Chingonas In Charge: A Phenomenological Study Of Latina Educational Leaders In Colorado, Paulina Yvette Lerma-Banuelos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite comprising 76% of the U.S. teaching workforce (2017−2018), Latina women held only 8.5% of principal roles and 2.7% of superintendent positions. In places such as Colorado, where Latinos make up 15.1% of the population, this inequity highlights the pressing necessity for better representation. The present study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the fundamental essence and attributes of leadership among Latina K−12 administrators in Colorado, with a focus on the concept of “chingona” and its transformative significance in their professional journeys. The name “chingona” was historically rejected by young Latina women because of connotations to being aggressive or …

From Deficit To Asset: Developing An Equitable Early Warning System For Ninth Grade Success, Stephanie Mann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I explored the design and implementation of an asset-based Early Warning System (EWS) to support ninth-grade students at The Academy, a PK-12 charter school, during their critical high school transition. Using Practical Action Research, I addressed the question: How might a comprehensive EWS leverage student assets and systemic support to ensure success? Over one academic year, the study unfolded in two phases: Phase I employed qualitative methods—interviews, focus groups, and data reviews—to identify gaps, while Phase II developed an enhanced EWS, integrating map and street data for richer student profiles and staff collaboration. Findings underscore a human-powered EWS rooted in …

Cultivating Resilience In The Anthropocene: Evaluating A Gssw Ecological Justice Curriculum, Windy Selig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice evaluated the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Ecological Justice Pathway to examine how resilience is conceptualized and cultivated within the curriculum. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and guided by an ecological justice framework, this evaluation explored the pedagogical and curricular strategies designed to prepare social work students for the emotional, ethical, and professional demands of practicing in the Anthropocene—a time marked by ecological degradation, climate crisis, and compounding social inequities.

Through qualitative methods, including faculty interviews and curriculum document analysis, the evaluation identified both explicit and implicit components that foster student resilience. …

A Toolkit For Improving School Climate: Lessons Learned From Action Research In A Network Of 16 Charter Schools, Grant E. Erwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educators today face daunting challenges, especially in addressing persistent gaps in outcomes for historically underserved students from low-income and minority backgrounds. Practitioners often cite school climate as a key barrier to student success—an assertion supported by research linking school climate to students’ academic and personal outcomes. This study sought to improve school climate across 16 urban middle and high schools within one charter network. Using a mixed methods Collaborative Action Research (CAR) design over multiple years, the study triangulated academic research, external resources, and on-the-ground lessons to provide practical guidance for other educators. Data were collected from multiple stakeholders and …

Elevating After-School: Addressing After-School Program Quality Through Improvement Design, Kate Marie Vincent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Pathfinders After School, a national after-school provider can improve program quality amid rapid expansion. As enrollment has grown, program quality has declined, evidenced by decreasing net promoter scores (NPS), rising student behavior incidents, and terminated district partnerships. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (1979), this mixed-methods study uses improvement science methodology to test systemic interventions that empower key user groups and enhance program effectiveness. An improvement team, composed of crossfunctional organizational members, conducted root-cause analysis to identify primary drivers of after-school program quality. Core focus areas included staff training, student engagement, feedback mechanisms, and implementation fidelity. …

Bridging Gaps Between Training And Teaching Demands In The 21st Century Classroom: A Qualitative Study Of Principal Perceptions On The Quality Of Teacher Preparation Programs, Marvyn C. White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined teacher preparation programs in K-12 public schools, focusing on principal perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of teacher preparation programs and their connections to teacher attrition. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with K-12 public school administrators to gain insight into the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs. The research highlighted the need for principals' perceptions of the quality of teacher preparation programs. Current literature indicates that these programs often lack adequate practical classroom experience, provide insufficient training for managing diverse student needs, and fail to equip teachers with effective classroom management strategies. Additionally, principals' insights could …

The Financial Effects Of Enrolling Students With Disabilities In Catholic High Schools In States That Offer Vouchers Or Scholarships For Students With Disabilities, Susan M. Noonan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the financial effect of enrolling students with disabilities in Catholic high schools located in states that offer vouchers or scholarships for these students. Furthermore, the research aimed to understand the school’s experience in collaborating with the U.S. Department of Education to meet the criteria for voucher acceptance. It is important to note that enrollment and tuition revenue is the key to a school’s financial stability. Using an exploratory case study approach, information was gathered from a variety of stakeholders including the superintendent, administration, business manager, admissions coordinator, teachers, and counselors. The findings indicated that parents of children …

Organizational Cyber Resilience In Higher Education: How Administrative Leaders Experience A Disruptive Cyber Attack, Elizabeth R. Brentzel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite increasing cyber threats to higher education, little research examines how administrative leaders experience and navigate these crises to keep their institutions operational. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of seven administrative leaders in three higher education institutions following cyber attacks that disrupted normal operations. This study examined how leaders make sense of cyber crisis experiences and what factors shape their decision-making during response and recovery. Key findings reveal five critical areas of impact. First, cyber attacks can have deep emotional impacts on leaders and staff. Despite these effects, they maintain a strong dedication to enacting the educational …

Exploring Effective Institutional Strategies To Retain Adult Learners In Undergraduate Online Programs At A Faith-Based Institution, Fernando Rodriguez-Ramos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this qualitative research study was to identify dynamic advising and high-impact educational practices employed by advisors and faculty that prevent dropout and improve online adult learners’ performance and retention in undergraduate courses at a 4-year private, faith-based institution in the southwestern United States. This study explored the impact of these practices from the students’, faculty’s, and advisors’ perspectives to provide suggestions for improvement that would help retain these students in the classroom and the institution. The problem this study explored was that adult learner dropout from online higher education institutions is a persistent and increasing issue faced …

The Impact Of Principals’ And Mexican American Parents’ Preset Perspectives On Parental Involvement And What It Means For Student Achievement, Brenda Fouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parental involvement is crucial to increasing student achievement. However, elementary school principals do not always know how to provide effective parental involvement opportunities, particularly for second-generation Mexican American families. This phenomenological qualitative study was designed to improve the understanding of and describe the lived experiences of second-generation Mexican American families and their relationships with schools. A purposive sample of five second-generation Mexican American parents and five elementary school principals participated in semistructured audio and video interviews. The study offered insight into principals’ mindsets as they provided parental involvement opportunities for the families they serve. The major parental themes identified in …

Exploring New Mexico 4-H Volunteers’ Acceptance And Use Of Technology: A Qualitative Approach, Kayla Dawn Hinrichs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Integrating technology into youth development programs like 4-H is increasingly vital for enhancing communication, education, and engagement. However, technology adoption among 4-H volunteers remains inconsistent. This qualitative study explored the barriers to technology adoption among New Mexico 4-H volunteers. The researcher aimed to understand the factors influencing their willingness and ability to integrate digital tools into their volunteer roles. Guided by Rogers’s (2003) diffusion of innovation theory and framed by Creswell and Poth’s (2024) qualitative research design, this study employed semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 4-H volunteers across the state. Following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six- phase approach, …

An Autoethnography Of My Experience Navigating The United States Educational System As An Immigrant: Intercultural Communication Challenges And Cultural Asynchronization, Anuti Ngangana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to share experiences as an immigrant student and answer the following question: What does my personal life history reveal about the importance of intercultural communication in the U.S. educational system? Immigrants leave their countries of origin and migrate to the United States for various reasons. Many are traumatized when they enter the country due to civil unrest in their native countries. Immigrants arrive with their children, who join a school system that is generally unprepared to meet their needs. In order to document immigrant experiences, the researcher utilized an autoethnographic approach using counter-storytelling from …

English Language Teachers’ Use Of Technology In Libya: A Qualitative Study Using The Samr Model, Tasnem Alarbi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing dominance of technology in almost every aspect of our life and the evidence-based potential of technology to support learning, it becomes important to integrate technology in language instruction. Although there is a huge body of research on the effectiveness of technology in transforming learning in the field of language learning, there is little research reflecting on current teachers’ practices of instructional technology in language learning environments. Guided by the student-centered learning theory and the SAMR framework, this qualitative study explored the current practices of English as a Foreign language (EFL) teachers as related to technology integration in …

Use Of Mindfulness To Promote The Spiritual And Religious Competencies Of Master’S Level Counseling Students., Luisa Nayhouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-and-a-half hour training session for master's students in counselor education. The training focused on using mindfulness to enhance spiritual and religious counseling competencies. Utilizing a pre-and post-test design, the quantitative study employed mindfulness to train master's students with the aim of building and fostering spiritual and religious competencies in counseling. Historically, there has been a lack of research on the benefits of such specific mindfulness training related to this subject matter.

The study targeted master's level counselor students, with potential applicability to related fields such as psychology and social work. This …

A Study Of Social And Emotional Learning Provision To Kindergarten Students In A Rural School Through The Lens Of Whole Child Development, Shirley Spiegel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this Improvement Science Project was to take appraisal of a rural school district’s current approach for developing the whole child in kindergarten. Three prominent context-based child development theories serve as the framework for this study in determining if there is evidence in practice for support of whole child development, or if those practices or components of the current practices do not demonstrate clear evidence for whole child development, according to the theoretical framework. Conducted through the lens of these whole child development theories, this study centered on the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) provision to kindergarten students …

Investigating Factors That Influence Rural Student Degree Attainment At Urban Institutions., Kevin Kelleher Buckley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decades of research have shown that rural students attend college at rates lower than their non-rural peers. When they do attend college, they tend to stay closer to home. Considering that over two-thirds of higher education institutions in the United States are in urban areas, this presents two challenges—rural students limit their options for where to attend college, and urban institutions face difficulty attracting and retaining rural students. Very little quantitative research is available that explains what may make a rural student more likely to be successful at an urban institution or if the geographic origin of a student plays …

The Impact Of Consensus Decision Making On Creating Conditions For Psychological Safety In Sbdm Councils., Rachel Ann Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study reflects an examination of the forces and factors that impact effective decision-making on a Site-Based Decision Making council (SBDM) in Kentucky. It explores the relationship between consensus decision-making, the leader of a school, and the stakeholders who sit on an SBDM council as it relates to members’ feelings of inclusion, value, and belonging. A qualitative case study was designed to capture observational data gathered during SBDM meetings, as well as data gathered during member interviews. This data was analyzed through a relativist theoretical lens, which revealed that when open, trusting relationships are established among council members, decision-making flourishes. …

Drinking Out Of The Fire Hydrant: Educators’ Perceptions Of Well-Being In A Teacher Preparation Program, Corey P. Wolfe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The process of becoming a teacher is complex, multi-layered, and often high-stakes. Teacher preparation programs are designed to equip prospective teachers with the foundational skills and knowledge needed for a successful teaching career. In addition to pursuing the academic degree in education, future teachers must meet credentialing and licensure expectations. Because of these expectations, novice teachers are often met with profound feelings of stress and anxiety. The purpose of this research exploration was designed to investigate elementary educators’ perceptions of well-being during their senior year in a pre-service teacher preparation program. Using a qualitative research design, six educators were interviewed …

An Assessment Of The Effects Of Indirect Consultation In Improving Quality Of Life For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Sarah Michele Russell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seventeen percent of the total population of children are living with an intellectual / developmental disability (IDD), and while resources and therapeutic interventions are accessible during early childhood years, they often cease after turning 21 years old. As a result, many adults with IDD do not acquire the skills necessary to live independently and sustain employment or meaningful relationships, impacting their independence and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to understand how self-management training (in the form of indirect consultation) for adults with IDD influence independence and socially significant behavior in relation to quality of life. The …

Mathematics Teacher Certification Status And Student Achievement: A Quantitative Analysis, Angela K. Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sixty years ago, James Coleman (1966) released a report called Equality of Education where he focused on inequalities in education between Black and White students. Today, continued research has built on Coleman’s findings particularly on teacher quality and its effects on student achievement (Coleman et al., 1966). The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to explore if any relationship exists between 8th grade math and 10th grade geometry teachers’ certification status and 8th grade math and 10th grade geometry students’ achievement. By utilizing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Theory (PCK) and Mathematical Knowledge for Teachers Theory (MKT) as the theoretical frameworks, the …

An Ethnographic Study: The Influence Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy On Student Agency, Gerald D. Smith Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study aimed to investigate and analyze the methods and practices of teaching within urban educational settings, with a specific focus on the culturally relevant practices that should be integrated into the learning experiences for Black learners. The primary goal was to highlight the necessity for educators within urban educational settings to adopt a culturally relevant pedagogy within their context that promotes higher academic excellence and meaningful learning experiences for Black students through the cultivation of agency. Using an ethnography qualitative research design, the study worked to answer two questions: RQ1: What culturally relevant pedagogical practices are used to …

Career And Technical Education Classes And Time To Graduate For Special Education Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Susan Steele

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether special education students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes during high school demonstrate significantly different amounts of time to graduation compared to their peers who do not participate in CTE classes.

Data collection involved using pre-existing information from the district's student information system. An Excel spreadsheet with relevant student demographic and academic information was utilized. The district data manager provided a spreadsheet with 3,567 student records to analyze differences between CTE and non-CTE participants. The results revealed that CTE participation significantly impacted graduation rates, …

Does Gender Spell Success? Exploring Female Student Perspectives Of Faculty At A Higher Educational Institution, Chitora Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female students at a higher educational institution and to understand how those experiences shape their perspectives of female and male faculty. Additionally, this study sought to discover how faculty gender influences their interactions with students and the similarities and differences between interactions and the potential for student success as they define it.

The overall goal was to better understand how female students experience faculty interactions and help to promote more positive outcomes for students through the supportive efforts of those who teach them. Data were …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Leadership Practices On Inclusive Education In Rural Appalachian Elementary Schools, Michael Vermillion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine fifth-grade teachers’ perceptions of principal practices related to the academic achievement of students with disabilities in inclusive schools in the Appalachian region of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The study focused on rural Appalachian schools because they face unique challenges related to poverty, isolation, and limited resources that can influence their ability to provide inclusive education.

Data collection strategies included semi-structured individual interviews and document review. The data analysis strategies included transcription of interviews, member checking, coding, and identifying themes. To ensure credibility of findings, rigorous measures such as coding and …

Tennessee Magnet Schools: Examining The Relationship Between Magnet School Designation And Student Achievement In Secondary Public Schools, Alex Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between magnet school designation and student achievement in Tennessee secondary public schools. Three years (2021-2023) of student achievement data from the Tennessee Department of Education was used to analyze student performance in 24 magnet and 287 traditional non-magnet schools. Schools were included in the study if they operated continuously throughout the study period and were categorized as either a public magnet school or a traditional non-magnet school. Excluded from the study were virtual, charter, alternative schools, and early colleges.

Four research questions were crafted to guide this study. Student …

Innovating Professional Learning: A Design Thinking Approach To Pk-12 Education Development, Shanna Hensley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increasing complexity of 21^st century education has heightened the demand for professional development (PD) that effectively support educators in adapting to evolving standards and diverse student needs. Despite extensive investment in PD, significant gaps remain in its design, implementation, and evaluation, often leading to ineffective outcomes. This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the processes involved in identifying, developing, implementing, and evaluating professional learning programs in PK-12 education, with the goal of identifying key factors that contribute to their effectiveness. Grounded in the design thinking framework, this study employs five phases: empathy, define, ideate, prototype, and test, to investigate how …

Forest School Educators’ Approaches And Perceptions Of Teaching, Learning, And Children's Behaviors: A Qualitative Multiple-Case Study, Saundra Stiles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multiple-case study explored five forest schools in the East Tennessee region of the United States. The aim of this research study was to further the understanding of forest schools. The purpose of this study was to understand and describe forest school educators’ approaches and perceptions to teaching and learning in relation to behavior management, the environment, and challenging behavior, as well as the ways in which forest school educators engage children in learning. This multiple-case study utilized a demographic survey, observations, photographs, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews to collect data. Data were analyzed using two-cycle coding, which revealed …

The Importance Of The Relationship Between General And Special Education Co-Teachers In Inclusive Preschool Programs, Ruth Copeland, Ruth B. Copeland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative case study was designed to examine the importance of the relationship between general and special education co-teachers in inclusive preschool programs. The holistic strengths-based portraiture method will be used to study the positive aspects of the relationships of two co-teaching teams. In-depth interviews with individual teachers, co-teaching teams, and administrators combined with a questionnaire and classroom environmental rating scales were used to examine the culture and community that build positive relationships between general educators and special educators who co-teach in an inclusive preschool setting. The main goal of this research was to identify critical elements that contribute to …

Administrator Perceptions Of Strategic Use Of Web-Based Digital Tools To Facilitate Learning, Shelley Sayers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of principals, assistant principals, and supervisors in the strategic use of web-based instructional tools to facilitate learning in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English Language Arts. The study focused on administrators and supervisors in one district in Tennessee because these educational leaders observe classroom teachers regularly through the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model.

Data collection strategies included semi-structured individual interviews with 12 educators who are in administrative or supervisor roles within the school district. Analysis of data occurred by transcription of interviews, member checking, and coding. The researcher then identified …

Leadership Development: A Qualitative Inquiry To Investigate Preparedness For Higher Education Administrative Roles In Online Doctoral Programs, Stephanie Fletcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The changing climate of academia requires higher education leaders to refine online doctoral programs to ensure future administrators are equipped to navigate institutions of education successfully. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of graduates from online educational doctoral programs to understand how instructional activities, mentorship opportunities, and practical experiences shaped their preparedness for higher education administrative roles. Data collection strategies included twelve individual interviews with higher education administrators who completed their preparation in an online doctoral program. Findings included seven themes: perceptions of leadership preparation; online learning and leadership preparedness; peer learning and leadership …