Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Mentorship In The Advancement Of Black Women In Higher Education Administrative Roles, Kimberley Colclough

Publications and Research

This research study focused on the lived experiences of Black women administrators in higher education institutions, the obstacles they face in pursuit of support and career advancement, and how they benefited from a relationship with a mentor. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was implemented by conducting in-depth interviews with a small sample of (6) six African American women administrators from various higher education institutions located in the Northeast, West Coast, and Midwest regions of the United States. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to understand and describe the lived experiences mentorship for a select group of Black women leaders in …

The Caseload Chronicles: Investigating The Case Manager Role Through The Perspectives Of Current Special Education Teachers, Khalil Milad Abouhamad

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition and resulting shortages have become severely problematic across the United States. This is especially true within special education. This study employs role theory (Kahn et al., 1964) to isolate the case manager role carried by special education teachers, investigate it through the stories of current practitioners, and establish it within academia. Burnout theory (Maslach, 1993) provides a lens through which to evaluate the strain of working conditions surrounding the case manager role. Elements of narrative inquiry (Clandinin, 2006; Creswell & Guetterman, 2019) in the form of 1-1 interviews with current IEP case managers from across California provided the …

Understanding Self-Efficacy And Motivation In Elementary Teachers: The Influence And Support Of School Administrators, Maria Vigil

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ attrition is commonly seen within the first five years in the profession. Various reasons exist as the cause for this decision including: low pay rates, lack of support and stress. With the important role educators hold, a clear understanding of their specific needs can help strengthen their abilities while remaining in the field. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand teachers’ perspectives of what influences their self-efficacy and motivation in order to promote strong work performance, effectiveness, increase teacher satisfaction and retention rates while highlighting the impact of support provided by school administrators. The research questions …

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2024/2025, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Full-Time Equivalency Enrollment
--- Degrees Granted 2024/25
--- Degree Summary 2024/25
--- Program Certificates 2023/24
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Saa 6173: Career Advising, Dana J. Tribble

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

Course Description:

This elective course provides an overview of the foundations of career advising. Students will learn career development theories, career advising interventions and practices, career assessment and planning tools, and sources of career information and technology designed to assist individuals and groups in lifelong career and lifestyle planning.

“Change Is Inevitable”: How The First Amendment Safety-Valve Theory Can Expand Protections For Student Expression, Leslie Klein, Jonathan Peters

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

This article challenges the traditional notion that the regulation and protection of student expression in public schools should be based primarily or exclusively on the marketplace theory, which often reinforces the status quo. The safety valve theory is more appropriate and should be applied, especially in the current political and social climate, to inspire an expansion of student speech and press rights that would support expressive activities seeking to change the public discourse around important issues. Students who can speak freely will be more willing to accept decisions that go against them, and a school environment in which passionate or …

Informal Mentoring In A Community Of Practice: Viewing Beginning Teacher Needs Through The Eyes Of Experienced Educators, Caroline Corell Murray

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study examined the informal mentoring of beginning elementary teachers through the lenses of experienced teachers and principals. Current research and statistics indicate that teacher shortages and difficulties retaining new teachers in the profession are ongoing concerns for U.S. schools. Induction support for beginning teachers, and particularly formal mentoring, has been found to promote teacher retention. However, little research has focused on the informal mentoring provided to beginning teachers by their more experienced counterparts, or the role school leaders play in facilitating informal mentoring. The purpose of this study therefore was twofold: first, to gain the perspective of experienced …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Students' Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Factors In Teacher-Student Relationships And Its Impact On Academic Achievement Of Impoverished High School Youth, Jeannine L. Carrington

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of former students from a Title I high school in a disadvantaged urban community, focusing on how socio-emotional factors in teacher-student relationships influenced academic achievement. Grounded in Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory and the CASEL (2017) social-emotional learning (SEL) framework, the study examined how teacher encouragement, emotional support, and expectations impacted student motivation and persistence. Twenty alumni participated in semi-structured interviews, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: teacher encouragement, emotional support, high expectations, cultural awareness, and long-term impact. Findings suggest that emotionally supportive, trusting relationships foster self-efficacy, engagement, and …

Exploring Teacher Perceptions And Implementation Factors Influencing Career Development Plan Completion In Middle Grades: A Study Of The Majorclarity Platform, Keri Marie Brewer

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the implementation fidelity, teacher perceptions, and contextual factors influencing the use of the MajorClarity career readiness platform to support career development plan (CDP) completion among middle grade students in a North Carolina school district. Guided by Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Darling-Hammond et al.’s (2001) Learning Theory, the study explored how instructional strategies, training quality, leadership support, and systemic barriers shape program outcomes. Data were collected through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with six Career and Technical Education teachers, using inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns across participant responses. Findings revealed that while educators recognized …

Ripple Effects: A Study On Organizational Turnover Within A State Education Agency, Kayce L. Cook

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined employee turnover within a state-level government agency, emphasizing its impact on organizational efficiency, program continuity, and educational outcomes. Utilizing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the study investigated the underlying causes of turnover and identified strategic solutions for improving employee retention. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design integrated quantitative survey data with qualitative insights from anonymous open-ended responses and confidential interviews, providing a comprehensive understanding of employee experiences. Findings revealed that work-life imbalance, lack of career advancement, ineffective leadership, and inadequate communication were among the drivers of turnover. Employees expressed frustration over pay inequities, limited …

The Appalachia Effect On School Administrator Retention, Jeremy D. Cauley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify why school administrators in Appalachia North Carolina chose to stay in their current positions and to discover what factors impacted their decisions to stay. The study’s findings address what school administrators indicate as contributing factors when deciding to stay in their current school district. The results can inform district administrators in effectively retaining school principals in Appalachia North Carolina. After reviewing and studying existing data on the retention of school principal leadership, a survey was created based on principal retention and delivered to 62 principals in Appalachia North Carolina. Six participants volunteered …

Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

A Retention Model You Will Actually Use: The Development Of A Retention Model Grounded In Research And Designed For Practice, Steve Conn

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Seeking Safety And Losing The Self: Affirmative Action Bans And The Whitening Of Mexican American Identity, Bella Bennett

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

No abstract provided.

The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of Mental Illness, Aaron J. Howell

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Pornography Use Reduction Program, Justin Heth, John Foubert, Andrew Courtner

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Pornography use has been shown to be highly common among young men, with numerous documented deleterious effects. Though the dangers of pornography use are well documented, few studies have attempted to determine what methods can be used to decrease use, including use among men attending Christian colleges. The present study began to address this gap by studying different groups of men who sought to decrease their use. Implications of these results are discussed.

Leading Transition: How Special Education Directors Make Meaning Of Their Leadership In Advancing Pathways To Employment, Deanna Gill

Dissertations of Practice

LEADING TRANSITION: HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS MAKE MEANING OF THEIR LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT

Dede Gill, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2025 Kelly Summers, Co-Director Alexios Rosario-Moore, Co-Director

Despite decades of legislative reform and an expanding body of research on effective transition practices, students with disabilities continue to experience disproportionately poor post-school employment outcomes when compared to their non-disabled peers. Nationally, individuals with disabilities are employed at approximately half the rate of those without disabilities, and their poverty rates remain substantially higher. These outcomes persist even as federal and state mandates such …

Superintendents’ Perspectives On Effective School Board Governance: An Analysis Of Key Characteristics In South Cook County, Illinois, Dana R. Nichols

Dissertations of Practice

Effective school board governance plays a critical role in shaping the success of school districts. This study examines the perspectives of 10 superintendents from elementary school districts in South Cook County, Illinois, on what constitutes an effective school board and explores how their views align with or diverge from Dervarics and O’Brien’s Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards.

A general qualitative inquiry with a descriptive methodology was utilized to capture the lived experiences and perspectives of superintendents regarding school board governance. Data collection involved standardized, semi-structured interviews and a web-based survey, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of superintendent viewpoints. An …

Alumni Perceptions Of Success After Attending A Project-Based Alternative School, Cheryl A. Carter

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT ALUMNI PERCEPTIONS OF SUCCESS AFTER ATTENDING A PROJECT BASED ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL Cheri Carter, Ed.D. Department o f Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations Northern Illinois University, 2025 Tiffany Puckett, Co Director Kelly Summers, Co Director This study used a mixed methods approach to answer the question of what alumni attending a project-based alternative school model employed by a northern Illinois school district perceived as benefits of attending a project-based high school after leaving the K-12 environment. Students of the classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 of the Foundation High School campus were …

Grading Ecosystems And The Work Of Teaching: Educator Perspectives On Implementing And Sustaining Ungraded Learning Practices, Aliaa Kamara-Ibrahim

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of ungraded learning environments and their implications for student motivation, equity, and assessment practice. A qualitative interview methodology was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen K–12 educators from the Chicagoland and North Shore regions. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify convergent and divergent patterns in practice and belief.

Findings indicate that ungraded environments reposition accountability around evidence of learning, feedback cycles, and student reflection. At the classroom level, feedback routines, portfolio curation, and teacher moderation served as the backbone of rigor and coherence. Participants described increased persistence and metacognition when …

Girl, You Betta Testify!: Exploring Brave Narrative Spaces And The Transformative Impact Of Story-Sharing Among Women Of Color In Pre-K–12 Educational Leadership, Amonaquenette Parker

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

GIRL, YOU BETTA TESTIFY!: EXPLORING BRAVE NARRATIVE SPACES AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF STORY-SHARING AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR IN PRE-K–12 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Amonaquenette Parker, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Kelly Summers, Director

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of Women of Color in PreK–12 educational leadership roles. Rooted in the cultural tradition of testimony, the study seeks to illuminate the stories of Women of Color, assess existing opportunities for them to share their experiences, and highlight the power of their testimonies. Grounded in critical race theory (CRT) and intersectionality theory, which acknowledge …

Understanding The Challenges And Satisfaction Among The Medical Professional Preceptors, Cornelia Ko

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study evaluates the Penn Medicine Family Medicine Clerkship program through a mixed-methods approach, exploring the challenges and factors influencing the satisfaction of medical professional preceptors when precepting students. A quantitative survey with 54 preceptor participants reveals the top challenges preceptors face: workload, conflicts with patient care, and limited clinical space. Despite this, there is strong support for the program, with 89% of preceptors enjoying the role and 85% expressing willingness to continue to precept for the next three years. Finally, data analysis shows no statistical correlation between preceptor motivation with gender, ethnicity, age group, years of serving, or total …

Bridging Language Barriers: How Secondary Teachers Support English Language Learners In The Classroom, Mason Daniel Smith

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

English Language Learners (ELLs) represent a growing student population in U.S. secondary schools, yet many educators feel underprepared to support their unique needs effectively. This mixed-methods study examines how Pennsylvania high school teachers approach the teaching of ELLs, focusing on their self-efficacy, instructional decision-making, and strategies for fostering an inclusive classroom community. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, data was collected through surveys from a limited group of 40 high school educators followed by in-depth interviews with three participants. Findings revealed that while teachers express a strong desire to support ELLs, they often experience uncertainty and frustration due to …

Where Honors Education And Faculty Development Meet, John Zubizarreta, Victoria M. Bryan

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs

Development is a contradictory terrain, as seen in the persistence of multiple and conflicting goals, uneven and unequal outcomes, and varied definitions and approaches to teaching and learning in higher education. How might universities support faculty development as a process rather than as isolated educational events? This collection highlights inherent complexities and challenges in sustained professional development and presents new ways of supporting faculty and designing curricula to encourage learning-centered teaching, experiential learning, collaborative undergraduate research, progressive forms of assessment, and other dynamic, inspiring forms of instruction. Engaging in interdisciplinary thinking ranging from Education and Education Policy, Biochemistry, Philosophy, Environmental …

Transforming Partnerships: Developing A Model For Experiential Learning In Honors, Grace Troupe, Tamy Burnett

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

Although the collaboration between the University Honors Program (UHP) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and UNL's Center for Transformative Teaching involves several elements, this essay focuses on one element with significant impact: the development of curricular components and co-curricular programming facilitating students’ engagement with experiential learning. Experience-based education is learning that occurs through direct, hands-on experiences such as internships, research, education abroad, and teaching practicums. When UNL moved toward requiring experiential learning for all undergraduate students, the partnership between UHP and CTT was transformational in facilitating UHP’s building on its existing framework for experiential learning and thus serving as …

Academic Management Strategies For Public Universities In Henan Province, People’S Republic Of China To Enhance The Digital Literacy, Jiepei Jin

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research aimed to 1) study the conceptual framework of public university academic management and the digital literacy. 2) analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of academic management of public universities in Henan province, China to enhance the digital literacy. 3) develop academic management strategies for public universities in Henan province, China to enhance the digital literacy. A multi-phase mixed methods research design was employed integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample consisted of 38 universities in Henan Province, People’s Republic of China. The informants were university administrators and faculty members. The instruments used for data collection included questionnaire, …

Academic Management Strategies Of Private High Schools In Zhejiang, China Based On The Concept Of Digital Entrepreneurship, Jingmei Ma

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aimed to achieve three research objectives: 1) To study the conceptual frameworks of academic management of private high schools and digital entrepreneurship competencies; 2) To identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of academic management in Zhejiang private high schools based on the concept of digital entrepreneurship; 3) To develop academic management strategies for Zhejiang private high schools to enhance students’ digital entrepreneurship competencies. A multiphase mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. The informants included teachers and administrators from private high schools in Zhejiang Province, with a total of 627 respondents. Research instruments …

นวัตกรรมการมีส่วนร่วมของผูู้ปกครองที่ส่งเสริมความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย, ชรินรัตน์ ทองเป็นใหญ่

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจ (resilience) เป็นกระบวนการที่เด็กและเยาวชนในปัจจุบันจำเป็นจะต้องมีเพื่อที่จะรับมือกับความยากลำบากและความท้าทายในชีวิต ความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจสามารถส่งเสริมได้ตั้งแต่ปฐมวัยและผู้ที่มีบทบาทสำคัญที่สุดคือผู้ปกครองซึ่งมักจะถูกจำกัดบทบาทการมีส่วนร่วมในโรงเรียน จากสภาพปัญหาดังกล่าว งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อ 1) ศึกษาระดับความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย 2) ศึกษาความต้องการจำเป็นของการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครองที่ส่งเสริมความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย และ 3) พัฒนานวัตกรรมการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครองที่ส่งเสริมความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย การวิจัยใช้ระเบียบวิธีวิจัยแบบผสมวิธีพหุระยะ แบ่งออกเป็น 3 ระยะ ได้แก่ ระยะที่ 1 เป็นการวิจัยเชิงปริมาณ เพื่อศึกษาระดับความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย กลุ่มตัวอย่าง ประกอบด้วย ผู้ปกครองนักเรียนชั้นอนุบาลของโรงเรียนสังกัดกรุงเทพมหานคร จำนวน 381 คน โดยได้กลุ่มตัวอย่างเริ่มจากการสุ่มแบบง่าย (simple random sampling) และเพิ่มเติมด้วยการได้กลุ่มตัวอย่างแบบสะดวก (convenience sampling) เพื่อให้ครบจำนวนที่กำหนด เครื่องมือวิจัย คือ แบบประเมินระดับความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยสถิติเชิงบรรยาย ได้แก่ ค่าเฉลี่ย ส่วนเบี่ยงเบนมาตรฐาน ระยะที่ 2 เป็นการวิจัยเชิงปริมาณ เพื่อศึกษาความต้องการจำเป็นของการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครองที่ส่งเสริมความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย กลุ่มตัวอย่าง ประกอบด้วย ผู้บริหารโรงเรียน ครูอนุบาล และผู้ปกครองนักเรียนชั้นของโรงเรียนสังกัดกรุงเทพมหานคร จำนวน 603 คน โดยได้กลุ่มตัวอย่างเริ่มจากการสุ่มแบบง่าย (simple random sampling) และเพิ่มเติมด้วยการได้กลุ่มตัวอย่างแบบสะดวก (convenience sampling) เพื่อให้ครบจำนวนที่กำหนด เครื่องมือวิจัย คือ แบบสอบถามความต้องการจำเป็นในการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครองฯ วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยสถิติเชิงบรรยาย ได้แก่ ค่าเฉลี่ย ส่วนเบี่ยงเบนมาตรฐานและค่าดัชนีความต้องการจำเป็น ระยะที่ 3 เป็นการวิจัยแบบผสมวิธี โดยใช้ทั้งข้อมูลเชิงคุณภาพและเชิงปริมาณ เพื่อพัฒนานวัตกรรมการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครองที่ส่งเสริมความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจของเด็กปฐมวัย โดยใช้การทดสอบนวัตกรรมเชิงกระบวนการและสื่อการเรียนรู้ และการสนทนากลุ่มจาก ผู้บริหารโรงเรียน ครูอนุบาล และผู้ปกครองนักเรียนชั้นของโรงเรียนสังกัดกรุงเทพมหานคร 1 โรง จำนวน 7 คน ใช้วิธีเลือกแบบเจาะจง ระยะเวลาทดสอบ 4 สัปดาห์ วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลเชิงคุณภาพโดยการวิเคราะห์เนื้อหา การจัดกลุ่มข้อมูลและการสังเคราะห์บทสรุป และวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลเชิงปริมาณด้วยค่าเฉลี่ยและส่วนเบี่ยงเบนมาตรฐาน ผลการวิจัยพบว่า 1) ระดับความเข้มแข็งทางจิตใจ ด้านการกำกับตนเอง อยู่ในระดับค่อนข้างมาก 2) ความต้องการจำเป็นของการมีส่วนร่วมของผู้ปกครอง พบว่า …

Culinary Training Needs Of School Nutrition Professionals: Perspectives From The Field, Jane Peterson Phd, Rdn, Shellie R. Hubbard Ma

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

As school nutrition programs continue to implement healthier meal standards, school nutrition professionals require culinary knowledge and skills to prepare nutritious, appealing meals that meet regulatory requirements and student preferences. This study examined culinary training priorities and training delivery preferences among school nutrition professionals and State agency personnel across the United States.

A national rapid response survey was developed with input from culinary experts and validated by an expert review panel. The survey assessed training needs in four areas: food preparation, menu development, recipe development, and operations, as well as preferences for training delivery methods, duration, timing, and scheduling. A …

Challenges And Issues In Child Care Centers Participating In The Child And Adult Care Food Program, Kristi L. Lewis Phd, Rdn, Shellie R. Hubbard Ma

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a critical role in supporting the provision of nutritious meals and snacks in child care settings. Understanding the challenges experienced by CACFP operators is essential for developing resources, training, and technical assistance that support effective program implementation. This study examined the challenges and issues faced by child care centers and other CACFP operators participating in the program.

Using a mixed-methods and participatory research approach, researchers conducted a literature review, consulted subject matter experts, and developed a national rapid response survey. The final survey assessed challenges related to food procurement, training, facilities …