Digital Commons Network^™

Georgia Elementary Principals' Role Perceptions: The Initial Phase Of The A+ Act, Amy Z. Wright

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

The study explored the role of the Georgia elementary principal as the initial phase of comprehensive educational reform was implemented in the state. The study examined 320 principals' personal and professional demographics, role change as a result of implementation of selected law components, and district support during the transition phase.

The study employed a descriptive, survey approach to address the research questions. A self-designed survey questionnaire was developed to explore principals' perceptions of role change during restructuring, and included both a qualitative and quantitative orientation.

Findings indicated that the majority ofthe 320 Georgia elementary principals who responded to the survey …

The Role Of Mentoring In Developing Professional And Personal Competencies For School Administrators, Marguerite Verble Shook

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

In the state of Georgia and across the nation there was a shortage of principals. A new supply of administrators was needed to guide education through the 21st century. These leaders needed updated knowledge and skills to address the needs of an educational system affected by educational reform. Effective leadership allowed administrators to view situations in both the eyes of management and leadership. A mentoring program for beginning administrators provided guidance in developing these skills and in recruiting and retaining individuals for these critical positions.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of a mentoring program for …

An Administrative Internship Experience At Maple Shade Junior/Senior High School, Maple Shade, New Jersey, 1999-2000, Frank Jankowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a plan that would allow teachers in the junior high at Maple Shade High School to incorporate technology into their lessons on a more consistent basis. The use of technology would improve learning and better prepare our students for the future.

The intern used interview and survey as data gathering techniques for the project. The intern brought meaning to the data through a thorough analysis of interview responses. Also, surveys were collected, coded, and analyzed.

Teacher preparation and prior teaching experience were cited as reasons behind the fear of technology. Staff claimed …

Active Collaborative Teaching, Todd R. Slimm

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects of teachers collaborating would have an effect on professional knowledge (pedagogy) and teacher efficacy. Teachers were exposed to three programs designed to promote collaboration (teachers talking about teaching and learning). The entire school staff was introduced to the program with 29 participants in the actual data study. Data was gathered through a questionnaire/survey/interview process. The major method of data analysis was tallies, percentages, and personal comments during interviews. The study found that the three programs had an effect on teacher collaboration. All three programs were found to be of …

The Renaissance Concept And The Effect Of Positive Reinforcement On Student Performance, Henry N. Kobik

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of extrinsic rewards on the extrinsic and intrinsic motivation levels of high school students. To complete this task, 118 students were chosen to complete a series of surveys which measured perceived levels of academic performance and motivation. This process allowed the students to not only respond in a multiple choice format but also provided the opportunity for written feedback as well. Further information on the topic was gathered from discussion with these students. All of the participants were chosen through random selection using the school roster and they represented the …

Effective Programming Of A School District's Educational Access Channel, Darren J. Hickman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a district policy and practice of collecting and disseminating school information and public service announcements to the public using Atlantic City Public Schools' educational access channel, ACTV Channel 2. Using a case study research design, the project will result in an evaluation of current usage by parents and families of children who attend Atlantic City Public Schools and what they would like to view.

An upgrade in programming with more educational programs was a major objective for this study. To assist in programming improvement, a questionnaire survey was developed and was administered …

Identifying The Role Of The School Business Administrator, Diana L. Schiraldi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the school business administrator and to determine the congruency or incongruency between role expectations of the business administrator and actual role performance. Individuals participating in this study were the school business administrator and seventeen of his role set partners. Role set partners included the superintendent of schools, four district level administrators, eight building level administrators, two board members, a teacher and a custodial supervisor. Participants were surveyed using a written questionnaire to determine their views of the business administrator's role. The business administrator's daily activities were documented through shadowing. …

A Multicultural Club At Hammonton High School, Mildred Peretti

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the attitude change among rural high school students regarding diversity and tolerance presented through a multicultural club. Fifty randomly selected students and parents of the high school were pre-tested using a survey instrument measuring needs assessment and an attitude profile. Data analysis was conducted using percentages of each of the four questions asked. The entire student body was then exposed to various multicultural facts and experiences promoted through a multicultural club. Activities included daily factual announcements, a trivia contest of information retrieval, guest speakers, music, assemblies, displays of heritage's artifacts, and relevant content knowledge integrated …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Mediation On Student Behavior At The Paul W. Carleton School, Charles A. Warfield

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the newly developed and implemented Peer Mediation Program in an elementary school. Peer mediation is the use of third party students who are trained in the mediation process to help other students resolve interpersonal conflicts prior to their escalation to physical or verbal offenses. Students may be referred to the Peer Mediation Program by teachers or the administrator. They may also request a mediation session on their own. Disputing students who participated in the Peer Mediation Program worked cooperatively to reach an agreement with the aid of the peer …

A Case Study Of The Effects Of The Strategic Planning Process On The Trust Level Of Administrative Staff In A K - 12 School District, Michael F. Paskewicz

Dissertations

Strategic planning is a process that has been used in the business world since the 1960s as a tool to build employee trust through the development of a shared vision and goals. Public education and other government agencies began to use the strategic planning process in the mid 1970s (Herman, 1994).

The study used data collected by a K-12 school district, two years into the strategic planning process. This study sought to determine if the trust level of administrators would be impacted by the level of participation in the strategic planning process. Trust level was defined by self rating by …

A Power Structure Study Of An Urban Superintendent's Tenure In The City Of Virginia Beach, 1967–1986, Sophia V. Stubblefield

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study examined the 19-year tenure of Dr. E. E. Brickell, superintendent of the Virginia Beach City School System. Specifically, the study has further developed an understanding of the role, expectations, and challenges of the position to identify factors that contributed to Dr. Brickell's tenure longevity.

The literature review conducted in this study revealed that specific factors contributing to a long tenure (more than 2.5 years) for a superintendent is inconclusive. The available data suggest that an interaction of political, environmental, and individual factors could effect the length of a superintendent's tenure.

A qualitative research design was used in this …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Marla Marie Padget

Graduate Research Papers

The education system in the United States is changing rapidly. The role of teachers, administrators, parents and the community within this system should also change. This paper will examine my philosophy, experiences, preparation for leadership, and vision for creating a positive future for this nation through better education for our children.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Diana Bobo-Campbell

Graduate Research Papers

It is the purpose of this paper to reflect on the principal's role in the following areas: (a) creating a safe, caring environment for students; (b) assisting teachers in 2 creating a learning environment; (c) engaging parents in their child's education; and (d) developing a learning community as an educational leader. It is my intent to examine the characteristics of these roles through my philosophy and educational experiences thus envisioning an environment that will ensure these efforts.

25th Annual Conference Call For Proposals

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

Introduction to the POD Network

The POD Network Annual Conference

POD Mission

Conference Theme

Suggested Topics and Issues

Desired Qualities of the Conference and Its Sessions

Format Options for Conference Sessions

Criteria for Proposal Review and Selection

Instructions for Submitting Proposals

Proposal Cover Sheet

"Blind Review" Proposal Form

POD and its Support for Faculty Development, Instructional Development, and Organizational Development

Introduction, Volume 18 (2000), Matthew Kaplan

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Introduction to volume 18 (2000) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development, written by Matthew Kaplan of the University of Michigan.

Diversity And Its Discontents: Rays Of Light In The Faculty Development Movement For Faculty Of Color, Edith A. Lewis

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Two faculty development conferences held within a six-day period during October 1998 yielded important experiences and lessons for faculty and professionals interested in working with faculty of color. This paper, written from the standpoint of a faculty member of color, outlines the strengths and challenges of working on these issues in higher education institutions.

On The Path: Pod As A Multicultural Organization, Christine A. Stanley, Matthew L. Ouellet

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Since 1993, the Professional and Organizational Development Network (POD) has made an increasingly stronger commitment to becoming a multicultural organization. Poised at the entrance to a new century, it seems useful to examine the current standing of this goal in the context of the overall growth and development of POD. In this article the authors take stock of the organization’s history related to multiculturalism, discuss POD’s current organizational strengths and challenges related to models of multicultural organizational development, and offer suggestions for further progress on the path to becoming a multicultural organization.

High School Career Academies: A Pathway To Education Reform In Urban School Districts?, Nan L. Maxwell, Victor Rubin

Upjohn Press

Maxwell and Rubin examine the capacity of career academies to address academic reform in terms of increased education and workplace skills. They accomplish this on two levels. First, they assess academies' development and implementation within an urban school district. Then they assess academies' potential to promote postsecondary success among academy students as compared to nonacademy students. Their findings will help educators and policymakers better understand the strengths and limitations of this method of reform.

Evaluating The Impact Of Block Scheduling, John Joseph Hourani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the effectiveness of a 4x4 semester block schedule with respect to academic achievement, discipline, attendance and the school climate of Penns Grove High School. A longitudinal trend study design was utilized to compare statistics from the school's first two years under the block schedule to the school's final two years of the traditional schedule. Such statistics include the frequency of students obtaining A's, F's, and honor roll status, as well as monthly attendance rates, and discipline referral counts. Additionally, a modified action research design is used to examine the new …

Reform: In Search Of A Rationale, Ada R. Barlatt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards at Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore, must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

Two separate groups of students were studied. One group represented the current students in grade 10 and the second group represented the current students in grade 9. Also included in the study were teachers, counselors, administrators and employers.

The overall approach in this study was to use several methods to investigate the effects on a local …

Combination Of Heterogeneous And Homogeneous Grouping To Achieve Better Reading And Math Scores, Diane R. Cioffi-Longo

Theses and Dissertations

This report described the process used, for an elementary school with a student population of approximately 587 students, to investigate the existing reading and math programs offered to students. The preliminary research indicated a need for an extended staff development program, and the implementation of advanced methodologies. The conclusions of the project, as a whole, provided data which emphasizes the need for growth in reading and math pedagogy awareness with the district of Glassboro.

Purposed preliminary investigation strategies included; (a) interviews with reading and math teachers, regular homeroom teachers, and teachers in other academic disciplines; (b) a review of documents …

The Impact Of A Peer Mediation Program On The Reduction Of Suspensions Caused By Violence, Donna L. Covely

Theses and Dissertations

This study determined the effectiveness of the peer mediation program at Deptford Township High School, grades 9 through 12, in reducing student discipline problems. Furthermore, the study determined that peer mediation prevented further disputes and/or resolved current misunderstandings, that the disputants were able to resolve their differences constructively, and that mediation prevented disputes from developing into more serious matters. It determined that peer mediation helped to reduce student violence, lowered suspension rates, required less administrative time spent on discipline, and provided a more peaceful school environment.

There was no sample for this study. Any at-risk student in grades 9 through …

Assessing The Effect Of Increased Student Accountability And Parental Involvement On Student Attendance At Middle Township High School, Gladys Lauriello

Theses and Dissertations

The study examined what effect increasing student accountability through a series of pre-set consequences enforced on a "zero tolerance" basis, coupled with increased parent involvement through prompt communication regarding all student absences and tardy arrivals, would have on attendance. The study was held at Middle Township High School in southern New Jersey, a semi-rural school of grades 9-12 with a student population of approximately 1,000, most of whom drive or ride a school bus. The data was assembled during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year. The study, which measured attendance, both lateness and absence, through surveys and statistical …

Assessing The Level Of Effective Communication In Schools, Amiot P. Michel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of communication which exists in the elementary schools in the Millville School District. Miliville is currently in the process of developing Lakeside Middle School. Lakeside Middle School will be composed of staff members from the three K-7 elementary schools and the current 5th and 6th grade students in the six elementary schools.

Surveys were developed to assess the effectiveness of the communication systems currently existing in the six schools. Surveys were then distributed to the six elementary school principals, future staff members, and the parents of the 5th and 6th …

Improving Student Bus Behavior In An Elementary School Through The Use Of Video Cameras And An Incentive Program, Mary L. Steinhauer-Kula

Theses and Dissertations

This report focuses on two strategies used to improve student behavior on school buses at Silver Run School, an elementary school in Millville, New Jersey. The purpose of this comparative study was to determine whether or not the use of video cameras on school buses and the implementation of the "Best Bus" program, a behavior incentive program, leads to improved student behavior as measured by fewer discipline referrals. Two consecutive school years, 1997-1998 and 1998-1999, were studied. In the 1997-1998 school year, neither strategy was utilized, while both were implemented in the 1998-1999 school year. In addition to the quantitative …

A Model For Instructional Change: An Approach In Inquiry-Based Science Education, Kimberly Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study to describe the effectiveness of a change model on schools implementing an inquiry-based science program. Findings indicated that a model incorporating input from all of the stakeholders in the learning community and offering training and continuous support realized the most sustained and successful implementation. The model used included training upon request, turnkey trainers, parent meetings, teacher input on instruction, principal meetings, and opportunities to revise the program within the school year. Teachers, parents, and principals were surveyed and interviewed throughout the implementation. This data determined the focus of the training and support. The study was …

Encouraging Positive Behavior At The Elementary School Level, Maureen Czbas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to develop a behavior management program that addressed ways to eliminate infractions that interfered with the students' learning process. This addition to the curriculum did not eliminate the district's discipline policy but instilled in the student body an awareness of social expectations. It was hoped that the awareness gave students the opportunity to acquire the behaviors that were socially acceptable in school and in society.

The new program engaged the total educational family of staff, students, parents, and administrators. It was built on structure and harmony, allowing for flexibility of classroom instruction. The program, …

Resolving Conflict Through Peer Mediation, Scott A. Heino

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop and conduct a peer mediation program in the upper elementary grades at the Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School in order to reduce conflict among students and increase the students' ability to resolve conflicts. An action research methodology was implemented to support a school environment conducive to learning with minimum instances of conflict.

The site of the study is the Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School in Haddonfield, NJ. The population of the study involves all upper elementary students at the school. The population of the study includes 25 staff members as well as the 180 …

The Suburban Middle Class At Risk: A Profile Of Students Who Are Referred To The Office, Carole Joyce Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to identify the at risk students at a suburban high school based on the frequency of referrals to the office, and to determine why these students continue to misbehave. A list of students called down to the office was provided daily. Using the Call Down List, names of students who were referred to the office most frequently were compiled. A random sample of 23 students frequently on the list was used to develop a profile of the nature of the misbehavior, and the administrative action taken; patterns of attendance, lateness, and academic standing …

Implementing A Peer Mediation Program To Reduce Discipline Problems In Pine Hill Schools, Pamela Bates Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of Peer Mediation, mentoring and counseling techniques on sixth grade males in order to improve behavior and reduce discipline problems. The population was a selected group of males from the sixth grade who had experienced significant disciplinary actions. The population was studied for approximately three marking periods while receiving a combined program of counseling with a male counselor, male mentoring and Peer Mediation. The sample size, although small, was totally representative of the socially unacceptable behavior population. The data gathering procedures consisted of individualized interviews with each participant determining the …