Education Commons^™

21st Century Community Learning Centers: Program Evaluation Evidence From Texas, Rosilyn Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Texas afterschool programs strive to enhance academic performance and meet students' needs, yet gaps in program quality persist. This study evaluated 21st Century Community Learning Centers’ performance in reading, math, GPA, attendance, in-school suspension, and engagement, both within these categories and against program goals and demographics. Theoretical frameworks used in this study include the logic model, social justice theory, and cultural relevance theory. This quantitative study utilized a nonexperimental and secondary data research design which utilized five statistical tests: the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, One-Way repeated ANOVA, Spearman Correlation, the Independent Samples t-Test, and the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results showed that …

K-3 Teachers’ Self-Efficacy For Teaching Reading And Its Relationship On K-3 Students Reading Achievement: A Mixed-Methods Study, Adrienne Dowden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educators persistently grapple with heightened levels of accountability concerning their professional job performance, concomitant with the imperative to maintain commensurate standards in facilitating student achievement. Such circumstances engender heightened personal strain, potentially precipitating diminished self-esteem and consequently impeding the delivery of effective educational services to students, thereby compromising overall professional performance. Bandura (1997) delineated self-efficacy as the cognitive appraisal of one's capacity to orchestrate and execute specific tasks effectively. Moreover, he posited that individuals' anticipated outcomes are significantly influenced by their assessments of their competence to execute tasks in various contexts. Analogously, teachers' perceptions and attitudes regarding their students' overall …

An Exploration Of K-3 Teachers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, And Instructional Technology Use Pre-, During, And Post-Covid-19, Patience Mensah-Bonsu Aggrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multiple case study explores kindergarten to third-grade teachers use of instructional technology across three different periods: pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19. This research investigates teachers’ attitudes, the use of technological tools by teachers, and the internal (second order) and external (first order) barriers that informed their use of instructional technology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to influence their use in the post-pandemic phase. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and checklists from eight kindergarten third-grade teachers using a qualitative multiple case study approach. The findings suggest that there was a shift in teachers’ instructional technology …

Career And Technical Educator Transitions From Industry To Secondary Classrooms: A Narrative Study In Rural Schools, Samantha Satterfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective educators are essential to the success of career and technical education (CTE) programs, yet many schools encounter challenges in hiring and retaining qualified individuals (Peisach, 2023). CTE programs and educators provide workforce opportunities for students and rural communities. Access to evidence-based practices to support occupationally licensed teachers during the transition from industry to full-time teaching is paramount to effective professional development. Administrators play a pivotal role in supplying the guidance necessary for CTE teachers to transition successfully into the classroom. According to Bouwans et al., (2019) the inconsistency in district implementation and support has been attributed to the decline …

An Examination Of The Effect Of The Implementation Of A Trauma-Informed School Initiative On The Attitudes Of The Staff In A School, Michael Riddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological case study was to investigate the change in the attitudes of teachers pre and post implementation of a trauma-informed school initiative in a school in the Eastern Grand Region of Tennessee. As adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have become more recognizable in school age children by teachers and school staff members due to an increase in knowledge about ACEs, there has been an increase in the number of trauma-informed initiatives undertaken by schools across the United States. Due to the challenges associated with the implementation of trauma-informed initiatives in schools, it is important for administrators …

Resilient Students: Traumatic Experiences, Aces, And Resources That Influence University Students’ Perceptions Of First-Year College Adjustment, Audrey W. Besch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The history of understanding the impacts of trauma on individuals has shifted from a narrow focus on physical injuries to a multidimensional understanding of how trauma influences the development of psychological and emotional interactions. This evolving understanding has informed the implementation of trauma-informed practices and interventions across various sectors. Tennessee institutions of higher education recognize the connection between trauma, student success, and systemic interventions. University students who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences have heightened vulnerability to stressful events as they transition from high school to college, increasing the likelihood of lower educational attainment, higher drop-out rates, and higher rates of …

Educator Perceptions Of Career And Technical Education Courses And The Involvement In Career And Technical Student Organizations On Student Attendance, Robert Satterfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of secondary teachers, administrators, and educational supervisors of the implications of Career and Technical Education courses and the involvement in Career and Technical Student Organizations on student attendance. Data for this study were collected quantitatively by utilizing Microsoft Forms to administer the survey to potential participants. The survey administered for this study contained 13 Likert scale questions and two open-ended questions. Once data were collected SPSS Version 25 was used to analyze the data from the survey. After data analysis, it was concluded that all 13 of the Likert scale …

Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency, Amy Draper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high

schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS

model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured

interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical

coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational

success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’

descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges

they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined …

Stem Teacher Perceptions In East Tennessee About Using Artificial Intelligence In Classroom Operations, David Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the perceptions of Secondary STEM Teachers in rural East Tennessee about Artificial Intelligence instructional use. The researcher examined secondary STEM teachers' positive attitudes toward AI, challenges of using AI in the classroom, educators' confidence in using AI, and perceived benefits of AI. The participants of this study were located throughout East Tennessee, and had to self-identify as a 6-12 STEM teacher teaching in a rural district. The data were collected through Google Forms and the link to respond was posted in two different Facebook groups for distribution. The survey included 16 …

College Student’S Learning Experiences During Covid-19 Among Traditional And Post-Traditional Students Enrolled In Institutions Affiliated With The Appalachian College Association, Jo Anne Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the learning experiences, feelings and emotions, level of study support, and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic between traditional and post-traditional college students enrolled in an institution affiliated with the Appalachian College Association.

A two-group comparison research design using a web-based survey was used for the study. Using the College Student’s Learning Experiences during COVID-19 among Traditional and Post-Traditional Students Enrolled in Institutions Affiliated with the Appalachian College Association survey, the research questions were analyzed with a sample size of N = 58, traditional college student group and N=33, …

Early Career Teachers' Perceptions And Preparedness For Culturally Responsive Teaching When Teaching Black Youths With Behavior Challenges., Erica Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In my study, I explore the perceptions and preparedness of early career teachers in the context of culturally responsive teaching (CRT) when instructing Black youth with behavior challenges. Early career teachers play a vital role in shaping the educational experiences of their students. Their beliefs and readiness to employ CRT practices are critical factors in addressing the unique needs of Black youth, particularly those facing behavioral difficulties. I investigated the perceptions of early career teachers regarding the importance of CRT and its effect on the learning environment. I examined how these teachers perceive the value of cultural responsiveness in managing …

Understanding How Social Media Influences Student Engagement Within The Classroom: Middle Grades Students' Perspectives., Anthony Dawyne Myrks-Brewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the concept of student engagement and participation through the lens of middle school students. Studies and research show that overall student engagement amongst middle school-aged students is the most unengaged period throughout students' K-12 educational journey. Today's students live in a completely different generation from their guardians and parents due to the technology component, including smartphones making the element of social media more accessible. Social media is a platform that helps people communicate through various applications, and middle school students engage and participate in various social media applications daily. Student engagement is a critical component within education …

A Little Bit Of Everything: Persistence Though The Pre-Medical Pipeline For First And Continuing Generation Students., Tana R. Didelot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study examines pre-medical college student persistence in their pathway to medical education. Through the framework of Terenzini and Reason’s College Student Persistence Model (2005), this work sought to understand the pre-college experiences, campus support factors, and external environments that help pre-medical college students to continue toward their goal of medical school entry. This study included pre-medical undergraduate students in the campus context of one public institution in the Southern Unites States. Pre-medical upperclassmen students were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol developed with the persistence framework. The analysis was conducted to obtain a more nuanced understanding of the …

Graduation Rates Of Students With Disabilities At A Participating Southern University, Kelly Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental, correlational quantitative study was to compare the graduation rates of first-time, full-time students with disabilities to those of first-time, full-time students in the general population at the participating university. The sample used for analysis was full-time, first-time students entering between 2015 and 2020. Using archival data from the Disability Services database and the University's Banner system, four- and six-year graduation rates were compared. The original data set consisted of 22,070 students in the starting focus cohorts. After removing entering transfer students and students who enrolled in less than 15 credits for their entering semester, 8,337 …

Community College Student Success During Covid-19 Pandemic Based On Class Modality, Rebecca Aslinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative, comparative study was to determine whether there were significant differences in Introduction to Education grades as measured by GPA among community college students between 2018-23 with the change of class modality due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study examined differences in Introduction to Education grades as measured by GPA at three community colleges from 2018-23. Archival data were used for this study. The population for this study consisted of all students enrolled in the Introduction to Education course at three institutions. Both in-person and online classes were examined during the time before, during, and …

Leading The Charge: A Case Study On The Leadership Behaviors Of Education Leaders At Title I Campuses In Texas Prisons, Ashley Mckelvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Each year, eligible schools across the nation receive Title I grant funds through the Elementary and Secondary Act. These funds, justified in pursuit of social justice and educational equity, serve to provide supplemental education services to neglected and delinquent students. While the majority of the awarded schools operate within the traditional school setting, a very small number of schools in the United States operate within the correctional setting. These schools receive Title I Part D Subpart 1 funds. Consequently, most of the guidance pertains to best practices within traditional public schools, which provides no provision on the appropriate use of …

My Superpower: Research Collaborator Strategies Among Faculty Members Who Are First-Generation College Graduates, Faye Farmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This inductive study examined the intersectional experience within research collaborations of tenure-track faculty who are both first-generation college graduate students and from racial and ethnic groups (as defined in the United States) that are underrepresented in STEM fields (as defined by the National Science Foundation). I interviewed twelve current and former faculty members from doctoral-granting universities in the United States. I used identity as the theoretical lens to explore research collaborations at the individual level. The interviews revealed three themes reflecting identity's role in selecting and being selected as a collaborator and working with a collaborator. The themes are: an …

An Examination Of The International Baccalaureate’S Approaches To Learning As Humanizing, Leah Yates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of 21st-century skill frameworks characterized as being universal, transferrable, and future-facing are ubiquitous among international educational organizations (Suto & Eccles, 2014). The International Baccalaureate (IB) incorporates a similarly articulated universal, transferrable, and future-facing set of skills called the Approaches to Learning (ATL) in its four programmes (International Baccalaureate, 2022b). However, critiques of the IB as being Eurocentric and solely concerned with the development of learners for Western educational experiences calls for a critical examination of the ATL as promoting monocultural skills which are not contextual, personalized, or humanizing (Refai, 2020). This multiple-case study and document review utilized the …

Supporting Preservice Teachers Of Color In Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Kimberly M. Korpita

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While learning how to become culturally and critically conscious educators and advocates for their PK-12 students, racially minoritized preservice teachers often feel isolated. More research is needed to learn how teacher preparation programs could consistently empower rather than isolate preservice teachers of color as they engage in coursework involving culturally relevant pedagogy.

This study focused on the experiences of preservice teachers of color engaging in culturally relevant pedagogy coursework in a K-12 teacher preparation program at a predominately White institution. In partnership with this teacher preparation program, one current preservice teachers of color, five former alumni of color, and three …

Understanding The Barriers Of General Education Teachers Implementing Inclusive Practices, Sonya Garrette Woodfork

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of students with disabilities has become more prevalent in general education classrooms advocating for children to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This participatory action research aimed to investigate the effects of general education teachers’ lack of sufficient preservice training and attitudes on learning outcomes for children with special needs placed in inclusive learning environments. The participatory action research took place on one elementary and one early childhood campus. Data collection methods took place via triangulation using data from interviews, journals, and surveys. There are many barriers to successfully implementing inclusion in general education classrooms. This study …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lack Of Preparedness Of Recent Graduates In Sports Management Businesses In The Northeastern United States, Daria M. Mickowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to facilitate a better understanding of the competitive nature of private sports management businesses that provide coaches and sports programming for school systems and townships. The problem investigated by the study involved how the significant lack of preparedness of recent sports management/education graduates in the northeastern United States impacts professional development and the ability of organizations to compete, reduce undesirable turnover, and retain talent. The purpose of the study was to understand why recent sports management/education graduates were unprepared in three critical areas: leadership capability, managing interpersonal conflict, and effectiveness in working on diverse teams. A qualitative …

Examining The Role Of Self-Awareness In Shaping Constructive Behaviors In Conflict Management: An Elementary Principal Perspective, Laura E. Lockhart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative study, the researcher explored school leaders’ perceptions of the role of self-awareness in shaping constructive conflict management behaviors and the training and development systems that provide these leaders with essential knowledge and skills to learn and grow. The researcher limited the study to the role of the elementary campus principals and used purposive sampling to select three participants from three different districts in the state of Texas. Each participant completed the Conflict Dynamics Survey and participated in a debrief discussion of the results. Additionally, the researcher conducted interview sessions with the principals and examined online documents and …

School Administrators’ Perspectives On Dyslexia And Transformational Leadership And Implications For Teacher Placement, Christina M. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the perceptions of secondary-level administrators about dyslexia instruction and their decision-making process in teacher placement within a Texas school district. Using transformative leadership theory, the researcher’s aim was to address the instructional needs of students with dyslexia and help catalyze educational change. The research involved a qualitative descriptive approach to explore administrators’ perspectives and practices. Findings revealed that dyslexia affects approximately 15%–20% of the U.S. population. Despite intellectual capabilities, individuals with dyslexia face persistent struggles in reading and writing because of neurobiological differences. The specific problem addressed was the lack of understanding among school administrators about …

Bridging Gaps. The Role Of School Leaders In Implementing The Mckinney-Vento Act For Homeless Student Success, Brian Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry explores the role of school leaders in implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MKVA) within a public school district in West Texas. The study addresses the challenges school leaders face in supporting homeless students and the strategies they employ to ensure academic success and socio-emotional well-being. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bertalanffy’s general systems theory, the research examines how school leaders' personal understandings and professional experiences influence MKVA provisions' implementation. The study employs semistructured interviews and reflective journals to gather participant data, followed by a member-checking process to enhance the accuracy and credibility of …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Entrepreneur Women’S Personal Development And Its Effect On Their Self-Identity, Mayrion Ann Washington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Black entrepreneur women’s personal development and its effect on their self-identity. The study specifically aimed to explore personal development, entrepreneurship, and self-identity as they related to and affected Black entrepreneur women, in the United States, and their experiences with oppression, challenges, barriers, intersectionality, and systemic subordination. Historically, Black entrepreneur women have experienced systematic oppression and faced increased challenges that have and continue to negatively affect their entrepreneurial progress and their self-identity. Preliminary findings from the literature found that when Black entrepreneurial women engage in personal development, the results are reflected in …

A Qualitative Study Of The Career Experiences Of Asian And Asian American Female Administrators In U.S. Higher Education, Yunru Shen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences of Asian and Asian American women administrators’ career paths in U.S. higher education. The research fills a gap in the literature regarding the careers of Asian and Asian American women administrators. The recruitment process was completed between May 13 and July 9, 2024. Recruitment emails were sent to 25 potentially qualified participants, including a network of 17 people made up of mentors, professors, and colleagues, as well as eight professional associations and LinkedIn. The participants were six Asian and Asian American biologically female administrators at U.S. colleges and universities. These participants currently hold …

The Conundrum Of Buy-In For The Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment, Kelli F. Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gather teacher perceptions of the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) within a rural school district and provide information to stakeholders and administrators so that they may understand the buy-in of elementary, junior high, and high school teachers. Previous studies showed discrepancies in the extent to which elementary, junior high, and high school teachers accepted and were willing to support and participate in pay-for- performance initiatives; therefore, this case study provided data on the amount of support various levels of educators have in their local TIA program and their perceptions of their local policy …

Narratives Of Latina Leadership In Hispanic Serving Institutions In Texas, Deborah Ina Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the experiences of Latinas in Hispanic Serving Institutions Leadership Roles during middle adulthood and their perceptions of the factors, if any, that may influence their leadership development in Hispanic Serving Institutions in Texas. As the increased Latina student populations increase in Hispanic serving institutions it is crucial for students to see themselves in the leaders that influence them. Using the narrative life stories and LatCrit as the theoretical lens this study provided themes regarding the factors that influence leadership development during middle adulthood of the participants. Through the life stories, the study’s findings described and …

The Erosion Of Identity: A Study Of The Influence Of Racial Microaggressions On K-12 African American School Leaders, Rayfield J. Lavan Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American educational leaders in navigating racial microaggressions in the workplace, specifically within K-12 educational settings. Using Taxonomy of Racial Microaggressions and emotion regulation theory as frameworks, this research examines how these leaders manage, respond to, and cope with various forms of racial bias while maintaining their professional identities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with African American leaders, and thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns of microaggressions and corresponding emotion regulation strategies. Key findings reveal that participants frequently encounter microaggressions such as assumption of inferiority, criminality, and second-class citizenship, with …

School Safety In Rural Communities: A Qualitative Phenomenological Research Study, Tamara D. Nance-Bethea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many students in rural schools have negative school safety perceptions. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the school safety perceptions of students in rural elementary, middle, and high schools in a public school district in South Carolina. The school safety perceptions of students in grades three through twelve were investigated and examined.

The setting for this study took place in a rural school district in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Three schools in this district were utilized. Forty-three students participated in a short school safety interest survey. The survey provided basic information such …