Education Commons^™

Exploring The Educational Journeys Of African American Honors Alumni(Nae), Sammie Marie Burton

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore and examine the experiences of African American students to and through collegiate honors programs. I aimed to provide another frame for understanding intellectuals by exploring the educational journeys of eight (8) African American, high-achieving alumni(nae). Through qualitative inquiry, this study gives an in-depth understanding to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that helped students navigate challenging academic settings and evaluate the importance of honors education for students within the Black community. Guided by critical race theory (CRT), findings from this study will provide the research community with entry points to social justice practice …

"Oh Gosh! Am I Going To Be Like This For The Rest Of My Life?": Promoting Critical Literacy Among Latinx Students Through Youth Participatory Action Research, Thomas Angiello

Dissertations

The researcher implemented a Youth Participatory Action Research project within the context of a summer reading assignment for rising high school seniors. Meeting once a week over the summer leading into their senior year, the Latinx student researchers used their critical lenses and summer reading texts as a springboard for their YPAR investigations into sociopolitical issues relevant to their communities. in facilitating this project, the researcher set out to study the ways in Latinx high school students interact with critical literacy and YPAR and the ways in which these students incorporate the tenets of critical literacy into their literature discussions …

"Lifting As We Climb": Black Feminist Action Research With Women Of Color Student Affairs Administrators, Paige J. Gardner

Dissertations

Black feminist action research is a methodology designed by Dr. Gardner to cultivate agency and solidarity among Women of Color student affairs administrators. by engaging participants as co-investigators, Women of Color student affairs administrators' co-constructed knowledge to examine the challenges and barriers experienced in career navigation as well as the strategies used to disrupt oppressive working environments at historically White institutions. in this study the principle investigator and co-investigators explored the following research questions: (1) How do Women of Color student affairs administrators define systems of support? (2) How and why do Women of Color student affairs administrators establish systems …

Teacher Perceptions And Experiences With Self-Regulation Strategies In General Education Classrooms, Sofia Flores-Perez

Dissertations

General education teachers are now serving students with both special education needs and regular education students within a general education environment. Inclusionary practices are increasingly becoming common practice. However, teacher prep-programs concentrate on lesson planning and not enough training is emphasized on classroom management or behavior/academic intervention strategies. There is a dearth of qualitative studies gaining teachers perspectives on this phenomenon. This qualitative study will seek to gain insight about teachers' experiences, perspectives, and practices regarding implementation of self-regulation strategies within a general education setting. the research questions will gain insight on what strategies could look like in a general …

Think Like A Teacher: How Reflective Educators Use Multiple Data Sources To Inform Their Practice, Jana Grabarek

Dissertations

Teacher data use has become an increasingly central feature of American education. Messages from the public policy, research, philanthropy, and professional development arenas assert that collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data€”particularly number-based achievement data€”will increase student achievement. in this dissertation, a review of literature exploring the link between data use and achievement yielded mixed results. While increased achievement was slightly more likely when data use involved multiple types of data and/or data use strategies, its effectiveness was not consistently supported, and least apparent when tied to marginalized students. to better understand what effective data use might look like at the micro …

Teacher Leadership: A Case Study In The Preparation Of Future Teacher Leaders, Abigail Hasebroock

Dissertations

Over the past century, Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade (PK-12) schools evolved into hierarchical learning organizations that centralized power, decision-making, and leadership at the top in the hands of a few predominantly male administrators. the teaching force, by contrast, became majority female. While teacher education programs formalized, the accountability movement that swept across the U.S. schooling system during the 1980s led to narrowed teacher educator programs and licensure requirements. Consequently, traditional teacher education programs in four-year universities focused more on theory and pedagogy but less on praxis and leadership in the name of producing highly-qualified teachers. Today, new pathways for teacher …

Perceptions Of Illinois Superintendents Regarding Implementation Of Principal Evaluation Instruments After Senate Bill 7 Authorizations, Brian Anthony Kaye

Dissertations

As the role of an elementary and middle school principal in Illinois is recognized for having a significant impact on student achievement and the success of a school community a greater emphasis is placed on the evaluation and professional development of the principals in Illinois. with the passage of Senate Bill 7 in Illinois, the requirements for principal evaluations changed. the purpose of the research is to understand the actual versus the perceived use of the ISLLC principal leadership standards and whether the implementation of SB7 is having an impact on principal leadership. Participants of this study included a survey …

The Extent Professional And Moral Authorities Are Evident In Federal Inclusive Education Policies, Lucille Marie Melchert

Dissertations

The EXTENT PROFESSIONAL and MORAL AUTHORITIES ARE EVIDENT in FEDERAL INCLUSIVE EDUCATIon POLICIES This study was conducted to investigate landmark federal inclusive policies in relation to leadership styles, specifically characteristics related to Sergiovanni's (1992) professional and moral leadership authorities. Research is markedly limited regarding what federal inclusive education policies say about school and district leadership. This enlightenment concerning the lack of guidance in the field of educational leadership practice, federal education policy, and inclusive learning methods is significant. Current literature supports the examination of federal education policies in relation to educational leadership. There is currently a gap in research involving …

The Impact Of Positive School Culture On School Success: A Principal's Self-Study Of Transformational Leadership, Sean Mcnichols

Dissertations

The purpose of this self-study was to examine how I, as a school principal and transformational leader, was able to support the development of positive relationships that impacted school culture and sustained student achievement. Reculturing a school involves the examination of beliefs, expectations, and assumptions for the purpose of school change that can facilitate a collective sense of purpose (DuFour & Burnette, 2002: Fullan, 2005). to do this, I focused on social and emotional learning while incorporating opportunities for school staff, parents, community members and student's voices to be heard through group meetings and forums. the analysis of this study …

A Self-Study Of The Relationships Between My Leadership And The Promotion Of A Supportive School Environment, Cory Overstreet

Dissertations

A SELF-STUDY of the RELATIONSHIPS between MY LEADERSHIP and the PROMOTIon of a SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT There has been a recent focus in education on Social Emotional Learning, Restorative Justice, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). All of these areas are tied to creating a Supportive School Environment that will help students be successful. Chicago Public Schools created a Supportive School Certification process in 2017 and works closely with schools to help them achieve certification (Mathewson, 2017). as the fifth principal in the past ten years at J. P. Miller School, there has been a significant change in leadership styles, …

The Shadow-Beast: The Influence Of Critical Consciousness On Resilience Narratives Of Latinx/A/O College Students, Norma Lopez

Dissertations

The purpose of this LatCrit narrative study was to explore how Latinx/a/o students who are first-generation to college make meaning of their resilience in relation to the development of their critical consciousness. the research questions that guided this study were: How do first-generation to college Latinx/a/o students make meaning of their ability to overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of adversity; in other words, how have they constructed their resilience narrative? How does critical consciousness, or understanding their social identity within the context of social, political, and economic forms of oppression, influence their resilience narrative, if at all? Data …

Cultural Responsiveness Among Teachers And School Discipline, Sharon K. Perry

Dissertations

The disproportionality in school staff's discipline practices toward racial minority students (Skiba et al., 2011) are linked to higher levels of suspension and expulsion rates. These practices are also connected to various negative outcomes relative to student achievement and even students completing secondary education (Raffaele-Mendez & Knoff, 2003). the public school population has increasingly become more racially and ethnically diverse; however school personnel, both administrators and teaching staff have largely remained homogenous and predominantly White. as a result, some research has indicated that school personnel's level of cultural responsivity (CR) may impact their discipline practices. Examples of this have included …

Job Satisfaction, Burnout, Occupational Intentions, And Stress Coping Styles Among Illinois School Psychologists, Courtney Ratliff

Dissertations

There is a long-standing shortage of school psychologists (Curtis, Hunley, & Grier, 2004; McIntosh, 2004; Fagan, 2004; Castillo, Curtis, & Tan, 2014). a shortage that allows the social, emotional, and academic needs of American school-children to go under served. to understand better the working conditions that may contribute to this shortage, a sample of Illinois school psychologists were surveyed. the aim of this study was fourfold. First, to collect rates of job satisfaction, the experience of burnout, and the five-year occupational intentions of school psychologists. Second, to measure the rates of occupational stress coping styles. Third, to build a model, …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Case Management Model, Abigail Salat

Dissertations

EXPLORING the EFFECTIVENESS of a CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL IDEa requires special education students receive a free and appropriate education with specialized instruction in K-12 schools. While guidance related to what students are legally entitle to is readily available, little to no guidance related to how systems within schools can best support teachers is available. Special Education teachers are noted to have more difficult, demanding, and stressful roles within schools, which can lead to higher levels of burnout (Bettini et al., 2017). the Case Management model is one manner of service delivery, which allows for special education teachers to specialize in …

Investigating Exclusionary Discipline: Teachers, Deficit Thinking, And Root Cause Analysis, Kelsie N. Reed

Dissertations

This study sought to examine school-related predictors of exclusionary discipline practices and racial disproportionality in exclusionary discipline via a mixed-methodology approach involving a quantitative analysis of contextual factors, and a qualitative/quantitative examination of the role of teacher perception in contributing to exclusionary discipline patterns. Relying on publicly available school discipline data, Phase I involved a multiple regression analysis of 200 school districts that were purposefully selected within a state in the midst of school discipline reform to examine the impact of district size, student demographics, teacher demographics, and school funding in predicting the most extreme patterns of exclusionary discipline usage. …

O'Shaughnessy Program Review, Natalya Sagalov

Dissertations

Loyola Academy, a Jesuit High School, seeks to create college-bound students through a rigorous curriculum that focuses on academics, faith, and physical fitness. Students who require additional academic support participate in the O'Shaughnessy program, a structured class that focuses on literacy and student skills. in 2015, the O'Shaughnessy program was changed from a four-year program to a two-year program to better prepare students for the independence of college. the purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of this change while focusing on best practices in secondary reading instruction and study skills in a college readiness framework. as Loyola …

Voices Of African American Women In Computer Science: Implications For K-12 Stem Education And Beyond, Yolanda B. Sanders

Dissertations

Voices of African American Women in Computer Science is a qualitative dissertation about African American women who have successfully completed a computer science degree. This research explored how computer science education departments in predominantly White institutions (PWIs) contribute to the oppression of African American females. Critical race feminism (CRF) provides the platform that places the voices of women of color who have successfully obtained a computer science degree despite difficulties that have been imposed by the reality of racial biases that are present throughout the American education system and American culture at large. This research was guided by the following …

Heard Least But Matter Most: Listening To Youth Voice To Understand The Process Of Youth Empowerment, Carly Michelle Tindall-Biggins

Dissertations

The current literature pertaining to youth empowerment documents several outcomes associated with these processes. Despite this knowledge base, little is understood about the processes through which these outcomes are achieved. Increased understanding of these processes is necessary to help further facilitate the successful implementation of these processes across school and community contexts. the purpose of this study was to examine the factors which contribute to the successful enactment of empowerment processes. This study utilized a qualitative case study design to examine the empowerment processes in place within a community outside a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. Results identified various …

Best Leadership Practices And Actions For Leading A Transition In Curriculum Framework In Secondary Schools, Jennifer Lynn Tyrrell

Dissertations

Instructional leadership is one of the primary responsibilities of administrators within secondary schools. as administrators assume the role of instructional leaders, it is important to note that having the ability to guide a school or district through the process of organizational change is critical. Specifically, within the area of curriculum, change is constantly occurring. This qualitative research study was designed to identify a list of best leadership practices/actions for instructional leaders to use when leading a school or district through the process of changing its framework for curriculum development. the researcher replicated the research of Alexander Carter (2016) who studied …

Movement On The Margins: Exploring The Leadership And Agency Of Women Of Color Student Activists In Predominantly White Higher Education Institutions, Cobretti Williams

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to learn more about the experience of student activism through the eyes, ears, and narratives of women of color in predominantly White higher education institutions. Using an adapted theoretical framework of critical feminist agency, I conducted interviews and focus groups with women of color whom represent the past, present, and future of student activist experiences on campus. Their stories and knowledge affirmed the historical significance of student activism in higher education, and more notably, provided additional critical perspectives towards the development and re-imagination of leadership, agency, and institutional structures in colleges and universities. …

Bridging The In Between: A Portrait Of Asian American Student Affairs Professionals In Asian American Cultural Centers, Joliana Yee

Dissertations

Although the first Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) on a U.S. college campus came about as a result of student activism in the late 1960s and 33 other AACCs have since been established at higher education institutions across the country, very little has been documented in higher education scholarship about the Asian American Student Affairs Professionals (SAPros) who work within these unique institutional resources. While concerted efforts have been made to diversify the student body demographic at predominantly white institutions (PWIs), the negative impact of campus racial dynamics on students of color have nevertheless persisted and extant literature on the …

Teacher And Principal Perceptions Of Principal Leadership Practices Having The Strongest Relationship To Student Achievement, Michael C. Conran

Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined the perceptions of high performing elementary, middle and high school teachers and principals, as evidenced by their students' high achievement levels, relative to the principal leadership practices having the strongest relationship to student achievement. The Marzano Focused School Leader Evaluation Model, which contains six domains and 21 elements identifying comprehensively researched and evidence-based principal leadership practices, was used as a conceptual framework. The identification of the specific principal leadership practices having the strongest relationship to student achievement hinged on the delineation of the perceptions of the teacher and principal study participants relative to the principal …

Humanity In The Classroom: An Exploration Of Race In Teacher Behavior And Interaction With Students, Briellen Elizabeth Griffin

Dissertations

The hyper-surveillance of Black students has been well documented by educators and researchers across disciplines and reflects an increase in calls for research that examines the reproduction of racial inequality in educational spaces. To contend with the presence of antiblackness in the classroom is fundamentally about recognizing the humanity of Black students and interrogating the ways that they are dehumanized by racialized structures and social interactions. To examine antiblackness and humanity in the classroom, I conducted a critical collaborative case study with six teachers from an elementary school in a diverse Midwestern school district. I engaged BlackCrit Theory to examine …

Changing Concepts Of Merit In China's Education System: An Oral Historical Research Of Teachers In Key Schools, Yao Chen

Dissertations

This study examines teachers' views of meritocracy and how their conceptions and views influence their everyday practices in schools with regard to producing, recognizing, and awarding individual merit in China's key schools. This study uses a qualitative methodology, especially oral history interviews. It shows that the meaning of merit has changed over time, depending on cultural and institutional contexts during China's transition from Mao's age to the present. Thirteen teachers, who have been working in the education system of China since the early 1980s, and who have worked as teachers in China's key (magnet/elite) schools (including higher education institutions), were …

Educational Leadership Model: An Historical Analysis Of Arne Duncan (2001-2015) As Chief Executive Officer Of The Chicago Public Schools And As Secretary Of Education Of The United States Of America, And Impact Of His Leadership Style On Implementation Of Educational Initiatives, Jodilyn Maria Pinkerton

Dissertations

This research is a historical examination of Arne Duncan's leadership styles as Chief Education Officer of the Chicago Public Schools and as U.S. Secretary of Education. This analysis highlights the correlation between Ronald Heifetz's Adaptive Leadership (2009) and Arne Duncan's leadership style as he implements initiatives to expand educational opportunities for students in the Chicago Public Schools and his national reform initiatives to improve college readiness among high school graduates. This research also presents Arne Duncan's challenges and successes in the implementation of the Renaissance 2010 program that closed 70 schools, Chicago Public Schools exit from the Consent Decree, the …

Engendering Empathy For Immigrants In Middle Grade Readers Through Culturally Relevant Young Adult Literature, Amy J. Cattapan

Dissertations

This dissertation uncovered the ways through which culturally relevant young adult literature (YAL) engenders empathy for immigrants in middle grade readers. Empathy was displayed through both affective and cognitive responses and resulted in mirror and window moments (Bishop, 1990) as well as crystallizing experiences. Their empathetic responses led students to apply critical literacy skills to issues related to stereotypes, racism, discrimination, and immigration policies.

I conducted a qualitative case study to examine the ways in which reading and discussing YAL about immigrants created empathy in eighth graders in a culturally and linguistically diverse middle school and in what ways it …