The Voices Of Our Students-What We Can Learn From Aspiring Leaders, Laura Boilini

Showcase of Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activity

This study and paper demonstrates Dr. Boilini's commitment to listening to and learning from her students to ensure that the courses she teaches in the field of Educational Leadership at UNF are relevant and meaningful. Her dissertation, completed at Purdue University, discussed the concept of shared decision making to enact change in the school setting. This study is an outgrowth of her early research interests and reflects her desire to continue to obtain genuine input from all stakeholders. The objective of the research was to review graduate student reflectionson the topic of the 2011 Florida Principal Leadership standards from a …

Growth No. 19 (2020) - Full Issue

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

The full issue of the nineteenth edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.

Teacher Perceptions On How To Best Support Student Well-Being In Elementary Classrooms, Elanna Beth Derby

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Elementary schools should be adept at assisting students in meeting their mental health need, such as, providing a non-violence approach to conflict resolution; strengthening the students’ relationships with their family members and friends; taking responsibility for their education and future; creating a stronger positive image; handling tough times more effectively; and setting and achieving their goals in life. The purpose of this Q methodology was to explore what teacher perspectives are on how to best support student well-being in the elementary school classroom. Specifically, this study examined what factors emerged when faculty in a large urban school district …

Perspectives Of Overage Graduates: Issues That Affected Their Schooling, Dione R. Thomas Webber

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the perspectives of overage graduates who completed years of schooling as an overage student. The following research question guided this inquiry: From the perspective of graduates who were two-or-three years overage for grade, what social, emotional, academic or other issues affected their schooling? Sequential qualitative interviewing of four participants that completed school overage for grade provided data for this study. The data was analyzed with the use of the constant comparative method and synthesized into emergent themes.

The participants reported their perceptions in the context of four specific areas: Interactions with …

Lift Ev’Ry Voice: Using Q Methodology To Understand The Shared Perspectives Of African American Undergraduate Students Regarding Strategies That Predominantly White Institutions Can Use To Support Their Persistence In Stem, Dawn Washington, Dawn Felicia Washington

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

In this study the researcher used Q methodology to understand the shared perspectives of African American undergraduate students attending predominantly White institutions regarding strategies and supports that would help them persist in their STEM majors. Q methodology involved two phases. In phase 1, the researcher recruited 13 participants (n =10, female; n = 3, male) to respond to an open-ended questionnaire using the following directions: “List and briefly describe up to 8 strategies that predominantly White institutions can use to support African American undergraduate students’ persistence in STEM.” There were 57 opinion statements generated from this questionnaire along with …

Factors Predictive Of Self-Efficacy In First Year Teachers, Jessica Leigh Hamelin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research demonstrates that there are increased teacher burnout rates within the first 5 years of entering the field (Darling-Hammond, 2003; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2010; Yost, 2006). Consistent with those findings is that teacher preparation matters when conversing about recruitment and retention (Brown, Lee, & Collins, 2014). As more research is conducted in the area of teacher preparation it has become clear that teacher effectiveness is directly related to preparation (Darling-Hammond, 2010). As teachers enter their first-year teaching, philosophical stances can change, inflated beliefs about the teaching profession can be altered, and self-efficacy is influenced. Drawing from Hoy and Spero’s (2005) …

Person-Centered Physical Training Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: Stimulating Motivation And Participation As Essential Components Of Program Development, Monica Bolaños-Boudreau

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of two individuals with intellectual disabilities who participated in a person-centered physical training program that identified factors of motivation and influences on self-determined physical choices. The findings of this study revealed five factors that seemed to motivate participants to exercise; (a) enjoyable activities, (b) personalized program, (c) exercises that promoted health and positive self-images, (d) exercise routines that were familiar and safe, and (e) an exercise partnership with the trainer. Considering these factors of motivation, community leaders, administrators, and practitioners may promote self-determination and ultimately, impact participation by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, …

Descriptive Case Study Of The Perceptions Of International Students In An Intensive English Program Featuring Mandated Interactions With Fluent English Speakers, Sonia R. Velazquez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive case study is to inform educational leaders working in Intensive English Programs (IEPs) and in Higher Education about the perspectives of international students enrolled in English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of Florida (UF). The ELI at UF offers a unique language program that incorporates interactions between the enrolled EAL students and local fluent English speaking university students, hired as Language Assistants (LAs), as a required part of the curricular structure of the ELI’s Listening and Speaking courses for enrolled students at all proficiency levels …

Examining The Role Of Dispositions In Adult Basic Education Matriculation, Deana M. Waite

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adult Education and pre-service teacher programs have the same goals of program completion, and gainful employment for students who possess the dispositional capacity to be successful in the workplace. However, students enrolled in adult education programs experience dispositional barriers (i.e., a lack of confidence, academic unpreparedness, and a lack of motivation or personal desire) that contributes to the low completion rate of adult education programs. This study used a quasi-experimental design to examine the role of dispositions in adult basic education matriculation. This study used the teacher education program’s survey instrument on student disposition (Abbreviated Rubric for Self-Assessment) …

The Leadership Stories Of Students Of Color At Predominantly White Christian Institutions, Sharia Hays

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

Leadership has been identified as an important component of higher education and the college student experience (Dugan, 2006; Komives, Dugan, & Owen, 2011; Shertzer & Schuh, 2004; St. John, Rowley, & Hu, 2009). Although there has been an in-crease in leadership initiatives across higher education, many institutions, specifically dominantly White Christian institutions have struggled to find ways to involve students of color in leadership. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, this study explored the leadership experiences of 11 students of color from 3 dominantly White Christian institutions (DWI). This article will provide a broad overview of the study while focusing on how …

The Relation Between Demographics And Art Discipline As They Pertain To Success On Advanced Placement Exams, Terrance Michael Souder

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between the demographics of student and the artistic discipline of which they study at a dedicated magnet school located in the Southeastern United States as it pertains to their success on Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The literature has continually focused on several demographic indicators such as, race, gender, and socioeconomic status to examine the success on AP exams. However, there is very little research on the role that an artistic education plays as in the successful completion of an AP exam. This study examines whether there is an increase in …

Inside Collaborative Communities: Teachers' Perceptions Of The Collaborative Process, Pamela Ann Evors

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand teachers’ perceptions of the collaborative process and how it affected their classroom practices. The research question was “What are the perceptions held by experienced public elementary-school teachers in a large urban school district in the southeastern United States regarding the collaborative process in their school settings?”

The research design used semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a specific group of public elementary-school teachers who had extensive professional development and experience with the collaborative process, either in co-teaching settings or in frequent collaboration with colleagues. Using the process of educational criticism (Eisner, 1998) …

Leading Effective Inclusive Schools: How Principals Make The Difference, Megan Robinson Mcmillan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In effective inclusive schools, school principals are the difference-makers. Principals of these schools possess a commitment to leading schools adept at delivering high academic achievement outcomes and providing an inclusive education for students with disabilities. This leadership is predicated upon their inclusive consciousness, or a dogged determination to provide ethical and meaningful educational experiences to all students, but especially those with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to understand how four elementary-level public school principals acquired, developed, and demonstrated an inclusive consciousness that guided their leadership of effective inclusive schools. Data were collected using a basic qualitative methodology and …

The Digital Transition From Textbooks To Tablets In Saudi Arabia, Nehaya Ali Alhamed

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Technology has greatly impacted education around the world, including in Saudi Arabia. Educational technology supports teaching and learning processes, and its integration into schools supports successful initiatives to improve learning in the classroom. Introducing a new technology resource, such as computer tablets, into learning settings is crucial in the delivery of more varied and more interactive instructional content at all student levels.

This qualitative research study concerns the digital transition from textbooks to tablets in Saudi Arabian schools. The goal of the study was to examine the use of tablets by current teachers and to investigate their perceptions of and …

Staying Alive: A Content Analysis Of The School Board Minutes Of The Governor Baxter School For The Deaf And The Decision-Making Processes Of The School Board For Redesigning The School, Rebecca Falbo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the decision-making processes of the school board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf as they worked to keep their school alive. Thus, the research question was “What decision-making processes did the school board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf adopt while redesigning and restructuring the school to be a viable educational option for Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing children?”

The review of the literature followed key elements of the theoretical framework. The theories that informed the present study were School Board Governance Theory, Institutional Theory, …

Pbis Implementation And Sustainability: Primary Educators’ Perspectives Of Success, Melissa S. Ley

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Today the school-wide behavior management program, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS, follows the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework when addressing students with behavior challenges in general education classrooms. PBIS provides a collaborative framework of problem solving and evidence-based strategies, thus proactively meeting students’ overall needs. The purpose of this study is to fill a gap in the literature pertaining to teacher perspectives of using PBIS practices in their classroom across this framework. This dissertation further details implications for training and professional development concerning school-wide PBIS as well as the organizational structures necessary for success in the classroom. …

Examining The Impacts Of Virtual Mentoring On College Students' Leadership Efficacy A Quantitative Study Of C.A.M.P Osprey, Justin Michael Lerman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mentoring involves a collaborative and reciprocal sharing of knowledge for professional development. In leadership, a mentor is an individual who currently serves as a leader while guiding someone who aspires to be a leader in the future. This study evaluated how virtual mentoring compares to face-to-face mentoring on the development of leadership self-efficacy for college students. This study undertook a comparative analysis of face-to-face mentoring sessions and virtual mentoring sessions to explore the research question and hypotheses. The mentoring process involved a dyadic relationship where personalities create a positive and effective learning experience. A comparative analysis permitted the study to …

Making Meaning Of Supplier Diversity In Florida's Public Universities: A Narrative Inquiry Of Educational Connoisseurship And Criticism, Cheryl S. Mobley-Gonzalez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Researchers contend that higher education organizations and systems, no matter their description (public, private, two-year, or four-year), build society. Nationally, many higher education leaders discuss metrics and measures such as graduation rates, class sizes, intercollegiate athletics, famous alumni, and the extent of community engagement, as important elements of societal influence. However, within public higher education scholarship in Florida, supplier diversity is an under-recognized area. Contrary to the better-known student, faculty, and staff diversity initiatives in Florida’s colleges and universities, diversification of vendor participation for procurement and contracting lacks a systematic focus. Little scholarly knowledge exists regarding the extent to which …

Examination Of Athletic Academic Support Services Of Ncaa D-I Hbcus, Clifford Eugene Harrell Ii

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since 1991, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has mandated academic support services for student-athletes at all Division I institutions. Today, there is a vast difference of athletic academic support units at Power 5 Conferences compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The resources at Power 5 Conference institutions are also immensely different at HBCUs although the main services provided are similar. Advising, tutoring, orientation, assessment of study skills, compliance checks, personal counseling, career counseling, student-athlete scheduling/advising, testing of academically at-risk student-athletes are all services that are provided at both Power 5 institutions and HBCUs but there is still …

Rethinking Elementary Physical Education: Creating Time For Physical Activity, Adam B. Hanson

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of K-5 elementary principals in scheduling curricular time for physical education programs. This exploration examined the potential curricular scheduling impact upon physical education delivery systems, as reported by elementary school administrators.

Warriors L.E.A.D. Change: Learn, Educate, Advocate, Develop, Melissa Osland, Naren Selvaratnam, Paul Preston, Rick Fricker, Tj Lake, David Albrecht, Ashley Greig, Cassie Ohnstad, Kurt Bolstad, Luke Teague, Lynn Hagmann, Dani Magdzas, Mirlande Erickson, Liz Moldenhauer, Lawren Mckinney, Maria Fruechte, Tom Endrizzi, Tyler Schoh, Grace Huang

Leadership Education Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Transformational Leadership Behaviors In Christian School Athletic Administrators And Its Correlation With Coach Efficacy, Christopher David Hobbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Athletic administrators in a Christian school setting have an unusual amount of influence over large portions of the student body via their influence on coaches. This study investigated the possibility of a correlative relationship between how varsity team head coaches perceive the degree of transformational leadership behaviors of their athletic administrators and their own coaching efficacy. Transformational leadership behaviors could be the most relevant leadership style for modern society while the benefits of coaching efficacy range from an increase in job satisfaction to an increase in student-athlete satisfaction with the athletic experience. A correlation between athletic administrator leadership and the …

Graduate Students’ Perspectives Of The Benefits And Barriers To Mentoring Preservice Teachers, Melissa Omeechevarria

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mentoring is an effective tool for the professional development of novice teachers (Eby & Lockwood 2005; Kram, 1985; Stanulis & Ames, 2009). Mentors to preservice teachers have conveyed that they receive benefits and face barriers when mentoring (Ambrosetti, 2014; Burk & Eby, 2010; Hobson, Ashby, Malderez, & Tomlinson, 2009; Iancu-Haddad & Oplatka, 2009). Graduate students who serve as mentors to undergraduates have also reported advantages and drawbacks to being a mentor (Conway, Eros, Pellegrino, Kras, Gale, & Campbell, 2009; Reddick, Griffin, & Cherwitz, 2011). This study examined the perceived benefits and barriers for graduate students serving as mentors to undergraduate, …

Processes Of Developing Effective Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships In Education: A Content Analysis Of Grant Related Documents, Tamara Ianthe Gibson-Alonso

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Research indicates that understanding the influence of leadership and partnership development can inform the need to improve public education (Penuel & Gallagher, 2017). Although leadership theory and change theory support the need for partnerships in education, less attention has been given to how such partnerships develop and the role that leadership plays in that process. Therefore, the present study explored the role of leadership within researcher-practitioner partnerships and the process of developing sustainable partnerships in education as documented in a set of federal grant proposals, their final reports, and other descriptions of their efforts. Grant documents examined were awarded …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Secondary Assistant Principals Toward Their Development As Instructional Leaders, Ronnie Williams

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although, the concept of instructional leadership is a not a new idea, it has become an increasingly popular term in education in recent years. Instructional leadership provides the foundation for teaching and learning within a school. Such federal educational initiatives as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top have sought to improve student achievement have also changed the landscape of school leadership. As accountability and high-stakes testing measures continue to rise, the need to closely explore and understand the ideology of instructional leadership has become more prevalent. Qualified school leaders with a keen focus on instruction must be …

Do We Belong? Understanding How Program Directors Perceive The Role Of The Intensive English Programs On University Campuses, Irene Silas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examines the perspectives of leaders of five intensive English programs (IEPs) about their departments’ positions at U.S. public universities as well as their perceptions of the directors’ roles in developing visibility on campuses. The data was collected through interviewing and analyzed using the Constant Comparative Method which produced five distinctive themes: planned happenstance; belonging; funding; work with university; director’s role. The cross-case findings presented similar ideas from all of the participants – intensive English program legitimacy and visibility on campuses have still not been achieved. The findings from the study can aid IEP directors, and especially …

Educating For Engagement: The Influence Of Physical Therapist Education On Lifelong Learning And Professional Engagement, Raine Osborne

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare professions educational programs have a responsibility to develop professionally engaged lifelong learners. Knowledge of the factors important to the development of these desirable characteristics may inform educational leaders’ decisions about program and curriculum design. This study aimed to investigate the relation between level of education and an orientation towards lifelong learning and future professional engagement. In addition, the influence of learners’ type of motivation for continued learning, and learning goal orientation on this relation was also assessed.

A cross-sectional survey of learners from a single healthcare profession, physical therapy was conducted to investigate these relations. Physical therapist learners from …

Examining The Influence Of The Leader In Me On School Grades, Jennifer Lynn Wright

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School leaders face increasing demands related to student achievement. These demands involve annual data reporting related to overall student, school, and district success. In Florida, this accountability and transparency requirement is addressed through an annual school grading system. It is essential that leaders utilize successful programs that directly influence positive student outcomes and demonstrate high quality education. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a youth leadership development program, specifically The Leader in Me (TLIM) program, on school grades. Based on data obtained from 16 public elementary schools across Florida, a repeated measures ANCOVA analysis revealed …

First-Generation College Students Of Color’S Success At A Predominately White Institution: Exploring The Influence Of Student Engagement In A High-Impact Program, Deiderie Allard

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increase of first-generation college students of color (FGCSOC) in the United States who attend predominately White institutions (PWI) warrants explorations of how to effectively serve this demographic. Support programs, like Trio, have been implemented to positively engage students at critical stages of their college experiences. Are such programs contributing to the intended academic success of these students? Rooted in Kuh’s and Kahu’s conceptual frameworks of student engagement that address student behavior, institutional support, and student’s lived experiences, this study’s author investigated the relationship between student engagement and high-impact practices (HIPs) at a postsecondary institution. A non-experimental, cross-sectional quantitative design …

The Perception Of Female Leadership: Impact Of Gender And Leader's Qualification On Leader's Effectiveness, Ala'a Fahad Al-Shakha

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how gender and years of working with a female leader influence the gendered perception of female leadership effectiveness in Saudi Arabian higher education institutions. This study compared male and female leaders’ perception of female leadership effectiveness as well as highlighted the relationship between leader’s gender, experience working with a female leader and perceived female leadership effectiveness. To answer the research questions, four hypothesized models were proposed (simple direct model, mediation model, moderation model, and mediation moderation model). Data was collected from administrated leaders, who hold a position in five public universes located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with …