Education Commons^™

Exploring The Experiences Of Black, Brown, Indigenous, And People Of Color In High School Concert Bands And Orchestral Ensembles, Matthew J. Smith

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The traditional concert band/orchestra model in many public high schools often passively presents content regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). BIPOC students in these ensembles bring a wealth of experience from their communities. Meanwhile, BIPOC face barriers including invalidation and a diminished sense of representation in these ensembles. This qualitative investigation explored how BIPOC students in a public 9-12 high school district experienced social, pedagogical, curricular practices in their school’s concert band/orchestra. Guided by critical race theory and culturally responsive pedagogy, and employing interpretive phenomenological analysis, this study addressed the lack of inclusivity and representation experienced by BIPOC …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Former Maine Adult Education Students Who Successfully Earned A High School Credential, Kayla Sikora

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Students who unenroll from traditional high school often seek a nontraditional pathway to earn a high school credential. Maine adult education programming provides a nontraditional pathway to a high school credential for high school non-completers. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of former students who obtained their high school credential through a Maine adult education program. Through one-on-one semi-structured interviews, eight participants shared their lived experiences working with Maine adult education programming to obtain their high school credential. Two themes emerged in this study: The significance of self-motivation and the importance of support. The significance of self-motivation was …

Burnout And Job Satisfaction Of Behavior Technicians Working In Public Schools: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Sara B. Dougherty

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if the characteristics of burnout predict job satisfaction of behavior technicians in public schools. There was a need to examine if the high levels of burnout and low job satisfaction experienced by teachers and paraprofessionals that have resulted in high rates of attrition also impact behavior technicians in public school settings (Madigan & Kim, 2021; NCES, 2022; Sims, 2020; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2020). An online survey was created using REDCap consisting of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (Maslach et al., 1996), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire short form (Weiss et al., …

Perceptions Of Organizational Learning Culture In The Aerospace Industry, Derek J. Collins

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The aerospace industry operates in a dangerous and unforgiving environment. Building organizations that understand the environment and learn from successes and failures becomes critical to success. Creating a culture of organizational learning then becomes essential. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore perceptions about organizational learning culture held by professionals in the aerospace industry. Eleven individuals participated in structured, written interviews that provided the participants with an open forum for others to understand their experiences in organizational learning cultures in the aerospace industry. These interviews were evaluated and then manually coded into themes. The developed themes included …

A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experience And Leadership Of Project Managers In An Agile Transformation, Randall Hopkins

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This study employed a phenomenological methodology to investigate the shared experiences of project managers of corporations in the United States during a transition to agile project management methodologies. The project managers’ transformation was noteworthy because agile introduces a change in work structures, processes, and leadership. This study sought to understand how eight project managers described their lived experience and leadership during the transition to agile methodologies. Interviews with project managers uncovered identity facets that evolved with their understanding of leadership. The traditional project managers’ common-sense approach to work served as both a barrier and enabler of a change. Project managers …

Perceptions Of Elementary School Principals Regarding Strategies To Build Trust Among Staff To Support Positive Change, Laurel Cole

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Trust is essential between elementary school principals and teachers, for it is a necessary ingredient in well-functioning organizations, especially schools. The problem addressed in this phenomenological study was the lack of practical strategies for principals to build trust with teachers effectively and efficiently to facilitate positive change and, ultimately, to support student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand how elementary school principals can quickly build trust with their teachers to facilitate positive change. Through the literature review, the researcher examined historical definitions of trust and early trust studies, the creation of trust and strategies for …

Family Member Experiences With Augmentative And Alternative Communication Systems Used By Nonspeaking Autistic Individuals, Christina M. Wotton

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Nonspeaking autistic individuals who have no way to communicate cannot share their thoughts, dreams, or desires. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the experiences of family members of nonspeaking autistic individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. This study documented family members’ experiences of identifying, learning, and implementing two types of AAC: Rapid Prompting Method and Spelling to Communicate. Through one-on-one interviews, five participants shared their lived experiences. Three themes emerged from the data. The first theme was an increase in well-being for the entire family. All five participants described transformations and improvements in …

The Role Of School Leadership In Preparing High School Teachers To Engage In Restorative Practices, Margaret Chmura

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

In schools across the United States, student discipline policies have traditionally been punitive, removing students from the educational. Researchers have shown that punitive consequences are often assigned inordinately to subgroups of students (e.g., Black or Brown students and special education students). Restorative practices are an alternate approach to punitive consequences and are transforming student discipline in schools across the country. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover types of support that are needed from school leaders in transitioning teachers to the use of restorative practices in the high school setting. Five teacher participants engaged in the study …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Impact Of Administrators On The Social And Emotional Health Of Teachers And School Climate: A Qualitative Case Study, Allison Breen

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This intrinsic, qualitative single case study took place at a suburban, public elementary school in Massachusetts with teachers from second through fifth grade. The study addressed the importance of administrative support and engagement on teachers’ social and emotional health and sustaining a positive school climate. The study aimed to help stakeholders understand the perceptions of teachers regarding the perceived impact of administrators’ support and engagement on teachers’ health and well-being. The online survey used convenience sampling that included seven topics from a pre-existing instrument. The semi-structured interviews were based on purposive sampling and included open-ended questions. A total of 16 …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Secondary World Language Teachers Who Use Proficiency-Based Rubrics For Assessment, James Donovan

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of Massachusetts public secondary (middle school/high school) world language teachers who utilized the ACTFL proficiency-based rubrics to evaluate student performance environments (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 2012). This study was guided by the research question, “What are the lived experiences of secondary world language teachers who used Proficiency-Based Rubrics to evaluate student performance?” Husserl’s (1964) transcendental phenomenology served as the study’s conceptual framework, and Andrade and Brookhart’s (2020) classroom assessment theory served as the theoretical framework.

Semi structured interviews were used to gather …

Math Teachers Who Don’T Like Math: A Phenomenological Study Of Elementary Teachers Who Dislike Mathematics Viewed Through The Lens Of Mathematics Teacher Identity In The Context Of Mathematics Education Reform, Melinda J. Bixby

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Due to the increased expectations for rigorous mathematics instruction demanded by the Common Core Standards, it has become increasingly difficult for elementary teachers who are trained to be generalists to deliver expert instruction in mathematics. This difficulty is compounded by the reality that many elementary teachers self-identify as disliking math. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to explore, investigate, and interpret the lived experiences and perceptions of self-contained elementary teachers who describe themselves as disliking mathematics. The central research question answered by this study is: What are the lived experiences and perceptions of self-contained elementary teachers who …

Perspectives Of Fieldwork Educators: The Relationship Between Emotional Competence And Occupational Therapy Level Ii Fieldwork Success, Kathleen Hughes-Butcher

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Emotional competence encompasses multiple skills and attributes that are essential to success of occupational therapy level II fieldwork. Learning more about the relationship between emotional competence and level II fieldwork success holds implications for occupational therapy students, academic programs, fieldwork educators and recipients of occupational therapy services. The Emotional Competence Theory of Mikolajczak (2009) guided the conceptual foundation of this study. This qualitative study, using a phenomenological approach, explored the relationship between emotional competence and level II fieldwork success from the perspective of fieldwork educators. Purposeful sampling was utilized to recruit the three occupational therapists who serve as fieldwork educators …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Parenting Adult Learners Regarding Persistence In Two-Year Community Colleges, Michelle T. Webb Ed.D.

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the results of semi-structured interviews conducted with six parenting adult learners (ParentALs) enrolled in three public two-year community colleges in the United States. This study investigated the problem of a lack of understanding of the experiences of ParentALs enrolled in community colleges. The purpose of this study was to examine how the lived experiences of ParentALs enrolled in community colleges may influence their persistence. Three themes emerged from the literature review and data analysis: the identity of the ParentAL, characteristics and intersectionality of factors, experiences, and perceptions that may influence ParentAL persistence in community college, …

Where Do I Belong?: Gender And/Or Sexual Minority Students And Leaders In International Schools, Douglas J. Beam

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The heteronormative ordering of schools poses challenges for gender and/or sexual minorities (GSM). GSM leaders in schools are challenged by decisions about whether to come out of the closet and the implications that these decisions can have for the leadership they enact and their career trajectories. Meanwhile, GSM students face difficulties including identity-based victimization and diminished sense of belonging in school. The experiences of attending high school are further complicated for students who attend an international school outside their country of origin. This qualitative investigation explored how GSM former students at international schools experienced a sense of belonging at school …

Faculty And Staff Perceptions Of Social Emotional Learning At The High School Level: A Qualitative Case Study, Shari L. Jordan

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the results of the CASEL School-based Staff Survey on SEL Implementation (2021) and interviews conducted at a small high school in Maine. Three teachers, three education technicians, and two support staff participated in this study. The purpose of this study was to explore public high school’s faculty and staff’s perceptions on social emotional learning (SEL) so there could be a better understanding of the challenges, resources, and supports that are needed for long-term integration. Three themes emerged from the data: building relationships with Students, SEL and future preparedness, and district-wide goals and capacity building. The first …

A Narrative Inquiry On Public Middle School Teachers Experiences With Demoralization, Jessica E. Alfieri

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Teachers may become demoralized when they feel they are unable to access the moral rewards of teaching. Some moral rewards of teaching include building relationships with students, adjusting methods of instruction that impacts individual student growth, and completing a creative and engaging lesson plan. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the experiences of public middle school teachers with demoralization in the context of their teaching environments. Six participants who self-identified as demoralized completed semi-structured interviews over Zoom. These interviews were then restoried into narratives, then manually coded into themes. The themes that were developed included time …

Nefom: Board Of Trustees: Corporation Members, New England Foundation For Osteopathic Medicine

William Kirmes, D.O. Collection

List of NEFOM corporation members, undated.

New England Osteopathic Assembly: Maxwell To Kirmes, R. E. Maxwell D.O.

William Kirmes, D.O. Collection

A short handwritten personal note from Dr. R.E. Maxwell to Dr. Kirmes arranging their trip to the New England Osteopathic Assembly meeting.

New Hampshire Osteopathic Association: Dr. Kirmes To Potential New Hampshire D.O.S, William Kirmes D.O.

William Kirmes, D.O. Collection

A letter from Dr. Kirmes to potential New Hampshire D.O.s recommending coming to New Hampshire to practice.

Nefom: What Is An Osteopathic Physician Anyway?, New England Foundation For Osteopathic Medicine

William Kirmes, D.O. Collection

A pamphlet entitled "What is an Osteopathic Physician Anyway?"

Needs-Based Standards Of Practice For The Use Of Forensic Genetic Genealogy In Investigations Of Violence Toward Marginalized Victims, Anthony Redgrave

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to identify strategies by which forensic genetic genealogy can be applied to cases of unidentified decedents who are from marginalized populations. Three research questions guided this study: (1) What is each affected group most concerned about regarding the use of forensic genetic genealogy to identify marginalized unidentified decedents or perpetrators of violent crime against marginalized group members?, (2) How have the past experiences of individuals in the affected groups contributed to their stance on the use of forensic genetic genealogy?, And (3) How do stakeholders’ opinions on the use of forensic genetic …

Assessing The Academic Impact Of Two Adaptive Learning Technology Math Programs Using Hattie’S Visible Learning Theory, Charles C. Swan

All Theses And Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the academic impact of two adaptive learning technology math programs (Espark and iXL) alongside the social validity of teachers in a rural western Maine school district who used the program in their classrooms. Using Hattie’s Visible Learning Theory (2008) as the theoretical framework, the study tested two different hypotheses. The first hypothesis stated that both Espark and iXL would have an effect size of .40 or greater when the pre and post tests were compared. The study used the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessment for its pre and post assessment because it is a nationally normed …

Mindfully Organizing Collective Teacher Efficacy: A Case Study Of Efficacious Educator Teams, Bruce "B.C." Preston

All Theses And Dissertations

Collective teacher efficacy (CTE) has well documented positive effects on student outcomes (Goddard et al., 2017), teacher job satisfaction (Buonomo et al., 2020), and educator persistence (Guidetti et al., 2018) in the face of challenging tasks. Characterized by the collective belief in the group’s capability to successfully accomplish tasks associated with their professional practice (Donohoo, 2018), what influences group efficacy belief formation remains an underdeveloped area of academic and practical understanding (Tschannen-Moran et al., 2014). To better understand the influences that shape CTE beliefs, and how those influences contribute to the known sources of CTE, a multiple–case study design was …

A Narrative Inquiry On The Entrepreneurial Experiences Of Female Military Spouses With Advanced Degrees, Rosette Mupas-Obedoza

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the entrepreneurial experiences of female military spouses with advanced degrees. This study documented how these entrepreneurial experiences may have helped the military spouse population overcome underemployment while their servicemember spouse was still on active duty. Through purposeful sampling, five female military spouse entrepreneurs with advanced degrees were selected to participate in the study. Virtual interviews were conducted to provide a detailed account of their entrepreneurial experiences including how and why they got started in entrepreneurship, challenges and opportunities in entrepreneurship, funding programs and educational services supporting every stage of their entrepreneurship, and …

The Lack Of Representation In Leadership At Predominantly White Institutions In The United States: A Qualitative Analysis On The Executive Leadership Pathway For African American Males, Eric Pulley

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of Black men in the United States who have overcome barriers to advance to leadership positions at predominantly White institutions (PWI). The qualitative phenomenological approach was used to examine three research questions that addressed the factors that encouraged Black men on their paths to pursue executive leadership positions, the obstacles they encountered, and how identifying as a Black male at a PWI affected their career pursuits. Social support theory (SST) guided the theorical framework and critical race theory (CRT) guided the conceptional framework. Interviews from six participants were used. During the interviews, …

The Perceptions Of School Psychologists Regarding The Disproportionality In Special Education For Students Of Color: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jessica Ann Marshall

All Theses And Dissertations

Racial disproportionality in special education has been a problem of practice since Dunn called attention to it in 1968. Research has demonstrated the adverse effects on students including stigma, labeling, reduced access to high-quality educational opportunities, restrictive settings, and lower expectations and educational outcomes. Little research on disproportionality has examined how individual characteristics and societal factors intersect with specific school variables and contexts. Using disability critical race theory as a lens for exploration, this qualitative phenomenological study examined the phenomenon of disproportionality situated within a specific context to uncover how local factors may contribute to the incidence of disproportionality. Seven …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Public High School Teachers And Instructional Coaches Participating In Virtual Instructional Coaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alyson J. Manion

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of public high school teachers (grades 9-12) and instructional coaches who have participated in virtual instructional coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three research questions guided this study: (1) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe their experience with virtual instructional coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic?, (2) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe the changes in instructional coaching experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic?, and (3) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe their relationships with their instructional coaching …

How Canadian School Leaders Perceive Their Capacity To Foster Culturally Responsive School Practices To Influence Student Outcomes, Heather Saunders

All Theses And Dissertations

Despite numerous studies on race relations and racism in Canada, there is a relative paucity of research on school leaders’ perceptions of cultural responsiveness in the Canadian educational system. Racial diversity among students enrolled in Canadian schools has increased dramatically over the last few decades. The diversity gap between a racialized student population and White school leaders continues to widen, with more than 95% of Canadian school leaders being White (Turner, 2015). The primary objective of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore school leaders’ perceptions of how culturally responsive practices improve student outcomes. This study was guided by the …

Educators’ Perceptions Of The Universal Design For Learning Framework In Support Of Economically Disadvantaged Third And Fourth Grade Students, Luke Callahan

All Theses And Dissertations

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles that provides an innovative curriculum and instructional design framework. By eliminating learning barriers across a wide range of learner variations, UDL implementation can enhance teaching and learning. This study explored the perceptions of a sample of third and fourth-grade school teachers in a suburban school district outside of Boston, Massachusetts, implementing the principles of UDL to support the achievement of economically disadvantaged students. The constructivist theories of Vygotsky and Piaget guided the study's conceptual framework. The five prominent themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews were (1) classroom learning environment, …

Mindfulness And Its Impact On Leader-Employee Relations In Higher Education Social Work Departments, Autumn A. Straw

All Theses And Dissertations

This sequential, fixed, mixed-methods study explores how mindfulness practice by leaders in higher education social work programs influences the leader-employee relationship among a sample of higher education social work department leaders and their faculty. This study was developed out of the intersection of personal, professional, and academic interests in both mindfulness and leadership. Additionally, this study fills a gap in the existing literature on how leaders’ individual mindfulness practice influences the relationship between them and their employees (Reb et al., 2019; Rooney et al., 2021; Urrila, 2021).

The results of this study were that the sample of social work higher …