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Discussion Of Text Revisited: Encouraging Chatting In The Classroom, Melissa Jessup, Ruth E. Jefferson Dr.

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Discussion of text in language and literacy instruction has historically been studied with small samples of learners. The study described in this article investigated the relationship between instructional practices associated with discussion of text (chatting about it) and the reading achievement of several subgroups. A large sample of readers (N = 148,800) from the National Assessment of Educational Progress was the subject of the study. Several subgroups, including students with disabilities and students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (students experiencing poverty), were statistically disaggregated; subgroup data and results of analyses are discussed. Suggestions for classroom application are included.

Empowering Future Educators: How Service-Learning Shapes Teacher Candidate Self-Efficacy And Understanding Of Book Access, Nancy F. Hulan, Morgan S. Major

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Literacy rates are historically low in areas where access to books is limited. Thus, students with limited exposure to books prior to school pose a unique challenge to teachers, who often feel unprepared to teach students from underserved populations. To help remedy this, teacher candidates need preparation that builds their abilities to provide both access to books and quality literacy instruction for students who live in poverty. The study described in this article investigated the impact of literacy-related community engagement on teacher candidates’ self-efficacy, their understanding of book access, and their perceptions of teachers’ roles in providing book access. Participants …

Deferred Understandings: A Critical Content Analysis Of Representations Of War In Picturebooks, Heeyoung Kim, Jongsun Wee

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article reports on a study that examined eight picturebooks published since 2021 that portray contemporary wars, exploring picturebooks’ potential role in shaping children’s understandings of armed conflict. It investigated how these texts present historical context and construct representations of war. The authors’ analysis focuses on three key elements: the causes of war, depictions of wartime scenes, and the resolutions of war. The findings indicate that the picturebooks portray war realistically through textual and visual narratives, illustrating how war disrupts the child protagonist’s everyday life. However, the books rarely address the underlying causes of war. This study suggests that teachers …

Making Sense Of The Iep: Teacher Perspectives In Implementation In Suburban Schools, Siranda J. Patchel

All NMU Master's Theses

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal requirement and instructional framework to support students with disabilities. However, inconsistency among IEP classroom implementation is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of IEPs for students with disabilities as reported by general and special educators in suburban settings, in addition to examining educators’ perceptions of their preparedness and comprehension of IEP-related responsibilities.

The qualitative research design incorporated a survey and follow-up interview response analysis of educators who worked in suburban schools. The responses were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach that consisted of open coding and …

The Stories We Tell About Wolves, Olivia Lubig

All NMU Master's Theses

This study investigated the connections between wolf stories, wolf history, and educational theories: critical literacy, schema theory, reader response theory/transactional theory, and the use of intertextual approaches in the classroom. In this study, I used a mix of transactional theory as the theoretical framework, self-study methodology, and living educational theory research methods to study myself as an educator, methods of teaching in a classroom, and children’s literature. My first finding, detailed in Chapter One, was discovering the connection between wolf stories and wolf history. I argue that the relationship between wolves and humans is represented in literature, and the representation …

Nh Ece Research Consortium Member List, Evan England, Jess Carson

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

NH ECE Research Consortium membership is open to individuals and organizations with relevant expertise that aligns with the purpose of the Consortium, including the advancement of knowledge to support early care and education in NH. Check out the current Consortium members in this graphic!

Coming Fall 2026: Complete The Market Rate Survey, Nh Department Of Health And Human Services

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

No abstract provided.

Light & Faith: August 2026, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

The Weight We Carry: An Arts-Based Narrative Screenplay Of Academically Successful African American Male Students, Freddie Mcgee

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine, understand, and creatively represent the stories of African American male college students from low-income backgrounds who were raised by single parents and were academically successful. Guided by the overarching research question — What are the stories of academically successful African American male college students from lowincome homes who single parents raised? — The study sought to understand how participants navigated institutional racism and systemic barriers while achieving academic success, and how they resisted deficit-based stereotypes and expectations in higher education.

This study employed a critical, arts-based, qualitative narrative inquiry approach grounded in …

Empowering Voices: Latino Family Engagement In Bilingual Early Literacy Library Programs, Jovayra Cabrera

Education Doctoral

Latino children often enter kindergarten with uneven access to early literacy experiences, and families play a central role in their early learning. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Latino families who participated in bilingual early literacy library programs with their young children (ages 0–5) in a public library system in a major metropolitan area in a northeastern state. Eight Latino parents and caregivers completed semi-structured interviews, conducted in English or Spanish, that were analyzed through bracketing, horizontalization, and the development of textural and structural descriptions and a synthesized essence. Analysis produced six …

Quality Versus Qualified: Head Start Program Leaders’ Perceptions Of The Characteristics And Traits Of High-Quality Early Childhood Educators In New York State, Tracy L. Persaud

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to examine how leaders in New York State Head Start programs perceive the interpersonal traits and characteristics that define a high-quality, early childhood educator working with children from ages 3 to 5 years old. While formal qualifications, such as degrees and certifications, remain as requirements for employment, leaders may rely on interpersonal and dispositional qualities to distinguish effective early childhood educators in practice. Guided by credentialism theory, this study explored how leaders define teacher quality beyond credentials and how these perceptions shape hiring, evaluation, and professional support decisions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews …

Effective Leadership Practices For Administrators In High-Poverty Rural Elementary Schools, Rhonda Underhill

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to examine potential solutions for high-needs rural elementary school leaders to improve academic outcomes for students from low-income families. Students from low-income families in rural elementary schools continue to underperform academically compared to their non-economically disadvantaged peers. Students should not reach adulthood with the same income inequalities they had when they entered school. Solutions are needed to find ways for school administrators to reverse this trend. The study used the New York State Education Department (2018) Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-S) Framework to examine effective leadership practices from the perspectives of school leaders in high-achieving, …

Paraeducator Perceptions Of Teacher-Supervisory Behaviors And Their Effects On Paraeducator Retention, Alexis M. Graham

Education Doctoral

Paraeducators are leaving their positions at alarming levels, leaving teachers, students, and schools vulnerable. The exploratory, cross-sectional, correlational survey study examines the relationship between paraeducator perceptions of teacher-supervisor leadership behaviors and retention, as well as the factors contributing to turnover. Full range leadership theory (FRLT) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) are used to describe leadership behaviors. The study used a survey design advertised to a paraeducator Facebook group, which included the MLQ rating scale, a closed-response item on intent to leave, and an open ended question on intent to leave. Data was analyzed using statistical and correlational analyses, as …

Investigating Factors Contributing To A Decrease In Throughput For A Finger Lakes Ny Emergency Department: A Quantitative Descriptive Approach, Edward Charles Englerth Iii

Education Doctoral

Emergency Departments (ED) serve as both the front door to hospitals and as safety nets within their communities. This dissertation examines ED visits from 2018 to 2024 at a single community hospital to assess trends across three critical time periods related to the coronavirus disease Pre-COVID, COVID-19 (pandemic), and post-COVID-19. The study identified shifts in patient volume and operational performance in the ED. Specifically the study showed a statistically significant decrease during the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. The mean daily pre-COVID-19 census (M = 125.43) decreased significantly during the pandemic (M = 107.57) and in …

Perceived Professional Investment Differences And Learning Modality Preferences Between Generation X And Millennial Managers In Nonprofit Organizations, Raul Antonio Pereles Jr.

Education Doctoral

This study examines generational differences between Generation X and Millennial nonprofit managers in perceived employer investment in professional development and preferred learning delivery modality. Grounded in Knowles' (1980) theory of andragogy, the study addresses two research questions using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 66 nonprofit managers (35 Generation X, 31 Millennial) from a major northeastern U.S. metropolitan area completed an online survey using the Professional Development Short Scale (PDSS; Mourão et al., 2014) and a ranked-preference measure of learning modality (in-person, hybrid, virtual). Results indicated no statistically significant difference between Generation X (M = 5.85, SD = …

Bridging The Theory-Practice Gap: A Delphi Study Of Faculty Composition In New York State Superintendent Preparation Programs, Michael A. Tromblee

Education Doctoral

The 2021 closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant eliminated approximately one third of a New York State school district’s revenue, producing a fiscal crisis that exposed a gap between what superintendent preparation programs teach and what the role demands. Grounded in Situated Learning Theory, this study examined whether the faculty composition of superintendent preparation programs, specifically the balance between practitioner faculty and academic faculty, was associated with graduates' perceived readiness, job satisfaction, and career longevity.

The study used a two-round modified Delphi design with an expert panel of 12 sitting New York State superintendents, 10 of whom completed …

Measuring Administrative Hiring Confidence Of Music Teachers In The Context Of Shallow Hiring Pools, Aaron M. Strum

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and measure the confidence of K-12 administrators in hiring music faculty. This study also aimed to analyze administrators’ perspectives and confidence in key stages of the hiring process, including defining job expectations, posting, advertising, interviewing, and selecting highly specialized music teachers in K-12 settings. Confidence of K-12 administrators can be gauged through their understanding of how well an applicant aligns with the specific needs of the school’s program. Three research questions guided this investigation: (1a) How confident are K-12 administrators in their understanding of music teaching pedagogy when interviewing music teacher candidates …

Why They Stay: A Qualitative Study Of Experiences Of Veteran Low-Incidence Self-Contained Special Education Teachers Who Remain In The Profession, Jessie Leyden

Dissertations

Persistent shortages of special education teachers in the United States have intensified the need to understand not only why some educators leave, but why others choose to stay. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the experiences of veteran special education teachers working in low-incidence, self-contained classrooms who choose to remain in the profession. With a particular focus on the factors that contribute to their retention beyond the first three years, the study involved a sample of ten low-incidence, self-contained teachers from a variety of states across the country. Using semi-structured interviews, the study explored how these …

Implementing Mindfulness Practices To Support Student Self-Regulation: A Qualitative Study Of Elementary Teacher Experiences, Shana Orr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore elementary teachers’ lived experiences of the implementation of mindfulness practices to support self-regulation in students. Although mindfulness practices have increasingly been incorporated into elementary classrooms, limited qualitative research has examined teachers’ experiences implementing these practices and their lived experiences of student engagement. While there is research on the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies, the focus on schoolwide implementation of mindfulness strategies expand the literature to close a gap on elementary school teachers’ experiences implementing mindfulness practices in Tennessee.

A …

Navigating Dual Standards: Secondary Educators Integrating English Language Standards To Achieve English Proficiency, Calleigh Herrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

English Learners represent one of the fastest-growing student populations in the United States, creating increased demands on secondary educators to support both language development and academic achievement. As accountability expectations continue to emphasize grade-level proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), educators serving English Learners must navigate the intersection of English language proficiency standards and content-area instructional requirements. While English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA-21) standards are intended to support language acquisition and access to academic content, educators often face challenges integrating language development goals with grade-level ELA expectations. As such, secondary educators play a critical role in …

Teachers’, Teacher Assistants’, And Classroom Aides’ Perception, Knowledge, And Implementation Of Orton-Gillingham, Doreen Sisolak

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined teachers’, teacher assistants’, and classroom aides’ perceptions, knowledge, and implementation of the Orton–Gillingham approach to reading instruction. A mixed-methods design was employed, incorporating quantitative survey data (N = 37) and qualitative interview data (N = 9). Descriptive statistics indicated generally low levels of perception, knowledge, and implementation among participants. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to examine differences based on instructional setting, years of experience, and level of Orton-Gillingham training. Results revealed statistically significant differences in knowledge and implementation by training level and years of experience, whereas no significant differences were found in perceptions across groups. …

Ai, Market Place Trends, & Job Search Strategy, Juan Santillan

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This presentation examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the labor market, workplace expectations, and job search strategies. It explores the changing nature of work in the age of AI, including the automation and augmentation of workplace tasks, the growing importance of AI literacy, and the increasing value of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other human-centered skills. The presentation also considers emerging AI-related career opportunities and changes to entry-level work as routine tasks become increasingly automated. In addition, it provides practical strategies for using AI throughout the job search process, including professional branding and networking, researching prospective employers, reviewing and …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Mentoring Experiences Of Black Women Faculty At Public Hbcus, Leona Quatena Mcgowan

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Despite increases in the representation of women in academia, Black women remain significantly underrepresented, accounting for approximately 4% of full-time faculty in postsecondary institutions. This lack of representation contributes to intersecting challenges, including experiences with racism, sexism, and limited access to mentorships in higher education. Previous studies have established that mentoring aids in the success and retention of faculty, but there is limited research examining how Black women faculty experience mentoring within public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived mentoring experiences of Black women faculty employed at public …

Autistic Students' Experiences With Hybrid Flexible Instruction In Higher Education: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Tracey Nicole Barr

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

During the twenty-first century, autistic learners have enrolled in colleges and universities in greater numbers; however, the majority of research focused on their experiences in higher education has found them to be less academically successful than their neurotypical peers. The academic skills that autistic students bring to higher education are often tempered by social, emotional, and self-regulative challenges. The body of research focusing on autistic learners’ experiences in higher education is currently limited and focused primarily on fully in-person and online course models. No extant research has focused on autistic students’ experiences with hybrid or blended course models.

This interpretive …

Disruption, Recovery, And Divergence: How Prepandemic Achievement Levels Shaped Learning Loss, Recovery, And Spending Efficiency In Tennessee Public High Schools, Wilson Boyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant and uneven learning loss in Tennessee public high schools. The statewide ACT composite average fell from 20.2 in 2019 to 19.1 in 2021. By 2024-2025, it recovered only to 19.3. During the same period, Tennessee received approximately $3.86 billion in additional federal funds and $1.15 billion in new state funding. This ex post facto quantitative study examined whether prepandemic achievement levels predicted learning loss severity and recovery patterns of a census of 322 Tennessee public high schools from 2018-2019 through 2024-2025.

The study used two theoretical frameworks. Baumol's cost disease theory predicted that structural productivity …

Health Professions Students’ Perceptions Of Medical Laboratory Scientists: Professional Practice And Scope Of Practice, Thomas W. Williamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs) are vital yet often overlooked members of the healthcare team. This study investigated perceptions of MLSs among students in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing programs. Grounded in professional identity theory and literature on interprofessional stereotypes, the study utilized a quantitative survey distributed to 1,113 students, with 71 responses analyzed. Nine research questions explored differences in perceptions of MLSs’ professional practice, scope of practice, entry requirements, value as team members, and consultative roles. Results indicate students generally value MLSs as members of the healthcare team and acknowledge their contributions to patient care; however, their understanding is frequently restricted …

Kindergarten Aimsweb Ela Composite As A Predictor Of Third-Grade Reading Proficiency In A Rural, High-Poverty School District, Christi J. Gentry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a critical milestone as students transition from learning to read to using reading as a tool for learning. In Tennessee, this proficiency is especially significant because promotion and retention decisions are linked to student performance on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) ELA assessment. This quantitative, longitudinal study examined the extent to which kindergarten readiness, operationalized as kindergarten AIMSweb ELA Composite scores, predicts third-grade reading proficiency status in one rural, high-poverty school district. Using archival student-level data, this study analyzed kindergarten AIMSweb ELA Composite scores and third-grade TCAP ELA proficiency. Logistic …

Staying The Course: Community College Student Lived Experiences On Program Completion And Motivation, Jessica Leigh Mills

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of former community college students who successfully completed an associate degree, certificate, or program of study and to understand how they experienced the personal, institutional, and environmental factors that supported their persistence to completion. The study, guided primarily by Tinto’s (1975,1988) Model of Student Departure and was complemented by Bandura’s (1988) Social Learning Theory (SLT), and Maslow’s (1943) Hierarchy of Needs, explored the extrinsic and intrinsic motivations students attributed to their successful completion of their associate degree, certificate, or program of study. Twelve former community college students who …

Teacher Autonomy In Accountability-Driven Contexts: A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Mathematics Teachers In East Tennessee, Hollyann Perdue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore East Tennessee middle school mathematics teachers’ experiences of professional autonomy and how those experiences relate to institutional decision making within the accountability-driven educational environment. This study utilized the Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2017) as a framework to examine how teachers perceived their ability to make instructional decisions while navigating district expectations, pacing requirements, mandated curriculum, and state testing pressures. Data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured Zoom interviews with 12 East Tennessee middle school mathematics teachers representing varying levels of teaching experience, effectiveness ratings, and instructional settings, including both general …

2026-08-01 Caudill Connection, Morehead State University. Caudill College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences.

Caudill Connection

Caudill Connection newsletter for August of 2026.