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A Discrit And Anticapitalist Approach To Resisting Hustle Culture And Practicing Slow Education Through Book Club Professional Development, Angela Zhang

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This thesis highlights hustle culture as a significant issue that impacts education today. While the concern stemmed from a personal experience with so-called burnout, the term “hustle culture” is used to emphasize the systemic nature of the overwork, burnout, and exhaustion that teachers and students face, particularly the intersections of capitalism and ableism. When tracing the history and current manifestations of hustle culture, it becomes clear that educational institutions, policies, practices, and interactions play a major role in normalizing, perpetuating, and romanticizing hustle culture as the pathway to individual success and wealth in a capitalist system. In reality, hustle culture …

The Efficaciousness Of Generative Ai For Integrated Stem Planning And Its Impact On Stem Teacher Self-Efficacy, Julie Ann Olson

Dissertations and Theses

With evolving workforce needs, global challenges, and national science education initiatives calling for STEM instruction with purposeful connections between the four domains, there is a need for methods to support educators facing the challenges this pedagogical approach presents. Challenges may weaken teachers' self-efficacy, potentially reducing the probability that an integrated STEM (I-STEM) pedagogy would be sustained in the classroom. There is limited research addressing how generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has been used for I-STEM lesson development, combined with its effects on I-STEM teaching self-efficacy (SE) grounded in social cognitive theory. This study investigated how GAI influences I-STEM teaching SE, when …

Exploring Saudi Arabian Efl Teachers’ Experiences With The Flipped Classroom, Amal Bin Dlil

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Saudi teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who implemented the flipped classroom model in a middle school context in southern Saudi Arabia. To achieve this aim, the research questions examined teachers’ descriptions of their lived experiences and perceptions of implementing the flipped classroom strategy, as well as the contextual factors that influenced these experiences in middle school classrooms. To guide the investigation, the study was informed by Active Learning Theory and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, which provided a conceptual lens for examining teachers’ experiences …

"Where The Grass Is Greener": Youth Participatory Action Research Examining The Lived Student Experience Through Cross-Campus Shadowing, Justin Matthew Antos

Dissertations of Practice

This Youth Participatory Action Research study examined how alumni perceive student experiences related to school culture and climate, classroom learning environments, and equity of opportunity and resources across three sister high schools within a single district. Six alumni, all recent graduates, participated in a three-day, cross-campus shadowing experience, observing classrooms and school environments, and reflecting on key similarities and differences across campuses through focus groups. Findings indicated that climate, engagement, and equity are shaped not only by curriculum, but by the interaction of policies, relationships, physical spaces, and consistency of expectations. Classrooms emphasizing interaction, relevance, and structure fostered higher engagement, …

Preparing Students For What Comes Next: A Qualitative Study Of District Approaches To Postsecondary And Career Readiness, Amanda C. Pelsor

Dissertations of Practice

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT APPROACHES TO POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS

This qualitative study examines how Illinois school districts support students’ readiness for postsecondary success and career planning and exploration. Despite longstanding state and federal efforts to improve college and career readiness, many students continue to face challenges after high school, including lack of workforce readiness, underpreparedness for postsecondary education, unclear career pathways, and difficulty navigating complex transitions. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores how districts conceptualize and implement career readiness frameworks, the ways readiness work is embedded within district systems, and the barriers …

Walk To Learn Structured Literacy Model: Teacher Perceptions Using The Lippitt-Knoster Model For Managing Complex Change, Blake A. Hand

Dissertations of Practice

Low reading proficiency in urban districts highlights an urgent need for effective instructional systems, but research on the "Walk to Learn" (WTL) model remains sparse. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding how teachers perceive large-scale school-wide shifts to structured literacy using WTL. The study examined teacher perceptions of implementing a differentiated WTL literacy model using the Lippitt-Knoster framework for managing complex change. This qualitative case study involved interviews with 12 certified educators at an urban elementary school. Data was analyzed using thematic coding to align findings with the components of the change management framework. Teachers perceived the implementation as …

Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being In College Students: Does Resilience Mediate This Relationship, Kevin C. Snow, Jessica Starken, Lindsay A. Phillips

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Given continued challenges of college transition and recent changes (e.g., COVID) leading to increased use of college counseling services and past studies exploring spiritualty/religion and resilience pertaining to psychological well-being (PWB), this study explored the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Three scales, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, and the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, were used to measure the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB. Results of this study showed support for the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Results also lend support for future research exploring therapeutic incorporation of spirituality …

Understanding The Level Of School-Family Alignment Around Anti-Bullying Programs In A Rural Middle School: Is Everyone On The Same Page?, Eleanor M. Kilishek

Doctor of Education (EdD)

School-family engagement is commonly regarded as a critical element for effective bullying prevention programs in schools, however the extent to which families understand these systems is often unclear. Guided by an integrated conceptual model that weaves theory on alignment with an examination of ecological systems layers and feedback loops, this qualitative single-site case study examined the levels of alignment between parent perceptions and the implementation of a rural middle school’s bullying prevention program. Leverage points for growth emerged by identifying where gaps in understanding or informational silence occurred. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit participants for semi-structured interviews with members …

2026 Intersession Catalog, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Intersession Catalogs

No abstract provided.

An Autoethnographic Study Of A Technical Services Librarian’S Teaching Journey During The Tenure Track: “Define Myself For Myself To Both Survive And Thrive”, Junli Diao

Publications and Research

This autoethnographic study explores the disorienting dilemma that a technical services librarian experienced while alternating between working behind the scenes to fulfill professional responsibilities and teaching in the library to meet organizational expectations as a faculty member. The analysis of personal data accumulated during the tenure track period reveals three themes: teaching as learning to become, teaching as learning to challenge the system, and teaching as learning to research. Reflection focuses on three themes interconnected by the concept and practice of mindful learning. With the acknowledgement of limitations, this autoethnography concludes it was the self-reflective lifelong learning mindset that helped …

Developing Reflective Capacity Among In-Service Teachers: Using A Teacher Observation Approach To Continuous Improvement, Holly A. Neill

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice examined how a structured reflective-practice toolkit influenced a teacher’s demonstrated levels of reflection and perceptions of reflective growth within a Christian school setting. The problem addressed in this study was that teachers at Hope Ridge School engaged inconsistently and often superficially in the reflective elements of the school’s evaluation and coaching system. Although teachers generally valued reflection, many lacked the shared language, clear frameworks, and structured supports needed to engage in meaningful reflective practice.

Grounded in reflective-practice theory using Improvement Science methodology, this study used an iterative professional learning design implemented through multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act …

Long-Term English Learners: Listening To Student Perceptions To Improve A School District’S English Language Learner Program, Arturo Lomeli

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This Improvement Science Dissertation (ISDiP) strengthens program improvement by elevating student voices to hear perceptions about instructional practices that support Long-term English Learners (LTELs). Despite meeting State and Federal mandates, the district was identified as a transformation district as English Language Leaners (ELLs) performed below their peers in state achievement metrics. In 2023-24, LTELs made up 41% of the district’s ELL population compared to 21% in Oregon. This study sought to identify instructional strategies that students perceive supported their linguistic and academic success.

To uncover which instructional strategies are most effective, this study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed-method design embedded …

How Elementary School Principals Equitably Support Mexican Indigenous Students Using The Cultural Proficiency Essential Elements, Veronica Hernandez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe how elementary principals used the essential elements of cultural proficiency (i.e., assessing culture, valuing diversity, managing the dynamics of difference, adapting to diversity, and institutionalizing cultural knowledge) to provide equitable access for Mexican Indigenous students in California. A second purpose was to identify what elementary principals recommended as best practices for implementing the essential elements of cultural proficiency. Methodology: This ethnographic qualitative research study utilized the elements of cultural proficiency to identify and describe the practices of California elementary school principals in equitably supporting Mexican Indigenous students. Using …

Analyzing Barriers And Solutions In Advancing Long-Term English Learners’ Academic Communication, Tania Y. Flores Segundo

Doctor of Education (EdD)

U.S. public schools offer language services to students whose first language is not English to help them reach their full learning potential and ensure equitable educational access for all students. Despite initial support, many students remain labeled as English learners for 7 or more years, creating systemic barriers to academic reclassification. This study used raciolinguistic perspectives to examine how English was seen as a deficit when not yet mastered. The culturally responsive school leadership framework helped to understand what is needed to strengthen learning communities and optimize the academic communication skills of long-term English learners and all English learners. To …

Nsu Business Graduate Student Catalog 2025-2026 Winter 2026 Edition, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Southern Adventist University Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026, Southern Adventist University

Catalog, Undergraduate

Southern Adventist University's undergraduate catalog for the academic year 2025-2026.

Through Their Eyes: An Empathetic Narrative Inquiry Of Long-Term English Learners’ Perspectives In Rural High Schools, Enrique Ivan Nuñez

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This qualitative narrative inquiry study explored the lived experiences of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). LTELs are students who remain classified as English learners for six or more years. Limited research on LTELs’ perceptions of reclassification limits educators’ ability to design effective reclassification practices. This study examined LTELs’ perspectives on barriers to reclassification, existing school supports, and socioemotional experiences. The study was guided by a conceptual framework integrating sociocultural theory and empathy. Semi-structured empathy interviews were conducted with 11 LTELs from three rural high schools. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify themes while preserving each participant’s unique narrative.

Several key themes …

Agents Of Hope: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Lived Experience And Professional Practice Of Teacher Hopefulness, Brett J. Baxter

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Teacher attrition, declining job satisfaction, and increasing classroom challenges continue to affect the stability and effectiveness of K–12 public education. While research has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes associated with higher levels of hope among students, little is known about how teachers themselves perceive their own hopefulness or the role it plays in their professional practice. Without a clearer understanding of teacher hope, educational leaders and policymakers may overlook an important factor influencing teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Guided by the theoretical framework of hope theory, which conceptualizes hope as the interaction of goal-oriented thinking, agency thinking, and pathways thinking, this …

Chronic Absenteeism In Long Island Secondary Schools: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Post-Covid-19 Trends And Professional Perceptions, William M. Gibbons

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Recent educational research studies have shown that an alarming number of students are chronically absent from school, a trend that is occurring both nationwide and in New York State. While this number had been slowly increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has accelerated significantly following the pandemic. This increase in chronic absenteeism is also prevalent across Nassau and Suffolk County high schools; there has been a large increase in the percentage of students who are chronically absent in high school since the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts warn that this increased number can lead to multiple negative consequences for students, including social …

Talking Black: The Construction Of Blackness In Film, D'Andre M. Person

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Media, such as film, plays a pivotal role in representing marginalized groups to general audiences. The portrayal of Black people in advertisements, novels, art, and film has perpetuated harmful stereotypes which associate Black men and women with negative traits that justify their marginalization, such as the "Coon" stereotype that frames Black men as lazy or the "Mammy" stereotype that positions Black women as subservient. Stereotypes in film are produced through images, but language plays a vital role in constructing general audiences' understanding of Black people as well. Through a rhetorical analysis of seven films released between 2016 and 2026, I …

Do Algorithms Dream Of Electric Muses? Teaching Creative Writing In The Age Of Generative Ai, Anna Leahy

English Faculty Articles and Research

In Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? androids are given a psychological test to confirm they are not human before killing them. The story’s end suggests that humans will treat a seemingly harmless android as authentically as a human even when humans are aware the android is not human. Students use tools like ChatGPT, which function as autocomplete on steroids, to produce text using probabilistic relationships among words, and instructors can’t always tell the difference between average student writing and Gen AI text. In creative writing classes, instructors might use thinking for oneself as a central …

Sunflower Boys (2025) By Sam Wachman, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Young Adult Books

Two issues preoccupy twelve-year-old Artem, living with his mother and younger brother Yuri in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He must navigate adolescence without the direct guidance of his father, who works construction in New York, USA, and his feelings for his best friend Viktor are shifting in a way he knows he must hide. But Artem’s coming-of-age story is interrupted by the invasion of the Russian army on February 24, 2022. Making their way across war-torn Ukraine toward the Polish border in hopes of reuniting with their father, the brothers experience hunger, severe illness, and the terror of witnessing the murder of …

The Relationship Between Implementation Of Effective Schools Practices, School Performance, And Improvement, Kelly Mchugh Massinople

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Effective schools frameworks describe the evidence-based practices implemented at schools, including those with disproportionately high levels of students living in poverty, that have high levels of student achievement (Edmonds, 1979; Lezotte, 1982; Lezotte & McKee Snyder, 2010; Padilla et al., 2020; Sammons et al., 1995). This study examined the relationship between the implementation of effective schools practices, as described in the research, and school performance and school improvement, as reported in state accountability indicators. The analysis focused on improvement efforts initiated at 21 West Virginia schools identified in the fall of 2022 for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) under the …

Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, And Resiliency Strategies In Urban Public Schools, Clay Russell Welch

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Urban educators frequently support students who have experienced significant trauma, increasing their vulnerability to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue (CF). Although trauma-informed practices have expanded in public education, limited research has examined how educators develop and sustain resilience strategies as they navigate the emotional demands of their work. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the strategies urban educators use to mitigate STS and CF and to understand how these strategies develop across educators’ professional experiences. The study also examined potential differences in strategies across demographic groups and considered implications for educational leadership.

Seventeen educators from …

Measuring Civic And Citizenship Education Through Large-Scale Assessments: Insights From The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study (Iccs), Wolfram Schulz, Valeria Damiani

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This chapter from the open access book ‘Promoting K-12 Civic Learning and Engagement Through Assessment’ edited  by Hamilton, Rikoon and  Kidd, discusses ways of measuring aspects of civic and citizenship education (CCE) cross-nationally with a specific focus on the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) commissioned by the IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement). The chapter starts with a brief overview of the main characteristics of the study, the legacy with previous IEA surveys of civic education, and the assessment design including a description of the cognitive and affective-behavioral dimensions that are measured in the …

Literacy Professional Development: Evidence-Based Practices And Insights From Virginia, Meleah Ellison, Shelby Garofalo, Vanessa Sekinger, Joan A. Rhodes, Sharrie Merritte, Maggie Szydlowski, Meera Mehtaji, Valerie Robnolt, Thea Racelis

MERC Publications

This report is part of the MERC Literacy Study. It explores recently published research and publicly accessible professional development (PD) offerings frequently used across the Commonwealth to support the implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). Findings from this report support the ongoing PD of school staff and relevant partners in the VLA’s purpose of improving literacy outcomes for students in grades K-8 across Virginia.

Leadership And Literacy Assessment Systems: A Multi-Case Study Of System Coherence And Assessment Use In Mississippi Elementary Schools, Kristin P. Walters

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This qualitative embedded multiple-case study examined how school-level literacy leadership shaped the coherence and use of literacy assessment systems in five Mississippi Elementary Schools. Situated within the context of Mississippi’s recent literacy gains and the policy environment emerging from the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, this study explored how literacy leaders guide assessment systems to support coherence between literacy instruction and assessment practice.

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 educators across five elementary schools in different districts. Analysis was conducted using descriptive and values coding organized into an analysis matrix that facilitated within-case and cross-case exploration of patterns in distributed …

Not Dating, Just Doing The Dishes: Reducing Anxiety And Increasing Participation Through Low-Risk Interpersonal Role-Plays., Alison Leah Morris-Neuberger

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Soon after last semester began, I found myself in a classroom where students seemed disengaged and often unwilling to participate in open class discussion. I decided to ask students for feedback on how I could do better. What I heard was something I had not fully considered before. Many students, primarily Gen Z, asked that I use more examples centered on roommates. Several shared that they did not have experience with romantic relationships or professional work environments, but there was one common thread among them - they all had roommates. Talking about a roommate felt much lower stakes than talking …

Developing And Proposing A Passion Project Course With Institutional Backing, Ron Reaser

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Developing and proposing a new course based on your passion project is achievable and rewarding for faculty of any rank, including teaching-track faculty and adjuncts, but it may feel confusing or daunting to glean the course design principles and institutional knowledge necessary to succeed. This presentation recommends a successful and replicable approach based on proactive communication with stakeholders in your unit and across the broader university system. The approach is tailored to faculty members of West Virginia University, Potomac State College, and WVU Institute of Technology.

Excellence In Onboarding: A Case Study Of Campus Leader Support For Early-Career Teachers, Kelsey Bowles, Peter E. Williams, Alicia Piechowiak

Faculty Publications

Purpose: It is critical in industries experiencing labor shortages and high attrition rates, as is the case for early-career teachers (ECTs) in Texas, to understand effective early-career supports and how they contribute to career persistence and effectiveness. This study examines the context-specific onboarding experiences of ECTs and the leadership practices they found valuable.

Design/Methodology: This qualitative, collective case study used a positive deviance approach to examine teacher onboarding experiences. Located in a high-needs, urban public-school campus with atypically low teacher turnover and high student academic achievement. We interviewed eight mid-career teachers about their early-career experiences of supervisor and organizational …