Education Commons^™

Perceptions Of Curriculum Alignment And Student Achievement In Us History Courses In An Urban Characteristic Georgia School, Jameka Fields

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This research study examined the perceptions of school leaders on the alignment of curriculum and student achievement. The purpose of this phenomenographic case study, rooted in Leitzel and Vogler’s (1994) definition of curriculum alignment, was to examine school leader and teacher perception of the relationship between curriculum alignment and student achievement as evidenced by document analysis and interviews with individuals who teach and support United States History courses in an urban characteristic Georgia high school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the school principal, US History teachers, the assistant principal for instruction, and the assistant principal that supports and evaluates US …

Courageous School Leadership: Rural Principals’ Perception And Self-Efficacy In Implementing Culturally Responsive Leadership (Crl), Angela Denise Young

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Many rural school districts face concerns stemming from rural areas’ demographic and economic state— increased student diversity, high poverty, little parental involvement, lack of technological infrastructure, low student achievement, and difficulty hiring and retaining teachers (Gutierrez, n.d.). In increasingly diverse populations, rural school leaders need culturally responsive practices to address the various traditions and needs of the changing demographics of their schools and communities. Cultural responsiveness in schools begins with resilient, courageous leadership. Culturally responsive leadership (CRL) is a concept commonly associated with urban schools; however, there is a pressing need for such leadership practices in rural districts serving diverse …

Trauma-Informed Educational Leadership: A Case Study, Robyn Scott

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This research study offers an exploratory examination into the lived experiences of educational leaders managing the implementation and facilitation of Trauma-Skilled Schools (TSS) in the post-COVID-19 pandemic context. This study details the unique challenges and opportunities experienced while planning and executing TSS, aiming to equip school staff to better address trauma-affected behaviors. Utilizing case study methods, including in-depth interviews and document analysis, this research uncovers practices, strategies, and challenges, offering an insider's perspective on leading TSS initiatives. Findings indicate a necessity for comprehensive, job-embedded professional learning, continuous support from educational leadership, and organizational change in school policy, practice, and mindset, …

A Case Study Of Shifting To A Four-Day Student School Week As A Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic And Its Impact On Teacher Job Satisfaction And Retention, Melanie Hyde

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of elementary teachers in a rural school district in Northwest Georgia that shifted to a four-day student week, Tuesday-Friday, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools shut down due to COVID-19 in March 2020, it launched a new wave of educators walking out the door nationwide, further impacting an already existing problem of teacher shortages. Situated literature has traditionally pointed to a four-day student schedule due to budget cuts and financial gain. This study provides insight from teacher and school leader perceptions through interviews on how shifting to a modified calendar impacted …

Administrators' Perceptions Of Reducing Exclusionary Discipline In Black Girls In K - 12 Urban Schools: A Qualitative Study, Lorraine Reeves

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Abstract

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” —Ida B. Wells

The use of exclusionary discipline has an impact on all stakeholders in the educational system. This includes Black girls, teachers, administrators, and parents. The current study provides an in-depth view of the lived experiences of school administrators when implementing exclusionary discipline and their methods to mitigate the use of such discipline practices in urban K-12 schools. While research is available on the experiences of Black girls and Black boys with exclusionary discipline, there is scant literature on the experiences of the school …

Connection Before Correction: The Impact Of Restorative Practices On Students With Disabilities, Katrina Shirley

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

As an alternative to zero tolerance discipline policies that focus on punitive, exclusionary, and often predetermined consequences for a disruptive behavior, many educators in schools across the United States have started implementing restorative practices (RP) in their classrooms. RP focus on building relationships and classroom community. Educators implement RP as a preventative behavioral strategy for community building, but also as a responsive strategy to handle conflict in order to repair harm and restore relationships. Current research on RP include quantitative studies, many resulting in a reduction of exclusionary discipline, or qualitative studies with participants in middle and high school. This …

General Education Teacher Challenges With Teaching English Learners In The Mainstream Classroom: A Qualitative Study Of 3rd-5th Grade Elementary General Education And Esol Teachers’ Perceptions, Joanne Gauthier

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This qualitative study focused on the challenges that 3rd through 5th grade general education teachers faced while supporting and teaching English Learner (EL) students in the classroom from the perspectives of general education and ESOL teachers, based on their experiences in the classroom. This study took place at an urban Title 1 elementary school in the southeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the teacher challenges surrounding EL instruction and its impact on student achievement. The theoretical frameworks that informed this study were culturally responsive teaching and critical teacher leadership. Several data gathering …

A Phenomenographic Study To Explore The Perceptions And Experiences Of Diversity Directors In Council Of Educational Standards And Accountability Member Schools, Joel Hazard

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Currently, a scarcity of research exists on Diversity Directors in faith-based independent Christian schools. There also remains a lack of empirical data that explains how independent schools, faith-based or not, can take action to diversify their student population, supporting students of color, and how they can measure progress toward these goals. Despite this current lack of research, there has been a significant increase in the number of full-time Diversity Director positions in faith-based independent Christian schools. Diversity Directors continue to see their role grow and become more complex as emerging issues and increased diversity enter their school community.

The purpose …

Elementary Grade Students’ Perspectives On The Impact Of Adult Behaviors On School Climate, Tameka Walker

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Social and emotional learning (SEL) had become a focus of educators around the world because of global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social unrest that hurled the topic to the forefront of today’s educational conversations (Bozkurt, et al., 2020) Despite this recent interest in SEL, it is not a new concept. This research informs educational leaders on students’ perceptions of school culture and contributes to literature that has shown that improvements in students’ social and emotional skills transfer to other areas of their lives. The teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic is not enough to equip today’s …

Covid-19 Crisis: Shifting Educational Leadership Toward A New Normal - A Case Study, Emily C. R. Ellwood

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of educational leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has often pointed to the role of educational leadership and its relationship to the quality and well-being of a school’s culture and climate. Recently the coronavirus has created a crisis on a magnitude the world has never seen that has globally altered human interactions and created an educational new normal. Literature is quickly seeking to examine the impact on education, and while much of its effect is yet to be seen, this study advances the understanding of crisis leadership, distinct from crisis management, during the …

The Relationship Between Instructional Staff Training Expenditures And Teacher Retention: Comparing Georgia Public Schools, Sunita Holloway

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The teacher shortage is a threat facing our nation as many school districts have difficulty filling vacancies with qualified, effective teachers. Research has shown that the greatest contributing factor to the teacher shortage is the considerable number of teachers exiting the profession preretirement (Becker & Grob, 2021; Geringer, 2003; Ingersoll, 2001; Shakrani, 2008; Sutcher et al., 2016). As a result, a vast amount of literature has focused on teacher retention, teacher turnover, and factors influencing teachers’ decisions to stay or leave. This quantitative research study contributed to the body of literature regarding teacher retention by considering a financial lens. Specifically, …

An Exploration Of Effective Communication Strategies For Secondary Educational Leaders To Increase African American Family Engagement Within An Urban School District, Stephen Mcclure

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This research study examined effective communication strategies with African American families for secondary educational leaders. The purpose of this investigation was to explore African American family engagement within an urban school district. Interviews were conducted with 14 parent participants and the data was analyzed utilizing the ATLAS.ti survey software. The findings were that overall, parents were pleased with the amount and modes of technology that schools utilized for communication. Parents were also satisfied with the high school experiences of their children; however, many parents preferred more personal contact and in-person interactions with the teachers and administrative staff. Parents also felt …

Alignment Of Leadership To Constructs Of Governance In Independent Schools, Damian Kavanagh

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenographic study articulates the different perceptions of independent school heads of school and executive board leaders in their understanding of key constructs of independent school governance, especially as the understanding may change during a crisis. The five constructs of independent school governance are the separation of governance and management activities, maintaining the confidentiality and trust of the board room, the relationship between the board and the head of school, maintaining a strategic mindset, and general board operations. The review of the literature examines the dynamics of leadership through historical crises of an economic nature, endogenous crises, world health …

An Exploration Of The Mentoring Experiences Of Elementary Assistant Principals Provided By Elementary Principals Within One Large Urban School District., Adib Shakir

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenographical study was to explore the different ways that elementary assistant principals experienced mentoring from their elementary principals as a way to provide the requisite leadership development that would lead them to become a principal. This research study was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews as the primary data source. Ancillary data sources such as demographic surveys, reviewing district leadership secondary source documents, and researcher journal notes aided in the data triangulation and analysis. This study was guided by one main research question: What are the different ways elementary assistant principals experience mentoring from their elementary …

The Relationship Between Hiring Type And Principal Retention: Comparing Georgia Public School Principals, Belinda Sloan

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Abstract

School principals’ have a significant impact on student achievement and positive educational outcomes (Beteille et al., 2012; Branch et al., 2013; Miller, 2009; Miller, 2013; Supovitz et al., 2010). There are concerns regarding the high turnover rate and shortage of applicants for school leadership positions currently within the United States (Beteille et al., 2012; Burkhauser et al., 2012; Burkhauser, 2015; Jensen, 2014; Whitaker, 2003). According to research, high poverty schools are significantly impacted by this current state of affairs (Beteille et al., 2012; Miller, 2013). This quantitative research study aimed to contribute to the body of literature regarding principal …

The Influence Of Student Discipline On Teacher Job Satisfaction When Controlling For Workplace Characteristics, Personal Attributes, Human Capital Elements, And Principal Leadership, Joshua Pittman

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the empirical literature related to the influence of student discipline on teacher job satisfaction. Further, this research aimed to explore the correlation between student discipline and teacher job satisfaction while controlling for the contributing factors of job satisfaction (i.e., workplace characteristics, personal attributes, human capital elements, and principal leadership). In addition, the results of this research study were interpreted through the lens of the Affective Events Theory indicating a person’s emotions and behaviors for the workplace may influence their job satisfaction. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to see whether there …

A Phenomenographic Study Of Teachers’ Perceptions Of A School Leader’S Role In Teacher Retention In A Failing Title I Elementary School, Alex Davis

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This study examines teachers’ perceptions of their administrator’s role in retaining teachers in one failing Title I Elementary School. As attrition rates among teachers increase in the United States, more investigation is needed to fully understand what role, if any, school administrators play in teachers’ retention efforts. Through the use of phenomenography, this study explores various factors connected to school administrators that can contribute to teacher retention. Interviews and a focus group were used to gather data in this study to provide insight into teachers’ perceptions of their administrator's role in contributing to their decisions to leave or remain in …

Evaluative Feedback Of Performance As Experienced By First-Year Teachers, Christine Carson

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Evaluative performance feedback is critical to improving educational practice. First-year teachers are learning to develop lesson plans, make their own decisions on how to handle classroom management, promote positive behavior of students, and increase student achievement. Evaluative performance feedback is critical to improve how first-year teachers navigate the early years to make positive and lasting changes in their practices. The problem this investigation sought to explore was to identify how new teachers use evaluative performance feedback to reflect and develop ideas for change and growth in practice. This phenomenography was an inquiry into understanding how first-year teachers experience evaluative performance …

A Comparison Of Public And Private School Teachers' Job Satisfaction When Controlling For Policy Perspectives, Individual, And Workplace Characteristics, Christopher Small

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the empirical literature concerning the factors that contribute to the job satisfaction levels of public and private school teachers. Furthermore, an emphasis is placed on how policy, procedures, and workplace characteristics affect levels of job satisfaction. This study focused on other contributing factors of job satisfaction such as personal attributes, human capital, occupational characteristics, and school characteristics. Inferential statistics concluded that there was a statistically significant difference between the job satisfaction levels of public and private school teachers.

The Missing Mirror: A Critical Content Analysis Of Multicultural Children's Literature With Black Male Characters, Wendy Harris

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Education in America is facing many challenges, such as the adoption of common core standards and the demand for highly qualified teachers (Darling-Hammond, 2010). Further, the achievement gap lingers on, with Black males often performing poorly on national assessments of reading proficiency (Tatum, 2005). Although Black males are highly literate, they may feel alienated from traditional school systems and classroom reading selections (Kirkland, 2013). One of the most effective strategies for teachers to bridge the gap in reading is to inspire Black males to get engaged with their books and read for longer periods of time. However, children are …

Student Voice: A Qualitative Study Investigating Students' Experiences And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Practice Across Learning Levels, Lisa A. Moore

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Using a 360-degree approach, this qualitative case study compared the experiences of students and the perceptions of teachers concerning instructional practice across learning levels in a northwest Georgia high school. The purpose was to use student voice to inform administrators of teachers’ and students’ classroom engagement. Using nine math classes across three learning levels (foundations algebra, on-level algebra, and advanced algebra), the study used open-ended surveys to collect self-reported data from students and teachers to identify common themes of learning and teaching practices. The common themes identified agreements and collaborative strategies between students and teachers at three different learning levels …

The Relationship Between School Climate And Graduation Rates From A Control Perspective: Comparing Georgia Public High Schools, Nathan Hand

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the body of literature regarding decisions school leaders make when developing strategic plans to improve student outcomes. This study investigated whether there is a significant relationship between the school’s climate and graduation rates for public high schools in the state of Georgia when controlling for potential covariates. Like most states, Georgia legislatures have increasingly placed more responsibilities on schools to graduate students on time. For this study, "on time” refers to students who graduate within a four-year cohort, beginning when students enter the ninth grade. Research over the last decade suggests …

Promoting Growth And Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of First-Year Assistant Principals, Debra Murdock

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

ABSTRACT

PROMOTING GROWTH AND SELF-EFFICACY: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF FIRST-YEAR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

by

Debra Murdock

Kennesaw State University, 2018

Newly appointed assistant principals face a myriad of challenges. Often, the roles and responsibilities of assistant principals are ambiguous, primarily consisting of managerial and organizational type tasks. The lack of a systemic focus for assistant principals coupled with the assigned menial type jobs can leave new assistant principals with professional learning gaps. In the current model of high-stakes accountability for schools and school districts, educational leaders must redefine the role of assistant principals into a more distinct …

Assistant Principals And The Phenomenon Of Leadership Coaching, Thomas Flugum

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This study sought to define and explore executive leadership coaching as a form of professional learning for educational leaders. This was a qualitative phenomenological inquiry into the ways, if any, that leadership coaching impacts the skills and abilities of first-year assistant principals. Research was conducted with a cohort of newly appointed assistant principals from a suburban school district outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Participants were part of a district leadership academy which provided professional learning and support for new administrators. The participants received leadership coaching from coaches endorsed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) as one form of professional learning.

Lived Experience Of Newly Appointed Assistant Principals Who Receive Executive Leadership Coaching, Scott Townsend

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenographic study was to understand how leadership coaching supported personal growth for new assistant principals. Newly appointed assistant principals from a suburban school district outside metro Atlanta, Georgia were interviewed as part of a professional development model which incorporated leadership coaching into the support mechanisms for new administrators. The professional development model, known as a leadership academy, was instituted by the school district and comprised of multiple learning opportunities of which leadership coaching was one component. This study gathered perceptions of newly appointed assistant principals regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of leadership coaching and …

An Explorational Study Of Educational Leaders' Attitudes, Opinions, Understanding, And Application Of Student Growth Percentile (Sgp) Data, J Lyn Turnell

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Student Growth Percentiles have recently become popular as a way to report student progress over time. Because of the perception that they are relatively simple to understand, they have also become a popular tool to use when evaluating teachers and school-based administrators, even though this is not the purpose of their design. Previous studies have examined the impact of student growth measures on teachers who are evaluated annually with a tool that includes a component of student growth. This study builds on the previous work of Clauser, Keller, and McDermott (2016) and Collins (2014). It examines the actions and opinions …

Examination Of K-12 School Administrators’ Perceptions Of Their Preparation To Lead Special Education Programs, Jaime Davies

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Current research tells us that when school administrators are not prepared to lead special education, the result can be an educational detriment to the student involved and cause a costly fiscal impact to the school district. The researcher set out to ascertain school administrators’ perceptions of the skills necessary to effectively lead special education programs; it was also important to gauge school administrators’ preparation to lead special education programs based on their special education knowledge. Ball and Green (2014) state that it is the role of the school principal to develop teachers and related support within their buildings, while Pazey, …

The Effect Of Leadership Coaching On The Self-Efficacy Of New Assistant Principals, Michael Manzella

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the effect of leadership coaching on new assistant principals’ perceptions of self-efficacy. Participants involved in the study included newly appointed assistant principals enrolled in a suburban public school district leadership academy that included multiple coaching sessions. Data were collected via a pre and post-test instrument designed to measure perceptions of self-efficacy. Analysis of covariance was used to determine whether the null hypothesis of two research questions would be accepted or rejected.

Findings showed that participants who experienced leadership coaching had statistically significant gains on post-test scores over pretest scores in all …

Transitioning To A Personalized Learning Environment Leveraging One-To-One Devices, Rebecca G. Myers

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Today’s educational blueprint is evolving from the traditional teacher-directed model into a student-driven curriculum approach. Specifically, education is experiencing a paradigm shift from the long-established one-size-fits-all model to a customized learning process known as personalized learning. Personalized learning aims at engaging students in more relevant and rigorous learning and turns them into co-designers as the curriculum becomes tailored to their individual learning needs, skills, and interests. Additionally, when coupled with educational technology, personalized learning will provide the teacher with the tools to individualize, differentiate, and accommodate multiple student learning styles and preferences. Indeed, as personalized learning increases in popularity the …

Planning To Assist Low Achievers: Perspectives Of Instructional Leaders And Teachers, Andrea Ridley

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Is there a connection between stereotypes and the achievement gap? The issue of stereotyping is a consistent topic of concern in the United States based on labels such as race, ethnicity, gender, and religion (Gollnick, 2013). The United States is a multicultural nation where the classroom is becoming filled with a plethora of diversity pulling many of those stereotypes to the surface (Gollnick, 2013). Intergroup interaction can be frustrating, confusing, and cause anxiety for many because of the unknown and/or misunderstood factors that determine cultural differences. Could there be a connection between stereotyping and student achievement based on how the …