Educational Leadership Commons^™

Online Education And Lessons Learned In K-12 Urban Schools During The Pandemic Era: A Three-Article Study On Students’ Views, Principals’ Views, And Factors Impacting Student Achievement, Michael Kuran

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional K-12 education worldwide, forcing a rapid shift to emergency remote teaching and learning. This dissertation utilizes a three-article approach and investigates the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on urban charter high school students and their principals in under-resourced communities. The first article employs the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to explore the relationships between social presence, engagement, and achievement of students in asynchronous online classes during the pandemic. The second article, framed by Transactional Distance Theory (TDT), delves into factors influencing students' online learning experiences by using quantitative and qualitative methods to capture the nuances …

University Student Worker Productivity: A Qualitative Analysis, Amanda S. Mansfield

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Student worker productivity is an important aspect of higher education, since many functional units rely on student employees to operate. Student workers communicate with all stakeholders of universities, including incoming and current students and their families, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Universities facing issues related to budgeting, enrollment, retention, and employability of their graduates can combat those issues by strengthening the largest labor pool on campus, student workers. The study explored what it means to be a productive university student worker within the framework of Social Exchange Theory and Grounded Theory. The study sought to provide recommendations to universities …

Career And Technical Education: Historical Insights, Current Impacts, And Policy Implications, Meleah Ellison, David B. Naff, Phelton Moss, Jenna Lenhardt, Morgan Meadowes, Jonathan Staylor, Latonja Y. Wright, Luke Parker, Andy Bristow, Kelsey Pacer, Samantha Hope, Shelby Garofalo, Singith Nawagamuwage Perera, Georgia Youngquest, Rachel Hale, Sharrie Merritte

MERC Publications

This research and policy brief from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) summarizes recent peer reviewed literature, publicly available trend data, and policies at the federal, state, and school division level related to Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. It explores the following questions:

1. What are the purposes of CTE courses?
/="/">2. What are the trends in CTE participation and how does this vary by student and school demographics?
/="/">3. What are the impacts or benefits of CTE?
/="/">4. What are evidence-based practices and innovative programs related to CTE?
/="/">5. What are policies guiding the …

Charting New Paths: Exploring The Influence Of Followership Perspectives On Millennial Career Behaviors In The Changing University Workplace, Kimberly M. Stapleton

Dissertations

This dissertation will explore the attributes and application of the Reversing the Lens Approach (Shamir, 2007) to followership and its influence on career advancement strategies for millennials working at universities. The research will assess millennials as being born between 1980 and 1995 and currently working at universities in the southeast United States. This is a phenomenological study with an exploratory qualitative research design that seeks to uncover and understand to what extent millennials' roles as followers and their interactions with their leaders influence their career advancement strategies and what, if any, are the implications for their current institutions and higher …

Interviewing K-12 Education Experts And Elites, Jose Eos Trinidad

Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty Publications

Understanding education experts and elites is crucial in the context of their larger influence on education and the public’s greater skepticism and criticism of their work. This paper distinguishes between traditional and expert/elite interviews (EEIs), and highlights strategies for conducting them. Experts and elites have relatively broader influence, more synthesized but less situated knowledge, more embedded professional networks, and less anonymity than the lay public—and interviews need to adjust to these differences. To do so, researchers should consider strategies for (1) access, (2) trust, (3) preparation for interviews, and (4) asking sensitive and awkward questions in contexts of significant power …

Teacher's Perception Of Emotional Intelligence In Administrators And How It Impacts Teacher Job Satisfaction In Rural Nebraska, Thomas Lee Schneider

Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative comparative case study explored teachers’ perceptions of emotional intelligence in administrators and its impact on job satisfaction. The research addressed whether teachers perceive administrators as meeting their emotional needs and how administration influences job satisfaction. Participants from two comparable rural school districts were purposefully selected and assigned pseudonyms. Data collection methods included small focus groups and journaling. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (a) administrative support, (b) fostering a positive culture and relationships, and (c) managing feelings of being overwhelmed or burnout. These interconnected themes underscore the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership in enhancing teacher support and overall …

Spanish Heritage Language Program: A United States, Mexico, And Japan Collaboration To Improve Instruction, Philip H. Swartz, Lilia Lopez Arriaga, Daniel P. Swartz, Kathy Pitchford, Aki Kanebako, Stanley L. Swartz

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

No abstract provided.

In It And Of It: A Black Principal’S Self-Examination Of Anti-Blackness And Critical Leadership Praxis, Donya Odom

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Narrative inquiry is my research method, and my goal is to validate the use of narratives, including my reflective memos, journal reflections, and interpretations of various artifacts that share my students' experiences. As a Black woman and an educator, I emphasize the importance of culturally responsive school leadership for K-12 principals, which includes fostering connections with and amplifying the voices of marginalized Black students to improve their academic engagement. My study also highlights my experiences' critical role in building positive relationships with the school community, particularly in enhancing Black students' climate and cultural experiences. With this study, I shed light …

Pk-12 Faculty And Staff Capacity To Support Student Mental Health, Chin-Chih Chen, David B. Naff, Xun Liu, Jennifer Murphy, Margaret Wallace, Sunny Shin, Kade Goldin, Shenita Williams, Caleb Armwood, Riley Jenkins, Marlene Gooding

MERC Publications

This report from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) depicts findings from a regional survey of PK-12 faculty and staff exploring their professional capacity to meet the mental health needs of their students. Based on responses from approximately 1,000 educators in the MERC region, there were six dimensions of capacity: mental health knowledge, mental health training and confidence, multi-tiered systems of support, positive mental health culture, supportive policies and practices, and responsibility and impact. Findings in the report include position comparisons along these six dimensions as well as an exploration of how capacity varies by school size and demographic composition. …

Examining Strategies Embraced By Educational Leaders Towards The Integration Of Digital Technology In Teaching And Learning Process., Godfrey Joseph Shirima

Master of Education

This study examine strategies embraced by educational leaders towards the integration of digital technology in teaching and learning in Hai district, Tanzania. It emphasizes the urgent need for educational leaders to devise and embrace strategies for the integration of digital technology in modern education, grounding itself in the theoretical frameworks of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and transformational theory. The integration of digital technology in secondary education can be greatly enhanced by using the frameworks of transformation theory and TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge). TPACK emphasizes the junction of technical, pedagogical, and content knowledge to guide instructional tactics. On the …

Examining The Role Of Secondary School Leaders In Promoting Students' Achievement In Igunga District., Ambrose Albogast

Master of Education

Effective school leadership plays a pivotal role in creating an environment conducive to academic success. However, research on context-specific leadership strategies employed by secondary school leaders in Igunga district to promote student achievement is limited. This qualitative case study aimed to address this gap by examining the role of secondary school leaders in promoting student achievement in Igunga district, Tanzania - a rural context facing academic challenges. Data was collected through interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and observations from three schools, involving school leaders, teachers, and students. Key findings pertained to prevalent leadership styles employed, such as transformational, distributed, and …

Digital Technology Integration For Enhancing Physics Teachers’ Pedagogy In A Selected Secondary School, In Terego District, Uganda., Adrabo Atiku Robert

Master of Education

This dissertation aimed at investigating the transformative impact of digital technology integration on the pedagogical practices of physics teachers in a secondary school context within Terego District, Uganda. A mixed-methods research approach, combining participatory action research methods and quantitative techniques was used. The main research question was: How can the integration of digital technology enhance physics teachers' pedagogy in a secondary school within Terego District, Uganda?

Research tools employed in this study included interviews, lesson observations, document analysis, and intervention workshops. Additionally, pre and post-tests were utilized to quantitatively measure the impact of digital technology integration on student learning outcomes, …

Exploring Junior Secondary School Teachers’ Experiences In Teaching Subjects Outside Their Subjects Specialization - A Case Study Of Selected Schools In Chonyi Sub-County, Kilifi- Kenya., Caleb Kaleli Kisangau

Master of Education

This study explored the experiences of junior secondary school teachers teaching subjects beyond their areas of specialization in Kilifi County, Kenya. Using a qualitative case study approach, data was collected from five teachers and three headteachers across three schools through interviews, observation, and document analysis. The findings revealed several challenges faced by teachers, including limited content knowledge, lack of experienced mentors, and insufficient pedagogical training. As a result, teachers struggled to effectively teach unfamiliar subjects, often resorting to superficial teaching. This negatively impacted the quality of education provided to students. Despite the difficulties, teachers devised adaptive strategies such as using …

Exploring The Discretion Of Principals In The Implementation Of Language Policy: A Case Of French In Secondary Schools In Kakamega County, Kenya., Samson Oduor Otieno

Master of Education

Principals, as street-level bureaucrats, play a monumental role in shaping policy outcomes through the interpretation and operationalization of policies in schools. They have substantial discretion to modify policies thereby being ‘policymakers.’ The present study explored the discretion of principals in implementing the language policy regarding French in secondary schools in Kenya. A qualitative case study approach was used to examine the principals’ understanding of the language policy in Kenya, the discretion that principals have in policy implementation, and the effects of these discretionary powers in two purposively selected secondary schools in Fierte County, one with a principal trained in French …

Enhancing Tutors’ Pedagogical Skills In Tanzania: A Study Of Practice-Based Learning (Pbl) In A Teachers’ Colleges, Tryphon Damas Kayumba

Master of Education

This dissertation aims to investigate the enhancement of tutors' pedagogical skills through PBL in Tanzania TCs. The study addresses the need to improve TE quality by focusing on tutors’ PD. The research questions guiding this study are: (1) What are the perceptions of tutors towards the implementation of the F4L-PBL PD intervention in TCs? (2) What pedagogical skills do tutors gain from the implementation of the F4L-PBL PD interventions, and their integration into T&L practices? (3) How effective are tutors in transferring PBL principles and methods acquired through the intervention? (4) What challenges do tutors face in transferring PBL principles …

Key Performance Indicators In Tanzanian Education: Educational Leaders' Perspectives., Johnberry Daniel Manyonyi

Master of Education

Globally, educational institutions increasingly rely on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress, foster accountability, and improve outcomes. Although successful implementation requires understanding prevailing perspectives and addressing implementation challenges, not much study has been conducted on leaders' perspectives on KPIs and practical challenges associated with establishing them, particularly in the setting of developing nations. To fill this gap, this study explored the attitudes and experiences of educational leaders in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania, about KPIs and the factors enabling or hindering their adoption. This study employed a mixed methods approach, incorporating a questionnaire administered to fifty-two educational administrators and a focus …

School Leadership Strategies To Promote Teachers’ Participation In Professional Development Initiatives: An Exploratory Case Study Of Two Secondary Schools In Rongo Sub-County, Kenya, Jacqueline Dianga Otieno

Master of Education

This study aimed to address the low teacher participation in PD initiatives, focusing on two public secondary

school in Rongo Sub-County, Kenya. A qualitative approach and case study design were utilized to explore the strategies employed by school leadership to promote teacher engagement in PD. The main objective of the study was to explore the strategies used by school leadership to promote teacher participation in professional development initiatives. The specific objectives were: To assess the current forms and levels of PD initiatives the school leadership supports: To examine the role of school leadership in promoting teacher engagement in PD; To …

Examining The Implementation Of Gender-Responsive Pedagogy By Course Participants Of The Diploma In Education Leadership And Management., Prudence Hope Murabu

Master of Education

This study examined the implementation of Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) by course participants of the Diploma in Education Leadership and Management (DELM) programme. DELM aims to equip educators with skills to mainstream gender knowledge in schools. The study assessed participants' preparedness to apply GRP in teaching and leadership. Factors influencing adoption and the extent of GRP integration in pedagogical strategies were explored. A qualitative approach using interviews, focus groups, observations and document analysis was employed. Sixteen course participants and six facilitators were selected through purposive sampling. The study was conducted in primary schools in Kilifi and Mombasa counties, Kenya. Findings …

Examining The Nonprofit Leader From The Servant Leadership Theory : Impacts On Board Cohesion, Andrew Wonders

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

n the context of nonprofit organizations, servant leadership (SL) has been studied on a limited basis. The present study attempted to forge a new path by examining the impact of SL and cohesion in the realm of nonprofit organizations. A total of 91 board members from 32 organizations participated in the study. Five statistical models of mixed effects linear regression were used in the analysis. The first model utilized the eight subscales of SL as independent variables and overall cohesion is the dependent variable while the other four models used overall SL as the independent variable. Each model also had …

Exploring Coping Strategies Employed By Headteachers In Managing Administrative Challenges In Public Junior Secondary Schools: A Case Study Of Selected Junior Secondary Schools In Rarieda Sub County In Kenya., Steve Biko Abudho

Master of Education

Junior secondary schools in kenya serve as crucial intermediaries between primary and secondary education, facilitating the transition of students from a foundational to a more specialized curriculum. Despite their significance, they face multifaceted administrative challenges that impede their effective operation and the successful implementation of the competency-based curriculum. Research that has examined the coping strategies these administrators employ to effectively handle the multiple difficulties encountered in their roles is scanty. This qualitative study therefore sought to delve into administrative challenges faced by the headteachers of Junior secondary schools in Rarieda sub- county in kenya and the coping mechanisms and strategies …