Education Commons^™

Variations In Dropout Rates Across Virginia, Joshua K. Bowser

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis, this study attempts to capture variation in dropout rates across Virginia counties and cities. With the respective dropout rates as the dependent variable, seven independent variables are used accordingly in order to provide as much explanatory power as possible. At the 10 percent significance level, four of seven variables are statistically significant with an adjusted R2 of .374. Important policy implications can be derived from the model and its statistically significant variables. The model finds that the percentage of blacks in the population, university access, the unemployment rate and single female-headed households to …

Crossing The Bridge From Eighth To Tenth Grade: Can Ninth Grade Schools Make It Better?, Eddie James Peasant Ii

Dissertations

Ninth grade is a complicated time period in the school years of young adolescents, They face many social, emotional, physical, and academic issues during the transition from eighth grade to the freshman year. In some cases, these problems in ninth grade lead to increased dropout rate. This matter is addressed in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). School districts across the country are establishing programs to deal with this dilemma of students transitioning from the middle grades to high school. One such program is the ninth grade school or academy. The general purpose of this study was to investigate …

Factors Which Impact The Conduct Of Fifth Grade African-American Males, Derricka Bashetta Thomas

Dissertations

This study examines the factors that impact the conduct of fifth grade African- American male students who participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K). The participants in this study are located throughout the United States of America. These students attend private and public schools. The data for this study were provided by the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The researcher utilized ECLS-K’s Public Use Data File and Electronic Codebook to create an SPSS syntax file in order to measure the factors that impact the conduct of fifth grade African- American …

An Examination Of Perception Toward Merit Pay In A Southern School District, Carol Lynn White Payne

Dissertations

The use of merit pay systems has been a part of educational history for one hundred years. States across the country have utilized different forms o f merit pay systems to increase student achievement. Career ladder merit pay systems may base teacher salary on the attainment of additional degrees, additional responsibilities and an increase in student achievement. School-based performance awards may reward all staff members of a school based on achievement of goals set by the school board. Individual teacher financial awards may be based on administrative evaluations, student achievement, attainment of additional degrees, and participation in professional development sessions. …

Trends In Enrollment And Outcomes For Latino Children In Massachusetts Public Schools, Miren Uriarte, Nicole Lavan

Gastón Institute Publications

Looks at enrollment data related to Latino students in Massachusetts Public Schools since 1988.

Myths And Poor Policy Affecting The Future Of School Superintendents, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Across the country, state policymakers are acting to weaken professional standards for school superintendents. Nine states no longer require a license for this position and among the remaining 41 states, over half (54%, including Ohio) have provisions for waivers or emergency certificates and 15 states (37%, including Ohio) sanction alternative preparation programs for licensure (Feistritzer, 2003). Sadly, this trend toward de-professionalizing the most influential position in public education is being fueled by myths and unless it is curtailed, it will seriously damage our public education system.

Does Changing The Definition Of Science Solve The Establishment Clause Problem For Teaching Intelligent Design As Science In Public Schools? Doing An End-Run Around The Constitution, Ann Marie Lofaso

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] "When Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection in 1859, it sparked some of the most contentious debates in American intellectual history, debates that continue to rage today. Although these debates have numerous political ramifications, the question posed in this paper is narrow: Does the Establishment Clause permit a particular assessment of current evolutionary theory – intelligent design (“ID”) – to be taught as science in American elementary and secondary public schools? This article shows that it does not.

To understand current disputes over whether and how to teach the origins of life …

Learning To Use Innovative Pedagogy: The Experience Of A Primary Science Teacher In Pakistan, Nelofer Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This study examined the experiences of primary science teachers when they weThis study examined the experiences of primary science teachers when they were exposed to a new and innovative teaching strategy and the process that they followed in using the strategy in the class- room for the first time. Four primary science teachers, among the 22 participants of an 8-week Certificate in Education (Science) in Karachi, were observed and interviewed after the four-day teaching session where they were instructed how to use "Discrepant Events" to teach science content. Only the case of Farhana Batool, a teacher in a private school, …

The Levy Process And Your Constituents: Know The Issues, David Alan Dolph

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

School levies and bond issues have dramatically increased across the country. State funding formulas that limit inflationary growth in revenue, more man- dates that require additional resources, and changes in tax laws all contribute to this growing phenomenon.

More and more, school boards are turning to their constituents for financial support through the levy process. School business officials and other education leaders are looking at a variety of approaches and techniques for increasing the likelihood of voters’ approving levies. One technique is to survey constituents to determine the issues foremost on their minds. Data collected through statistically accurate survey techniques …

How Teacher Attitudes And Administrator Behaviors Affect Levels Of Technology Integration In The Classroom, Sheri Leigh Bradshaw

Dissertations

Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how well teachers’ attitudes predict levels of technology integration into the classroom. This study also investigated whether perceived support from the administrator as the instructional leader was related to teachers’ levels of technology integration into the classroom. The population for this study included identified school districts in rural North Georgia. Utilizing the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the 2002-2003 school year, the researcher identified 5 peer districts: Franklin County, Gilmer County, Stephens County, Union County, and White County. All middle and high school teachers within a district were invited to …

Superintendents ’ Perceptions Of Clinical Supervision Practices In A District-Wide Implementation Program, Myrna Rae Ladner Bourgeois

Dissertations

In 1990 a new idea swept through the educational industry. Forty-nine school districts in Pennsylvania instituted a new form of organizational management called clinical supervision. In effect, this was a change in the relationship between administration and teachers concerning instructional behaviors. Formerly, when teachers were supervised and evaluated by administrators, they felt intimidated. They also felt their privacy was being invaded. Clinical supervision is an attempt to organize the methodology of teacher supervision while improving instruction. The purpose of this study was to provide data to the participating school districts for use in developing supervision, evaluation, and involvement training modification …

Afterschool Intervention Programs’ Impact Upon Select Variables Among 10th Grade Students In The Education Longitudinal Stu D Y (Els) 2002 Dataset, Diane Jackson-Chapman

Dissertations

This researcher analyzed data from the database of the National Center for Educational Statistics: Education Longitudinal Studies (ELS) 2002. The study included responses from 743 principals in 752 schools and from 15,362 10th grade students from public, Catholic, and other private schools. The dissertation investigated if the percentage of school participation in afterschool/summer outreach programs could predict students’ perceptions of teachers, drug availability on campus, student misbehaviors and punishments, and attitudes toward school and grades. The independent variable was the percentage of students in afterschool/summer outreach programs as reported by principals. The dependent variables related to students’ responses to attitudes …

School Web Sites And Teacher Employment Interest, David Theodore Freeman

Dissertations

The Internet has changed the way many organizations, including public and private schools, recruit and select employees. It has also changed the way many people research and pursue employment opportunities, including those seeking positions in education. The school Web site is often the medium of first contact between a school or school district and a potential employee. That first contact can influence the potential employee’s decision to actively pursue employment with a school or a school district.

This research measured the reactions o f preservice teachers who visited three grade-level appropriate school Web sites of “poor,” “average,” and “best” distinction. …

A Descriptive Study Of The Marketing Mix Strategies Utilized By North American Christian Schools, David D. Horner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educators often misunderstand marketing. Frequently it is viewed as simply advertising or selling. Marketing is far more encompassing. A closer look at the components of marketing reveals an involvement in virtually all aspects of private school operations. Other than miracles or providential guidance, a solid business plan, based on the “marketing mix,” might contribute most to the overall growth and customer satisfaction within a Christian school. This dissertation is a qualitative study designed to research the marketing mix strategies of private, Christian schools throughout America and Canada. This research effort was designed to collect both descriptive and historical data. A …

Moral Self-Concept Of Public And Christian School Teachers In An Atlanta Metropolitan Area County, Timothy Reid Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, the importance of moral and ethical behavior has helped govern the educational process in the United States. The research shows that students notice and are affected by the moral character of a teacher as it is conveyed by a teacher’s behavior and lifestyle, both in and out of the classroom. This quantitative causal-comparative study, conducted in October and November of 2004, examined the moral self-concept of teachers as measured by the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Education (TSCS:2). The population consisted of 210 teachers from a metropolitan Atlanta county employed by public and Christian elementary and secondary schools. The investigation …

Mentoring Teacher's Stories: Caring Mentors Help Novice Teachers Stick With Teaching And Develop Expertise, Jarene Fluckiger, Sheryl Mcglamery, Nancy Edick

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

The article describes the challenges being faced by novice teachers and the role of mentors for novice teachers to stay in the profession and develop expertise. Educators have gathered evidence showing the need for mentors to help novice teachers stay in teaching and develop into master teachers. Longitudinal quantitative studies have indicated that novice teachers participating in this comprehensive induction program improved their effectiveness faster than their peers not in such a program. A frequently cited reason for attrition is teacher isolation.

Teacher Education In Pakistan With Particular Reference To Teachers' Conceptions Of Teaching, Amin Rehmani

Examination Board

This paper discusses teacher education in Pakistan with particular emphasis on teachers’ conceptions of teaching in improving quality of education. This paper is based on an initial study that examines teachers’ conceptions of teaching in the context of Pakistan. The study seeks to explore whether teachers’ conceptions of teaching influence decision-making in classroom teaching. It describes conditions of teaching and learning in Pakistan and argues for reform in teacher education to improve quality of teaching and learning.

Teaching Quality In Self-Study Research, Ayesha Bashiruddin

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This paper discusses how the Master of Education (MEd) students at AKU-IED are empowered to understand and monitor quality in self study research. The paper is based on the experience of teaching self study research over a period of three years. During this period, students in the Teacher Learning course in the MEd programme were asked to explore their journey of becoming teachers and teacher educators using self study research. As an end product the students were asked to write an autobiography. During these processes of self-exploration and the writing process, they were asked to follow guidelines identified by Bullough …

A Female Pdt’S Journey In The Northern Areas Of Pakistan, Safida Begum

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This paper presents the learning journey of a female Professional Development Teacher (PDT) in the context of Northern Pakistan. This journey highlights difficulties for the female PDT in constructing her image as a leader or a change agent in a traditionally male dominated society. The paper explores the major challenges faced by the PDT in putting the theory of leadership into the realities of the context and describes the supporting factors that enabled her to establish herself as a leader. From her experiences, the author draws the processes and strategies for a female leader in a rural male dominated society, …

Initiating Change In Classrooms: Pathways And Challenges For East African Schools, Anjum Halai, Ruth Otienoh, Zeenat Shariff, Naomi Swat

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This paper draws upon classroom-related findings from a set of impact case studies of whole school improvement in six primary schools that have been involved as “cooperating schools” in long-term school-university partnerships with the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (IED), and it’s Professional Development Centre in East Africa (PDC-EA). The IED approach for school improvement involves participating schools in multiple strands of professional development, including: a two-year masters degree programme that provides selected teachers with the pedagogical and leadership knowledge and skills to serve as Professional Development Teachers in their schools; Certificate in Education programmes (CEP) for teachers …

Teachers As Leaders In The Pakistani Context, Nusrat Fatima Rizvi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Teacher Leaders: Experiences Of Pakistani Teachers In Leading School Improvement Activities, Mwanaate Shabaan, Rashida Qureshi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Brian J. Downing

Graduate Research Papers

The role of administrator, when done successfully, is a difficult and multifaceted one. It involves fulfilling many different duties with many different groups simultaneously. Educational leadership is a balancing act of the day-today and the unexpected emergencies, of the mundane and the exceptional, of management and progress. This task would be difficult to accomplish by a team of professionals, let alone by one person. We all have our talents and abilities in certain of these areas but a successful administrator needs to be competent in all of them and be able to balance them effectively.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Pk-12 Schools : A Reflective Essay, Derek L. Roberts

Graduate Research Papers

Ever since I can remember I have thought about furthering my education to become an administrator. There are several reasons for this and the more I thought about them, I knew it was right for me. Natural leaders are pushed into situations. My whole life I have been a leader no matter what I have been involved with or what type of job I was working in. Possessing these strong qualities that will help me in being a well rounded and respected educational leader will be very beneficial in all the different situations that can arise. My leadership skills are …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melinda S. Dunlap

Graduate Research Papers

There are many qualities needed for a principal to be an exemplary educational leader. A leader needs to be strong in supporting parental involvement, providing meaningful staff development, attracting and retaining quality teachers, and being a leader in technology. By being strong in these four areas, a leader is off to a great start on the road to becoming "the main educational facilitator of the learning community" (Wilmore, 2002, p. 5).

A Preferred Way For Leading Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Travis M. Axeen

Graduate Research Papers

Leadership education is the beginning step for those interested in the challenge of being a school administrator. A school administrator is a leader in the school and in the community. His leadership encompasses many different areas including vision, instruction, organization, collaborative dealings, ethics, and political areas. Leadership education forces students to begin thinking like an administrator and stresses the importance of a school administrator being an educational leader promoting the success of all students. As administrators we want to promote the success of all students. In order to do this a school vision must be formulated. A visionary leader will …

Exemplary Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Sarah E. Morgan

Graduate Research Papers

Maybe now more than ever, the need for strong leadership in education is necessary. Unfortunately, leadership can be masked by many other titles: director, manager, boss, dictator. None are accurate descriptions of a leader. A leader takes on the appearance of servant, peer, guide, and mentor. By serving the staff and meeting their needs--physically, professionally, and emotionally--authority is developed so that managerial techniques which instill resentment are no longer effective,nor needed, and staff will feel comfortable working with you, for you, and along side you.

Education Must Change : A Reflective Essay, Ryan K. Riewerts

Graduate Research Papers

This paper outlines five important areas to be an effective administrator and facilitator of educational change. The first area is my belief about education and educational leadership and why I chose to enter the educational leadership field. The second focus area involves the use of reflective practices to improve myself as an educator and administrator as well as discussing the use of reflective practices for educational change. The third area discusses the role of a leader in school reform. The fourth area talks about an administrator's role as an instructional leader to both the students in their school as well …

The Lessons And Experiences Of My Transformation Into An Educational Leader : A Reflective Essay, Kelli Kathleen Rixner

Graduate Research Papers

The descriptor for Iowa Administrator Standard I, "A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared by the school community," is the all-encompassing goal and performance· standard I have set for myself to become an effective school administrator.

The Practices Of A Successful Educational Leader : A Reflective Essay, Christopher K. Schmit

Graduate Research Papers

Good leaders are essential to successful organizations in the business world. Similarly, good educational leaders are imperative to students' continual success in the school building and beyond. High student achievement and positive school climate are very important when school is in session, but students must continue to be successful when school is not in session. Some of the many roles that allow an educational leader to make this possible include: being a leader of reflection, educational change, continuous improvement, and service. These roles influence both teachers and students in the development of themselves, encouraging them to continually strive to be …