Education Commons^™

An Examination Of Continuous Improvement In An Educational Organization, Billy Jacques Gira, Jennifer Malanga Martinez

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Continuous improvement (CI) is used across organizations to solve problems. Since the 2010s, CI practices have gained popularity in education. When comparing business organizations’ applications of CI practices to those in education, a gap is evident. Educational organizations create strategic plans, set long-term goals, implement initiatives, and measure overall outcomes in terms of student achievement. However, when attempting to build a high-performing culture and improve customer service between district departments and school centers, frequent and routine monitoring of customer experiences must occur.

This study examines current CI practices in a large, urban school district as they relate to improving the …

Beginning Teachers Induction Emphasizing Proactive Classroom Management Strategies, Vicki Gaddy

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The purpose of this investigation is to investigate the effects of proactive classroom management techniques using an induction tool for new teachers. This study will also investigate new teacher retention by examining how this induction tool will increase beginning teachers’ level of efficacy. The positive classroom environment affirms the critical role of effective teacher behavior and its influence on student engagement, academic achievement, and overall success. It is important new teachers possess a viable skill set that will facilitate an effective classroom climate to be prepared to support children’s social development through the utilization of effective practices to prevent and …

An Innovative Approach To Teacher Retention, Marc Dixon, Ruthe Francis

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Among the many challenges educational leaders are facing, teacher attrition is most paramount. Not only are teachers with less than five years of experience leaving the field at alarming rates, but the number of teachers with twenty or more years of experience has also decreased by 10% since 2000. Teachers who leave the field often site a lack of support as their primary source of frustration. While school districts across the nation have made efforts to address teacher attrition, induction programs are often managed at the district level and completed solely out of compliance.

After reviewing the literature on teacher …

Multi-Touch Books In Higher Education: A Study Of Educational Leadership And Policy For Schools Of Education, Jason M. Cascio

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Technology points to gaps in higher education adoption of learning technologies where decisions are based on a digital tool’s efficacy and unique capabilities, rather than the role they play in effective teaching and learning (Grush, 2019). Higher Education institutions and their faculty postpone technical decision-making. This results in an educational system ill-equipped to meet the needs of students, faculty, and sufficient digital fluency of graduates and the workforce. By integrating current, interactive tools into teaching materials, such as multi-touch books, or iBooks, faculty can meet their students’ learning needs, thereby improving competencies and ability to track their assessment and engagement …

The Significance Of Employing A Comprehensive Transitional Program For Sixth Grade And Its Effects On Student Anxiety And Performance, Yolanda E. Gregory

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Students transitioning from elementary school to middle school can trigger emotions of enthusiasm or trepidation in students. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, transition means to move, pass, or change from one place, stage, or condition to another place, stage, or condition (Merriam-Webster Online, 2019). Typically, all students will experience multiple transitions throughout their lives and educational journeys. Students will transition from elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, and from high school to college or careers. In this study middle school transition is the term used and defined as the process of changing from an elementary environment …

A National Crisis In Our Classrooms, Laura Ann Gomez-Green

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

There is a growing need for social-emotional learning that is evident everywhere in our world. The research explores the importance of a program that can have on our youth; however, there is little research on examines the support and professional development for teachers are lacking.

This study draws on teacher’s perceptions of their level of support provided for children when dealing with social-emotional learning in their elementary classrooms. Chapter one states the problem of lack of Social Emotional Learning and support for elementary school teachers when dealing with a crisis in the classroom. Chapter two consists of a literature review …

An Examination Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And Antibias-Antiracist Curriculm In A Montessori Setting, Lucy Canzoneri-Golden, Juliet King

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The research consisted of a qualitative case study of three urban public Montessori schools with a population of 51% or more of students of color and a commitment of 2 years or more of CRP-ABAR within a Montessori setting. The theoretical framework used for the study was the critical race theory, which is the conceptual foundation for examining inequities in public education.

This research dissertation had a focus on gaining an insight into the perceptions of administrators, teachers, and parents toward CRP-ABAR in Montessori schools by examining the practices in three public Montessori schools. The possible connections to student outcomes, …

Meant To Lead: Women, Equity, And Education, Elise R. Ecoff

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Women are underrepresented in K-12 educational leadership roles in public, independent, and international school settings. Numerous research studies have interviewed women who have attained leadership roles and documented the obstacles and enablers to success. Consistently, women indicate that gender bias, a lack of mentors, few role models, the challenge of work-life balance, and limited training programs and resources inhibited their progress. Conversely, when those barriers were removed, many were able to thrive as educational leaders.

This case study design explored the challenges and enablers perceived by current female educational leaders in attaining and thriving in an educational leadership role. Further, …