

Uncovering The Links: Drug Use, Mental Health, And Undergraduate Student Academic Success Using Data From The 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study, Brooke Inez Ellingson Eischens

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use and mental health challenges are prevalent among college students, raising concerns about their impact on academic success. Using secondary data from the 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study (N = 76,406), this study examined associations between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, marijuana use, and academic outcomes in undergraduate students. Multiple zero-inflated Poisson regressions were used to assess the relationships between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and marijuana use. Ordinary least squares and ordered logit regressions evaluated links with academic success. Sample numbers varied across analyses (n = 23,629 to n = 47,355). Findings revealed modest but consistent associations between mental health, substance …

Mentoring And Training In Performance Librarianship, Mallory Sajewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Performance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the …

The Perceptions Of Directors And Supervisors Of Guidance As It Pertains To Counselors Preparing High School Students For Their Future Careers, Kitty R. Klein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Early career awareness is essential in guiding students to explore their strengths and interests. Counselors serve as vital constituents in helping students foster academic and personal growth, while also providing opportunities to build salient ramps for career exploration. Although professional literature has recognized the vital role school counselors have in promoting college and career readiness, limited research has examined how their efforts are perceived by individuals in supervisory and administrative roles. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of directors and supervisors of guidance on the importance and existence of career development practices. Understanding how high …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

Exploring Educator Perceptions Of The Impact Of Career And Technical Education On Student Outcomes, Michael J. Mosca

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This qualitative study demonstrated the benefits of Career and Technical Education (CTE) over the traditional educational system and identified key components necessary to implement CTE programs in smaller-sized secondary schools, like those found in the Long Island Region of New York. Although an abundance of research existed on the benefits of CTE, these studies focused on programs in large school districts with high student enrollment and, most often, multiple high schools. Long Island consisted of school districts that are unique from other geographical locations in that its school districts are community based and 87% contain a single high school with …

The Impact Of Gender On Literacy Engagement, Perception, And Academic Practice In Grades 3–12, Dennis John Wickes Jr.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Gender disparities in literacy persist across the globe, shaping academic and career opportunities in profound ways. Despite advances in educational research and interventions, boys continue to trail their female counterparts in literacy from an early age, and this gap persists. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in students’ self-perception, academic practice in literacy-based tasks, and enjoyment of these activities. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Participants included students in Grades 3–12 from international sites in the United States, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, recruited through convenience and purposive sampling based on site access and …

Ram-Amazing Care: Making Mental Health A Priority, Together, Matthew Pawlowicz, Chelsea Gary, Sara Barton, Matthew Majid

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Maintaining student mental health is a significant and growing challenge for universities. Difficulties with mental health decrease students’ overall well-being and can contribute to students performing poorly in classes, entering academic probation, and failing to complete their degree on time, or at all, among other negative consequences for the university community generally. To help meet the need for mental health care, VCU partnered with TimelyCare in 2020 to provide a variety of online mental health care resources. The partnership has enrolled more than 3,000 student users, though that is less than 15% of the student population. And so, our project …

From Silos To Synergy: Advancing Health Research Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Gretchen Neigh, Jackie Daniel, Maria Garcia Bonilla, Robert Perera, Gustavo Mendonca

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This project will identify strategies to increase cross-disciplinary collaboration of doctoral trainees in the health sciences. The team will examine models of cross-disciplinary connection through interviews and surveys with program directors, trainees, and mentors in the graduate programs on the MCV campus of VCU. The deliverable will be recommendations for programming opportunities aimed at advancing health research through interprofessional collaboration, positioning the doctoral programs to empower their trainees to move from silos to synergy.

Vcu Scicom: A Federated Unit For Community-Engaged Science Communication, Dara Azuma Lampugnale, Bernard Fuemmeler, Brody Jameson, Megan Lo, Amanda Gentry

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Confidence and trust in science have declined in recent years, in part due a lack of understanding of how science works and that knowledge is not immutable but constantly evolving. At the same time the rise in social media has led to the spread of misinformation and changes in the media landscape have made it difficult to disseminate the correct information to channels that reach the greatest numbers. While most Americans see scientists as intelligent, less than half (45%) say that they are good communicators. As a public university, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) serves the public good by ensuring that …

Minority Housing In Virginia, Travis Hicks, Celes Davis, Brandan Simmons, Dalila Medrano, Lathaniel Kirts

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Expanding The Community School Framework: Regional Pilot Program, Tonya Byrd, Lakeisha Cook, Jonathan Collins, Tsion Tesfaye, Mike Royster

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Tap To Talk: Leveraging Teletherapy For Mental Health In Higher Education, Stephanie Davis, Santiago Lima, Jaylin Drewry, Frenchi Jones, Louis Gordon

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Establishing Environmental Justice And Equity Boards In Localities & Comprehensive Planning, Jerome Brooks, Malcolm Jones, Monique Gatling-Way, Tammie Mobley, Sheena Palmer

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

No abstract provided.