Education Commons^™

Examining High School Girls’ Experiences In A Global Leadership Program: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study, Erika Haskins

Theses & Dissertations

The proportion of women in influential leadership positions continues to grow at a slow pace (Beaupre, 2022; Hoyt & Johnson, 2012). Inequalities are still present in the representation of leadership and salary wages (Catalyst, Inc., 2022; Choi, 2018). While progress is evident in regard to diversity and inclusion policies and practices in the workplace, barriers continue to exist that hinder opportunities for women who strive to achieve higher-level positions (Elias, 2018). With more women in leadership positions, advocacy for women and girls can occur, such as access to leadership development programs in schools and organizations (Beaupre, 2022; Shier et al., …

Mentorship In Academia And Career: A Scholarly Personal Narrative Of A Latina Millennial’S Experience, Alyssa S. Cortes Kennedy

Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation, my scholarly professional narrative (SPN), is a self-reflection of mentoring experiences as a Latina millennial in academia and professional settings. These experiences are told through the art of storytelling using testimonio, which promotes a critical awareness of cultural intersectionality and intercultural understanding through first person narrative. My experiences with mentorship in personal, academic, and professional workspaces include mentors who may or may not have influenced my own journey as a doctoral student and business professional as a Latina millennial. Using testimonio helps explain certain cultural challenges, specific scenarios or experiences, familial responsibilities, and cultural barriers, and how …

Elementary English Language Learners' Perceptions Of Teacher Care In The Classroom, Carol Boodram-Wright

Theses & Dissertations

English Language Learners (ELLs) experience care in the classroom based on prior experiences, teacher and student relationships, academic support, health support, and safety. The purpose of this study was to understand how ELLs experience care in the classroom with their classroom teacher as described by six ELL participants. A positive teacher-student relationship rooted in care, comfort, safety, and trust enhanced ELLs' engagement with their classroom teacher. The findings of this qualitative narrative study revealed that unconditional support and individualized quality time contributed to ELLs’ well-being in the classroom. Interpretations of care from the ELLs’ narratives depicted how experiences in the …

Beaches, Bumps, And Milkshakes: A Humanizing, Open, And Dialogic, Postformal Autoethnographic Study Of An Experiential Learning Academy, Eric Anthony Karahalis

Theses & Dissertations

The dominant educational paradigm is rooted in a Platonic, Cartesian, and Piagetian mind-supremacist epistemology that subordinates the body and experience to the mind, ideas, and objective concepts. This reduces students to cognitive receptors of information in a detached, decontextualized, and dehumanizing classroom, i.e., the banking educational model (Freire, 2018; hooks,1994). Students are forced to sit at desks for several hours a day and expected to open their minds and ignore the body’s needs. This educational model is dehumanizing because it only approaches students and learning through one epistemological lens and separates learning from the world. On the other hand, experiential …

Attitudes About Inclusivity Among Preservice Educators: A Mixed Methods Approach, Kathleen M. Quinn

Theses & Dissertations

In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) became the first enacted policy that led the fight against ableism, providing students with disabilities the right to public education. In 2004, this policy became known as the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which included these major components supporting the policy of inclusion: Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Individual Education Plans (IEP), and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This study highlights how teacher preparation programs are pivotal in preservice teachers' attitudes toward inclusion. The data for this study was collected and analyzed based on quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with …

Family Caregivers: From Invisible To Visible Within The Healthcare Continuum, Tara Anglim

Theses & Dissertations

As the United States' aging population rapidly grows, the prevalence of adults with chronic illness or disabilities who require intermittent or long-term caregiving from family members also increases. Despite the prevalence of caregiving, the role of the family caregiver is a label that lacks a clear description, definition, or societal understanding. The inability to identify family caregivers creates negative ramifications, including diminished recognition and support throughout the healthcare continuum. Drawing from caregiver identity theory, this qualitative phenomenological study aimed to describe the experiences of family caregivers to promote a deeper understanding of how they became aware of their caregiver identity …

A Narrative Case Study: The Role Of Culturally Responsive Mentorship To Navigate, Empower, And Level The Playing Field For Black And Brown Students In Higher Education, Chotsani Williams West

Theses & Dissertations

As the rate of enrollment increases for Black and Brown students in U.S. colleges and universities, in part, due to innovative and strategic recruitment and enrollment efforts to attract them, research shows that students of color benefit from intentional and strength-based college support services to ensure that they can thrive and persist toward graduation. In this narrative case study, I explored the perceived experiences of Black and Brown alumni who were participants in a mentoring program at a predominantly White institution (PWI). In-depth interviews with 20 alumni chronicled their lived experiences and perceptions as they navigated the PWI with the …

Comparison Of Physical Activity Levels Among School-Age Adolescents In The Rural And Urban Areas Of District Swat Kpk, Pakistan- An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study, Imran Uddin

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Obesity and overweight represent significant global public health concerns. Young adolescents are in particular increasingly experiencing obesity and overweight due to their sedentary lifestyles, excessive electronic media use, and lack of physical activity (PA). This trend is linked to the development of non-communicable diseases in later life. Moreover, data regarding the lack of PA is available in Pakistan, but a gap exists in the comparative analysis of physical activity levels between rural and urban adolescents. Rural and urban areas exhibit distinctions in both geographical settings and technological advancements, potentially influencing the PA levels of their respective inhabitants.
Purpose: The …

"She Didn't Know How To Work With Black Kids" Exploring How Adolescent Black Girls In Private, Predominantly White Institutions Perceive Their White Teachers' Ability To Affirm And Uplift Their Intersectional Identities, Florence Marie Phophete-Barbour

Theses & Dissertations

Black girls in predominantly White educational institutions (PWIs) are often viewed as less than or categorized as aggressive by their White teachers and peers, and such negative attitudes can lead to sub-par academic outcomes and low self-esteem. My study endeavored to understand the lived experiences of 10 Black adolescent girls ages 13-19 who have attended private PWIs in Nassau County, NY. Using a narrative inquiry approach, I conducted semi-structured interviews, educational mapping exercises, and focus groups to collect data on the girls' academic journey. The findings revealed that Black girls in PWI believe that school culture and structures matter, and …

A Critical Exploration Of Unequal School Funding: Teacher Job Satisfaction Across Underfunded And Well-Funded Schools, David Tomasic

Theses & Dissertations

Unequal school funding is a phenomenon that promotes an educational structure where certain public schools receive higher financial support and resources while other schools receive lower levels. An important but overlooked dimension of the phenomenon is its potential effect on teacher job satisfaction in underfunded and well-funded schools. This dimension forms the basis of this study and exploration of the phenomenon of unequal school funding. Using Susan Moore Johnson's framework, this qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand how unequal school funding affected nine high school teachers across both under and well-funded high schools on Long Island. The study sought to …

Feel The Burn(Out) And (Mom)Guilt Of Doctorate Programs Amongst Latina Mothers: A Testiomonio Reflection, Judyann Armijo

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. This research aims to explore the experiences of Latina mothers residing in San Antonio, Texas, using testimonios as a form of data collection; asynchronous interviews were completed to obtain the participants' experiences as they journeyed through their respective doctoral programs. Through this qualitative study, the research provided an in-depth analysis to understand the relationship between motherhood, academia, and culture in relation to advanced degrees. In this study, LatCrit served as the leading theoretical framework, allowing the researcher to understand the obstacles the participants underwent not only as doctoral students but also as the other critical roles in …

Impact Of Indicators On Hispanic Student Postsecondary Stem Success, Sandra Durden

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. My study seeks to explore the extent that select secondary and postsecondary indicators predict STEM student enrollment and persistence particularly for Hispanic students. Identifying postsecondary STEM success and college readiness indicators with special focus on malleable indicators that can assist educators, administrators, and policymakers in designing and implementing educational interventions targeted at improving representation of Hispanic students that receive postsecondary STEM degrees. Currently there are few studies that use data from nationally representative samples of students to research the relationship between predictiveness of indicators and postsecondary STEM success, in particular, studies that explore which indicators differentially predict postsecondary …

The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Faculty Members’ Job Satisfaction At King Abdul Aziz University In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Alotaibi

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. My research focused on examining the relationship between leadership style and faculty members’ job satisfaction at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The main objective of this research was to analyze the connection in the styles of leadership and job satisfaction in the higher education sector in Saudi Arabia. My study aimed to provide insights necessary to help Saudi Arabian higher education institutions increase employee satisfaction.

I was guided in this research by the following research questions: (1) What is the prevailing leadership style of the heads of departments as perceived by their faculty members at …

Qualities Of Effective Saudi University Presidents, Ziyad Sultan

Theses & Dissertations

The transformation of educational resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was presented as a crucial part of vision 2030 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2016 as an important part of an overall strategy to diversify the KSA from its over-dependence on oil revenues. Vision 2030 imagined the transformational development of knowledge resources in the KSA including the development of leadership and knowledge applications to support the social and economic needs of the nation. High on the list of priorities was transformation of the 33 public universities in the KSA to be able to operate autonomously. Clearly, …

Equalizing Community Voice In An International Service-Learning Project: A Narrative Inquiry Of A Social Entrepreneurial Peruvian Women's Group, Monica D. Hernandez

Theses & Dissertations

Traditionally, international service-learning (ISL) programs are created and led by host groups, which frequently overlook the international communities’ learning process and perspectives and the long-term impact of service missions on the community. Fundamentally, ISL is meant to address community needs. With the principal focus being on enriching students’ learning, community voice is often eclipsed. The research aim was to investigate the empowerment and efficacy of an ISL project to strengthen relationships between engaged scholars and international communities and improve future service-learning trips. Using a qualitive narrative research design, I investigated a 2021-2022 ISL Based Photovoice Project applying Kolb’s Experiential Learning …

Multilingual Learners' And Their Teachers' Perceptions Of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Practices In The Mainstream Classroom: A Mixed-Method Approach, Nicki K. Gonias

Theses & Dissertations

The number of multilingual learners (MLs) is on the rise in the United States, especially in schools located in New York State and Long Island. However, many general education teachers lack the necessary training and certification to teach these diverse students effectively. In response, New York State has developed the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CR-S) Education Framework to address the gaps in teaching practices. The implementation varies across districts on Long Island. To gain a deeper understanding, I conducted this study to investigate the perceptions of MLs and their teachers regarding CR-S pedagogical approaches in mainstream classrooms. The study involved surveys …

Testimonios Of Latinas In The Federal Government Senior Executive Service: Honoring Women Who Excel In Public Service, Amarylis Lopez

Theses & Dissertations

The Senior Executive Service (SES) is the highest tier of executive management and leadership in the federal government. The Latino/a population has significantly increased in the past three decades with no corresponding increase in the federal workforce and the number of Latinos/as serving in the SES remains low. As Latinos/as in the SES are largely underrepresented, their ability to influence federal policies is significantly undermined. The purpose of this study is to explore the testimonios (testimonies) of Latinas in the SES to better understand their experiences while navigating entry into the SES and maintaining their respective positions.

This study used …

Impact Of Career And Technical Education Among High School Students In Texas, Tammy Ridgway

Theses & Dissertations

Existing research documents the importance and relevance of career and technical education (CTE) throughout American history. Beginning with the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 to the passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century in July of 2018, federal and state legislation continue to shape vocational education within our public-school systems. The literature provides strong evidence between student success, in terms of high school graduation rate and post-secondary educational attainment, and the participation in career and technical education during the high school years. This dissertation analyzes whether dual credit career and technical education …

The Principal’S Role As Mentor In New Teacher Attrition Rates: The Importance Of Teaching Teachers, William Dockery

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. Research tells us that it takes years of deliberate practice and ongoing coaching to become an “expert” in any field and that it can take from 3 to 7 years for a new teacher to grow into an effective educator. Yet, in America today, more than 50% of teachers quit in their first 5 years of service. In low performing economically disadvantaged schools, teachers leaving the profession in their first 3 years increases to 60%. The impact of highly effective teachers on students’ success can be seen through the increase in percentile on Math scores, moving the needle …

Teaching Quality In South Texas: Examining The Factor Structures Of The Modified Principles Of Adult Learning Scale For Students At A Four-Year, Hispanic Serving Institution, Armando Tejeda

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this survey study was to explore the factor structure of a newly adapted survey called the Modified Principles of Adult Learning Scale (MPALS) with students at a 4-year Hispanic Serving Institution. The examination of the factor structure of the new instrument was done in order to analyze student perception of professor’s instructional approach (i.e., application of Constructivist Learning Theory). The MPALS is a 44-item questionnaire that upon analysis yielded three factors, titled Student Centered, Subject Centered, and Teacher Centered, which supports its use as a student measure of instructional approach consistent with Constructivist Learning Theory. The experience …

How To Collaborate And Not Just Coexist: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study On The Impact Of A Physician And Nurse Interprofessional Education Program On The Development Of Early Career Pediatrician Communication Skills And Collaborative Behaviors Once In Practice, Elizabeth L. Wueste

Theses & Dissertations

Healthcare organizations are challenged to build and develop interprofessional (IP) teams capable of delivering effective patient care (Tang et al., 2018). Historically, these multiple professional roles are not formally educated together but are all expected to work in unison once they enter practice (El-Hanafy, 2018). This lack of relational foundation has led to age-old conflict between the physician and nurse roles on the care team (Stein et al., 1990). This conflict has been attributed to a lack of role definition or an overemphasis on hierarchical structures, poor communication, and the inability of physicians to collaboratively work with their nurse counterparts …

Understanding The Significance Of Building A School In Belize Through Action Research, Stephen Todd Speer

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. In Central America, the country of Belize shares its border with Guatemala and Mexico. These countries, with El Salvador and Honduras, are known as the most dangerous areas in our world outside active war zones (Dudlry, 2012; Edwards & Gill, 2002; UNODC, 2019). Crime is the largest contributor to instability in the region and creates a dangerous environment that must be reduced. Reduction of crime can correlate to an increase in available educational opportunities (Edwards, 2002; OSAC, 2019). The U.S. government conducts foreign humanitarian programs that increase educational opportunities in hope of reducing crime and stabilizing the region …

Sheltered Instruction For Newcomer Multilingual Learners Through A Multicultural And Assimilation Lens: Administrators, Teachers, And Students’ Perceptions In A Middle-Level Education Setting, Victoria Rae Seelinger

Theses & Dissertations

Administrators and teachers are tasked with the opportunity to implement bilingual programs to accommodate the growing population of multilingual learners, or MLs. There is a debate in the field about the most appropriate structure for bilingual programs. Sheltered Instruction (SI) is a way to “shelter” MLs from the anxiety of regular academic courses by separating MLs from their native English-speaking peers until they are ready and proficient enough to join mainstream classes. While the SI classroom is beneficial academically, the program’s separate structure, culture, and climate could have negative implications for students’ socialization and sense of belonging. The purpose of …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Tenured, Non-Native Spanish Speaker-Teachers: A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Native Speaker Fallacy, Orsola Giovanna Dutra

Theses & Dissertations

There is limited research surrounding non-native speaker-teachers of world languages and the disruption known as the native speaker fallacy (Phillipson, 1992), which is the belief that only native speakers can be the most suitable teachers of a given language. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of tenured, non-native Spanish-speaking teachers who work across different public high schools on Long Island about their perceptions and experiences of the native speaker fallacy phenomenon. Six in-depth interviews were recorded and coded through the lens of self-efficacy and positioning theories to examine their experiences. The participants showed a strong belief in their teaching …

I Do, You Do, We Do: Co-Teachers’ Perspectives Of Self-Determination For Students With Dis/Abilities, Jenna Theofield

Theses & Dissertations

Self-determination plays a vital role in the educational journey of students with a dis/ability. However, opportunities to cultivate self-determining skills for elementary students with dis/abilities in an inclusive co-taught classroom are limited. This can be attributed to the intersectionality of ableism and ageism, two oppressive societal constructs that elementary coteachers may consciously or subconsciously hold. Since the inception of educating students with dis/abilities in their least restrictive environments, co-teaching classrooms have been deemed as the most appropriate setting for many students considering the continuum of special education services. The purpose of this study was to examine how elementary co-teaching teams …

Understanding The Qualities Of An Effective Fieldwork Experience And How It Relates To Pre-Service Teachers' Feelings Of Self-Efficacy And Preparedness, Renata Olczak Filipowicz

Theses & Dissertations

The effectiveness of teacher-preparation programs to produce high-quality teachers has been an issue of concern for a long time. Teachers play a significant role in shaping students’ academic achievement and social-emotional growth. Therefore, it is critical to focus on how teacher education programs, especially the field placement component, develop and support new educators. This explanatory mixed-methods study used a theoretical framework of Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory (1977) and Pierre Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital Theory (1986) to examine the qualities of an effective practical residency experience and how it relates to preservice teachers’ feelings of self-efficacy and preparedness for teaching diverse students …

Exploring Head Teachers’ Support For Online Learning During The School Closure As A Result Of Covid-19: A Case Of Two Primary Schools In Mombasa County, Kenya, Juma Rashid Haji

Theses & Dissertations

The emergence and spread of COVID-19 in the world prompted most governments to close all educational institutions to halt the spread of the virus. Schools in Kenya were closed for nearly 7 months, resulting in a learning loss. The Kenyan government promoted online learning through mass media such as television and radio, while the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) uploaded learning resources to their i-cloud educational portal. However, students and teachers faced several challenges that made it difficult for such headteachers to provide effective support for online learning. The researcher selected two primary schools, two headteachers, two deputy headteachers, …

Exploring Science Teachers' Preparedness For The Implementation Of The Competency-Based Curriculum In Secondary Schools In Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Kenya, Godwin Otieno Oduor

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to find out how well prepared science teachers are for the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the Secondary Education Level (SEL) in Rachuonyo South Sub-County. The study also looked at science teachers' training, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, technological skills, and attitudes toward CBC implementation. A descriptive survey design was used in the study, with a target population of 344 people, including 43 secondary school deputy head teachers, 43 science department heads, and 258 science teachers from all 43 secondary schools in the study area. Questionnaires were administered to science teachers and interview guides …

Exploring The Use Of Multimodal Approaches In The Teaching Of English Language Education And Literacy In Ugandan Primary Teachers’ Colleges: An Action Research In One Selected Primary Teachers’ College In Northwestern Uganda., Atungire Abetty

Theses & Dissertations

In this study, action research was conducted in one selected PTC in Northwestern Uganda to examine the use of multimodal techniques in the teaching and learning of English Language Education and Literacy in Ugandan Primary Teachers' Colleges. The study used a qualitative research methodology and an action research design to gather and analyze data. The techniques of data collection included interviews, observation, document analysis, and focus group discussion. The study consisted of 16 respondents (12 students, 1 tutor, 1 Principal, 1 Director of Studies, and 1 librarian). The data were analyzed by using the NVivo application. The results showed that …

Exploring Teachers’ Preparedness To Conduct Competency Based Curriculum Assessment In A Selected Secondary School In Taveta Sub-County Coast Region - Kenya., Milcah Emisiko Ashiali

Theses & Dissertations

The government of Kenya has been at the forefront of advocating for a Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) to ensure that the country can produce a workforce that competes with the current market which requires 21st-century skills. This has been seen by implementing CBC in schools and being focused on a learner- centered approach. CBC Assessment has been emphasized in the curriculum since teachers are required to know how learners are progressing at different grades and identify what competencies they must go and apply in real life. Study aimed at exploring how teachers are prepared to conduct CBC assessments in secondary …