Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Counselor Teambuilding And Leadership Training Into The Annual Honors Freshman Orientation Retreat, Alexandria L. Kerns

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Teamwork and appropriate leadership skills are essential to anyone aspiring to be an effective leader. For my Capstone Experience/Thesis project, I set out to analyze three defined problems that plague the counselor group of the Honors Freshman Orientation Retreat, and to create and implement a solution for the three problems as a whole. After analyzing each problem, I concluded that the source of the three problems relates specifically to the lack of training. Therefore, the desired situation or goal in approaching these problems was to create a solution that will encourage the counselors to overcome their prescribed ideals about the …

A Study Of Presidential Derailment In Community Colleges, Leigh Anne Touzeau

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretive, multiple case qualitative study was to explore factors associated with presidential derailments in community colleges. The case studies involved interviews, document analysis, and observation. The population consisted of four community colleges in the United States. These distinctly different institutions produced the data for the investigation.

The findings revealed five derailment themes among the four cases. These were: problems with interpersonal relationships, failure of the president to adapt to the institutional culture, difficulty working with key constituencies, failure to communicate, and a flawed search process. Two of the five themes from community colleges related directly to …

Climbing The Ladder: The Experiences Of Women Senior Leaders In Southern Baptist Colleges And Universities, Allison Barritt Langford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this interview study was to explore the career pathways, barriers, and keys to success experienced by women senior administrators in Southern Baptist colleges and universities. The researcher conducted an interview study with both open-ended and closed survey questions. The interviews primarily involved open-ended questions without response options and were conducted via the telephone. The researcher targeted the population of 42 women senior-level administrators. From this population, 20 women participated in the study. The researcher interviewed the 20 participants and collected a vita for 16 of the 20 women in the sample. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Member …

Leadership Practices That Influence Teacher Attendance In A Low And High Teacher Absentee School, Allison Taylor Owen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of teacher absenteeism is all encompassing. Teacher absenteeism affects student achievement and behavior as well as the morale of other teachers. It strains an already overburdened school budget and poorly trained substitute teachers are with students for as much as one whole year of the time that students are in school from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The primary purpose of this study was to determine what leadership practices affect teacher attendance at school. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to conduct this study. A school culture survey, which included items addressing three major areas, tasks, processes and …

The Principal's Roles In Creating And Maintaining Working Conditions In Schools In Georgia, Sandra Wallace Nethels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined principal's role in creating and maintaining working conditions in schools in Georgia. The researcher reviewed the literature related to the five major domains of teacher working conditions in schools. The five major domains were time: facilities and resources; teacher empowerment; leadership; and professional development. The study was conducted to understand how the principal created and maintained conditions conducive to support teachers. The design of the study was a case study with multiple sites on the role of leadership in school working conditions. The researcher interviewed three principals, conducted three focus group interviews with teachers from elementary, …

Discovering The Leadership Skills Of Alumni Who Participated In An Adult Agricultural Leadership Development Program: A Case Study, Terence Alan Hejny

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Structural Equation Model Of Leader Attributes In The Principalship, Amy Young

All Dissertations

To become a principal in South Carolina, one must have teaching experience, a master's degree, and certification in the area of primary responsibility. Beyond what is learned through coursework, internships, and certification tests, what intangible factors critically influence a principal's actions and decisions, and (ultimately) success? Trait theory begs the question of whether any of these criteria truly influences the decisions and actions of the principalship. Are there interactive traits of leadership that describe the behaviors of school principals? This study revisits trait theory by examining leader attributes relative to the principalship of South Carolina public schools. This study replicates, …

The Relationship Between Leader Decision Making And Student Achievement At K-3 Title I And Reading First Elementary Schools, Emily Kathleen Richmond

Dissertations

This mixed methodology study investigated the relationship between administrator and teacher perceptions of leader decision making regarding five variables (reading training, reading curriculum, program evaluation, financial support, and student assessment) and student achievement (in the single content area, reading, at the 3rd grade level) in Title I K-3 schools receiving Reading First Grants (RFGs) and Title I K-3 schools not receiving RFGs, in four states (Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, and Oklahoma). Respondent data and district data regarding percentages of students achieving proficient and above on state third grade reading assessments were analyzed via Pearson Correlations, Multiple Regression Analysis, and a MANOVA. …

Assurance And Frustration : From Ireland And The Netherlands To Jamestown., Keith A. Donahoe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

English experience gained from colonization attempts in the New World and in Ireland, as well as military expeditions to the European continent and the New World, helped make Jamestown more successful than any previous English colonial venture in the New World up to that time. Jamestown's early leadership successfully applied the collective English experiences from the Netherlands and Ireland to help the Jamestown colony survive. English experiences in Ireland were instrumental in developing the concepts that led to successful English colonization of North America, but English experiences in the Netherlands also played an important role. In the critical first two-and-a-half …

Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction, And Accountability Scores : Evidence From Kentucky Scholastic Audits., Rebecca Curry Todd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education released A Nation at Risk, which triggered an extended era of school reform culminating in today's accountability movement. In Kentucky the school improvement process, in which principals play an integral part, is based on the Standards and Indicators for School Improvement (SISI--with nine standards and 88 indicators overall) and the Scholastic Audit, a measurement tool based thereon. Murphy's (2004) mediated model of instructional leadership recognizes that complex school reform necessitates both direct and indirect skills. The central research question captures the purpose of this study, testing Murphy's model: Based on Scholastic …

4-H Try Member's Manual, Donna Carter, Karina Pearce

All Current Publications

This manual is for TRY members.

4-H Try Coordinator's Manual, Donna Carter, Katrina Pearce

All Current Publications

This manual is for the TRY volunteer program's coordinator.

Inspiring Imagination – Education And Learning: The University Experience In The Regional Development Cocktail, Robbie Collins, Laurie Stevenson

Robbie Collins

This paper suggests that imagination ferments regional development. The paper considers how education, and in particular regional universities, are part of the regional development cocktail. Using contemporary and historical experience at the Shoalhaven Campus the paper explores how Shoalhaven campus can be seen as an integral ingredient in the Shoalhaven development cocktail. In doing so, it provides an analysis that matches other regional campus experiences. What is Shoalhaven Campus? An educational precinct based on a campus co-location model. In this instance, TAFE and University are co-located on the campus grounds and share library, IT, telephone and campus services facilities. The …

Leadership, Network Facilitation And Regional Development: Critical Reflection As A Tool For Insight???, Robbie Collins

Robbie Collins

In his keynote address at the ANZRSAI Conference 2005, Professor Blakely challenged regional scientists to use their “ideal position to forge these [separate disciplines informing regional science] into a disciplinary understanding that operates across disciplines”. In doing so the forces at work in the myths, magic and mix of regional innovation are necessarily viewed as interdependent components. The component to be focussed upon here is leadership, especially where it assists in developing networks and “knowdes” in the web of the development of the knowledge economy. Such a critical perspective encourages a consideration of the work of practitioners in regional development …

Pass Student Leader And Mentor Roles: A Tertiary Leadership Pathway, Jane Skalicky, Annaliese Caney

Journal of Peer Learning

In relation to developing leadership skills during tertiary studies, this paper considers the leadership pathway afforded by a Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) program which includes the traditional PASS Leader role and a more senior PASS Mentor role. Data was collected using a structured survey with open-ended questions designed to capture the personal experiences and self-reported learning outcomes of students undertaking leadership roles within the PASS program. Twelve aspects of leadership are presented from twenty-three Leaders and Mentors: organisation, facilitation, support, attitude, relationships, role model, collaboration, communication, responsibility, decision making, pedagogy, and session management. The qualitative differences between the comments …

Coaching Efficacy With Academic Leaders: A Phenomenological Investigation, Deanna Lee Vansickel-Peterson

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this psychological phenomenological research was to understand the efficacy of life coaching from the perspective of academic leaders. To date, not one investigation or attempt has been made towards the above stated purpose. This study includes a theoretical overview and a review of the coaching literature from Socrates (469-399 BC) to current day Humanistic theory presented in part by Roger (1902-1987).

This process included data collection from five academic leaders who have been coached for at least two years. Levels of analysis of 365 statements, quote and/or comments produced finding of efficacy in life coaching with academic …

Enabling Leadership Capacity Through Authentic Learning: The Faculty Scholars Program, Geraldine E. Lefoe, Dominique Rene Parrish

Geraldine Lefoe

An identified gap in the higher education sector is the development of leadership capacity for teaching and learning. Significant funding has been allocated by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) to support the development of academic leadership in higher education. The outcomes of this initiative will ultimately improve the student experience as a more scholarly approach to the many aspects of teaching and learning is adopted. One project funded by ALTC supported four universities to develop and trial a framework for leadership capacity development. Five critical factors for success were identified including authentic learning activities that were situated in …

Enhancing Higher Education Through Leadership Capacity Development: Progressing The Faculty Scholars' Model., Geraldine E. Lefoe, Heather Smigiel, Dominique Parrish

Geraldine Lefoe

This showcase provides an overview of a leadership capacity building initiative for the scholarship of teaching through a faculty-based scholars network, which supports strategic change through leadership, activities embedded in authentic learning tasks. The new leaders developed through this initiative will provide a critical mass for extending the network by adopting a cascade model for distributive leadership through mentoring of future implementations within and across institutions. This showcase will provide a review of the literature, and an overview of the work in progress. It will conclude with a presentation of some guiding principles for discussion and a call for expressions …

2nd Place Essay: On Becoming A True Leader, Connor Dimick

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

The world is looking for true leaders. We are called by God to be influencers, leaders, lights in this dark world. And to be true leaders, we must never compromise integrity or character, but must always maintain the same high standards in private, as seen in public.

3rd Place Essay: Authenticity In Leadership, Victoria Smallegan

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

The essence of leadership is authenticity; a leader must display consistent attitudes and actions. A true leader feels the necessity of being authentic in every area of life, even those that are private. Maintaining integrity and authenticity on every level is how a leader can keep the trust of others. Good leadership equals an effort to stay authentic in both the public and private spheres.

1st Place Essay: The Penthouse Of Leadership, Blaine Manning

Reed Leadership Student Essay Contest Winners

Many leaders today have placed their personal character on hold and instead have chosen to pursue public prestige. They have traded the penthouse for the “top floor.” In contrast, Abraham Lincoln ended up in the penthouse of leadership because his private levels of character, honesty, and integrity matched those which he spoke about in public. The way a person acts when no one else is looking is what defines them. If our leaders prioritize their character and integrity above all else; then like Abraham Lincoln, they too can claim residence in the penthouse.

Who Ya Gonna Call? Networks Of Rural School Administrators, Julie M. Hite, Bart Reynolds, Steven J. Hite

The Rural Educator

When they need help or advice, who are rural school administrators going to call? Relationships among rural school administrators develop into networks that can affect the success of administrators and their schools. Understanding the structure and content of these networks provides insights into how resources, innovations, and communication flow both within and between rural district administrators. Based on network theory and analysis, this study examines the structure, content, and strategic implications of the administrative networks within and across six contiguous rural school districts in the Western United States. Network graphs are included, illustrating both individual district and the combined six-district …

One Principal's Educational Leadership In A Rural And Low-Performing Middle School In Virginia: A Case Study, Clara Lynn Fletcher Sodat

Theses and Dissertations

This case study examined the leadership practices of one middle school principal in a low-performing rural school in Virginia. The experienced principal participant was in his first year of leadership at the school; he had led other low-performing schools to improved achievement that resulted in earning state accreditation as well as meeting federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) student proficiency targets. The focus school had failed to meet AYP for five consecutive years. The qualitative research design for this study included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with teachers, the principal, the assistant principal, and the principal’s supervisor; a total of 18 interviews were …

Apostolic Leadership And The Call To Revival, Antonio Aguina

ATS Chapel Services

No abstract provided.

Secondary School Inclusion Rates: The Relationship Between The Training And Beliefs Of School Site Principals And The Implementation Of Inclusion, Jacques Bentolila

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Programs require strong support and guidance from those in leadership positions to ensure proper implementation (Fullen, 2001). Consequently, school site principals must rely on the training they have received to support them in making appropriate decisions. It is the school site principal’s leadership that is pivotal in the success of students with disabilities (DiPaola & Walther-Thomas, 2003; Monteith, 2000). In fact, the principal has a moral obligation to provide an environment that supports social justice in schools (Grogan & Andrews, 2002). The inclusion of students with disabilities does just that—it ensures that these students are not segregated to a “separate …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Technology As A Catalyst For Constructivist Practices In The Classroom: A Case Study, Lynne Brown Menard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research described and analyzed teachers’ perceptions of technology as a catalyst for stimulating classroom constructivist practices. The teachers were located at multiple schools in one Florida county. The teachers were selected based on participation in the Education through Dynamic Global Experiences (EDGE) program. This One-toOne program provides one laptop for every classroom teacher and student. The most frequent ideas in the literature fell into three sections. First is the need to integrate technology as part of the curricula and use constructivism as a theoretical framework for technology integration. The second relates to the best practices of incorporating classroom technology …

Headteacher Visibility, Teacher Characteristics, And Headteacher Trustworthiness: Perceptions Of Secondary School Teachers In Mukono District, Uganda, David Mckay Boren

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that students perform better academically in schools with higher levels of trust than in schools with lower levels of trust. School leaders are primarily responsible for building cultures of trust but are often at a loss as to how to do so effectively. With the assumption that as perceptions of school leader trustworthiness improve, teachers will be more likely to place their trust in that school leader, this research seeks to clarify how Ugandan headteachers improve teachers' perceptions of headteacher trustworthiness. In particular, we examined how specific types of headteacher visibility related to teachers' perceptions of headteacher relational …

Pastors And Life In The Public Square, Skip Bell

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pastors And Life In The Public Square, Skip Bell

Skip Bell

No abstract provided.

Leadership, Omar N. Bradley

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.