Educational Leadership Commons^™

Assessment Of Climate Science Knowledge And Perceptions Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Annemarie Ross, Kyle Edenzon, Susan Smith Pagano, Randy Yerrick, Todd Pagano

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Curricula related to sustainability and climate science are being integrated into academic science courses and programs. We set out to assess the knowledge of some of these environmental concepts among a group of Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (D/d/HH) postsecondary students. A survey that attempted to gauge student understanding and perceptions of climate science was developed, administered to D/d/HH and hearing college students, and analyzed. Preliminary results showed that there could be some gaps in related knowledge among the D/d/HH group. Rasch analysis was then used to assess the quality of the survey for the intended outcomes and improved iterations of the survey were …

Exemplary Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Discovering How Special Education Administrators Create Meaning, Julia Vandervennet

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the

behaviors that exemplary Special Education administrators use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, it is the purpose of this study to determine the degree of importance to which special education teachers perceive the behaviors related to character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration help to create personal and organizational meaning.

Methodology: The current mixed-methods study obtained in depth qualitative data through interviews from 3 exemplary special education administrators. Following the qualitative interview …

University Update - August 2019, Academic Affairs

University Updates & Communications from the University President

No abstract provided.

Early Intervention Referral Outcomes For Children At Increased Risk Of Experiencing Developmental Delays, Kristi Laurine Atkins

Dissertations and Theses

Research has shown that children born low birth weight (i.e., ≤2500 grams) and/or premature (i.e., birth prior to 37 weeks gestation) are at increased risk of experiencing developmental delays, as well as long-standing executive functioning and academic challenges. Despite these well-known risks, children born low birth weight are under-enrolled nationally in Part C Early Intervention (EI) services intended to support developmentally vulnerable children. Little is known regarding why EI enrollment is low in this high risk population, especially given children born LBW are readily identifiable as at increased risk of delays at birth. This study explored EI referral outcomes from …

Wcag 2.1 Meets Stem: Application, Interpretation, And Opportunities For Further Standard Development, Jason White

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

This paper offers an overview of changes introduced in the recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standard that have implications for the accessibility of content in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In reviewing new provisions of WCAG 2.1, interpretive questions are raised regarding their application to mathematical and scientific materials. The paper is concluded with a brief discussion of opportunities for further enhancing accessibility of STEM materials in future revisions of the Guidelines.

Architectural And Philosophical 'Makerspace' Redesign Impact On Teacher Beliefs And Practices: A Case Study, Rurik-Rory James Nackerud

Dissertations and Theses

Current jobs in a global economy require more complex cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, cooperation, creativity, and collaboration, in addition to content knowledge. To address these areas, researchers have suggested the use of a 'makerspace' in schools. As with many other establishments, my school remodeled the primary school to create a makerspace for developing these skills. What impact might a makerspace -- a physical as well as a curricular change -- have on teachers' individual and collaborative learning? The purpose of this case study was to describe how the makerspace concept and changes to classroom or instructional space influence …

The Impact Of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Read 180 Next Generation Program On Middle School Students With Disabilities, Katherine Arnold

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if reading performance of students with disabilities in grades six through eight improved as a result of one year implementation of READ 180 Next Generation program. Teacher experience, student gender and teachers’ overall satisfaction and how the READ 180 Next Generation program may influence the academic reading performance of students with disabilities. Reading performance was measured by the Georgia Milestones assessment and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Reading Inventory.

Research findings show no significant differences in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade participants after one year of implementation of READ 180 Next Generation program. A …

The Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Support, Counseling, And Mentoring On The Behavior And Achievement Of African American Males, Elesha Jean Buckley

Dissertations

The extensive gap in educational achievement between African American males and their peers is one of the most detrimental problems facing American society (Burchinal, McCartney, Steinberg, Crosnoe, Friedman, McLoyd, & Picanta, 2011). The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), counseling, and mentoring on disruptive classroom behavior resulting in office referrals. The study also examined the impact of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), counseling, and mentoring on student achievement in reading of African-American male students in Pre-K through fifth grade. Previous literature discussed Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), counseling, …

Enablers And Barriers Influencing African American Administrators’ Career Advancement At Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Learning, Larry Webster

Dissertations

Many Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) of higher learning do not have enough African Americans to lead their institutions in curriculum development, mentoring, recruitment, and governance (Reyes & Rios, 2005). Previous studies have attributed the modest representation of African American administrators to systemic barriers impeding the recruitment and advancement of African Americans at PWIs of higher learning (Jones, 2007; Perna, Gerald, Baum, & Milem, 2007). Ideally, the administrative leadership at PWIs of higher learning would adequately represent—ethnically and racially—its student population (Higgs, 2014). Levin, Walker, Haberler, and Jackson–Boothby (2013) suggest minimal progress in hiring African American administrators at PWIs of higher …

A Qualitative Study To Identify, Evaluate, And Analyze University Policies, Procedures, And Programs To Determine The Degree Of Correspondence To The Council Of Adult And Experiential Learning Principles For Adult Learners, Yonna S. Pasch

Doctoral Dissertations

More adults are looking to higher education to re-enforce job security, potentially increase future income, and enhance skill sets and credentials (Ritt, 2008; Business Education Forum, 2013; Stevens, 2014; Harrison, 2017). The traditional structure of higher education institutions, however, continues to pose challenges for adult learner access (Tobolowsky & Cox, 2012; Dachner & Polin, 2016; Croix, 2018). The purpose of this study, utilizing a Distributed Leadership framework, was to identify, evaluate, and analyze university policies and procedures that utilize the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning Principles (CAEL). The study identified the level of CAEL Principle implementation found from policy …

The Visiting Team: Research On The Engagement Of Urban, Commuter Student-Athletes, Corey Christine Berg

All Theses And Dissertations

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III mantra of “offering participation in a competitive athletic environment that pushes student-athletes to excel on the field and build upon their potential by tackling new challenges across campus” requires administrators to support and promote academic achievement, athletic success, and personal well-being. For Division III student-athletes who are also urban, commuter students, the path to engagement in those areas is not clearly defined. The intent of this two-phase, mixed methods study was to evaluate the priorities of urban, commuting student-athletes at a NCAA Division III institution in New York City.

The following research …

Key To Success? Relationship Between Texas Success Initiative Assessments And Course Performance In First-Year, Credit-Bearing English And Math Classes, Ashley F. Carter

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) exams and student performance in associated content-area courses in postsecondary education. While the number of students attending college is projected to increase (Digest of Education Statistics, 2017; National Center for Education Statistics, 2018), many of them may not be prepared for a college education (Greene & Winters, 2005; Porter & Polikoff, 2012; Royster, Gross, & Hochbein, 2015) and are therefore obligated to enroll in developmental education classes (Bailey, Jeong, & Cho, 2010; Scott-Clayton, Costa, & Belfield, 2014). These courses are meant to provide …

Ethical Decision-Makers: How Student Affairs Staff Make Moral Choices In The Face Of Sexual Assault Cases On Campus, Veronica Daryl Davis

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

This qualitative study examined the experience of seven student affairs staff at a private, religiously oriented university in the South who deal with sexual assault cases. Using Nathaniel’s (2006) theory of moral reckoning (TMR) from the field of nursing in coding and analysis, several themes emerged including for staff seeing value in legal and policy training by the university, experiencing moral conflict, and being able to cope with it in order to continue in their profession. The implications of these themes have relevance to practice, theory, and future research. For practice, because the adjudication of these cases is personally challenging, …

The Impact Of Endrew F. V. Douglas County And Judicial Ideology On Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Fape Determinations In United States District Courts, Chrishawn Sontia Finister

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) is legislation intended to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Over the last 35 years, the FAPE standard by which special education services were evaluated was determined by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley (“Rowley”) in 1982. On March 22, 2017, the Rowley 1982 standard of FAPE was altered with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Endrew F. vs. Douglas County School District (commonly referred to as Endrew F.). The law allows …

Measuring Cultural Integrity Through The Lens Of Transculturation: An Examination Of Cultural Support For Native American College Students, Craig A. Marroquin

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

Native American college students have higher rates of attrition when compared to their non-Native counterparts. In previous studies, researchers have attributed the academic (un)success of Native students in a postsecondary setting to cultural conflict. In this dissertation, I used quantitative methods to examine culture-specific support mechanisms for a sample of 1,066 Native American college students through the lens of transculturation (i.e., social isolation, cultural reciprocity, and resiliency) and identified factors of support that led to the preservation of cultural integrity (i.e., maintenance of cultural traditions and preservation of cultural identity) and to academic success. More specifically, I examined the relationship …

Effective Characteristics For Leaders In Afterschool Programs, Kelly Rudd Safran

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the relationship between perceived servant leadership and job satisfaction within 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program leaders in Maryland. The purpose of the 21st CCLC is to create out-of-school time programs that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional services designed to complement their regular academic program. The approach used a quantitative methodology to analyze the relationship between servant leadership characteristics and job satisfaction. The target population for this study were the 21st CCLC program leaders in Maryland. The sample included all program leaders who attended Maryland …

The Effectiveness Of Inquiry And Computer Based Learning In Remediation Of Science Students, Kelli Caras

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The state of Virginia requires science Standards of Learning tests to be conducted as a graduation requirement as well as a measure of teacher performance. In an attempt to increase graduation rates, the state has adopted an expedited retake policy allowing certain students to retest if their scores were close to passing but fell short. No requirement, however, was given as to the means of remediation that the students must attend in order to retest. This quantitative study examined the effectiveness of three instructional strategies in improving student performance during the retest. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used …

Sensemaking In The Process Of Inquiry: A Qualitative Case Study Of A Networked Improvement Community, Bethany Fillers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are persistent and pervasive issues plaguing American education, and almost seventy years of educational reform efforts have failed to adequately improve educational outcomes for many of America’s children. Networked improvement communities (or NICs) are a type of social organization created to address such problems and are proposed as an effective and efficient way to organize improvement efforts. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the sensemaking experience of a newly-formed networked improvement community as members engaged in inquiry around a chosen problem of practice. During network initiation, NIC members engage in experiences to collaboratively identify and …

Turning Points In The History Of St. Mary’S University School Of Law (1980–1988), Vincent R. Johnson

St. Mary's Law Journal

St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas has existed for nearly a century. Thus far, there have been seven important written histories of St. Mary’s University School of Law, but no one has yet attempted to write a comprehensive history of the law school, nor have any members of the faculty published autobiographies. Having taught law at St. Mary’s since 1982, Professor of Law Vincent R. Johnson shares his first-hand account about the life of the law school during most of the 1980s (specifically 1980 to 1988). That period encompasses the bulk of the deanship of James …

The Use Of Principal Feedback From Teachers To Create Effective Leadership, Kevin Richard Macina

Dissertations

In the past decade, K-12 education has undergone many changes, often brought about by national and state policymakers putting a higher emphasis on student outcomes. There are enhanced accountability expectations for all levels of education that have added to the responsibilities of principals. Research can be found on many different areas regarding effective educational leadership. Studies abound to reinforce the need for principals to lead their schools through decisions and actions that are evidence based and data informed. In that body of work, there is a growing attention to the importance of staff, student, and even parent feedback as an …