Digital Commons Network^™

Teacher Preferences For Professional Development Delivery Models And Delivery Model Influence On Teacher Behavior In The Classroom, Eve R. Sauer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current trends and research in education indicated that teacher learning is a crucial link to student achievement. There is a void in the research regarding teacher preferences for delivery models in professional development Determining teacher preferences is an important component in professional development planning and the driving inquiry for this research. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to determine teacher preferences in delivery models for professional development and whether delivery models influenced teacher behaviors in the classroom. The primary theory for this study was based on andragogy, and the research was conducted under the conceptual framework of constructivist …

A Phenomenological Study Of Perceptions Of Early Childhood Administrators Related To Transformational Leadership, Educational Paths, And Organizational Climate, Lori Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood (EC) administrators could be the most important contributors to quality experiences in EC settings; they are also responsible for the caliber of experiences for children and staff. A quality EC program is licensed and accredited with administrators who have professional preparation and work experience and can lead and manage EC programs. There are the few direct educational paths to become an EC administrator. This lack of standardization influences the quality of leadership and organizational climate in EC settings. The purpose of this qualitative study as reflected in the research questions was to explore the experiences of EC administrators …

Leadership Styles And Faculty Satisfaction In The State University System Of Florida, Justin Ted Bateh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Universities must retain satisfied employees to enhance productivity and reduce turnover. Leadership represents one of the fundamental factors in job satisfaction. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between perceived academic administrator leadership styles and the satisfaction of faculty members. The independent variables were the transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership styles of academic administrators as evaluated by faculty members. The dependent variable was job satisfaction of full-time faculty members. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was used to identify the leadership style of an administrator as perceived by faculty members. Spector's Job Satisfaction Survey was used to assess …

Barriers And Supports To Implementation Of Principal Leadership For School Change, Jodi M. Delucia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Practices for supporting school change have not been implemented consistently in K-12 schools in the United States. Researchers have not studied the needs of K-12 principals who fail to implement these practices, and barriers or supports to implementation have not been identified. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methodology study was to understand K-12 principals' perceptions of the supports and barriers related to their abilities to implement the practices of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. Seven public school principals and 29 teachers in their schools completed …

The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership And The Emotional And Social Competence Of The School Leader, David Saxe

Dissertations

Sustainable school reform efforts are needed to move schools closer toward the ideals of equity, justice and success for every student. The success or failure of a school and its students often hinges on the effectiveness of leadership. Research reveals that transformational school leaders become effective change agents by developing a shared vision for the school, building consensus around key priorities, holding high expectations, providing support, modeling appropriate values and building collaborative cultures and shared leadership. The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive relationship between the emotional and social competence and transformational leadership behaviors of school principals. …

Leadership Practices Of Science Department Chairs In Secondary Public Schools, Kathryn Marie Baal

Dissertations

This study was designed to explore the transformational leadership practices of science department chairs as perceived by both science department chairs and their principals as measured quantitatively by the third edition of the Leadership Practice Inventory (LPI) (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). In addition to transformational leadership, three other paradigms of leadership were essential to this study: transactional leadership, teacher leadership, and distributed leadership. Science department chairs are recognized as formal teacher leaders, primarily because their situational position makes them formal leaders; in addition science department chairs teach, to some degree, hence they are acknowledged as teacher leaders. The study further …

William G. Spady, Agent Of Change: An Oral History, John Anthony Hader

Dissertations

What series of circumstances, events, individuals, and factors have shaped and changed the life and career trajectory of William G. Spady, sociologist, educator, and agent of change? This dissertation provided many answers to this guiding research question. What made this dissertation unique was that the answers were provided by the subject himself during a series of interviews at his home in Colorado. This dissertation was an oral history of an important agent of change in the midst of his work.

The Nature Of Relationship Construction And Maintenance For New College Presidents: An Exploratory Study, Mark Allen

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of relationships within the context of a new college presidency. The college presidency is unique given the societal importance of higher education and the organizational complexity of academia. To remain relevant in addressing society's needs a president must successfully create an environment receptive to self-examination and change. Central to a president's success is the ability to construct and maintain effective relationships. This exploratory research employed a phenomenological approach, interviewing eleven new college presidents as the primary method for gathering data. Through data analysis the researcher captured a deeper understanding of …

Understanding Faculty Perceptions Of The Future: Action Research For Academic Librarians, Kara Josephine Malenfant

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The intent of this study was to aid academic librarians in examining their perceptions of the future of higher education, engaging disciplinary faculty members to understand their views, and determining actions to take to shape the future. In this mixed methods study, scenarios about the future of higher education served as the basis for collecting quantitative (survey) and qualitative (focus group) data at one institution. During this study, staff, faculty, and administrators at one library developed new ways to craft strategies and make decisions, shifting their focus from strategic planning as an event to strategic thinking as a process, a …

Changing The Way We Do Things Around Here: Strategies Presidents Use For Creating Organizational Change In Higher Education, Jared N. Tippets

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

As society changes, so must higher education. Therefore, colleges and universities and the presidents leading them must adapt to survive in today’s highly competitive marketplace. What must an institution do to stay abreast of the changes? Once the necessary changes are identified, what processes are used by a president of a college or university to go about deliberately creating change on campus? By understanding how to create planned change, leaders within higher education will be able to better ensure that their institutions remain relevant in today’s rapidly changing environment. For many colleges and universities, their ultimate survival may depend on …

In The Midst Of Organizational Change: A Survey Of Employee Perceptions Toward Separate Accreditation For Regional Campuses At The University Of South Florida, Rhonda S. Moraca

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify how employees in the University of South Florida System (USF System) perceived changes in their organizations and the system as a result of having separate accreditation for each campus in the USF System. This survey research provided a "snapshot" of employee perceptions at a particular point in time. The study was unique because it provided a picture of the perceptions of employees while each campus was at a different point in the organizational change process. The theoretical concept from Bolman and Deal's (2003) four frame theory was used to develop the dependent …

Longevity In The Superintendency: A Case Study Of New Jersey District Factor Group Cd Superintendents, Annette C. Giaquinto

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Study Of Group Dynamics In Educational Leadership Cohort And Non-Cohort Groups, Zorka Karanxha, Bobbie J. Greenlee

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine group dynamics of educational leadership students in cohorts and make comparisons with the group dynamics characteristics of non-cohort students. Cohorts have emerged as dynamic and adaptive entities with attendant group dynamic processes that shape collective learning and action. Cohort (n=42) and non-cohort (n=51) students were surveyed on group variables of participation, communication, influence, trust, cohesiveness, empowerment, collaboration, and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and effect size analyses were used for data analysis. Significant differences were identified in trust, cohesiveness, and satisfaction. However, findings show little effect on cohort structures in the areas of participation, …

Longitudinal Trend Analysis Of Performance Indicators For South Carolina's Technical Colleges, Mohammad Hossain

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
This study included an analysis of the trend of performance indicators for the technical college sector of higher education in South Carolina. In response to demands for accountability and transparency in higher education, the state of South Carolina developed sector specific performance indicators to measure various educational outcomes for each of the 34 public colleges and universities in the state. Performance indicators allow an institution to compare its position in key strategic areas to peers, to past performance, or to previously set goals. The state assigned 13 performance indicators to the technical colleges. The study analyzed six specific indicators …

A Change Management Effort In One Large Public Organization: An Exploration Of The Perception Of Needed Skills For Managing Change, Brian Paul Knudsen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Public managers are a key component of a bureaucracy. The reliance on a public manager by an elected official is high as is the expectations that these managers have the necessary skills to manage a public organization. The goal of this study was to explore what elected officials perceive are skills needed by managers to lessen the impact on the human resource, financial, and political challenges when faced with significant change efforts in order to meet their expectations and that of the citizens to whom the organization is responsible.

Findings indicate that managing upward and managing the political impacts are …

Identifying Practices That Facilitate Effective Implementation And Sustainability Of Research-Based Professional Development Strategies, Emily Victoria Bryan Kibodeaux

Dissertations

This study was designed to determine whether significant differences existed in the level of implementation of a professional development strategy, the attitude of teachers toward this professional development strategy, and the knowledge of teachers regarding this professional development strategy. After teachers were trained on the professional development strategy, three treatments were utilized in the project: administrative observations and feedback, participation in a professional learning community (PLC), or training follow-up. Twenty-four teachers from four different schools in a school district in South Mississippi participated in the project over an 8 week time period. This quasi-experimental study collected pre- and post-treatment data …

Pod Network News, Spring 2010

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: POD Network News

No abstract provided.

Examining The Impact Of Leadership Style And School Climate On Student Achievement, Tina Robinson

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether or not leadership style and school climate are significant predictors of student achievement. The target population consisted of elementary and high school teachers from Virginia public schools who had taught under the leadership of their respective current principals for at least 4 years. Nine school divisions were randomly selected from each of the following regions—rural, suburban, and urban—within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Data were collected using two surveys. Bass's (1985) Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Form 5X) was used to assess principals' leadership style—transactional, transformational, or laissez-faire—as perceived by teachers. The Organizational …

Design Team Academic Reorganization Proposal To The President Of The University Of Southern Maine, James B. Shaffer, Robert S. Caswell, Bruce Clary, Kate L. Forhan, Lynne Miller, Judith Ryan, Timothy Stevens, Jeannine D. Uzzi

University Reorganization

This proposal is the result of the deliberations of the University of Southern Maine Reorganization Design Team: Executive Director of Public Affairs Robert S. Caswell, Professor Bruce Clary of Public Policy and Management, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kate L. Forhan, Professor of Professional Education Lynne Miller, Vice President for Human Resources and Senior Advisor to the President Judith Ryan, Chief Operating Officer and USM School of Business Dean James B. Shaffer (Chair), Special Assistant for Planning and Project Development Dr. Timothy Stevens, and Associate Professor of Classics Jeannine D. Uzzi. Information contained in appendices concerning economic …

Draft - Design Team Academic Reorganization Proposal, Bruce Clary, Robert S. Caswell, Kate L. Forhan, Lynne Miller, Judith Ryan, James B. Shaffer, Timothy Stevens, Jeannine D. Uzzi

University Reorganization

This proposal is the result of the deliberations of the University of Southern Maine Reorganization Design Team: Professor Bruce Clary of Public Policy and Management, Executive Director of Public Affairs Robert S. Caswell, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kate L. Forhan, Professor of Professional Education Lynne C. Miller, Vice President for Human Resources and Senior Advisor to the President Judith Ryan, Chief Operating Officer and USM School of Business Dean James B. Shaffer, Special Assistant for Planning and Project Development Dr. Timothy Stevens, and Associate Professor of Classics Jeannine D. Uzzi. All members of the Design Team …

A Phenomenological Study Of How Anti-Racist Leadership Training Principles Impact The Actions Of Middle School Principals, John Gregory Kennedy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The national crisis of the academic achievement gap is one of the most impactful phenomena for the nations' public schools. This study used a phenomenological qualitative research design to capture the essence and perceptions of building principals' experiences related to principles of anti-racist leadership training. The researcher interviewed ten principals who had provided numerous questions in an interview format, to gain insight into the attitudes, beliefs, and leadership practices as they relate to the eradication of the achievement gap at their respective sites. The researcher conducted ten, in-depth, interviews with specific questions related to the achievement gap. All of the …

Project Study: An Action Plan For Implementing Response To Intervention, Leah W. Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 allows schools to utilize response to intervention (RtI) as early intervention to prevent at-risk students from becoming labeled as learning disabled. Using action research methodology and school change theory, the purpose of this project study was to determine the RtI implementation needs of a rural elementary school (LE). The guiding research question was to identify the components of an RtI framework currently being utilized during the pre-referral process at LE. This study employed a qualitative method triangulation design to analyze data from key stakeholders including questionnaires; individual interviews from six reading …

A Phenomenological Study Of Leader Experiences And Reactions To Transformational Change In A Multicampus System, John E. Cech

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on organizational change theory confirms the importance of leaders' ability to establish a sense of urgency, create institutional support for change, develop a vision, communicate the vision, empower others toward action, generate results, and ultimately create change in the organizational culture. Organizational change in nested systems, in which CEOs of individual units report upward through a state, regional, or corporate hierarchy, has not been extensively studied. To address this gap in the literature, this phenomenological study explored perceptions of college leaders who in 2002-2003 participated in the transformation of seven 2-year technical colleges into a community college system. The …

About The Authors, Volume 28 (2010)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

About the editors and authors of volume 28 (2010) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Weaving Promising Practices For Inclusive Excellence Into The Higher Education Classroom, María Del Carmen Salazar, Amanda Stone Norton, Franklin A. Tuitt

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Higher education is faced with an increasingly diverse student body and historic opportunities to foster inclusive excellence, meaning a purposeful embodiment of inclusive practices toward multiple student identity groups. Although the benefits of inclusive excellence are well established, college faculty often cite barriers to promoting it in classrooms, and this creates an opening for faculty developers to support them in weaving promising practices for inclusive excellence into their teaching. This chapter highlights the practices of inclusive faculty and the methods faculty developers can use to promote inclusive excellence along five dimensions: (1) intrapersonal awareness, (2) interpersonal awareness, (3) curricular transformation, …

Book Review- Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice And Leadership., Jean M. Haar

Journal of Women in Educational Leadership

Bolman and Deal's 4th edition of Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership remains a classic, "must have" resource for those involved in organizational leadership. The edition supports the relevance and timeliness of the authors' insightful approach about organizations and leadership. The authors reinforce the usefulness of their four-frame model (structural, human resource, political, symbolic) for refining leadership practices. The four frames serve as a tool to analyze organizational deci- sion-making and to reflect on the effectiveness of processes, procedures, and results. Updated research, examples, and case studies add to those pre- viously drawn from business, education, health care, and the …

Book Review: Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice And Leadership., Jean M. Haar

Journal of Women in Educational Leadership

Bolman and Deal's 4th edition of Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership remains a classic, "must have" resource for those involved in organizational leadership. The edition supports the relevance and timeliness of the authors' insightful approach about organizations and leadership. The authors reinforce the usefulness of their four-frame model (structural, human resource, political, symbolic) for refining leadership practices. The four frames serve as a tool to analyze organizational decision-making and to reflect on the effectiveness of processes, procedures, and results. Updated research, examples, and case studies add to those previously drawn from business, education, health care, and the public sector. …

An Historical Analysis Of The Chicago Public Schools Policy On The Requirements For The Selection Of Principals, 1983-2008, Siobhan Marie Cafferty

Dissertations

This historical analysis provided an opportunity to appreciate Chicago's course in

the national school reform landscape. This study helped to understand the effects school

reform efforts had on school leadership policy in Chicago. It verified a roster of

superintendents in Chicago during 1983-2008, established a chronology of school reform

events and assembled an inventory of reform policies, theories and directives that

potentially may create the capacity to instruct and inform future initiatives, perspective

and debate on the issue of principal preparation at the local level. The analysis of change

in local policy echoed and identified national educational trends in this …

A Review And New Framework For Instructional Design Practice Variation Research, Hillary Leigh, Monica W. Tracey

Administrative and Organizational Studies

This article reviews practice variation in the field of instructional design. First, it compares instructional designer practice as reported or observed in several classic research studies. This analysis is framed by the standards established by the IBSTPI competencies for planning and analysis, design and development, implementation and management. Although no certain causal linkages exist, we briefly review some of the reasons posited in the literature to explain ID practice variation (i.e. lack of time and resources, control in decision-making, the designer’s perception of a task, underlying philosophical beliefs, and designer expertise). Limitations of the literature-base are explored, followed by a …

Intra-Sectoral Diversity : A Political Economy Of Thai Private Higher Education, Prachayani Praphamontripong

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Private higher education (PHE) worldwide has been a rapid development in the last several decades. The private sector will continue to grow, diversify and undoubtedly play a significant role in the political economy of higher education. Nevertheless, systematically empirical studies on the trio relationships among PHE, institutional diversity and political economy are still miniscule, especially outside the U.S. In Thailand, studies on even public higher education utilizing international literature are rare, as is research with a macro-level empirical analysis of private-public comparison. Thus, this study focuses on the fundamental differences among Thai private higher education institutions (PHEIs) and between private …