Educational Leadership Commons^™

In The Middle: An Examination Of The Factors That Contribute To Overage Middle School Students, Delma Martinez

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

According tothe U.S.Census Bureau (2014), the popuation of overage students is at almost 16%. According to Gerwetz (2005), this population of students have a high probability o f dropping out of school. Because of this, job prospects and career opportunities can be bleak for these students; therefore, school districts should review current practices and policy to find ways to better support overage middle school students. This study interviewed 17 middle school educators to examine the contributing factors along with best practices to address this educational dilemma. This study utilized semi-structured interviews of middle school teachers in an urban district.

Faculty Beliefs, Experiences, And Interactions With Students In The Context Of Campus Carry, Joslyn Krismer

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

Although gun possession has traditionally been prohibited at higher education institutions, several states have passed legislation in recent years allowing guns to be carried on college campuses. The so-called “campus carry” policy took effect in Texas on August 1, 2016. In this dissertation, I present my research that explores the beliefs and experiences of faculty in the context of campus carry at a public university in Texas, how these beliefs and experiences about campus carry are related to faculty identity, and the ways in which faculty beliefs, experiences, and identity in this context may impact faculty-student interaction behaviors. This article-based …

Video Composition, Creative Discourse, And Facilitated Freedom: A Teacher's Journey To Reveal Student Potential, Michael A. Brinkmeyer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This research project was conducted in response to students’ lack of engagement in traditional modes of instruction and composition in a high school English Language Arts course. In order to better understand students as creative composers of knowledge, this research project asked students to engage in the video production process in collaborative groups. The research was conducted over the course of eight class periods in three different sections of Junior-level English Language Arts courses. Analysis of the data from this study reveals three important findings: 1) students respond well to creative and relevant performance assessments; 2) students’ collaborative conversations, or …

The Effects Of Lunch Eligibility And School Size On The Literacy Achievement Of African American Males Communication, Sandra Smith

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of lunch eligibility and school size on the literacy achievement of African American males. While researching the effects of lunch eligibility and school size on the literacy achievement of African American males, this scholar observed that a correlation between historical viewpoints and the academic performance of African American males were intertwined in the findings and research of some experts. Therefore, this researcher was compelled to intimately explore the literature as it related to the literacy achievement of African American males and how it evolved throughout history. During the development of …

A Phenomenological Study On Leading Transformational Change And Building School Culture In Elementary Schools, Tamera Jones

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This study followed a phenomenological qualitative approach to understand the complexity surrounding the experiences of the elementary school principals, build understanding around how they describe their daily life of school, and how they lead transformational change and build school culture. I sought to understand the associated skills, knowledge, and behaviors that elementary school principals employed and how the relational and collegial theories of transformational, instructional, and servant leadership were applied by elementary principals in leading transformational change and building school culture. Five key themes provided insight into the experiences of these elementary principals, the associated skills, knowledge, and behaviors that …

Ideological And Legal Determinants Of U.S. Court Of Appeals Judges' Voting In K-12 Autism Reimbursement Cases (1983 - 2016) Under The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Angelia Dalene Williams

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The results of this study reveal the influence of (1) U.S. Court of Appeals judges' political ideology; (2) pivotal special education Supreme Court Decisions' influence; and (3) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 Amendments' influence on appellate judges' voting decisions impacting K-12 education autism tuition reimbursements between 1983 and 2016, using descriptive and inferential analyses with binary logistic regression as a statistical tool. Principal inquiries are: 1. Does U.S. Court of Appeals judges' political ideology (as measured by party of the appointing president or DW-NOMINATE Measure scores) influence their voting in whether to award tuition reimbursement under the …

A Sustainable “No Excuses” Charter School Model, Kelly Lerash

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As a participant observer working in a charter school and researching charter schools, I critically examine a particular charter school in New York City. I begin with my educational journey and the challenge of being a participant observer. I transition to focus on a general overview of “No Excuses” charter schools in NYC, looking closely at Uncommon Charter Schools, Achievement First Charter Schools, KIPP NYC, Success Academy Charter Schools and Democracy Prep Charter Schools. Next, I share my experiences working for five years in a “No Excuses” Charter School, using a specific lens to examine what makes that school different …

A Phenomenological Study On Motivational Factors Toward The Longevity Of Christian School Teachers, Rochelle Achuff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe factors that influenced the motivation of teachers toward longevity in Christian schools located in the Southeast region of the United States. This study attempted to answer the following research question: What do Christian school teachers perceive as motivational factors toward longevity in a Christian school? The theory that guided this study was London’s (1983) career motivation theory as it relates to what motivated teachers to teach long-term in a Christian school. Findings from this study provided a description of what Christian school teachers perceive as motivating factors toward longevity in …

To What Extent Do Teachers And Administrators Perceive They Impact Student Engagement In A Rural Southwest Georgia School System, Priscilla G. Yarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of engagement emerged to understand and improve outcomes for students whose academic performance in school was marginal or poor. The importance of student engagement for achieving success in school was proven in many studies. Lessons designed to engage students helped to improve student achievement at all levels including lower academic performing students and helped to create positive school cultures and classroom learning environments. Very little was known about how teacher beliefs (perceptions of student engagement) influenced student engagement within the classroom. There were only a few studies in which student engagement was examined from the teacher’s perspective. To …

Latina Women At Columbus State University: The Struggle To Persist, Sharon Seneca

Theses and Dissertations

The Hispanic population in the United States increased tremendously over the years and Latinos are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States. The growth of the Latino community changed the face of the nation. Latina women are projected to account for a third of the total female population by the year 2060.

This growing segment of society represented untapped human capital, much of which has yet to be discovered and utilized. The Latino population at Columbus State University has also increased over the years. While the numbers of Latino students continued to increase, the fact that Latino students …

Perspectives Of Rural Nebraska Community Leaders On Pre-Kindergarten In Public Schools, Bradley G. Stauffer

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The investigator in this study explored perspectives of rural Nebraska community leaders on pre-kindergarten in public schools. Thirty rural Nebraska community leaders were interviewed, 10 from each of three different communities ranging in population from around 1,000 to 2,500. For this qualitative study, the investigator asked two primary research questions related to the impact of pre-kindergarten on:

1. Child development
2. Community development

Six main themes were derived from the interviews:

1. Child Development
2. Community Development
3. Changes in the Family and Society
4. Funding
5. Equity
6. Educating the Community

The literature review focused on the efficacy of pre-kindergarten and early childhood education. Three seminal research …

The Principal Evaluation: Connecting Principals’ Evaluation To The Growth And Development Process, A Case Study, Jackie Nielsen

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With the evolution of the school principal, having an evaluation process which connects a principal’s growth and development to make a meaningful impact on their instructional leadership is vital to the success of K-12 education. Data were analyzed to determine if the principal evaluation process aided in the growth and development of the principal and assistant principal administrators. Data were collected in this qualitative case study from multiple sources: interviews, artifacts, observations, and evaluation documents. Seven (7) principals and one (1) assistant principal were interviewed about their perception of how the principal evaluation process connected to their growth and development …

Tapping The Voices Of Learners For Authentic Student Engagement, Bryan Bronn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of practice of the decline in student engagement from the perceptions of secondary school learners as they proceed throughout their educational experience. According to researchers, learners who are engaged—meaning those who are committed and connected in active relationships with teachers, other learners, the learning environment, learning interests and ideas, the curriculum, and learning goals, are more likely to enjoy and be in control of their own learning [student agency]. This study is significant because of its potential to provide new understandings of the problem of a decline in student engagement …

Teacher And Administrator Perspectives From Experiences In The Teacher Leadership Initiative, Leslie Lynne Sharp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teacher leadership, has been defined by many researchers as the answer to school improvement through the use of teacher leaders leading the effort in schools and districts. This qualitative dissertation takes a deep look into the experiences of teachers and administrators that participated in a nation-wide teacher leadership pilot, the Teacher Leadership Initiative (TLI), and the effects that this year-long event had on leadership, school improvement and teacher and administrator professional practices. Unifying outcomes from the participants as a result of their involvement in this initiative included changes in thinking about leadership that directly improved professional efficacy, collaborative and leadership …

The Effect Of Teacher Race On Student Perceptions In Low-Income Schools, Benton M. Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision, thousands of teachers of color lost their jobs as black students were integrated into mostly white schools. The number of black teachers in schools across the United States has never recovered resulting in a teaching workforce that is less diverse than the student population that they teach. Many studies have examined the possible impact of this discrepancy including the possibility that this has contributed to the black-white achievement gap that exists in the United States. Other studies have examined the non-academic impacts of a less diverse workforce including …

School Climate And Demographic Factors’ Influence On Seventh-Grade Students’ Perceptions Of Bullying In Arkansas Public Schools, Kelly Powell

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of an authoritative school climate on perceptions of bullying among middle school students after controlling for demographic characteristics. In this quantitative nonexperimental study, 320 seventh-grade students were selected from four public middle schools in Arkansas using a multistage sampling technique. The Authoritative School Climate Survey was used to obtained data on the students’ perceptions of their school climate (disciplinary structure and support systems), their demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, and school location) as well as their perceptions about bullying in the following areas: (a) prevalence of teasing and bullying, (b) prevalence …

A New Model For Creative Education, Carolina Schnapp R.

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explored the design of a pedagogical model for the development of creativity, targeted for teachers and educational institutions. The development of creativity has become highly relevant over the past few decades, especially with the emphasis given to 21st Century Skills and the responsibility that schools have on fostering these skills. In this project, you will find the ideas based on research and experience, that were the foundation for the model, the creative process behind the design of the model, and the final version. The project was shared with experts who validated parts of the model and opened space …

Principal Professional Development And Principal Self-Efficacy In An Urban School District., Brian Thomas Garrett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educator professional development (PD) is a heavily relied upon method for school improvement, and administrator professional development (APD) is a key element to nearly all school reform efforts. District-wide APD in large school districts can carry a heavy cost in financial and human resources. Moreover, PD is frequently too inadequately planned and/or implemented to bring about lasting positive change in educator practice, school reform, and student achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between principal PD focused on culture/climate or instruction and principal self-efficacy in an urban school district. Through hierarchical linear multiple regression (HLMR), this …

Powerful Relationships In Leadership: A Collection Of Modern Leadership Insights, Dustin S. Anderson, Carley Clinkscales, Stephen Erlandson, Brad Hak, Justin Rude Hanson, Patrick Holt, Brittany Kinney, Chenxiao Li, Vanessa Richter, Marcus E. Teachout, Brittany E. York, Jeffrey Thompson, Kenneth D. Janz, Barbara Holmes

Leadership Education Books

Powerful Relationships in Leadership caters to front runners of the leadership world who are looking for fresh perspectives into how to properly organize and create trailblazing organizations. This book is a collection of articles on aspects of leading. It separates itself from other management texts by offering perceptions of entry level personnel. It is our hope that you will begin to appreciate how entry level personnel view management and their role in guiding administrators.

Counseling Staff Perceptions Of Visibility Of Mental Health Services At Community Colleges In Southeast United States, Dava Lorene Brock

Student Theses and Dissertations

Today’s college students are under pressure not experienced by the previous generations. College counseling centers are experiencing increasing demands due to the changing needs of students. Unfortunately, with less university funding, increase demands of students, and lack of qualified counselors the college counseling centers have a difficult time meets the campus community’s needs. Community college are in a unique situation compared to the four-year institutions. The population tends to be from more disadvantaged backgrounds creating increased stress and a need for mental health services. However, due to the lack of funds and sources, many community colleges have limited mental health …