Digital Commons Network^™

Strengthening The Academic Progress Of Students Within Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Leslie Dial

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leadership in education is thinking, communicating, and modeling to maximize student growth and achievement. This quantitative research study explored how leadership can strengthen the academic progress of students within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). When implementation of MTSS is guided by adaptive school leadership, educators will be prepared, communication will occur, interventions will be established, and data will be evaluated. Adaptive leaders who build efficacy will ensure fidelity and continuous improvement of student achievement.

Survey research was conducted to analyze the operational level of MTSS regarding the domains of Leadership, Building Capacity for Instruction, Communication and Collaboration, Data-Based Problem-Solving, Tiered …

The Relationship Between Middle School Lexile Growth And School Nutrition, Lori A. Joiner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Children in poverty tend to have malnutrition and iron deficiency, and often receive their only meals for the day from a school nutrition program. Students of poverty are underperforming their academic peers. The average reading score of a student can be predicted by the accumulated levels of childhood poverty. Research has found that iron can have a positive impact on brain health. Nutrition deficiencies during the adolescent years may increase the risk of decreased cognitive function. School breakfast and lunch programs follow USDA guideline that limit portions, fats, salts, and sugars, but do not fortify vitamin and minerals necessary …

The Influence Of Coach Leadership Behavior And Authenticity On Burnout Among Collegiate Athletes, William Ryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if coach authenticity and leadership behavior can influence burnout in collegiate athletes. By using congruency rooted in the multi-dimensional model of leadership and the leadership scale for sport, a mediating variable of authenticity, and a criterion variable of burnout, it was hypothesized that coach authenticity and congruence in the coach-athlete dyad, will influence rates of burnout evidenced by their ability to account for a significant proportion of the variance associated with burnout. The data analysis used in this study was a meditational analysis, which examined how coach-authenticity and congruency predict athlete burnout.

Colaboratory: Design Collaboration For The Greater Good, Stephanie Arends Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A university campus is comprised of countless students enrolled in an array of degree programs that logistically creates a diverse population that can and should culminate into a dynamic professional network for graduates. How can higher education capitalize on this melting pot to provide experiences for students and fuse this network? A place, where students collectively solve problems by applying knowledge from their degree-specific areas, will foster interdisciplinary collaboration. By requiring working-relationships between students that benefit their community, a design center will provide students with experiences across disciplines that mirror a real-world, collaborative work environment while they identify opportunities and …

The Landwarnet School, The Army Learning Model, And Appreciative Inquiry: How Is A Centralized Training Organization Improved By Introducing Decentralization?, Lisa Jayne Stamper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory, qualitative case study describes how a centralized training organization (LandWarNet School) was improved by introducing decentralization (Army Learning Model) toward “the best competitive position” or "sweet spot," defined by Brafman and Beckstrom (2006) as “enough decentralization for creativity, but sufficient structure and controls to ensure consistency” (pp. 189, 191). Any presence of the six chaordic elements of a decentralized organization, as described by Hock (1999), was also considered.

LandWarNet School (LWNS) trains approximately 6000 US Army Soldiers annually and is centrally organized. The new Army Learning Model (ALM) is a vision for a more decentralized training approach where …

Elementary Principals' Leadership Practices Towards Response To Intervention (Rti) Implementation: Perceptions Of Teachers In Southeastern Georgia, Oatanisha Renee Dawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Principals are responsible for overseeing all of the school’s programs and initiatives. Response to Intervention (RTI) is a federal initiative that is a multi-tiered approach to highquality instruction and ongoing monitoring of students’ academic and behavioral progress. Although RTI models vary across the U.S., it is the principal who is accountable for students’ overall achievement within the building. With teachers as the direct recipients and observers of their leadership practices, principals implement a tiered intervention process under the influence of national and state guidelines although best practices for implementation are limited.

he purpose of this study was to investigate teacher …

Leadership Orientations Of Female School Superintendents: A Multidimensional Framework Perspective, Patricia Susan Tillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As school districts struggle to find qualified superintendents to lead their systems to meet recent high-stakes accountability measures, it has been noted throughout history that few females attain this position, both nationally and in the state of Georgia. The organizational leadership behaviors of these administrators have been abundantly scrutinized in research; however, much of this research has been limited to the white male population. The primary purpose of this study was to describe to what extent female superintendents in Georgia exhibit leadership behaviors within Bolman and Deal's (2008) four organizational frames. A secondary purpose of this study was to create …

An Exploratory Study Of Principals' And Teachers' Perceptions Of School Work Conditions In Sinclair County, Georgia, Veronica Lawrence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated principals’ (n = 16) and teachers’ (n = 362) perceptions of five work conditions domains: Professional Development, Facilities and Resources, Leadership, Empowerment, and Use of Time. This quantitative study used two instruments: principal work conditions survey and teacher work conditions survey to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a factorial analysis of variance. Findings revealed observed differences in principals’ and teachers’ perceptions of school work conditions. The factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences for domain scores of Facilities and Resources, Leadership, and Empowerment by type of school. No significant differences …

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, …

Women's Perceptions Of Leadership Roles Within A Southern Baptist Congregation, Tina Colvin Hook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particular biblical scriptures are used to justify the Southern Baptist Convention's position on leadership, including female ordination. The author uses interviews to examine how women within a Southern Baptist congregation in Southeast Georgia assign meaning to leadership roles and understand particular biblical scripture. The interviews revealed (1) knowledge gaps between the women's stated beliefs and their basic knowledge of their faith, and (2) contradictions between their views and their practices. The interviewees rationalized these gaps and contradictions using explanations of cultural memes and religious male hegemony. The respondents defined leadership in various ways, yet few recognized the power and authority …

School Leadership: Narratives Of Title I Distinguished Middle School Principals, Cindy L. Boyett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I began thinking about the topic of this dissertation in 2006 when I entered the world of educational leadership. I found myself struggling as I transitioned from middle school teacher to middle school administrator. I knew other novice administrators must be experiencing the same transition growth pains and that they too must be longing for information/stories from other leaders that have successfully made the transition to successful educational leader. Educational leaders are under close surveillance as the bar for accountability continues to increase each year due to measures put forth in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Everyone …

The Literary Coach As Instructional Leader: How Three Literacy Coaches In Rural Georgia Improve Teacher Practices, Carletha Y. Doyle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author's abstract: The bar has been raised on student achievement in the United States and on teaching quality as well. Compelling evidence confirms that a teacher's mastery of the academic content of what he or she teaches is critical to engaging students and inspiring them to academic excellence (Addey, 2000; Wilkinson, 2002). In order to truly impact instructional effectiveness, transformations must occur on the frontlines as teachers put research based theories into practice. A major obstacle facing literacy coaches and leadership teams is identifying an effective implementation model and practice that promotes and support high quality literacy instruction through direct, …

Leadership Competencies Needed By Future Army Education Services Officers, Robin Kathryn Ellert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify which leadership competencies future Army Continuing Education System Education Services Officers will need to better structure leadership development within that organization. A Delphi survey was sent to 13 Southeast Region Army Education Services Officers (ESOs) and consisted of three rounds: the first two rounds were used to reach a consensus as to what competencies were considered important by the panel of experts, and the last round allowed the panel to rank each selected competency by its level of importance to future Education Services Officers. Using Army Field Manual 6-22, Army Leadership, the …

Social And Academic Factors That Contribute To Resiliency For At-Risk Students In Georgia Universities, Kimberly Paige Mullen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine resiliency factors in at-risk college students to provide insight and strategies for college administrators who have a genuine desire to attract and retain these students. The researcher focused on college students who were minority, low-income and first generation. This study included three seniors who attended three different universities, and were graduating at the end of the semester. The researcher explored social and academic factors, and the findings overwhelming concluded that students who are at-risk have a harder time obtaining a college degree than non-at-risk students. At-risk students face challenges such as lack …

Georgia Teachers' Perceptions Of Principals' Interpersonal Communication Skills As They Relate To Teacher Performance, Norma Vanessa Kambeya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' perception of their principals' interpersonal communication skills in relation to teacher performance. This was a qualitative study, where an authoethnographic mode of inquiry was employed. Authoethnography describes research studies of a personal nature (Ellis & Bochner, 2000). Using an interactive interview technique, five teacher participants were asked questions in an effort to elicit teachers' perception of principals' interpersonal communication skills as they relate to teachers performance. This study is significant in determining which interpersonal communication skills as perceived by teachers were most effective and essential in increasing teaching performance. Findings revealed …

Factors That Reduce The Dropout Rate In High Poverty Schools In Georgia, Michael Larinso Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Georgia's dropout rate in the school year 2004-2005 was 5.0% while the nation's rate was 9.4%. Dropout statistics show that some schools have lower dropout rates than others, especially those with similar demographics. This study examined six schools with similar demographics with high, average, and low dropout rates. This study sought to find out what are the factors that can reduce the dropout rate in high poverty schools in the state of Georgia. This study sought to find out additional questions that included: Why is it that some schools have low dropout rates while others have high dropout rates? What …

Examination Of Preferred Coaching Behaviors As Predicted By Athlete Gender, Race, And Playing Time, Glenn Parrish Burdette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Multidimensional Model for Sport Leadership (MML) (Chelladurai, 1980) states that athlete performance and satisfaction are functions of the congruency between the preferred leadership of student-athletes, the required behavior of the coach as dictated by the situation, and the actual behavior of the coach. The model was developed nearly 30 years ago and while research outside of sport has indicated that leadership preferences have changed with generations, the MML is still the most widely accepted model for sport leadership. As such, research in sport should examine how appropriate the model is to todays athletic culture. Gender, one member characteristic, has …

Administration Of Higher Education Extended Campus Locations With A Distance Learning Component: An Analysis Of Best Leadership Practices At Columbia College, Don Stephen Stumpf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the leadership practices of extended campus directors in the context of the administration of distance learning programs. The leadership practices of the 30 extended campus directors working for Columbia College of Missouri, at various locations around the country were measured using the Leadership Practices Inventory - Self (LPI - Self). This survey instrument was distributed using a secure email account established for the purposes of this study. The researcher analyzed the quantitative data collected from the study using the one-sample z-test to complete a comparison of the leadership practices of the directors …

What Works: Principal Leadership Behaviors That Positively Impact Student Achievement In Elementary Schools, Jason R. Moffitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective leadership behaviors are imperative in contributing to student achievement and the overall culture of a school. School leaders must mold the culture of the school in order to create an environment which is conducive to learning. Studies on school leadership and student achievement have highlighted the evidence of school leadership behaviors which contribute to student achievement. The purpose of this investigation studied the extent of school leadership behaviors and or characteristics that contribute to student achievement. This study was designed to identify the relationship between the behaviors of the school leader and student achievement. The study determined if teachers …

Leadership Behaviors That Contribute To Teacher Morale, Vickie Tantee Randolph-Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this era of increased accountability and increased pressure to improve our public schools, elementary school leaders, working to meet the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, are focusing on developing effective leadership behaviors as they face the complex challenges of meeting organizational goals within their elementary schools and maintaining or increasing staff satisfaction. Leadership behavior has long been of interest in industry, business, military, and the government; on the whole, research shows that focusing on social factors such as morale, group interaction, and supportive relationships has a strong effect on productivity and success. The …

Strategies And Techniques Used By Exemplary Georgia Middle School Principals To Influence The Achievement Of Students With Disabilities And Meet Adequate Yearly Progress Goals, Linda Dianne Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated and defined effective strategies and techniques that four exemplary principals from Pacesetter middle schools used to promote the achievement of students with disabilities and to meet AYP goals. A qualitative triangulated case study was employed, utilizing data from one-on-one interviews of principals and teachers, school and classroom observations, and review of school documents. The four exemplary principals were found to embody the principles of charismatic distributed leadership, to be pro-active in determining the most effective strategies and techniques to promote achievement, and to rely heavily on research to inform their decisions regarding the implementation of school policies …

Use Of Capacity Building Strategies In Non-Profit Speech And Hearing Centers: A National Study, Elizabeth Fogarty Larrimore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this researchers study was to analyze the use of capacity building strategies in non-profit speech and hearing centers by examining the chief executive officers' (CEOs') perceptions of both actual and desired use of capacity building strategies in their organizations. A survey was sent to the 39 CEOs of non-profit speech and hearing centers who are member agencies of the National Association of Speech and Hearing Centers (NASHC). NASHC is a consortium of free standing, non-profit speech and hearing centers from around the United States. The survey consisted of a five point rating scale (1 = rarely done, …