Digital Commons Network^™

The Successful Transition Of Military Veterans To Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Kenneth Hollis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans as they transition into 4-year universities in the southern region of the United States. The problem guiding this work is that student veterans often face significant challenges in achieving academic and personal success during the transition from military service to civilian campus life. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg's transition theory, as it provides a framework for understanding the factors that influence individuals' experiences during change and transition how veterans navigate the academic, social, and psychological dimensions of this pivotal life change. The …

Examining The Impact Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior, Discipline, And Relationships In A K–5 Elementary School, Kathleen Tomaszewski

Dissertations

This study examined the implementation of restorative practices in a K–5 elementary school and their influence on student behavior, disciplinary actions, and teacher–student relationships. Restorative practices in schools focus on building a positive school climate and addressing student behavior through community and relationship-building rather than punitive measures. The rationale for the study was grounded in concerns regarding the use of exclusionary discipline practices and the need for proactive, student-centered approaches to improving school climate. Two main research questions guided the inquiry: To what extent do restorative practices impact student referrals and disciplinary actions in a K-5 elementary school? How do …

A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Community College Presidential Job Announcements And The American Association Of Community Colleges Competencies For Community College Leaders, Leslie M. Boon

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Women are overrepresented as students and employees of community college, yet they are underrepresented in presidential leadership roles. Prior research has examined the career trajectories and experiences of women aspiring to community college presidencies; however, less research has examined how discourse shapes expectations of leadership. Because community colleges have been described as gendered, the language used to describe leadership competencies may reinforce gendered assumptions about effective leadership. The purpose of this study was to examine the discourse of community college presidential job announcements and the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Competencies for Community College Leaders (4th edition) to examine …

Sensemaking By Rural Community College Mid-Level Academic Leaders During Localized Disruptions: A Critical Incident Technique Study, Donata Worrell

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Mid-level academic leaders in community colleges play a critical role in the success of community colleges. Beyond performing administrative tasks, they advocate for faculty, staff, and students as well as implement directives. Their work is affected by localized disruptions. However, limited research has examined how these leaders experience such disruptions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how mid-level community college leaders experience and make sense of those unexpected operational disruptions and their emotional responses to those events. Guided by Weick’s theory of sensemaking, this study used the critical incident technique (CIT) to collect detailed accounts of the …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The "Intervention Implementation Experience" With Department Chairs And Program Coordinators During A Performance Improvement, Courtney W. Schoolmaster

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Minimal research has been conducted on the experiences of department chairs and program coordinators with the implementation of performance improvement in learning outcome assessment. Focusing on a multidisciplinary college that offered associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates, located within the SACSCOC region, this transcendental phenomenology aims to understand the lived experiences of department chairs and program coordinators in a community college during the implementation/maintenance phases of a performance improvement initiative for the college’s program and general learning outcome assessment process.

This phenomenological study was conducted with eighteen department chairs and program coordinators, and two semi-structured interviews were conducted via Webex. …

Merging For Success: A Case Study On School Mergers As A Sustainable Alternative To Closures In Urban Education, Darcy Lynn Maxim-Otterbacher

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Urban public school districts across the United States continue to face declining enrollment, financial instability, and persistent racial and socioeconomic inequities. In response, school closures have often been used as a primary strategy to address these challenges. This qualitative case study examines school mergers as a potential alternative to closures by exploring the lived experiences of school professionals during the merger of two urban elementary schools in the Midwest. Grounded in Critical Race Theory and Transformative Leadership Theory, this study investigates how educators experienced the merger process from planning through implementation, the challenges and supports encountered, and the ways relationships, …

The Impact Of Leadership Of International Baccalaureate Schools In Low Socio-Economic Communities, Sheena Wallker-Carruthers

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The International Baccalaureate (IB) has expanded rapidly into schools serving low socioeconomic status (SES) communities in the United States as part of broader efforts to increase access to rigorous, internationally recognized academic programming. While research has documented positive student outcomes associated with IB participation, less is known about the leadership conditions that support the long-term sustainability of IB programs in under resourced contexts. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examines IB leaders’ perceptions of implementation and sustainability challenges in low-SES school settings, the relationship between those challenges and perceived leadership effectiveness and program outcomes, and the adaptive strategies leaders identify as essential …

Leadership Approaches In Music Administration: Intra And Interconnections Of Adaptive, Servant, And Transformational Leadership In Music Educators Transitioning To Administrative Roles, Joel Raynald Defayette

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Music educators who transitioned into administrative leadership roles brought a distinct set of pedagogical, interpersonal, and artistic leadership practices; however, these approaches were not always fully recognized or understood within broader educational leadership contexts. As leadership theory expanded across disciplines, a need emerged to examine how music educators’ leadership identities evolved as they moved from classroom instruction to administrative positions. This study addressed how leadership styles—particularly adaptive, servant, and transformational leadership—were experienced, interpreted, and enacted by music professionals who advanced into educational leadership roles. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore whether a dominant leadership style emerged …

A Study Of Early Childhood Coaches’ Preparedness To Implement Lgbtq+ Affirming Social–Emotional Practices, Nicole Lynn Muñoz

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative collective instrumental case study examined how early childhood consultation specialists (coaches) perceive and implement LGBTQ+ affirming practices in early learning environments serving children from birth to five. Although legal and policy advancements have increased recognition of LGBTQ+ identities, early childhood education remains an underexamined context for inclusive practice. Grounded in a constructivist and interpretivist paradigm and informed by Queer Theory, Transformative Leadership Theory, Practice-Based Coaching, and the Pyramid Model, data were collected through interviews, surveys, and reflective field notes with a purposeful sample of New Jersey coaches. Findings highlight how coaches define inclusion, navigate organizational conditions, and identify …

Being-Their-Ship: A Presence-Based Model Of Human-Centered Leadership, Ricky J. Martinez

Tapestry: Journal of Research in Education

Being-Their-Ship describes a presence-based approach to leadership grounded in lived experience rather than positional status. Developed over years of service in rural education, the framework highlights leadership as a relational practice grounded in steadiness, quiet support, and a willingness to take responsibility for others. Drawing from autoethnography and narrative inquiry, the framework articulates four interconnected dimensions: Caring-Ship, Loving-Ship, Load-Ship, and Being-There-Ship, that define leadership not through authority but through consistent action and cultural trust. Each dimension reflects how leadership emerges when individuals become a stabilizing presence, absorb burdens that others would otherwise carry, and remain committed to a community through …

Do Transformational Leadership Behaviors Support A Successful Grant-Seeking Culture, Melissa Sesco Vermillion

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Melissa Sesco Vermillion on March 25, 2026.

Department Chair: Perceived Training Needs, Holly M. Clifford

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Holly M. Clifford on March 18, 2026.

Interpreting Public School Administrators' Experience Of The Transformational Leadership Style During An Educator Shortage: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Jennifer Rose Sweet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to interpret public school administrators' experiences with transformational leadership during an educator shortage. The research employed a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach, utilizing van Manen’s methodological data analysis procedures to capture the essence of the lived experiences of school administrators. Bass’s transformational leadership theory provided the framework for this study. Previous research has examined multiple factors related to leadership's connection to an educator shortage. This study aimed to explore administrators' lived experiences with the transformational leadership style and its impact on a teacher shortage in public schools. Using purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling, school administrators were selected …

Leading With Dignity: Addressing Occupational Stigma Through Inclusive Leadership Practices In Early Childhood Education, Elizabeth Terry

Doctorate in Education

Early childhood education (ECE) leaders navigate a historically undervalued and stigmatized profession, facing unique challenges in advocating for workforce recognition. This study examined how ECE leaders enact inclusive leadership practices despite systemic constraints. By exploring leaders' experiences across diverse organizational contexts, this research contributes to understanding professional dignity and leadership in caring professions. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with six early childhood leaders across diverse organizational contexts in Western Washington. Through thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (a) advocacy as an integrated leadership identity, (b) confronting occupational stigma and professional invisibility, (c) relational leadership practices as a foundation for inclusion, …

Examining The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Behaviors And Faculty Job Satisfaction At Hbcus: An Explanatory Correlational Study, Demissie L. Karorsa, Monica E. Allen

Journal of Research Initiatives

By inspiring followers to pursue and attain exceptional levels of performance, transformational leadership (TL) has been associated with high levels of follower job satisfaction and organizational commitment (Asencio, 2016; Banks et al., 2016; Bass & Riggio, 2006). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine faculty perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors of their department chairs and their own job satisfaction at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the southeastern United States. The transformational leadership dimensions examined were idealized attributes (IA), idealized behaviors (IB), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), and individualized consideration (IC). Data were collected using …

The Lived Experiences Of Nontraditional Students And The Innovative Strategies Higher Education Leaders Can Implement To Support Their Success: A Phenomenological Study, Fernando Jose De Oliveira Castro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and strategies employed by nontraditional college students to achieve academic success at public universities in Massachusetts. Nontraditional student experiences were generally defined as the ways in which adult learners, part-time students, and those balancing work and family responsibilities navigated challenges, used support systems, and developed strategies to persist in higher education. The central research questions this study was: How do innovative strategies and support systems contribute to the lived experiences of nontraditional students’ success in Massachusetts’s higher education institutions? I employed Ryan and Deci’s (2017) self-determination theory to …

Consequences Of Time Poverty Due To Work Intensification: Lived Experiences Of High School Teachers, John Manning, Lisa Reason

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

This qualitative study sought to explore teachers’ lived experiences with work intensification in a public high school. Apple’s teacher work intensification thesis was used as a framework to evaluate how organizational conditions, time poverty, and job demands contribute to increasing complexity in teachers’ work as well as how they mediate their own responses to it. The research explored the lived experiences of 10 public high school teachers as they managed their perceived feelings of time poverty alongside increasing job demands. Data was collected through interviews, reflective journals, and a qualitative survey. Analysis strategies included in vivo coding, horizontalization, triangulation, and …

Reflective Practice For Slow Librarianship, Este Pope

Dartmouth Library Staff Publications

This book chapter explores reflection as a concrete practice of slow librarianship. The author discusses how developing a regular reflective practice as an academic librarian and technologist creates opportunities to be a more mindful, collaborative, and adaptive leader and team member. The chapter provides background on the reflective practice approach, discusses the connections to slow librarianship, and provides examples and recommendations for incorporating reflective practice in the library workplace. Resources and further readings are also provided.

Leader Perspectives From Policy To Practice: An Exploration Of Deiajb Accreditation Expectations In K-12 International Schools, Jennifer Lea Garzia

LMU Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, various school accreditation bodies have incorporated new standards and processes that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, justice, and belonging (DEIAJB). Yet, how DEIAJB expectations are perceived and implemented remains underexplored. This study examines the perceptions of international school leaders in Brazil and Italy, and how they interpret and enact DEIAJB school accreditation expectations. In this qualitative exploratory study, ten international school leaders were interviewed. Guided by Shields’ Transformative Leadership Theory (2009), data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using thematic coding. Findings revealed that leaders viewed DEIAJB accreditation expectations as a legitimizing framework that …

Examining Alumni Engagement Policies Among R1 Universities: A Comparative Analysis Of Best Practices, Howayda Ackleh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores the need to update policies and enhance practices for alumni engagement in higher education institutions. Current alumni strategic plans require evaluation and refinement, while new approaches must be developed to strengthen alumni involvement. By analyzing the challenges institutions face in maintaining alumni connections, this review seeks to identify gaps and establish effective best practices. By examining the questions, how do alumni associations at select public R1 institutions apply Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) principles to assess and improve their alumni engagement strategies, and how does this impact their alignment with institutional goals and objectives? This study aims to evaluate …

Redefining Rural School Leadership In The Post-Pandemic Era: Lessons From Covid-19, Brennan Kent

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped educational leadership, especially in rural school settings where leaders confronted unique resource constraints, geographic isolation, and heightened community interdependence. This conceptual study reexamines rural educational leadership in the post-pandemic era through a synthesis of findings from Author’s (2023) dissertation, The Rural Education Leadership Experience Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, and current leadership theory. Drawing on the McREL Balanced Leadership Framework alongside adaptive and servant leadership models, the analysis identifies four interrelated dimensions that define post-pandemic rural leadership: communication as community cohesion, relationships as infrastructure, adaptive leadership as necessity, and well-being as a leadership priority. These …

Voices From The Other Side: Leadership Practices Teachers Value For Equity Systems Change, Heather L. Dunham, Heather Dunham

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

A growing body of scholarship has explored leadership for equity through frameworks such as social justice leadership (Theoharis, 2010), culturally responsive leadership (Khalifa et al., 2016), and equity audits (Skrla & Scheurich, 2004). Yet, these efforts often target isolated symptoms of inequity—achievement, discipline, or inclusion—rather than engaging in systemic reform that addresses both the ostensive and performative routines sustaining racialized practices. This study centers the Integrated Comprehensive Systems (ICS) for Equity framework (Capper & Frattura, 2017) to examine teachers’ perspectives on leadership practices that support organizational equity systems change.

Using a qualitative multi-case study design (Stake, 1995), two Midwestern schools …

Exploring The Leadership Journeys Of Female College Presidents At Health Professions Focused Institutions: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Caroline S. Zeind, Bobbie Ann Adair White, Yoon Soo Park, Tewodros Eguale, Anne Thompson

Journal of Research on the College President

National data on the academic presidency reflect a long-standing gender gap with little known about the presidency at health professions focused institutions (HPFIs). This mixed methods study explored the relationships between the academic presidency and institutional characteristics of HPFIs, and the leadership journeys of female presidents at HPFIs. An analysis of institutional and leadership data for 487 HPFIs was conducted using a quantitative approach, followed by interviews of 15 female presidents at HPFIs to understand their perceptions of the barriers, and factors that helped with presidency attainment. The results of 479 HPFIs revealed that only 36.3% of women served as …

Peeking Behind The Veil Of The District-Level Literacy Leader: Does Research Match Reality?, Kristel R. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate district-level literacy leadership (DLLL), focusing on the leadership behaviors enacted by district-level literacy leaders, their alignment with the International Literacy Association Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017), and their use of systems thinking principles to influence literacy improvement in K–12 settings. The study addressed a critical gap in the literature regarding how DLLLs function at the district level to mediate between policy and classroom practice. Participants included six DLLLs from Central Texas public school districts. All participants held advanced degrees, had at least two years of district-level literacy leadership experience, …

Elevating Teacher Agency In School Decision-Making Through Trust-Building: Applying Appreciative Inquiry Within A Mixed Methods Action Research Framework, Alison S. Bellamy

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined how Appreciative Inquiry–based professional learning influenced relational trust, teacher voice, and teacher agency in elementary school decision-making within New Hanover County Schools. Grounded in Teacher Agency Theory, Distributed Leadership Theory, and Appreciative Inquiry, the study addressed the gap between teachers’ perceptions of trust and their opportunities to influence school-level decisions. The study was conducted across three mid-quintile elementary schools using a concurrent QUAN–QUAL design. Quantitative data was collected through pre- and post-intervention relational trust surveys. Qualitative data included focus groups, participant reflections, field notes, and collaborative dialogue from two professional learning sessions …

Rooted In Relationships: How Personal And Workplace Social Capital Help Sustain Principal Leadership, Megan Scelfo

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

It takes five or more years to fully realize a vision for change in any organization (Fullan, 2002; Snodgrass Rangel, 2018), yet the average tenure for a public-school principal in their same school is 4.5 years (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2023). This work adds to our understanding of what factors may improve principal longevity to positively impact school effectiveness. This multiple-case study (Yin, 2018) incorporated a survey and interviews to determine how components of social capital (Bourdieu,1986; Coleman, 1988; Tsounis 2022, Wang et al., 2014) may impact the retention of Pennsylvania public school principals. The survey asked about …

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

Dissertations of Practice

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

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

The Culturally Intelligent Higher Education Leader: Leadership Strategies Of Exemplary California Community College Mid-Level Student Services Administrators In Creating A Culture Of Inclusiveness, Marisol Alaniz

Dissertations

Purpose: It is the purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-method study to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary mid-level student services administrators in California Community Colleges use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy’s (2008) five leadership qualities.

Methodology: For this study, a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The study’s quantitative part was conducted using an online survey instrument delivered to each participant. In the survey, participants were asked whether they were willing to take part in a one-to-one follow-up interview. Once identified, qualitative research was used to conduct interviews with exemplary mid-level student services …

Career Readiness Indicators In High School Influenced By Leaders In Alabama, Kevin J. Wieseman

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how educational leaders conceptualize and influence Career Readiness Indicators (CRI) in Alabama high schools. As Alabama places increasing emphasis on College and Career Readiness (CCR), this research explored how leaders’ lived experiences affect initiatives designed to prepare students for postsecondary achievement. Drawing on Transformational Leadership Theory and Distributed Leadership Theory, the study examined leadership practices associated with work-based learning, soft skills development, academic preparedness, and career-readiness outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with educational leaders from Alabama school systems recognized for exemplary CCR performance. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to identify shared leadership experiences and …

Practices Alternative Education Principals Use To Create An Infinite Mindset In Their Schools To Inspire Extraordinary Results, Renee Gates

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary alternative education principals perceive the practices of Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset Framework are embedded within their organizations to inspire the achievement of extraordinary results. A further purpose of this study was to understand the organizational supports and barriers these exemplary leaders perceive affect the development of an infinite mindset.

Methodology: Interviews were used to explore and describe how exemplary alternative high school principals perceive the five practices of Sinek’s Infinite Mindset are embedded within their organizations. The study is intended to contribute to and extend current …