Digital Commons Network^™

School Resource Officers And Elementary School Patrol: A Study Of Best Practices For Training, Duties, And Memorandums Of Understanding, Lisa Duffey

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine practices for school resource officers (SROs) in elementary schools to gain a compilation of best practices for this position in schools. Through this study, three district leaders, three law enforcement leaders, and 12 law enforcement officers serving in elementary schools from three school districts in North Carolina completed 10 open-ended response items and fifteen 5-point Likert scale response items. The survey instrument was constructed based on practices regarding trainings, duties, responsibilities, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The content validation index was utilized to measure the validity of the survey tool. …

A Mixed Methodology Study Of How Neuroscience And Social-Emotional Learning Impact Students’ Academic Achievement And Behavior, Laura Shipman

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study is a mixed-method case study using a qualitative and quantitative study structure. The intent of this study was to measure the impact of neuroscience or brain-based social-emotional (SEL) skills and strategies on students who have been identified with disruptive behavior and/or trauma. The impact is evaluated through the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL framework of five competencies (CASEL, 2020). The SEL program used in this study was the Second Step program. There were 33 students who were in an intervention pull-out group. Eight teachers and eight parents participated in the study. Quantitative data were gathered …

Education And The Gender Spectrum: Addressing Gender Identity Needs In The High School Environment, Donna Eason

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of teachers and administrators in addressing the needs of transgender and nonbinary students. Because most current research focuses mostly on the experiences of students, this study specifically investigated the beliefs, behaviors, challenges, and successes of educators. By analyzing the data provided by the participants, teachers and administrators could be made aware of how best to create and maintain inclusive school environments. The qualitative methodology included interviews with teachers and administrators from a charter school and a private school and focused on their thoughts, feelings, and actions regarding interactions with students who identify as transgender …

A Program Evaluation Of The Marilyn Friend Co-Teaching Models, Emily Wilkins

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was prompted by the continuous rise in expectations for students with disabilities to have access to the general education curriculum within the general education classroom. This study was a program evaluation on the Marilyn Friend co-teaching models that utilized Stufflebeam’s (1960) Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) program cycle at three middle schools in one upstate South Carolina school district (Social Science Space, 2017). Data were collected via teacher surveys and follow-up interviews with general education and special education teachers, middle school administrators, and appropriate district office personnel. The survey population included 31 middle school general education and special …

An Examination Of Student Perceptions Of Career And Technical Education Teachers' Interpersonal Behaviors And Their Impact On Student Achievement, Gail Gallman

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine career and technical education (CTE) students’ perceptions of CTE teacher interpersonal behaviors and their impact on student achievement. This study is important because teacher-student relationships impact student achievement and CTE struggles with students earning concentrators and/ or completers. Wubbels et al.’s (1985) 48-item student questionnaire of teacher interaction was administered to CTE students enrolled in CTE courses. Descriptive statistics revealed students perceive their teachers as having more leadership, understanding, and helping/friendly behaviors and less uncertain, student responsibility/freedom, admonishing, dissatisfied, and strict behaviors. Due to the small sample size, the nonparametric Spearman’s …

A Program Evaluation Of A Beginning Teacher Support Program In A Small Rural School District In North Carolina, Nicole B. Mcghee

Doctor of Education Dissertations

As beginning teachers face challenges and seek support, many never receive the guidance needed to help them become effective teachers. Lack of support can build obstacles that lead to job dissatisfaction and failure to retain teachers. Nationwide, states have adopted legislation to require induction programs for new teachers to improve teacher retention and student achievement.

This study evaluated the components of a beginning teacher support program in a small rural school district and the perceptions of beginning teacher participants, mentors, and school administrators. In addition, this program evaluation aimed to identifying areas of strength and weaknesses. The analysis of the …

Shift In Education: The Impact Of Covid-19 On Face-To-Face And Virtual Learning, Donya Jones

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study was conducted to investigate the impact COVID-19 had on teachers’ instructional practices, technology preparedness, and social and emotional well-being. The results of this study can be used to inform school leaders, administrators, and teachers about methods to support teachers who teach during a worldwide crisis. The study was conducted utilizing a survey instrument and interviews. The survey and interviews indicated that COVID-19 affected teachers who taught virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey and interview participants identified supports that teachers needed to have in order to successfully teach virtually during a pandemic, such as technology, professional development …

The Influences Of Equity And School Culture On Black, Latinx, And Mixed-Race Student Enrollment In Advanced Secondary Mathematics Courses, Fyniss Nixon

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This quantitative, descriptive analysis of three large, urban secondary schools in the South used equitable practices to intentionally increase the percentage of Black, Latinx, and mixed-race students in advanced mathematics courses. Each high school observed in this study acknowledged a disproportionately higher percentage of White students taking rigorous college and career-ready courses when compared with the Black and Latinx population. This disparity was not just isolated to the schools in this study. District, state, and national initiatives across the country are becoming acutely aware of the accessibility gap between (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) BIPOC and non-BIPOC secondary …

The Use Of Video Analysis To Improve Performance, Dillon Sain

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This case study was an exploration of how sport coaches, teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators use video analysis to improve performance. The study helped to reveal the usage of video analysis and its perceived advantages and barriers. The case study helped to determine frameworks for practical use by school districts or individual educators. Data revealed a lack of use due to the lack of understanding of how to use video analysis to improve performance as well as limited frameworks for use. Professional development remains a high need in education, and the case study revealed self-video analysis as a viable option …

An Exploratory Quantitative Study Of The Impact Of Stem-Focused Middle Schools On Student Persistence And Performance In Stem, Shandua Ellis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) continue to be a major challenge for the United States (U.S.), as the U.S. continues to lag behind other countries in this area due to ongoing lack of individuals who are entering STEM fields and many who are entering STEM fields but lack the skills necessary to perform adequately in these roles. The problem related to this study involved the ongoing need to identify how well STEM education programs are addressing this need and increasing the number of students, especially underrepresented minorities, in following STEM career pathways and developing the knowledge and skills needed …

Teacher Self-Efficacy Levels In Providing Reading Instruction To Students In Kindergarten Through Second Grades, Rebekka Powers

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy levels of kindergarten through second-grade teachers in their ability to provide reading instruction to students with a focus on the five foundational areas of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. In addition, the study sought to make recommendations as to how the district of study can enhance teacher efficacy in delivering reading instruction, as well as assist the district in providing instructional resources and teacher professional development that increase teacher efficacy levels in reading instructional practices. A mixed method approach was used to conduct this study. Data were …

Staying Power: Examining Factors That Influence Educators’ Decisions To Remain In Special Education, Jill Douds

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study was designed to examine the factors that experienced special education teachers report as being influential in their decision to remain in the field of special education. The study collected data using surveys and interviews with experienced special education teachers to gather their perspectives and identify common themes that supported their desire and motivation to remain in the field. Results indicated that relationships with, and advocacy for, students and colleagues were the strongest factors in their motivation to stay in special education.

Career And Technical Education High School Internships: A Program Evaluation Of The Effect Internships Have On The Education And Career Choices Of Students, Randal Hylemon

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The study evaluated the effectiveness of career and technical education internships during high school and gave the administration some insights that can guide the program forward. A key component of the program’s effectiveness is the impact the program has on the overall education and career choices of students involved in career and technical education (CTE). This formative program evaluation collected qualitative data by surveying students who had participated in internships while attending each of the high schools located in a school district in the western part of North Carolina to gain information regarding how their internships affected their educational path …

The Impact Of Noncognitive Skills On Student Achievement In Elementary-Age Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Karen Garmon

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has created one of the largest disruptions in educational history. The impact on learning loss and social-emotional well-being from the pandemic threatens to compromise achievement outcomes for an extended number of years. Previous research has proven relationships between grit, growth mindset, self-efficacy, and academic achievement (Duckworth, 2016; Duckworth et al., 2007; Dweck, 2008), but little is known about the validity of noncognitive constructs and academic achievement in elementary-age students, particularly how the relationship between these variables affected student achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine if noncognitive traits had a relationship …

Examining School Administrator Perceptions Of Preparational Experiences Of Effective Educational Leadership, Jared S. Jones

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine what preparational experiences are necessary for assistant principals to effectively transition to the principalship. Fifteen principals completed a 21-item survey and answered seven interview questions to better understand how the North Carolina Standards for School Executives aligned with the daily tasks and responsibilities of school principals. The data also gathered principals’ leadership perceptions, the impact of preparational experiences, and assistant principal preparation. Results from the study concluded that all seven primary North Carolina Standards for School Executives accurately reflected and aligned with the tasks and responsibilities that school principals encountered …

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Brain-Based Learning And The Implementation Of Physical Brain Breaks As A Classroom Management Strategy, Tiffany C. Neal

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand educators' perspectives of physical brain breaks at middle schools located in the northwestern part of North Carolina as it relates to the brain-based learning theory. This study is important because it helps to bridge the gap between the educational and neuroscience fields by providing teachers’ perspectives about using physical brain breaks, issues implementing them, and the importance of relationships with educational stakeholders. After submitting the survey, participants were asked to share their contact information to show their willingness to participate in a focus group with their peers to answer 10 questions …

North Carolina Public School Educator Perceptions Of Teaching During Covid And Impacts On Burnout, Leah Huttlinger

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Educators in North Carolina have been burdened with many different negative stressors, such as low pay, increasing class sizes, and violence in the classroom, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the role of the educator. Current research suggests an inevitable exodus of teachers due to the increased stress brought by the pandemic. Through this mixed methods study, I sought to examine relationships between COVID-19 stress, physical and mental health symptoms, and occupational burnout. Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, I determined statistical relationships between specific domains of COVID stress and the physical and mental health of North Carolina educators. There …

Latinx Families’ And School Personnel's Perceptions Of Family Engagement In Virtual Learning In Five Nc Elementary Schools During The Covid-19 Global Pandemic, Elizabeth Schrecengost

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The COVID-19 global pandemic of 2020 created many difficulties for both families and schools. Drastic lifestyle changes had to be made, and many schools across the United States were closed indefinitely, with a rapid transition to “remote/virtual/distance learning.” Latinx families, many from diverse backgrounds, were one of many special populations to struggle with the transition to virtual learning, for various reasons. This struggle with transition affected families’ levels of engagement with their children’s schools, which is a limited area of research. A myriad of research shows when there are strong partnerships among families, students, and schools and they work cohesively, …

Culture In The Classroom: The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Reading For Elementary African American Students In The Fourth Grade In Rural Eastern North Carolina, Cortrina Smith

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study explored K-4 teachers and school district curriculum leadership’s understanding of and inclination to implement culturally relevant pedagogy as a framework for teaching reading, especially for African American students. This qualitative study sought the potential basis that teachers and educational leaders retain from their experiences and perspectives regarding using culturally relevant pedagogy as a framework for educating minority students. It was conducted in a rural school district located in eastern North Carolina; all 13 elementary schools in the school district had teachers who participated. Data were collected by analyzing teachers’ and school curriculum’s definitions of the impact of culturally …

A Unified Health Information System Framework For Connecting Data, People, Devices, And Systems, Wu He, Justin Zuopeng Zhang, Huanmei Wu, Wenzhuo Li, Sachin Shetty

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the necessity for pervasive data and system interoperability to manage healthcare information and knowledge. There is an urgent need to better understand the role of interoperability in improving the societal responses to the pandemic. This paper explores data and system interoperability, a very specific area that could contribute to fighting COVID-19. Specifically, the authors propose a unified health information system framework to connect data, systems, and devices to increase interoperability and manage healthcare information and knowledge. A blockchain-based solution is also provided as a recommendation for improving the data and system interoperability in healthcare.

Simulation-Based Optimization: Implications Of Complex Adaptive Systems And Deep Uncertainty, Andreas Tolk

VMASC Publications

Within the modeling and simulation community, simulation-based optimization has often been successfully used to improve productivity and business processes. However, the increased importance of using simulation to better understand complex adaptive systems and address operations research questions characterized by deep uncertainty, such as the need for policy support within socio-technical systems, leads to the necessity to revisit the way simulation can be applied in this new area. Similar observations can be made for complex adaptive systems that constantly change their behavior, which is reflected in a continually changing solution space. Deep uncertainty describes problems with inadequate or incomplete information about …

Opportunities For Autism Information Shared Through Professional Conferences, Amelia Anderson, Selena Layden, Crystal Stang (Ed.), Jennifer L. Branch-Mueller (Ed.)

STEMPS Faculty Publications

With prevalence most recently reported at 1 in 44 (Maenner et al., 2021) children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, school librarians can and should expect to see these children in their schools and in their libraries. However, previous work indicates that school librarians are not being provided with an adequate education about this in their graduate coursework (Layden, Anderson, & Hayden, 2021). This study expands upon previous work to explore the preparation of school librarians about autism by examining the previous five years of state library conference programs.

The Relationship Between Self-Sexualization And Sexually Objectified Experience, Dooyoung Choi, Ha Kyung Lee

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Will women who use their sexuality as a source of power, empowering themselves through self-sexualization, experience negative consequences resulting from sexually objectifying experiences? This study explored the relationship between self-sexualization and sexually objectifying experiences, which leads to body shame, with age as a moderator. An online questionnaire was created to measure the four variables (self-empowering sexualization, general self-sexualization, sexually objectified experiences; body shame). A total of 308 female respondents participated through MTurk, and the data were analyzed with SEM. The findings showed that not all self-sexualizing women experienced a negative consequence from sexually objectified experiences; the use of self-sexualization for …

A Predictive Study Of Students Social Presence And Their Interconnectivities In The Social Network Interaction Of Online Discussion Board, Cherng-Jyh Yen, Chih-Hsiung Tu, Moussa Tankari, Emrah Emre Ozkeskin, Hoda Harati, Alexandra Miller

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Effective online interaction is beyond interacting with whomever. The quality of social interconnectivity matters. Social presence plays a vital role in building an effective online learning community. This study empirically examined: how online social presence will predict various aspects of students’ social interconnectivities (i.e., in-degree, out-degree, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, reciprocated vertex pair ratio, & PageRank) in the social network of discussion board within an online course? The predictive utility of social presence for all social network interconnectivity was supported, but reciprocated vertex pair ratio, so-called two-way interconnectivity was not. Social presence serves as a strong predictor for …

Judith S. Kaye: A Chief Judge For Families And Children, Andrew Shepard

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

University Of Texas At Tyler Catalog, 2022-2023, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.

University Of Texas At Tyler Course Catalog, 2022-2023, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

No abstract provided.

A Thematic Analysis Of African American Fathers' Emotion-Related Beliefs And Behaviors, Deon Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored African American fathers’ beliefs about and experiences with their own and their children’s negative emotions (i.e., parental meta-emotion philosophy and parental emotion socialization). Participants included 58 African American fathers in the Midwestern region of the United States between the ages of 29 and 40 (Mage = 30.94). 57 were biological fathers and one was a stepfather to toddlers between 24 and 31 months of age. Participants were invited to complete lab tasks, including the meta-emotion interview (MEI). The MEI is semi-structured interview of parents’ and their children’s negative emotion (i.e., sadness and anger). I selected a subset …

An Analysis Of Anatomy Education Before And During Covid-19: August-December 2020, Stefanie M. Attardi, Derek J. Harmon, Malli Barremkala, Danielle C. Bentley, Kirsten M. Brown, Jennifer F. Dennis, Haviva M. Goldman, Kelly M. Harrell, Barbie A. Klein, Christopher J. Ramnanan, Gary J. Farkas

Faculty and Staff Publications

Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) disrupted the in-person teaching format of anatomy. To study changes in gross anatomy education that occurred during August-December, 2020 compared to before the pandemic, an online survey was distributed to anatomy educators. The 191 responses received were analyzed in total and by academic program, geographic region, and institution type. Cadaver use decreased overall (before: 74.1 ± 34.1%, during: 50.3 ± 43.0%, P < 0.0001), as well as across allopathic and osteopathic medicine, therapy, undergraduate, and veterinary programs (P < 0.05), but remained unchanged for other programs (P > 0.05). Cadaver use decreased internationally and in the US (P < 0.0001), at public and private (P < 0.0001) institutions, and among allopathic medical programs in Northeastern, Central, and Southern (P < 0.05), but not Western, US geographical regions. Laboratories during Covid-19 were delivered through synchronous (59%), asynchronous (4%), or mixed (37%) formats (P < 0.0001) and utilized digital resources (47%), dissection (32%), and/or prosection (21%) (P < 0.0001). The practical laboratory examination persisted during Covid-19 (P = 0.419); however, the setting and materials shifted to computer-based (P < 0.0001) and image-based (P < 0.0001), respectively. In-person lecture decreased during Covid-19 (before: 88%, during: 24%, P = 0.003). When anatomy digital resources were categorized, dissection media, interactive software, and open-access content increased (P ≤ 0.008), with specific increases in BlueLink, Acland's Videos, and Complete Anatomy (P < 0.05). This study provided evidence of how gross anatomy educators continued to adapt their courses past the early stages of the pandemic.

Crime, Risk And Resilience In The Countryside: Governing Rural Security, Artur Pytlarz

Doctoral

A consequence of globalisation is a growing transport infrastructure which exposes rural communities to a greater risk of crime and increased insecurity. This is compounded by the withdrawal of both market and state in policing, banking, hospitals and postal services leaving rural citizens with what seems to be ontological insecurity. This project is set in Ireland but addresses global themes such as late modernity, risk and globalization and undertakes an intensive qualitative sociological study of how communities build the capacity to manage these changes. These capacities, it is hypothesised, can be found in nascent forms of local informal crime control …