Digital Commons Network^™

The Power Of Spiritual Leadership In The Rite Of Christian Initiation Of Adults, Stefanie Mingari

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Faith and spirituality are becoming increasingly sought-after anchors in mounting challenges in the contemporary world. The need for effective leadership, spiritual guidance, and mentorship have become more pivotal. Evidence also suggests that spiritual leadership values and practices are related to leadership effectiveness and encompass the behaviors needed to motivate oneself, satisfy spiritual well-being, and positively influence others within that organization. However, more research has yet to explore how spirituality affects leadership behavior and action in faith -based programs such as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

This study explored the lived experiences of RCIA leaders and participants to …

The Process Of Designing And Revising A High-Quality Digital Math Curriculum For A Large Diverse Urban School District: Recommendations From A Math Designer, Suzan Kheireddin

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Reproduction Of An “American Dream” Or “American Nightmare”: The School Perceptions Of Low-Income African American And Latino Young Men Of Promise, Roberto Suarez

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Schooling can often function as a structure contributing to the reproduction of an American Dream of material and social success, but it can also reproduce an American nightmare of marginalization. Research studies have noted young men of color populate negative outcomes of academic achievement with trends of low test scores, overrepresentation in special education programs, and underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs, contributing toward higher rates of school failure, delinquency, and dropout with life outcomes involving poverty, despair, and legal punishment. This study is an exploration of how school rules and expectations impact the perceptions of low-income young men of …

孟母三迁 (Meng Mu San Qian): New Chinese Immigrant Parents' Narratives About Involvement In U.S. Public High School Education, Haixia Li

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The phrase 孟母三迁(Meng Mu San Qian) refers to a traditional Chinese story in which a mother moves three times to better her child’s education. The story evokes considerable parental and family sacrifices to provide educational opportunities. Meng Mu San Qian (孟母三迁) offers a powerful metaphor for the experiences of migrant and immigrant parents who undertake tremendous and profoundly life-altering journeys to secure better education for their children. The story is especially useful in capturing the experiences of Chinese immigrant parents, particularly those who moved to the U.S. after 2016 and faced unprecedented challenges, in part due to xenophobia of the …

“Young, Gifted, And Black”: Understanding The Complex Experiences Of High-Achieving Black Students In Ap Classes At A Diverse Suburban High School, Jody Elliott-Schrimmer

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the social and academic experiences of Black students in AP English classes at a diverse suburban high school. This study aimed to illuminate their experiences while giving voice to this traditionally marginalized group. Students provided recommendations for increasing academic success and belonging for future students as schools continually work toward gender and racial equity in the AP classroom. In this Critical Race Theory (CRT) oriented study, I sought to understand the essence of the Black experience in predominantly White academic spaces through a phenomenological methodology. I analyzed the significant moments and …

A Spotlight On Teachers’ Culturally Sustaining Beliefs And Responsive Practices For Students Of Color In Mathematics, Susan Ejma

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

School leaders and educators across the country are striving to improve instruction for ethnically, culturally, and socio-economically diverse students for long term learning and growth. For years, researchers and scholars praised the tenets of culturally responsive instruction as the solution to meeting the needs of this growing diversity in schools. Unfortunately, many students from ethnically and culturally diverse communities do not have schooling experiences that validate and affirm their knowledge. Culturally responsive teaching is still an area that is under researched, specifically in mathematics. Drawing on the theoretical lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this mixed methods case study aimed to …

Northeastern Illinois University: Identifying Characteristics Associated With Low African American Student Retention And Persistence, Laural E. Johnson

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Although a recent study found that college student retention and persistence rates are on the rise, there continues to be significant differences between African American and White students at predominately white institutions (PWIs). Institutional factors such as unwelcoming campus climates, racial stereotypes, and faculty relationships have been found to be viable factors as to why the disparities between African American and other students continue to exist. This Case Study explored some of the key issues/factors/questions related to the retention and persistence of African American students at a Midwest PWI. This study found that university resources and financial support, inclusion, comfortability …

Music In The Liturgy: An Education-Focused Approach, Robert M. Beatty

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This project examines how people engage with music in the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Liturgy. Despite ongoing debates in the field of liturgical music regarding musical style, music may express theological concepts, explore critical historical developments, reflect different cultural influences, and challenge commonly held beliefs. This inquiry explores these dynamics from the standpoints of educational theory and theology by examining the process of 'doing' and ‘receiving’ music in the liturgy. The site for this study was St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Chicago, whose current curriculum-based, liturgical music program developed over the last twenty-five years. Qualitative, case-study research methods, personal …

The Sanctity Of Human Life: An Examination Of The Effects Of Education And Training Of Less-Lethal Force Option Devices In The Royal Thai Police, Trak Silapaduriyang

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Under Article III of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. It is the duty of law enforcement to protect and respect these rights. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) patrol officers carry firearms as lethal weapons on their duty belts, similar to police officers in the United States (US). However, firearms are the only force option available to the RTP in stark contrast to the options police officers in the US have when they encounter resistance from suspects. For the RTP, conducted energy devices (CED) and oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays are …

The Role Of Museums In Educational Pedagogy And Community Engagement, Katherine E. Weber

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Museums provide exceptional opportunity for experiential and social/emotional learning that often cannot be simulated elsewhere. Schools and communities, however, are not taking full advantage of what these spaces have to offer. Learning science has indicated the need for more progressive education initiatives, making stronger partnerships between museums, schools, and communities imperative. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with museum education departments and K-12 teachers in the Chicagoland area to discuss available programs, usage, outcomes, and feedback for improvement. Analysis of data reiterated the positive role museums play in creating well-rounded, critically-thinking, emotionally intelligent individuals, who are civically engaged and …

The Pillars That Support School Principals In Cultivating Inclusive, Equitable Practices For Diverse Learners, Karime Asaf

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Special education students benefit in important ways from receiving academic and social-emotional support in the general education classroom and natural learning environment of their nondisabled peers. This capstone proposes a theory of action that can serve as the foundation for creating a leadership development program to support principals in promoting the adoption of inclusive practices for Diverse Learners in their schools. When properly organized, inclusive schools become cohesive, supportive communities where all members learn and value each other. Autoethnography was the methodological approach used to invoke, account for, and analyze experiential data from the author’s 30 years of service as …

All The Way Up: A Qualitative Examination Of African American Male Educational Resilience In Higher Education, Junae Diamond Weathersby

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The educational resilience of African American males has been extensively studied from elementary, high school, and undergraduate perspectives. Topics such as the “School to Prison Pipeline,” which characterizes the educational and life trajectories of African American males in America with regards to criminalization and mass incarceration, dominant resilience data. However, there are not nearly as many studies that specifically focus on the educational resilience of African American males who persist to earn doctoral degrees. Research continues to substantiate the fact that African American men earn doctoral degrees at exceptionally disproportionate rates in comparison to Caucasian men. The purpose of this …

Hybrid Montessori Education: Teacher Reflections On The Care And Education Of Under-Served Black Children, Heather E. Summers

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explores how Montessori educators in a public charter Montessori school experience Montessori education for low-income Black children. Using the methodology of a qualitative intrinsic case study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight educators (six teachers and two administrators). The participants are diverse in terms of age (26 to 54), race (three white, six African American), gender (two male and six female) and educational experience (2–25 years teaching). Education for Black children in the United States recounts histories of exclusion and segregation. Montessori education for children in the U.S. over the past 100 years shows a progression …

Hiding Behind The Title: Bridging The Gap Between Identity And Leadership Through Neuroscience, Emotional Intelligence And Ethical Management, Alicia S. Huddleston

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Leadership is the key determinant in the success of any organization, and leaders have an immeasurable impact on the lives and performances of those they have been entrusted to develop, support and lead. School principals are an integral part of the leadership tapestry within society and many people have been impacted by a school principal. Often enough, there are individuals who lead with or behind their title versus understanding first who they are intrinsically, and then working through those dynamics to effectively lead their own lives. When leaders are able to do this, then and only then are they equipped …

The Illusion Of Progress: The Disconnect Between The Anti-Racist Values Professed In Teacher Education Programs And The White Curriculum That Negatively Impact Students Of Color, Adrienne Kay Carmona

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that anti-racist teaching is the solution in classrooms to give students the ability to understand the origins of racism and to give them the ability to disrupt White Supremacy culture; however, there is a limited number of studies that look at anti-racist teaching in the classroom. The obstacle and challenge is how to implement an anti-racist curriculum into the secondary education classroom. With high demands from administration, teachers have struggled to successfully reach all students of color. This purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between anti-racist training for pre-service teachers and the effectiveness of implementing …

It’S Not Easy Being Green: An Examination Of First-Generation African American College Students’ Experiences At Predominantly White Institutions, Sabrina Marie Sanders

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

First-generation African American students often find it challenging transitioning from high school to college. Despite facing challenges, many of these students enroll and persist to degree attainment. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation African American college students at PWIs. This qualitative, phenomenological study utilizes the marginality and mattering theory as a lens to examine the lived experiences of first-generation African American college students who persevered from predominantly Black high schools to predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Much of the research on first-generation college students tends to focus on quantifiable data such as GPAs and …

A Phenomenological Study On African American Male Conduct Officers And Their Experiences With Code-Switching In Professional Settings, Bernard Little

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

African American male student conduct professionals consciously engage in code-switching in professional settings. Student conduct professionals hold significant responsibility within a college or university. The impact of their decisions creates immense pressure and results in lasting consequences for students involved. In this qualitative, phenomenological study the use of code-switching for six African American male conduct professionals is examined. Through semi-structured interviews, their diverse experiences are explored. Findings revealed that their use of code-switching is an intentional performance that they were taught and they use code-switching for professional survival. Findings also revealed that African American male conduct professionals weigh the risks …

Beyond The Revolving Door: Reducing The Risks Of Recidivism So African American Male Youth Not Only Survive But Thrive, Kristy O. Yanney

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project aims to reduce the recidivism rates for Black male youth. With 20 years of professional experience in law enforcement, and through the research and literature of this project, I have found that environmental influences contribute to the arrest, incarceration, and rearrest of African American juvenile offenders. These youth are often forced to figure out how to survive in environments that provide tremendous challenges. Adverse childhood experiences, the influence of gangs, poverty, rising rates of violence, lack of quality educational or employment opportunities, substance abuse, and negative family influences are some of the environmental factors that will be …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of White Students At A Mission Based University, Suzanne Kilgannon

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Diversity is an articulated value for higher education throughout the country. This research builds on existing research about how White students experience diversity and how they make meaning of their Whiteness and White privilege. This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach to understand White student leaders’ experience on a campus with a mission that emphasizes diversity. Eight White senior student leaders in the Division of Student Affairs were interviewed. These students experienced the campus ethos and messaging around the institutional values and mission. They also experienced leadership and diversity training in preparation for their roles. The participants discussed how they …

Implementation Of Skill-Based, Transdisciplinary Competencies And Their Influence On Teacher Practice, Thomas P. Wolfe

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Competency-based education has been a growing movement in K-12 education but faces several implementation challenges. In addition, discussion in the field is lacking related to the competency-based principle: learning outcomes emphasize the authentic application of knowledge. New to the competency-based field are proficiencies called competencies, which are skill-based, transdisciplinary proficiencies that are structured across a continuum of varying performance levels. This study employed a case study methodology utilizing teacher and educational leader interviews as well as artifacts to explore the implementation of competencies in a competency-based organization and two schools that partnered with it. This study specifically investigated how competencies …

"Everything Is Political Now": Teaching Politics In The Age Of Trump, John G. Lund

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Many American high school government and history teachers aim to convey curriculum content without bringing in their own personal political beliefs or biases. However, in the hyperpolarized political climate of the past decade, teachers have grappled with teaching their courses when potentially controversial political or cultural issues come up in class conversations or lessons. Their teaching decisions and the classroom environment can have an impact on students’ learning, mental health, and their own views on American politics, history, and culture. This qualitative, narrative inquiry study examined ten high school teachers’ practice of teaching politics in the age of Trump. Findings …

News Flash: Content Framing Of Higher Education During The Covid-19 Campus Closures, Sara Nelson

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in a cascade of crises, impacting every industry and individual. This study sought to analyze the prevailing narratives of higher education news coverage during the initial crisis event of COVID-19, when colleges and universities around the world closed their doors and sent students home. Historically, higher education has not been well positioned by the media in times of crisis. A tarnished reputation can lead to direct and immediate loses in enrollment, funding, rankings, selectivity of students and the financial health of an institution. The framing of media narratives plays a direct role in how …

Institutional Effectiveness On Student Retention And Diversification For African American Female Engineering Students At Higher Educational Institutions, Robbin Parker

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research study examined higher educational institutions, specifically, Land Grant, Carnegie classification of ‘Very high research activity’, and Predominantly White Institutions in the United States. Furthermore, the evaluation analyzed HEI effectiveness in engineering programs to retain and graduate African American female students. Mainly, the research looked at retention, attainment, diversity, academic support systems, assessment, and initiatives as units of measurements to analyze the various types of support mechanisms at these institutions. The goal was to determine if these units of measurement are the necessary resources that HEI require to successfully assist, engage, and strengthen the educational attainment of African …

The Role Of International Service Learning And Student Outcomes, Kristen One

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

In a society where school has become an institution of routine, international service learning provides an engaging method to impact and transform students through experience, reciprocity, and reflection. While the new pedagogy shows promise, there are also challenges when putting international service learning into practice. Current literature informs readers on the need for more intentional research to understand how students process their international experience and the role it plays in student transformation. Using a case study method of research, my study focused on the international service learning experience of four relatively privileged secondary education students who traveled to a remote …

Syrian Refugee, Donia Almadani

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The present research explores the experiences of Syrian refugee students in American schools. This qualitative research project is based in interviews of five Syrian students from refugee backgrounds aged between 11-18 years old who had come to the United States after the civil war raged in Syria in 2011. This qualitative research examines the educational barriers and supports, from the Syrian refugee students’ perspectives, by understanding their educational and social experiences. Based on the findings, these five Syrian refugee students had both positive and negative experiences in the United States schools. Major themes were found in the data that are …

Othermothering By African American Women In Higher Education At Predominantly White Institutions: How The Practice Affects Their Professional And Personal Lives, Julie Collins

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Many African American women who work in higher education, in non-faculty roles, incorporate a historical and cultural tradition commonly referred to as “othermothering” with higher education best practices when working with African American students. The practice of othermothering was used by enslaved African American women to assist other mothers with the care of their children and to maintain the family structure. The practice continues to this day in spaces where women are present such as neighborhoods, faith communities, community organizations and educational institutions. This research, using Black Feminist Theory as the theoretical framework, sought to study othermothering as practiced by …

Dual Credit Programs: Does The State Of Illinois Provide Programs That Are Efficacious For All Stakeholders?, Andrew Buckler

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

As dual credit courses have become more and more popular, both in the country as a whole, and in the state of Illinois, many students are taking advantage of the benefits that these courses can provide. The problem that this study focused on was whether or not the state of Illinois is doing all it can to ensure all students are able to benefit. The High School Longitudinal Study (2009) was a national study that provided valuable information on the academic environment in high schools at that time. One of the areas the study looked at was dual credit programs. …

Dismantling The Dichotomy: Latinx Identity And Assimilation In Early Childhood Education, Rocio J. Olvera

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of children in early childhood education (ECE) are Latinx. Drawing on ethnic identity, culture, and language, this thesis describes the dichotomy between adherences to one’s ethnic identity and assimilation into the dominant societal culture. This paper describes how assimilation harms students and provokes negative implications such as identity loss, confusion, and loss of cultural ties. Dismantling the dichotomy is possible through the power of language, culture, and strengthening teacher-parent relationships.

A Study Of Modern College Student Activism: The Relationship To The School And How Groups Form, James Garry Stewart

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Activism is occurring in an increased manner with Generation Z college students and the greater society. The definition of activism is an evolving one and unsettled in literature. It is often confused with similar terms like Civic Engagement. In addition, the methods of how an activist networks and forms their group in a period of increased social media and online communication warranted investigation. Finally, an exploration of the modern relationship of college student activists to higher education, especially student perceptions of how activism is supported and hindered. This qualitative study using Grounded Theory and principles of Critical Research interviewed nine …

What I Wish I Had Known: College Graduates’ Experience Of Student Debt, Lamyeia Fields

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.