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Perceptions Of Special Education Supports By School Administrators, Eric P. Oxford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study analyzed the perceptions of special education supports by school administrators. Specifically, this research discussed comparative findings of perceptions of special education supports between building principals and building-based special education team chairpersons in one Massachusetts public school district. The findings are grounded in the district’s inclusive philosophy and its capability to ensure that all students are provided educational opportunities in the least restrictive educational environment. The problem studied was that many students with disabilities who are unable to find academic success within an inclusive academic environment are typically transitioned into a more restrictive—or substantially separate—alternative education setting. It …

The Nonprofit Gender Leadership Gap: Data-Driven Systemic And Inclusive Solutions, Katya Alcaraz-Minnick

Master's Projects and Capstones

The gender leadership gap has maintained its divide throughout world history. There have been positive advancements in gender leadership equity within the political arena and in the for-profit sector, however, it is within the nonprofit sector that the most progress has been made in collapsing the gender leadership gap. Women make up a large percentage of the nonprofit sector’s workforce, so it would seem that the nonprofit sector is poised to lead the economic world to close the gender leadership gap and achieve equity within its top managerial ranks. Research on leadership theories relating to skills, traits, and styles will …

The Equitable Leadership Practices Of Teacher Leaders In Secondary Science Instruction, Latanya T. Brandon

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to investigate science teacher leadership for educational equity at the secondary school level during a period of reform. The current reform in science education acknowledges inequity and calls for significant changes in instruction (NRC, 2012). This study is designed to address two research questions: (1) ‘How do participants describe science teacher leaders’ educational practices for equity?’ and (2) ‘How are science teacher leaders’ equitable practices related to organizational structures and social norms within secondary schools?’. Three data sources: interviews, field observations, and artifacts, were collected and analyzed qualitatively. A social justice leadership framework …

Applications Of Social Systems Theory Relative To Inclusivity In The Context Of K–12 Schools, Tessa R. Sutton

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This single case study explored K–12 school leaders perceptions of their districts structure for implementing diversity and creating inclusion as a framework (Getzels & Guba, 1957). Previous research that highlighted the views and perceptions of school leaders with respect to diversity and inclusion in schools as social systems focused on the humane side of the behaviors of individuals (Hoy & Miskel, 2005). Nevertheless, traditional Educational leadership programs typically focus on accreditation factors specific to lesson planning, classroom management, and curriculum implementation and exclude the human element (Duffett et al., 2003; Johnson, 2016). The lack of focus on change management systems …

Incorporating Social Justice Into Statistical Instruction: Using Action Research To Impact Pre-Service Teachers, Basil M. Conway Iv, Ha Nguyen

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The following action research depicts how two researchers from two universities merged their courses and goals of instruction to impact change in future teachers. Two currently practicing middle school teachers from one university worked with researchers to develop a social justice lesson that had relevance to seventeen K-8 pre-service teachers at another university to promote changes in beliefs about equitable teaching practices and policy. Findings from pre- and post-surveys, field notes during enactment, and reflections teachers found teaching statistics for social justice (TS4SJ) in this setting provided an increased responsiveness to the needs of students and statistical connections while also …

Saving A Seat For A Sister: A Grounded Theory Approach Exploring The Journey Of Women Reaching Top Policing Executive Positions, Nicola D. Smith-Kea

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The world of women in law enforcement is a thought-provoking one that has received increasing attention both in academia as well as in practice over the past few decades. Even more intriguing, and despite advances in the profession, is the low number of women in executive leadership positions in law enforcement. There is a vast underrepresentation of women in top executive leadership positions across the 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the complex journey of women to top executive policing leadership positions. Embracing a positive psychology approach, …

Leveraging Effective Consulting To Advance Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Philanthropy, Stephanie Clohesy, Jara Dean-Coffey, Lisa Mcgill

The Foundation Review

In 2018, the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers launched an initiative to sharpen the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work in grantmaking by increasing the capacity of consultants and grantmakers engaged in these efforts. Network researchers used a systematic protocol to interview consultant members about their most effective partnerships with grantmakers. Case studies drawn from those interviews yielded valuable lessons for advancing DEI in philanthropy.

In sharing some of these lessons, this article advises consultants to be prepared to help grantmakers define or refine the meaning of DEI and understand where equity fits into their values and …

An Intersectional Perspective On Diversity In Environmental Regulatory Agencies: A Case Study Of Women Of Color And Their Liminal Position Of Identity In South Florida, Leah A. Ramnath

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Diversity statistics from environmental agencies nationwide reveal overall growth and improvement in gender and racial composition of employees. However, although women occupied over half of leadership and staff positions, most were white women. The Regulatory and Economic Resources office, an environmental regulatory agency in south Florida, is exceptional as a majority of their employees are women of color. Although there has been continuous development of diversity initiatives by environmental agencies nationwide, perspectives of how women of color are experiencing the environmental workplace are underrepresented when reporting diversity data.

My study aims to understand the complex role of diversity in environmental …

Sustaining Change Towards Racial Equity Through Cycles Of Inquiry, Román Liera, Alicia C. Dowd

Department of Educational Leadership Scholarship and Creative Works

Many national, state, and institutional policies and initiatives advocate for change in higher education through structured forms of data use. The case study of “Old Main University” presented in this article shows how local reformers (n=9) drew on data and data use tools provided by a long-term action research project implemented at the university to advance racial equity goals at their university. The case narrative utilizes practice theory, cultural historical activity theory (CHAT), and narrative inquiry to illustrate how administrative leaders and faculty at Old Main University coordinated their efforts in a sustained manner through two cycles of practitioner inquiry …

Organizational Change Plan For Closing The Black And White Achievement Gap, Markisha Mitchell

Dissertations

Abstract

Across the United States in almost every city, every suburb and every rural area there is a gap between the achievements of Black and White students. The term “achievement gap” has become an accepted label in situations where Black students severely underperform relative to their White counterparts. Many school Districts have discretely avoided discussing and or addressing this gap for decades. School District Z, located in an urban suburb just outside of a large midwestern city, is the focus of this research as they attempt to address the gap. Approximately two-thirds of District Z is composed of students of …

Educational Policy Development For Closing The Black And White Achievement Gap, Markisha Mitchell

Dissertations

Abstract

Across the United States in almost every city, every suburb, and every rural area, there is a gap between the achievements of Black and White students. The term “achievement gap” has become an accepted label in situations where Black students severely underperform relative to their White counterparts. Many school districts have discretely avoided discussing and/or addressing this gap for decades. School District Z, located in an urban suburb of a large Midwestern city, is the focus of this research as they attempt to address the gap. Approximately two-thirds of District Z is composed of students of color, yet the …

Seeing Polar Bears In A Snowstorm: Examining Racial Equity Work In A Predominantly White Suburban School, Timothy Hayes

Dissertations

This three-part dissertation examines efforts to address racial equity at a predominantly white, suburban school. The first part is a program evaluation of Pacific Educational Group's Beyond Diversity Workshop. The second part proposes a change leadership approach to implementing a youth participatory action research project examining racial equity at the school. The final part proposes a professional development policy ensuring all teachers are prepared to engage in racial equity work at the school.

The Glass Ceiling Is Not Broken: Gender Equity Issues Among Faculty In Higher Education, Jillian Wood

Educational Studies Dissertations

Gender discrimination is an ongoing topic, including discrimination that occurs in higher education. Previous studies have shown female faculty experience a variety of workplace discrimination including sexual harassment/bullying, salary disparities, and lack of worklife balance. This dissertation aimed to analyze equity issues for female faculty at a private university. The researcher utilized a narrative inquiry methodology, conducting interviews with five full-time female faculty. The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the participants’ everyday stories and lived experiences. The researcher utilized critical feminist theory and leadership theory to examine the notion of equity at this campus. The findings, shown through …

Busy Doing Nothing: An Exploration Of The Disconnect Between Gender Equity Issues Faced By Large Law Firms In The United Kingdom And The Diversity Management Initiatives Devised To Address Them, Savita Kumra

Fordham Law Review

    The Article has three parts: the first reviews the data showing women’s increased participation in the legal sector and assesses why increased participation has not led to inclusion at senior levels. The main barriers are macro and micro processes of social reproduction, poor access to mentors and influential business networks, and gender bias in society at large.

    In the second part, the response by large law firms is assessed. This has largely consisted of “business case” approaches to diversity management. The key characteristics of these approaches are presented, as is an overview of key practices adopted by large law firms. …

Naming Men As Men In Corporate Legal Practice: Gender And The Idea Of “Virtually 24/7 Commitment” In Law, Richard Collier

Fordham Law Review

This Article seeks to reframe and turn the conversation about gender equity in the legal profession on its head, taking up Hannah Brenner’s recent call to reconceptualize problems and rethink solutions around gender equity in the profession. It does so by moving beyond the frame of the retention of women and exploring selected aspects of the gendered practices of men in relation to this notion of the ideal legal professional in large transnational “city” law firms. The Article traces how particular ideas about men and gender are, on closer examination, implicated in a broader recasting of lawyer professionalism within the …

Early Career Principal Development: A Qualitative Case Study Of Principals' Perceptions Of Participation In The Institute Of Engaged Principal Leadership, Teri Marie Preisler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the perceptions of the participants in the Institute of Engaged Principal Leadership at the start and conclusion of their first year of sessions. The study used a single case study qualitative research approach incorporating semi-structured interviews questions, researcher observations, and review of documents throughout the 2012-2013 initial year of the Institute. The results indicate themes of growth within the participants' beliefs, confidence, focus on equity and student-centered school climate, and a need for networking within the educational leadership roles. Based upon these results, recommendations are provided for future Institutes as well as preparation programs for teachers and …

Raising The Bar – Integrating Cultural Competence And Equity: Equitable Evaluation, Jara Dean-Coffey, Jill Casey, Leon D. Caldwell

The Foundation Review

· Whether implicit or explicit, social justice and human rights are part of the mission of many philanthropies. Evaluation produced, sponsored, or consumed by these philanthropies that doesn’t pay attention to the imperatives of cultural competency may be inconsistent with their missions.

· The American Evaluation Association’s Statement on Cultural Competence provides those who produce, sponsor, and use evaluation an opportunity to examine and align their practices and policies within a context of racial and cultural equity and inclusion. The use of such a lens is paramount when evaluating a program whose goals touch on issues of equity or inclusion. …

Creating A Comprehensive Supportive Policy That Provides Equal Educational Access For The Mentally Ill Student: A Policy Advocacy Document, Lesley S. Roberts

Dissertations

The purpose of this policy advocacy document is to create a comprehensive policy supporting the education of students with mental illness disorders. Critical issues of school attendance, credit recovery, reintegration, and staff professional development formed the four parts of the policy statement. An examination of critical issues impacting students with mental illness, as well as an analysis of the educational, economic, social, political, moral, and ethical issues were used to inform the creation of this policy. Stafford High School in Stafford School District (psuedonym) is highlighted as an implementer of the proposed policy, as as a model for other districts …

The Relationship Between Teachers’ Levels Of Cultural Competence And The Nomination/Referral Process For Gifted Identification Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Patrice C. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which teachers’ levels of cultural competence is a factor in the nomination/referral process for gifted identification of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Specifically, this study compared the self-assessed perceptions of second and third grade elementary teachers’ cultural competence to the various factors included in the gifted referral process. A quasi-experimental quantitative study was used. However, this study superficially included some qualitative exploration due to the nature of the open-ended survey questions and secondary data set analysis. Quantitative data were collected via an adapted version of the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment for Teachers survey created by …

An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Approach To Tracing “Career Pathways” Policy In Virginia: How School Counselors And Student Demographics Influence Implementation Fidelity, Michael Ormsmith

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-methods policy analysis describes how school counselors' thoughts and attitudes contribute to the implementation fidelity of the Academic and Career Plan (ACP) policy in a suburban Virginia school division. A quantitative survey investigated counselor thoughts about the policy, implementation behaviors, and counselor ideas about equity issues related to providing college and career planning services to at risk students. Counselor interviews were conducted to provide deeper insight about the street level implementation practices and beliefs of counselors. Findings reveal that counselors place substantial value in the ACP policy and think the process is useful for connecting student interests and …

An Issue Of Equity: Assessing The Cultural Knowledge Of Pre-Service Teachers In Teach For America, Eric Ruiz Bybee

Faculty Publications

This literature review examines the research on the development of “cultural knowledge” for preservice teachers in Teach for America program. “Cultural knowledge” refers to a teacher’s awareness of the sociopolitical contexts of education and the development of critical consciousness about issues of educational equity. After a brief introduction to the organizational structure of TFA, I will discuss some of the recent research on the organization-- much of which has focused on achievement, teacher preparation, and the public policy implications of the program. Then, I will examine themes in the research on the cultural knowledge of preservice teachers’ in traditional preparation …

An Exploration Of Leadership And Campus Cultural Orientation In A California Community College, Eduardo Cervantes

Doctoral Dissertations

This research explored transformational leadership and campus cultural orientation at a single California community college. The conceptual framework for the study consisted of the transformational leadership paradigm articulated by the full range leadership model (Bass & Avolio, 1994; Bass & Riggio, 2006). A taxonomy of campus cultural orientations was also employed to complement the full range leadership model (Jayakumar & Museus, 2012). The study showed that transactional leadership was used management of a business culture and maintaining a stable fiscal foundation. Transformational leadership was employed to create a diversity oriented campus culture that was leading toward an equity oriented campus …

Exploring The 4-H Thriving Model: A Commentary Through An Equity Lens, Nia Imani Fields

Journal of Youth Development

Many youth-serving organizations across the nation have made commitments to enhance their ability to better engage diverse communities with equity and inclusion at the fore. For many youth programs, there is a need to better align youth, adult leaders, and curriculum with the diverse needs and social conditions of the country. In their article, Professors Arnold and Gagnon describe the most recent iteration of a theory of change for 4-H, a national youth-serving organization that offers a variety of PYD programs. 4-H recognizes the critical need to reach the most marginalized communities, yet the opportunity gap that exists in its …

Innovative Environments: The Equity Culture Audit: An Essential Tool For Improving Schools In Kentucky, Roger C. Cleveland, Norman W. Powell, Sterling Saddler, Tiffany G. Tyler

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

In the last twenty years, the state of Kentucky has passed legislative initiatives to address the education needs of its children. Even with the implementation of the progressive laws that were passed, many formidable challenges still confront education delivery in the State. This article introduces and describes the utilization of "the Equity-Culture audit" as an invaluable tool for data collection and school culture assessment. The authors examine the significance of the role played by leadership in the creation and maintenance of a school's culture. In addition, there is a discussion of how systemic change in districts and schools can be …

Collaboration And Climate Action At The Local Scale, Linda Lyshall

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation encompasses a case study and a Participatory Action Research project. The case study focuses on climate change mitigation activities within King County, Washington and its 39 cities and towns and discusses progress and challenges related to transportation issues, efficiency measures, and sustainability planning. The findings indicate there is a high level of activity in waste reduction, environmental outreach and education, bicycle and pedestrian promotion, tree canopy protection, sustainability policies, and green building. Other categories, such as energy efficiency, electric vehicle infrastructure, and greenhouse gas emission inventories and goal setting are on the rise. Twelve of the cities were …

Discourses Of Diversity: Negotiating The Boundaries For Equity, Inclusion, And Identity Through The Discourse Of Socially Situated Subjects, Hannah Oliha

Communication ETDs

The demographic changes in the U.S. and the contestation of taken-for-granted social dynamics are breeding fragmentation and discursive struggles over individual, group, institutional and national identities. Questions of who fits into the category of "American," who should be included in U.S. institutions, and the boundaries for their inclusion have taken center stage in this 21st century moment. Unsurprisingly, the word "diversity" has taken on epic proportions and is now the channel for engaging in these conversations centered on issues of equity, inclusion and difference. This dissertation explores the multiple ways diversity is viewed in one U.S. institution, higher education, to …

The Continued Vitality Of Prophylactic Relief, Tracy A. Thomas

Akron Law Faculty Publications

The categorization of a separate type of “prophylactic” injunction and its continued prevalence in the courts provides a framework by which to evaluate the legitimacy of broad injunctions. Such broad injunctive relief has been conventionally theorized as simple judicial activism, and has been attacked accordingly. The theory of prophylaxis provides an alternative narrative by which to evaluate injunctive relief in order to retain valuable and effective judicial remedies. Rather than striking down all broad injunctive relief as the dominant discourse demands, the concept of the prophylactic injunction provides language through which jurists and lawyers can navigate the real issues of …

A Comparative Study Of State Educational *Policies: Systemic Models Of Equitable Reform, Celeste Ann Jackson Stansberry

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Substantive attention to disproportionate gaps in achievement between minorities and non-minorities has led state educational agencies to institute responsive policy mandates. The implementation of equity and multicultural policies has resulted in the development of strategies and evaluative measures that assist in building capacity within educational environments to meet the needs of diverse groups of students. This comparative case study examines the ways in which two states have addressed issues of low educational attainment among ethnic and linguistic minority students by instituting equity policy mandates. The two state departments of education have reached out to stakeholders, developed action plans, and attempted …