Perceptions Of Department Chairs And Program Directors Of Ethnic Studies In The California State University System: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study,
2025
San Jose State University
Perceptions Of Department Chairs And Program Directors Of Ethnic Studies In The California State University System: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study, Christopher Jarrett Cox
Dissertations
The purpose of this dissertation study is to explore the conditions of Ethnic Studies departments and programs in the California State University (CSU) system nine years after the release of the CSU Ethnic Studies Task Force report released in 2016. Using a convergent parallel mixed methods analysis, this dissertation revisits several questions from the original CSU survey to assess the effectiveness of Ethnic Studies units in the CSU. Respondents to the survey included 13 of the 58 recognized department chairs and program directors for Ethnic Studies units among the 23 campuses of the CSU system, and interview participants included 5 …
Degrees Of Freedom: How Project Rebound Facilitates Access To Higher Education For Adjudicated Adults,
2025
San Jose State University
Degrees Of Freedom: How Project Rebound Facilitates Access To Higher Education For Adjudicated Adults, Elizabeth Regina Wirtz
Dissertations
Marginalized students are recommended for suspension and expulsion at higher rates than non dis/abled White peers. Exclusionary discipline contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline and recidivism rates in adults. Educational programs have been effective ways to support adjudicated adults as they transition back to their life after serving their sentences. The CSU program Project Rebound is a highly successful rehabilitation tool for adults seeking higher educational opportunities with an effective 0 percent recidivism rate. To learn about this organization a mixed methods study was conducted. The goal of this study was to capture quantitative and qualitative data about the experiences of …
"Are You My Counselor?" A Call To Action How Latinx General Counselors Can Support Latinx Student Retention Rates At California Community College Hispanic-Serving Institutions,
2025
San Jose State University
"Are You My Counselor?" A Call To Action How Latinx General Counselors Can Support Latinx Student Retention Rates At California Community College Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Valentín García Cabrera
Dissertations
Latinx students comprise the largest population within the California Community College (CCC) system, but experience disproportionately lower retention rates. This dissertation used a phenomenological qualitative design and testimonios collected from Latinx general counselors to explore factors influencing Latinx student retention. Sixteen tenured Latinx general counselors from ten Northern California Hispanic-serving community colleges served as participants. Guided by two research questions, the study explored counselors’ perspectives on the factors influencing Latinx community college students’ retention and the counseling strategies, services, and resources that General Counseling Departments should provide to support Latinx student retention. Grounded in Latinx Critical Race Theory, the study …
Contracts, Communication, And Contextual Integrity: A Case Study About Student Data Use In Higher Education,
2025
San Jose State University
Contracts, Communication, And Contextual Integrity: A Case Study About Student Data Use In Higher Education, Joseph Fessehaye
Dissertations
This case study examines the contractual agreements between the University of Missouri System and the California State University System with the Educational Advisory Board (EAB), focusing on how these contracts align with institutional student data privacy policies. The research utilizes a Policy Document Analysis approach and explores both universities’ strategic plans, student data privacy guidelines, and the third-party agreements with EAB, using a Contextual Integrity framework to analyze how student data is managed and protected. Through the analysis of these documents, this dissertation investigates whether the flow of student data within the context of these contracts meets institutional privacy standards …
Cultura Y Corazón: Latina Elementary School Principals Leading Schools,
2025
San Jose State University
Cultura Y Corazón: Latina Elementary School Principals Leading Schools, Mariana M. Alvarez
Dissertations
This qualitative participatory study focused on understanding the experiences of Latina elementary school principals on their pathway to school leadership and how cultural intuition and community cultural wealth influence their approaches to school leadership. Chicana Feminist Epistemology (CFE) and Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) framed the study, while testimonio y pláticas served as the methodological framework. The concept of Community Cultural Wealth served as an analytical framework. Students of color often feel their histories, experiences, and languages are undervalued in education. Participants in this study shared challenges in navigating school, coming from families that valued education but faced barriers. Their …
Cultivating Belonging: Empowering Hispanic Parents In The U.S. Education System,
2025
San Jose State University
Cultivating Belonging: Empowering Hispanic Parents In The U.S. Education System, Kalpana Galagali
Dissertations
This qualitative study explores the experiences of Hispanic families at Bay Area Middle School and the strategies I employed to create a sense of belonging and support for both students and their families. Key strategies included fostering effective communication through Spanish interpreters, celebrating cultural traditions, and organizing inclusive events like the annual cultural fair. Parents expressed gratitude for the personal attention their children received and noted how these initiatives positively impacted their sense of belonging. The findings highlight that cultural integration and community-building efforts significantly enhanced family engagement, transforming perceptions of the school environment from feelings of disconnection to appreciation …
Healing Circulos(Circles): Putting Our Educator's Mask First,
2025
San Jose State University
Healing Circulos(Circles): Putting Our Educator's Mask First, Janet Martinez-Angeles
Dissertations
Educators play a pivotal role in supporting students throughout their educational journeys. In addition to academic instruction, they provide vital guidance for students' social, emotional, and personal development. They work tirelessly to help students navigate the complexities of education and life, often while shouldering multiple responsibilities and roles beyond the classroom. This dynamic contributes to high attrition rates and weakens the educational system. Much like the familiar safety instructions on an airplane, where passengers are reminded to put on their oxygen masks before assisting others, educators must be given the space, resources, and support to tend to their well-being before …
Early Care And Education Systems In The United States Of America: Voices Of The Past, Present, And Future,
2025
San Jose State University
Early Care And Education Systems In The United States Of America: Voices Of The Past, Present, And Future, Timothy Harper
Dissertations
This mixed-methods study centers the voices, knowledge, and leadership of Black and Indigenous women working in Early Care and Education (ECE) while tracing how racism, sexism, and classism have shaped the field from colonization to the present day. Twenty in-depth interviews with sixteen Black and Indigenous educators across the United States are paired with secondary analyses of national workforce data to create a multilayered portrait of their professional realities. Grounded in Black feminist thought and Indigenous desire-based inquiry, the analysis surfaces six inter-locking themes: (a) enduring structural barriers that depress wages and limit advancement, (b) the day-to-day resilience that sustains …
Teacher Workplace Bullying: Victim And Bystander Perspectives,
2025
San Jose State University
Teacher Workplace Bullying: Victim And Bystander Perspectives, Abigail R. Smurr
Dissertations
Workplace bullying is a phenomenon that is addressed within a broad context. This study focuses on teacher experiences of bullying. The focus will examine the impacts horizontal and vertical bullying can have on teacher victims and bystanders within K-12th within California. The purpose of this study is to give administrators awareness of these issues from the victim and bystanders’ lens. The study implemented a mixed methods design to give insight to teacher perceptions on the impacts it can have on their teacher efficacy, teacher retention, and their emotional well-being. By looking at how often PK-12th grade teachers experience workplace bullying, …
Resilience In Crisis: How Bipoc Educators Navigated The Challenges Associated With Covid-19, Racial Awakening, And The Move To Online Learning,
2025
San Jose State University
Resilience In Crisis: How Bipoc Educators Navigated The Challenges Associated With Covid-19, Racial Awakening, And The Move To Online Learning, Jannet Galicia Castrejon
Dissertations
An unprecedented number of BIPOC teachers exited the profession since June 2020 largely due to the challenges posted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Doan et al., 2024). This study aimed to investigate ways these educators coped with the heavy toll of the converging pandemic(s) by asking what, if anything, sustained them? Participants provided individual and group testimonios and shared snapshots of what it was like to teach and exist during this time via the photovoice methodology and reflected on the challenges and sources of support. BIPOC teachers described the following challenges: difficulty connecting with kids, first-hand and vicarious trauma, increased workload, …
Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents,
2025
Liberty University
Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how K–12 school leaders respond to critical incidents in schools. A critical incident is any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or severe harm to physical or mental health, safety, or well-being. The study focused on three major critical incidents: school shootings/gun violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial unrest. The research was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, which explains human behavior through reciprocal interactions between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. The central research question was: How do K–12 school leaders respond to …
Rooted In Justice: International School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development,
2025
Loyola Marymount University
Rooted In Justice: International School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development, Joseph Weatherby-Teague
LMU Theses and Dissertations
Research has shown a characteristic of effective teachers in international schools (ISTs) is cultural awareness and responsiveness (Grant et al., 2024), but there is a lack of research on ISTs and social justice development and ISTs in Qatar. This qualitative study (Smith et al., 2022) analyzed the perceptions of ISTs in Qatar about social justice professional development they participated in between 2019 and 2024 and how they implemented professional development in their practice. Using frameworks on justice as praxis and teacher education for social justice (Bondy et. al, 2017; Cochran-Smith, 2010), this study used an interpretive phenomenological analysis to conduct …
Church Survivability: A Qualitative Study On Planters’ Leadership Development Role In Southern Baptist Texas Convention Planting,
2025
Liberty University
Church Survivability: A Qualitative Study On Planters’ Leadership Development Role In Southern Baptist Texas Convention Planting, Alton R. Mckinley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Since the pandemic, there has been an accelerated decline in church membership, and within groups of young adults, there are alarming trends that raise concern for the direction of the church. Wang (2022) wrote that the decline is about 10 percentage points between 2019 and 2021 for those under age 35 and those 65+, but only four percent for the middle-aged group. This increased decline in attendance can be addressed by developing leaders who are well-equipped to handle many issues and problems simultaneously. Many secular leadership development concepts will help leaders become more efficient and practical. Winston (2018), in his …
Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister,
2025
Liberty University
Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister, William Travis Boyd
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation explores how to alleviate the burden on senior pastors to create more effective ministers. This research aims to explore the implications of the pastoral chair’s duties and responsibilities and focuses on how the church community can support the senior pastor through encouragement and awareness of the importance of maintaining the pastoral chair’s mental, emotional, and professional health. This research features a comprehensive literature review on the current state of senior pastors’ professional health and the impact that overwhelming duties and responsibilities impose on their professional confidence, ministry, and overall sense of productivity and accomplishment in providing pastoral services …
A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities,
2025
Liberty University
A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities, Robert Russell Firth
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of motivated philanthropic giving for board of trustee members at two private higher education institutions in the north-central United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci's theory of self-determination, as it relates to the trustees’ intrinsic motivation to be philanthropic and benevolent while engaging with the university and serving on the board of trustees. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences that intrinsically motivate the board of trustee members to be philanthropic at two private higher education institutions in the …
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Academic Support Services That Influence The Success Of Student Veterans,
2025
Liberty University
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Academic Support Services That Influence The Success Of Student Veterans, Yuki A. Stephenson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the academic support services that influence the success of student veterans pursuing higher education at Fort Green of the South. The theory guiding this study was Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory focusing on the extrinsic motivators that enhance academic support services for student veteran success. The central research question was: How do academic support services influence the success of student veterans? The methodology of this study used a qualitative approach, employing hermeneutic phenomenology to best address the research question and exploration of the lived experiences of the student veteran’s utilization …
The Lived Experiences Of Charter School Principals With Burnout: A Phenomenological Study,
2025
Liberty University
The Lived Experiences Of Charter School Principals With Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Taera L. Childers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of burnout for charter school principals in California. The theory guiding this study was Jackson and Maslach’s theory of burnout, as it provided the framework and foundation for the meaning of burnout and the effects it has on social sector employees. The central research question for this study was: What are the lived experiences of principals with burnout at charter schools in California? A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used, including virtual questionnaires, individual interviews, and a focus group. The sample size for the study was 11 principals …
From Perception To Retention: The Influence Of Campus Culture And Climate On Teacher Attrition,
2025
The University of Texas at Tyler
From Perception To Retention: The Influence Of Campus Culture And Climate On Teacher Attrition, Stephany D. Brown
Education Theses and Dissertations
This improvement science dissertation in practice investigated the influence of leadership support, collaboration, and recognition on teacher attrition. The study occurred over the course of two years on two suburban secondary campuses, in neighboring independent school districts. Voluntary participants included certified teachers, administrators and counselors. The two-phase, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles involved the collection of quantitative and qualitative data emphasizing teacher perceptions through surveys and focus groups to evaluate campus culture and climate before and after implementation of the intervention. Phase two incorporated the targeted intervention; focused on public recognition of teachers within the school setting; specifically examining whether public recognition …
An Exploratory Analysis Of U.S. Academically Intensive Charter Schools (Aics),
2025
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
An Exploratory Analysis Of U.S. Academically Intensive Charter Schools (Aics), Robert Maranto, Jamison White, Sean Woytek
Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications
Considerable amounts of research have discussed "No Excuses" charter schools preparing traditionally disadvantaged students for higher education. Yet, no scholarly work has identified or investigated U.S. academically intensive charter schools (AICS) that were founded to enable students to excel academically as much as their abilities and efforts allow. Here, we offer an exploratory study of AICS, defining them, describing the lived experience of an AICS principal, presenting the first national data comparing AICS campus and student characteristics to those of other charter schools, and assessing whether, nationally, AICS succeed on their own terms, with relatively high academic achievements. The data …
Expatriate Educators' Perspectives Of Transformational Leadership Practices In International Schools In Kuwait,
2025
Walden University
Expatriate Educators' Perspectives Of Transformational Leadership Practices In International Schools In Kuwait, Stacey Howe
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Effective leadership is crucial for educational success, yet its definition varies across cultures, which may cause communication issues, especially in culturally diverse environments like international schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore differing perceptions of transformational leadership (TL) between 68 expatriate teachers and 27 administrators, representing response rates of 22% and 47%, respectively, in three Kuwait international schools. Grounded in Bass's TL theory, the Global Transformational Leadership survey, an anonymous online survey with each of seven leadership domains represented by one item, was used in the study. Data collected on a 5-point frequency scale were analyzed using …
