Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Novice Teacher And School Leader Perceptions In Urban K-12 Mentorship Programs, Shavonne Garner-Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The challenge of teacher retention is a pressing concern in education, impacting the stability and success of public schools. Despite bringing enthusiasm and fresh perspectives, novice teachers face high attrition rates due to stress, instructional demands, and classroom complexities. Mentorship programs within teacher induction frameworks have emerged as valuable tools for supporting novice teachers’ acclimation to the profession, achieving goals, improving pedagogical skills, fostering a sense of belonging, and reducing feelings of isolation. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of novice teachers and school leaders on the impact of mentorship programs in an urban K–12 public school district. Utilizing Herzberg’s …

A Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic First-Generation High School Graduates Who Do Not Pursue Higher Education, Amanda J. Arrambide

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study identified why only 47% of Hispanic first-generation students
/="/">pursue college after high school graduation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the high
/="/">school graduate enrollment rate was down about 4% compared to the 66.2% rate in October
/="/">2019. The data collection and analysis procedures included qualitative interviews over Zoom
/="/">with the participants, with recording devices. High schools should provide opportunities for
/="/">students to explore various career paths through internships, job shadowing, career fairs, and
/="/">vocational training programs. This helps students make informed decisions about their college
/="/">major and career goals. …

Foster Youth Experiencing Homelessness In Texas: An Analysis Of Risk And Protective Factors That Impact Housing Stability, Monique Willoughby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While research on youth homelessness continues to grow, not much is known about the differences that exist between states. To address specific concerns effectively, a more nuanced and granular approach to assessment is needed. Specifically, Texas youth who are transitioning from foster and other systems of care into young adulthood and more independent living will need tailored support to adequately address their needs. This study is a step in that direction. Through identification of risks factors that predict homelessness for these youth, social workers, counselors, case managers, and other human services providers and advocates can better assess, plan, and intervene …

Evaluating Trauma-Informed Design In A Mental Health Setting: A Community-Based Research Case Study, Marie Spence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study utilized a community-based research framework to explore how the Trauma-Informed Design framework can be implemented in a mental health setting. This study focused on the site of Empower Therapy Practice, a private mental health practice in the Denver Metro Area, to engage clients and staff to participate in advisory boards and inform the interior design of a new office space. To explore the application of Trauma-Informed Design, participants engaged in a variety of research activities, including an evaluative questionnaire, Photovoice, and focus group. Advisory board members identified various aspects of Trauma-Informed Design which meaningfully translate to therapeutic …

My Superpower: Research Collaborator Strategies Among Faculty Members Who Are First-Generation College Graduates, Faye Farmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This inductive study examined the intersectional experience within research collaborations of tenure-track faculty who are both first-generation college graduate students and from racial and ethnic groups (as defined in the United States) that are underrepresented in STEM fields (as defined by the National Science Foundation). I interviewed twelve current and former faculty members from doctoral-granting universities in the United States. I used identity as the theoretical lens to explore research collaborations at the individual level. The interviews revealed three themes reflecting identity's role in selecting and being selected as a collaborator and working with a collaborator. The themes are: an …

Designing Customized Loss Functions For Training Deep Neural Networks, Ali Pourramezan Fard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the critical role of loss functions in enhancing the predictive performance of deep machine learning models. Loss functions are an integral element of all the ongoing advances we witness daily in this domain. I design custom loss functions and their impacts on various machine learning tasks, particularly in computer vision.

In the first stage of my research, I aim to improve the prediction performance of deep learning models by providing them with more precise feedback associated with task requirements. This led me to create the concept of assistive loss functions. My first proposed loss function, inspired by …

An Examination Of The International Baccalaureate’S Approaches To Learning As Humanizing, Leah Yates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of 21st-century skill frameworks characterized as being universal, transferrable, and future-facing are ubiquitous among international educational organizations (Suto & Eccles, 2014). The International Baccalaureate (IB) incorporates a similarly articulated universal, transferrable, and future-facing set of skills called the Approaches to Learning (ATL) in its four programmes (International Baccalaureate, 2022b). However, critiques of the IB as being Eurocentric and solely concerned with the development of learners for Western educational experiences calls for a critical examination of the ATL as promoting monocultural skills which are not contextual, personalized, or humanizing (Refai, 2020). This multiple-case study and document review utilized the …

Supporting Preservice Teachers Of Color In Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Kimberly M. Korpita

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While learning how to become culturally and critically conscious educators and advocates for their PK-12 students, racially minoritized preservice teachers often feel isolated. More research is needed to learn how teacher preparation programs could consistently empower rather than isolate preservice teachers of color as they engage in coursework involving culturally relevant pedagogy.

This study focused on the experiences of preservice teachers of color engaging in culturally relevant pedagogy coursework in a K-12 teacher preparation program at a predominately White institution. In partnership with this teacher preparation program, one current preservice teachers of color, five former alumni of color, and three …

Guns, Glass, And Metal And The Applications Of Traditional Technology In The 19th Century Southern Platte, Aaron Toussaint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I investigate how Indigenous communities of the North American Central Plains navigated settler-colonialism by adapting traditional hunting technology. To frame this I ask, how and why traditional technology was favored over introduced firearm technology? I investigate this by examining archaeological collections from Fort Vasquez and the Coffin's Buffalo Kill Site, ethnographic history of the Central Plains, Indigenous ledger art, and interviewing a ledger artist. This study uses a multifaceted theoretical approach to connect hybrid projectile point artifacts, with Indigenous historic documentation, to recognize Indigenous agency in the 19th century. This thesis counters historic narratives of the 19th …

We’Re Not In Texas Anymore: Archaeological Investigations In Historic Dallas, Colorado, Tristan Newberry-Cushman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work is the product of an archaeological investigation of the former townsite of Dallas, Colorado. Archival research, drone photography, shovel test pits (STPs), and a test excavation unit were employed to learn more about how the people of Dallas lived, and how they interacted with national systems. Probabilistic and purposive sampling were used to collect data, and both quantitative and qualitative analysis were performed. The goal of this research was to determine which theoretical model best explains how Dallas was connected to national cultural and economic systems.

Model-Based Navigation And Control Of Multirotor Uavs: A Machine Learning Approach, Serhat Sönmez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent decades, unmanned systems, particularly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have seen significant advancement and unprecedented growth in military, civilian and public domain applications. Scientists have focused on enhancing UAV navigation and control through cutting-edge technologies and support tools. UAVs find applications in many fields, except military, such as agriculture, infrastructure inspection, wildlife monitoring, search and rescue, emergency response, border protection, to name but a few relevant civilian applications. Given the faster-than-exponential increase of available computational power, learning-based algorithms have emerged as a prominent tool for (real-time) multirotor UAV navigation and control. This dissertation centers around the fusion of conventional …

Financialization And Price Volatility: An Empirical Analysis On Speculation In The Oil Market, Audry F. Oliveira Carnivale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Financialization has facilitated the trade of futures contracts because of deregulatory policies increasing speculation. Speculation has created a more fragile market inducing riskier investments and aggravating price volatility. Three post-Keynesian theories, the financial instability hypothesis, money manager capitalism and markup, explain how policy altering the banking structure has developed financialization from lax regulation. Previous research has emphasized supply and demand as the main determinants of oil price changes, but it’s important to consider how structural changes from policy stimulating a more financialized economy has impacted volatility. With Brent Crude oil price data and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) open interest and …

Narratives Of Latina Leadership In Hispanic Serving Institutions In Texas, Deborah Ina Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the experiences of Latinas in Hispanic Serving Institutions Leadership Roles during middle adulthood and their perceptions of the factors, if any, that may influence their leadership development in Hispanic Serving Institutions in Texas. As the increased Latina student populations increase in Hispanic serving institutions it is crucial for students to see themselves in the leaders that influence them. Using the narrative life stories and LatCrit as the theoretical lens this study provided themes regarding the factors that influence leadership development during middle adulthood of the participants. Through the life stories, the study’s findings described and …

The Use Of Peracetic Acid And The Advanced Oxidation Process In Water Purification., Spencer Shipman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Next Round Brewing project was a project that sought to use treated wastewater to make potable drinking water using peracetic acid (PAA) and the advanced oxidation process and break the stigma around reclaimed water. In experiments, PAA was an efficient biocide which reduced the level of pathogens to within EPA standards. When PAA was coupled with the advanced oxidation process all organic matter was also reduced to within acceptable levels, and no biocide was left over in the final product, meaning PAA properly dissociated into harmless byproducts. A series of experiments are presented that vary concentrations of PAA, effluent …

A Qualitative Study Of The Career Experiences Of Asian And Asian American Female Administrators In U.S. Higher Education, Yunru Shen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences of Asian and Asian American women administrators’ career paths in U.S. higher education. The research fills a gap in the literature regarding the careers of Asian and Asian American women administrators. The recruitment process was completed between May 13 and July 9, 2024. Recruitment emails were sent to 25 potentially qualified participants, including a network of 17 people made up of mentors, professors, and colleagues, as well as eight professional associations and LinkedIn. The participants were six Asian and Asian American biologically female administrators at U.S. colleges and universities. These participants currently hold …

Impact Of Diabetes Self-Management Education On Hemoglobin A1c Levels In The Rural Patient Population, Barbara Adomakomensah Sarpong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes is one of the greatest health threats in society, especially in the rural population. Rural healthcare data analysis has proved a need for type 2 diabetes control education. Despite the existence of helpful diabetes control interventions, rural diabetes patients still struggle to maintain healthy behaviors, with about 60% of the patients recording hemoglobin A1c levels above 9. Many suffer severe conditions (e.g., stroke, kidney failure, and heart attacks) because of poor management of the condition. The project examined the impact of diabetes self-management education on hemoglobin A1c levels in the rural patient population. …

Implementing Bedside Shift Report In The Home Health Care Pediatric Setting, Ruth Elena Ramos-Ardila

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Developing and maintaining good communication is central in nursing because the goal is to achieve the best outcomes for the patient. In the past, written handover reports have been the standard way nurses communicate with each other, especially in the hospital and in home-based practice. Despite this rationale, this approach has considerable weaknesses: its high risk of mistakes and misunderstanding could negatively influence patient outcomes. In light of these concerns, this project examines the role of bedside shift reports in pediatric home care and the patient readmission rate. This project employed a quantitative, cross-sectional research approach involving 32 pediatric home …

School Administrators’ Perspectives On Dyslexia And Transformational Leadership And Implications For Teacher Placement, Christina M. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the perceptions of secondary-level administrators about dyslexia instruction and their decision-making process in teacher placement within a Texas school district. Using transformative leadership theory, the researcher’s aim was to address the instructional needs of students with dyslexia and help catalyze educational change. The research involved a qualitative descriptive approach to explore administrators’ perspectives and practices. Findings revealed that dyslexia affects approximately 15%–20% of the U.S. population. Despite intellectual capabilities, individuals with dyslexia face persistent struggles in reading and writing because of neurobiological differences. The specific problem addressed was the lack of understanding among school administrators about …

Bridging Gaps. The Role Of School Leaders In Implementing The Mckinney-Vento Act For Homeless Student Success, Brian Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry explores the role of school leaders in implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MKVA) within a public school district in West Texas. The study addresses the challenges school leaders face in supporting homeless students and the strategies they employ to ensure academic success and socio-emotional well-being. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bertalanffy’s general systems theory, the research examines how school leaders' personal understandings and professional experiences influence MKVA provisions' implementation. The study employs semistructured interviews and reflective journals to gather participant data, followed by a member-checking process to enhance the accuracy and credibility of …

The Conundrum Of Buy-In For The Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment, Kelli F. Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gather teacher perceptions of the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) within a rural school district and provide information to stakeholders and administrators so that they may understand the buy-in of elementary, junior high, and high school teachers. Previous studies showed discrepancies in the extent to which elementary, junior high, and high school teachers accepted and were willing to support and participate in pay-for- performance initiatives; therefore, this case study provided data on the amount of support various levels of educators have in their local TIA program and their perceptions of their local policy …

The Erosion Of Identity: A Study Of The Influence Of Racial Microaggressions On K-12 African American School Leaders, Rayfield J. Lavan Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American educational leaders in navigating racial microaggressions in the workplace, specifically within K-12 educational settings. Using Taxonomy of Racial Microaggressions and emotion regulation theory as frameworks, this research examines how these leaders manage, respond to, and cope with various forms of racial bias while maintaining their professional identities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with African American leaders, and thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns of microaggressions and corresponding emotion regulation strategies. Key findings reveal that participants frequently encounter microaggressions such as assumption of inferiority, criminality, and second-class citizenship, with …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Entrepreneur Women’S Personal Development And Its Effect On Their Self-Identity, Mayrion Ann Washington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Black entrepreneur women’s personal development and its effect on their self-identity. The study specifically aimed to explore personal development, entrepreneurship, and self-identity as they related to and affected Black entrepreneur women, in the United States, and their experiences with oppression, challenges, barriers, intersectionality, and systemic subordination. Historically, Black entrepreneur women have experienced systematic oppression and faced increased challenges that have and continue to negatively affect their entrepreneurial progress and their self-identity. Preliminary findings from the literature found that when Black entrepreneurial women engage in personal development, the results are reflected in …

Transgender Education In School Nursing To Decrease Stigma And Promote Self-Efficacy, Brandy Shannon-Loyola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project evaluated whether transgender education provided to school nurses and healthcare technicians decreased stigma and promoted self-efficacy. Concerns that transgender individuals have voiced were that they felt healthcare professionals could not effectively care for transgender patients, which may be due to personal or religious beliefs or lack of knowledge concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Participants included credentialed school nurses and healthcare technicians in secondary education settings. The method consisted of a presurvey, education in the form of a handout, followed by a postsurvey to determine if education was successful. The Wilcoxon …

Understanding The Barriers Of General Education Teachers Implementing Inclusive Practices, Sonya Garrette Woodfork

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of students with disabilities has become more prevalent in general education classrooms advocating for children to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This participatory action research aimed to investigate the effects of general education teachers’ lack of sufficient preservice training and attitudes on learning outcomes for children with special needs placed in inclusive learning environments. The participatory action research took place on one elementary and one early childhood campus. Data collection methods took place via triangulation using data from interviews, journals, and surveys. There are many barriers to successfully implementing inclusion in general education classrooms. This study …

School Safety In Rural Communities: A Qualitative Phenomenological Research Study, Tamara D. Nance-Bethea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many students in rural schools have negative school safety perceptions. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the school safety perceptions of students in rural elementary, middle, and high schools in a public school district in South Carolina. The school safety perceptions of students in grades three through twelve were investigated and examined.

The setting for this study took place in a rural school district in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Three schools in this district were utilized. Forty-three students participated in a short school safety interest survey. The survey provided basic information such …

Principals' Perspectives Of The Impact Of Faculty Engagement, Self-Efficacy, And Resiliency On First-Year African American College Student Retention, Hattie Marie Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study examined principals’ perceptions of the impact of faculty engagement, student resiliency, and student self-efficacy on the retention of first-year urban and rural African American college students. The aim of the study was to determine why students from this demographic leave their higher education institutions after the first year. In the United States, about 30% of students, regardless of race or ethnicity, drop out of college after the first year. Further, given 6 years, about 50% of students drop out before obtaining a degree. Researchers have identified African American students as having a high college dropout rate. This …

Unlocking Academic Success: Exploring The Interplay Of Relational Capacity In Educational Leadership And Student Achievement, Veronica Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the factors that influenced secondary teachers’ perceptions relational capacity between teachers and students and their influence on student achievement within educational settings. The study was grounded in the recognition that relational capacity plays a pivotal role in fostering supportive teacher-student relationships, which were essential for enhancing academic outcomes and overall student well-being. The research problem addressed the need to understand how enhancing relational capacity in education could positively influence student achievement by creating an environment where students felt valued, understood, and motivated to excel academically. Using a qualitative approach, this research employed semistructured interviews as the primary …

Administrators And Teachers' Experiences With Trauma Training And Trauma Informed Care, Pamala Patterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma problems have made an impression on school systems in the United States, and parents, students, administrators, and teachers pose concerns in the community and schools. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of administrators and teachers on trauma training and the implementation of trauma-informed care. This qualitative method was hermeneutical-phenomenological and centered on the lived experiences of this population. The researcher analyzed individual interviews of 11 educators identified as administrators and teachers. The results indicated that this population was disadvantaged by the trauma training they received in their ability to provide trauma-informed care. Three themes …

The Narrative Inquiries Of How Community School Directors Implement Servant Leadership At Full-Service Community Schools In New York City, Stephen R. Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children and their families face increased barriers to accessing programs in low-income communities. In response to this concern, community schools employ community school directors (CSDs) who connect students and families with essential services across organizational boundaries. This study was designed to provide insight into the leadership characteristics of the CSD as a servant leader by determining if they engage with any of the 10 servant leadership qualities described by Spears (2010). There is limited research on the leadership practices of CSDs in low socioeconomic status areas. It is therefore necessary to conduct research on how CSDs foster collaboration between schools …

Superintendents’ Perceptions Of Strategies For Implementing Social Justice Leadership For Diverse Student Populations, Stefani Mcdade Morrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore superintendents’ perceptions of implementing social justice leadership strategies within their K-12 school systems. The study sought to identify how superintendents leveraged the components of social justice leadership in the pursuit of equity for diverse student populations. The researcher conducted the study using interpretive phenomenological analysis methodology to examine the lived experiences of eight Texas superintendents with experience leading equity-focused agendas in their respective districts. The study’s participants included superintendents with experience ranging from 18 months to 16 years, representing districts from small rural areas to major suburban regions. Each participant engaged …