Educational Leadership Commons^™

Rethinking The Hiring Practices Of A Small Suburban Chicago School District, Rob Mcelligott

Dissertations

This change plan was developed from the program evaluation centered on the teacher hiring processes in District 1, a small school district in north suburban Chicago. Following extensive interviews with those who do the hiring in District 1 and a review of relevant literature, recommendations were made to improve an already successful hiring process. This plan was developed around Tony Wagner’s Four C’s framework. The District 1 hiring process was analyzed for its context, culture, competencies, and conditions both in its current state and as it will be when the outlined changes are implemented. Strategies and actions for change were …

Co-Teaching As A Vehicle To Inclusion In A Diverse Suburban Middle School: A Case Study, Luis Correa

Dissertations

Many school districts across the United States have adopted, or are considering adopting, full inclusion to meet academic and social-emotional needs of increasingly diverse student populations. Co-teaching has become a popular approach for districts committed to inclusion. This study is about a Midwestern school district which more than 10 years ago committed itself to inclusion and co-teaching. The primary research question was: How do we make co-teaching more effective in the Fairview School District? A survey was sent to 120 co-teachers from three middle schools about their experiences with co-teaching in the areas of sharing responsibilities, co-teaching relationships, planning time, …

Saudi Arabian Female English Language Teachers’ Perspectives On Instructional Supervisors And Supervision, Afaf Mohammed Albalawi

Dissertations

This study investigates the effectiveness of educational supervision in improving the performance of Saudi female English language teachers from the teachers’ perspectives. Finding and supporting professional English language teachers and supervisors is one of the greatest obstacles facing Saudi Arabia (Alrabai, 2016; Sywelem & Witte, 2013). In Saudi Arabia and other countries, a lack of skills, training, and resources, such as time, money, and meeting spaces, seems to be a common problem for many supervisors and schools (Badah et al., 2013; Tawfiq & Almajali, 2012). Examining the perceptions of English teachers in Saudi Arabia contributes to a deeper understanding that …

Artist As Academic Leader, George H. Brown

Dissertations

The American College President Study (ACE, 2017) revealed that 78% of university presidents are planning to retire within the next nine years. With the increasing complexity of higher education, the demand for innovative leadership will grow as a result of the departure of these leaders. This demand will create opportunities for artist practitioners interested in higher education leadership. However, if artist practitioners doubt an administrative role will give voice to their imagination, will they accept the challenge and opportunity of leadership?

Currently, only 0.33% of university presidents serving four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education in the U.S. come from the …

The Impact Of College Readiness Programs On Black Students' Completion Of College Programs: A Case Study, Tony R. Ryals

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic multiple case study is to investigate the impact of college readiness programs on the persistence of Black college graduates. The theory guiding this study is Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design. This theory was used to determine the motivation of former college readiness program participants and their persistence to college completion. Keller’s ARCS model of motivational design will act as the framework of this research to answer the research questions: How does participation in a college readiness program impact participant persistence through college and how do participants describe their motivation as it relates to persisting …

Teachers Respond To Impact Of Intelligent Mathematics Tutorial On Students’ Motivation And Engagement, Francis Xavier Tweedie

All Theses And Dissertations

Secondary school mathematics proficiency continues to be a point of concern, as the current National Report Cards continue to show insufficient change. For middle school students, grades six through eight are formative years, as they begin to shape emotional connections and make a decision about their ability and motivation to do mathematics. These early decisions are paramount to how they approach mathematics learning in later grades. Student motivation is a critical function of students’ affective domain, engagement in the classroom, and their self-belief for learning. Teachers play a significant role in this process by providing supportive and effective learning environments …

Superintendent Practices And Initiatives For Building Principal Instructional And Collaborative Leadership Capacity In A High-Performing High-Poverty School, Fatemah Ali Al Ramel

Dissertations

This study explores how superintendents build school principal leadership capacity by developing (a) principal capacity to function as instructional leaders and (b) a culture of shared and collaborative leadership. A particular focus for this study is the ways in which superintendents work with principals to build instructional and shared leadership capacity in order to turn low-performing schools that educate high-poverty student populations into schools that outperform their demographic peers. This study describes the activities and strategies that characterize the ways in which superintendents build a strong collaborative leadership team with their school principals, then use that collaborative team to develop …

The Lived Experience Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning From High School To A Liberal Arts College, Joseph D. Bishop

Dissertations

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are transitioning into colleges and universities at a growing rate. All types of post-secondary institutions are seeing this influx, yet some are ill prepared to assist students with ASD, especially within the transition process. There is a gap in the research focusing on students with ASD within liberal art colleges. The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of students with ASD as they transition from high school to a small liberal arts college.

My research uses a phenomenological approach in order to develop descriptive themes. I interviewed seven students who …

Graduate Internship Report - Watsonville High School, Savanah D. Rhine

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Dinuba High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Watsonville High School, the agriculture program and the community.

What Professional Development Practices Do Mid-Career Teachers Need?, Amy Christie

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Finding out what keeps teachers engaged, satisfied and feeling successful during their mid-career years is an area that needs further examination. Moreover, what professional development practices do teachers need to thrive and adapt to modern learning practices after their 4th year in the classroom? All teachers, regardless of where they are in their career, should be valued and deserve professional development. To avoid the feeling of a “dull routine,” one may suggest that providing differentiated professional development offerings may sustain a feeling of meaningful work for mid-career teachers. These teachers may be at risk of becoming stagnant in their careers, …

An Evaluation Of An Afterschool Program In A Title 1 Elementary School, Contobia Horsey-Adams

Dissertations

In our modern global society, many families face the dilemma of balancing work and raising children. Before and after school programs have been established in many Title I elementary schools in an effort to address the problems facing our communities and educational system today, especially as related to minority students. These afterschool programs provide a safe and positive environment for students who may be struggling academically, emotionally, and mentally. This study evaluated one afterschool program in a Title I school, investigating stakeholder perceptions regarding the program’s contribution to student’s academic gains and other areas of need for holistic student success. …

An Evaluation Of The Restorative Justice Program At One Middle School, Edward Jerome Thompson

Dissertations

This project evaluated the initial implementation of the restorative justice program and practices at a middle school. As data-gathering instruments, I surveyed teachers and administrators, interviewed my area superintendent, senior administrator for instruction, and two resource teachers who train individuals districtwide on the restorative justice program and practices. The results indicated a lack of training for many staff members and a need for more training for those previously trained. Improving the training protocol process of the teachers and administrators was a dominant need that I identified based on my Change Leadership Plan. Consequently, this included a policy amendment regarding mandatory …

Evaluating The Hiring Practices Of A Small Suburban Chicago School District, Rob Mcelligott

Dissertations

This document is an evaluation of the hiring practices of a small suburban school district located north of the city of Chicago. The district is routinely near the top of the list of any evaluation of elementary school districts in the area and is not in desperate need for large-scale change, but does have visionary leadership and is always striving for improvement. After extensive conversations with those who do the hiring in the school district, there were items uncovered that could use some attention. The plan to implement those changes is contained within the companion change plan to this document.

Advocating For Cycles Of Inquiry As Alabama's Professional Development Model For Teachers, Brian Metcalf

Dissertations

The single most important variable in student achievement is the quality of the teacher in front of them (Darling-Hammond 2014). As Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) professional development mission statement has included adult learning principles, states must begin to align to this expectation. If schools are going to see the quality that Darling-Hammond references, states must think aobut adopting a professional development framework that gives districts guidelines but allows for autonomy. Cycles of Inquiry is a researched based framework that aligns to the principles of adult learning but isn’t so rigid that school district and schools couldn’t augment it to …

A Program Evaluation Of Job-Embedded Professional Development In An Urban School District, Brian Metcalf

Dissertations

With the achievement gap African American and Latinx and their White peers widening rather than closing in Bullock County Public Schools and the overall proficiency level of students in both English Language Arts and Math at less than 15%, it’s apparent that quality teaching and learning is a concern. This coupled with teachers’ perception that professional development is ineffective made it evident that adopting a research based professional development model was necessary. This plan examines the current professional development model with an emphasis on Cycles of Inquiry. Since this requires a change in not only teachers’ belief systems but also …

To Plant A Garden Is To Believe In The Future: An Autoethnographic Journey Of Doubt And Restoration In A Co-Principalship, Arturo Abrego

Dissertations

This autoethnographic research study explored the circumstances and challenges I encountered as an educational leader during the inception of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. Through the use of autoethnographic vignettes, I provided an intimate account of the circumstances and conditions that led my school district to establish a co-principal leadership structure. The use of autoethnographic vignettes was not only a vehicle to tell my story but also served as an avenue for the reader to connect, conceptualize, and contextualize the circumstances and outcomes associated with this personal journey. Specifically, the stories and responses within this research are intended …

District Leadership Building Principal Capacity In Improving Teacher Quality: Implementing Effective Professional Development, Karen Mitterling Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This article focuses on lessons learned from district implementation of Utah Senate Bill 64 passed in 2012, which requires large-scale reform in evaluating teacher quality. This statemandated reformation effort requires all principals to evaluate teacher performance using new state teacher standards adopted in 2011. District implementation efforts used effective professional development that included peer collaboration and practicum experiences as evidenced by successfully certifying all principals in the evaluation of teacher performance. Twenty-seven principals representing nine districts were selected for this qualitative study. Data was collected during a one-on-one interview with each principal to gather insights about district efforts to prepare …

Policy Advocacy: Transgender Students In A Public School Setting, Rob Mcelligott

Dissertations

The purpose of this policy advocacy paper is to encourage the State of Illinois to implement a statewide policy on how school districts can best support students undergoing a gender transition. It has been proven that students in the LGBTQ community are subject to more harassment and bullying than their straight, cisgender peers. It is incumbent on schools to provide a safe, caring environment for all students. This policy was analyzed from educational, economic, social, legal, and ethical points of view. The implementation of this policy will help to guide students who are struggling with their gender identity by helping …

The Gifted Transition: A Phenomenological Case Study Examination Of Preparation Strategies Utilized By General Education Inclusion Teachers, Jawan Brown Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

If the United States is going to remain globally relevant and competitive with other nations, educational leaders should consider investing in their brightest students. According to the National Association for Gifted Students (2018), education officials are not investing in gifted education at the same rate or to the same extent that they are financing other areas of special education. Public education policy provides special needs learners with required instructional support and accommodation through mandatory supplemental funding; however, gifted students on the other end of the special education spectrum, also requiring and benefiting from intervention and accommodation, do not receive the …

Breaking The Cycle For A Better Life: Understanding The Decision-Making Process That First-Generation, Community College Students Experienced When Making College Major And Career Choices, Francisco Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Choosing a college major and career are the most critical decisions that college students make and students are expected to make these impactful decisions early in their academic careers. First-generation, community college students are a group that are especially affected by this early decision process as they require the knowledge and experience to make informed decisions. Their parents often lack the experience to guide them through this process since they are unfamiliar with being a college student and providing the necessary support in this area. These barriers cause stress among these students and inefficiencies in the decisions that they make. …