Education Commons^™

Charter School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Autonomy, Sharon L. Latten-Clark

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study explored school leaders and how they perceive and use autonomy to operate a school. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to better understand the lived experiences of school leaders and how they perceive and use their autonomy while operating a charter school in New Orleans, Louisiana. There is relatively little documentation on the perceptions of how school leaders feel they use and balance their autonomy when operating a charter school. This study builds upon the current and past research which regards principal autonomy as a driver of the success of charter schools and school quality. …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In Blended Learning Environments, Sabrina E. Pence

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Schools are widely implementing blended learning, defined as a combination of face to face instruction and computer-assisted instruction, to increase student achievement. Given that the computer is taking on a component of instruction, there is some evidence that the role of the teacher is changing. The purpose of this study is to understand the perceptions of primary teachers about their role and possible role change in a blended learning environment. A qualitative study using transcendental phenomenology was conducted among a group of primary teachers who teach reading and math in grades K-4. Role theory was applied to illuminate whether the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals’ Perceptions Of Instructional Leadership In The Context Of Mandated Teacher Evaluation, Gabrielle P. Delatte

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The literature on instructional leadership includes the practices in which principals can engage (Stein & Nelson, 2003) and discusses how the principal’s leadership practices can be mediated by the teacher observation tool within the teacher evaluation system (Spillane, Halverson, & Diamond, 2001). However, the literature includes less about how and why leaders enact those instructional leadership practices (Spillane et al., 2001; Spillane, 2006) and how the teacher evaluation tool might or might not be influencing that how and why. The purpose of this qualitative study is to produce a description of how principals perceive the instructional leadership they provide teachers …

Internal Communication Within An Institution Of Higher Education During The Covid-19 Crisis: A Case Study, Jonathan Boone Clemmons

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the role internal communication played in shaping perceptions among stakeholders during a major crisis event happening on a university campus. The main question that this study sought to answer was: how did formal and informal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic affect the perception and adoption of changes related to the pandemic? This case study utilized interviews and document analysis to understand both the change process and its accompanying communication. Workplace Social Network Exchange was the guiding theoretical framework utilized to fully understand the professional lives of participants. Four major themes were identified …

A Quantitative Study On The Predictive Ability Of Mcat Scores On The Pre-Clinical Grade Point Averages Of Black Medical Students, Bennetta Horne

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive ability of MCAT scores on the pre-clinical grade point averages of Black medical students. Underrepresented in medicine students, including students of color and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds have often been prevented from pursuing medical education. This is due to the heavy reliance on numeric metrics including undergraduate grade point averages and MCAT scores for admissions decisions. (DeCarvalho et al., 2018; Linville, 2015; Reede, 1999). The research questions employed in this study focused on the relationship between MCAT scores and pre-clinical grades of Black students and the relationship between secondary …

An Examination Of The Underrepresentation Of Black Women In Senior Leadership Roles At Predominately White Institutions (Pwis): Exploring The Narratives Of Mid-Level Managers, Celyn C. Boykin

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Black women are significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles, particularly at predominately white institutions (PWIs). The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Black women at predominately white institutions who hold mid-level management roles and aspire to advance to senior leadership. This study details the experiences of five Black women who shared their stories of rising above racial and gender oppressions by overcoming stereotypes, understanding the value in mentorships and sponsorships, utilizing their systems of support and being empowered in their relationships with other Black women. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit the study participants. This …

2+2: Academic Success Predictors Of Two-Year Transfer Student Athletes, Shawn Jeffery Waltz

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the academic success of upper division, NCAA Division I, student athletes who begin their post-secondary academic career at a two-year institution. It is motivated by two research questions: 1) Are predictors of academic success similar for transfer and non-transfer student athletes? 2) Are predictors of academic success similar for transfer student athletes and transfer non-athlete students? Schlossberg’s (1981) theory of transition aided in conceptually framing these research questions.

Data for this study was gathered from three regionally accredited four-year universities located in southern Louisiana, all housing an NCAA Division I athletic program. Multilevel binomial logistic regression was …