Educational Leadership Commons^™

Shame And Shame Resilience Among Students In An Alternative Suspension Program, James Alvin Rader Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study investigated the impact of an alternative suspension academic recovery program on shame and shame resilience among academically suspended college students. Grounded in shame resilience theory, the study examined changes in shame, specifically avoidance behavior, negative self-perception, and overall feelings of shame, and in shame resilience, including critical awareness, recognition of shame, the ability to verbalize shame, help-seeking behaviors, and total shame resilience. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-program surveys using the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-4 (TOSCA-4) and a researcher-developed Shame Resilience Scale. Qualitative data were then gathered through postintervention focus groups to …

Leadership Practices And Preparation Pathways Of High Impact Principals In An Urban School District: A Mixed Methods Study, Kimberly D. Vaught

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined the leadership practices and preparation pathways of high-impact principals in an urban school district, focusing on those leading high-poverty Title I schools. The study aimed to identify key leadership traits, transformational practices, and preparation pathways while providing recommendations for leadership development programs to support sustained school improvement. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design was used. Phase 1 involved a 30-item Likert scale survey administered to high-impact principals, assessing leadership practices such as goal setting, instructional monitoring, fostering collaboration, articulating a vision, and preparation for leadership. Phase 2 included semi-structured interviews with a subset of principals to more …

The Power Of Church Leadership Training And Development: Equipping, Empowering, And Encouraging Church Leaders To Lead Effectively, Monique Kirk

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study explored perceptions of a church’s ministry leadership team to determine their preparation in the tools, skillsets, and strategies needed to lead themselves and others well. The study sought to understand the needs of these church ministries to meet the spiritual and daily needs of the members they serve. The study used a mixed methods design, employing a survey and focus group that examined perceptions of ministry experiences, training, development, and other support. Results were examined through the lens of Lewin’s (1947) force field analysis to determine both driving and restraining forces on effective ministry leadership (Hussain et al., …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Students' Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Factors In Teacher-Student Relationships And Its Impact On Academic Achievement Of Impoverished High School Youth, Jeannine L. Carrington

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of former students from a Title I high school in a disadvantaged urban community, focusing on how socio-emotional factors in teacher-student relationships influenced academic achievement. Grounded in Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory and the CASEL (2017) social-emotional learning (SEL) framework, the study examined how teacher encouragement, emotional support, and expectations impacted student motivation and persistence. Twenty alumni participated in semi-structured interviews, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: teacher encouragement, emotional support, high expectations, cultural awareness, and long-term impact. Findings suggest that emotionally supportive, trusting relationships foster self-efficacy, engagement, and …

Ripple Effects: A Study On Organizational Turnover Within A State Education Agency, Kayce L. Cook

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined employee turnover within a state-level government agency, emphasizing its impact on organizational efficiency, program continuity, and educational outcomes. Utilizing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the study investigated the underlying causes of turnover and identified strategic solutions for improving employee retention. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design integrated quantitative survey data with qualitative insights from anonymous open-ended responses and confidential interviews, providing a comprehensive understanding of employee experiences. Findings revealed that work-life imbalance, lack of career advancement, ineffective leadership, and inadequate communication were among the drivers of turnover. Employees expressed frustration over pay inequities, limited …

Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

A Retention Model You Will Actually Use: The Development Of A Retention Model Grounded In Research And Designed For Practice, Steve Conn

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Inclusive Teaching: Strategies For Promoting Equity In The College Classroom, Kara E. Martin

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

How To Know A Person: The Art Of Seeing Others Deeply And Being Deeply Seen, David A. Winkler

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Christian Higher Education: An Empirical Guide, Roy Y. Chan

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

First Gen: A Memoir, Hannah Brenton

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Teaching Students To Be Resilient: A Campus-Wide Approach, Connie Horton, La Shonda Coleman, Brad Dudley, Stacey Lee Gobir, Sergio Gallardo Palma

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

In response to escalating mental health concerns among college students, Pepperdine University developed the Resilience- Informed Skills Education (RISE) program to equip students with resilience skills. The biblically sound and research-based curriculum focuses on six dimensions: physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, service, and life skills. All first-year students learn resilience skills through the RISE small-group program. Numerous additional opportunities are made available, including resilience coaching, a resilience interest living community, lunch and learns, a yearly summit, a podcast, a newsletter, and a variety of engaging campus programs. Student leaders have been key to the positive response to RISE, as have partnerships …

The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of Mental Illness, Aaron J. Howell

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Pornography Use Reduction Program, Justin Heth, John Foubert, Andrew Courtner

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Pornography use has been shown to be highly common among young men, with numerous documented deleterious effects. Though the dangers of pornography use are well documented, few studies have attempted to determine what methods can be used to decrease use, including use among men attending Christian colleges. The present study began to address this gap by studying different groups of men who sought to decrease their use. Implications of these results are discussed.

Leading Transition: How Special Education Directors Make Meaning Of Their Leadership In Advancing Pathways To Employment, Deanna Gill

Dissertations of Practice

LEADING TRANSITION: HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS MAKE MEANING OF THEIR LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT

Dede Gill, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2025 Kelly Summers, Co-Director Alexios Rosario-Moore, Co-Director

Despite decades of legislative reform and an expanding body of research on effective transition practices, students with disabilities continue to experience disproportionately poor post-school employment outcomes when compared to their non-disabled peers. Nationally, individuals with disabilities are employed at approximately half the rate of those without disabilities, and their poverty rates remain substantially higher. These outcomes persist even as federal and state mandates such …

Superintendents’ Perspectives On Effective School Board Governance: An Analysis Of Key Characteristics In South Cook County, Illinois, Dana R. Nichols

Dissertations of Practice

Effective school board governance plays a critical role in shaping the success of school districts. This study examines the perspectives of 10 superintendents from elementary school districts in South Cook County, Illinois, on what constitutes an effective school board and explores how their views align with or diverge from Dervarics and O’Brien’s Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards.

A general qualitative inquiry with a descriptive methodology was utilized to capture the lived experiences and perspectives of superintendents regarding school board governance. Data collection involved standardized, semi-structured interviews and a web-based survey, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of superintendent viewpoints. An …

Educational Matriarchs And All Other Duties As Assigned: A Narrative Inquiry Into Motherhood And Student Affairs Leadership, Allison N. Brady Cullum

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of mothers who hold senior leadership roles within student affairs in higher education. Despite women comprising the majority of student affairs professionals, mothers remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership positions. This disparity is often attributed to gendered organizational norms and the “ideal worker” expectation, which privileges constant availability and lack of caregiving responsibilities. Using a narrative inquiry methodology and guided by Margaret Sallee’s “ideal worker” framework, this qualitative study amplifies the voices of five mother-leaders, examining how they navigate both their professional and personal responsibilities.

Data was collected through two in-depth, semi-structured interviews with …

The Beautiful Struggle: A Counter-Narrative Study Of African American Male School Leaders, Jamie Crosen Mr

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative dissertation explores the lived experiences of African American male high school principals in urban and suburban schools across the Chicagoland area. Using critical race theory (CRT) and counter-narrative methodology, the study centers the voices of ten African American male principals to examine how race, systemic inequities, and social justice shape their leadership practices, professional identities, and navigation of racially charged educational environments. These leaders consistently confront institutionalized biases and racialized expectations that limit their professional advancement while reinforcing deficit narratives about African American leadership. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, three primary research questions guided this study: (1) …

Grading Ecosystems And The Work Of Teaching: Educator Perspectives On Implementing And Sustaining Ungraded Learning Practices, Aliaa Kamara-Ibrahim

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of ungraded learning environments and their implications for student motivation, equity, and assessment practice. A qualitative interview methodology was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen K–12 educators from the Chicagoland and North Shore regions. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify convergent and divergent patterns in practice and belief.

Findings indicate that ungraded environments reposition accountability around evidence of learning, feedback cycles, and student reflection. At the classroom level, feedback routines, portfolio curation, and teacher moderation served as the backbone of rigor and coherence. Participants described increased persistence and metacognition when …

Girl, You Betta Testify!: Exploring Brave Narrative Spaces And The Transformative Impact Of Story-Sharing Among Women Of Color In Pre-K–12 Educational Leadership, Amonaquenette Parker

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

GIRL, YOU BETTA TESTIFY!: EXPLORING BRAVE NARRATIVE SPACES AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF STORY-SHARING AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR IN PRE-K–12 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Amonaquenette Parker, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Kelly Summers, Director

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of Women of Color in PreK–12 educational leadership roles. Rooted in the cultural tradition of testimony, the study seeks to illuminate the stories of Women of Color, assess existing opportunities for them to share their experiences, and highlight the power of their testimonies. Grounded in critical race theory (CRT) and intersectionality theory, which acknowledge …