Education Commons^™

Connections Through Clubs: Collaboration And Coordination Of A Schoolwide Program, Wendy Logan, Janna L. Scarborough

Janna L. Scarborough

The "Connections Through Clubs" program provides all students with the opportunity to participate in a small-group extracurricular activity and mentoring experience led by school faculty, staff, and community members during the school day throughout the academic year. This schoolwide program was developed in response to identified school needs and as a means to facilitate a strengths-enhancing school environment and to promote the developmental competencies of all students, both of which have been linked to academic and personal success. The purpose of this article is to describe the inception, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of the Connections Through Clubs program. In addition, …

Understanding Public Health Professional Socialization And Professional Identity Formation Experiences, Jennifer M. Freiheit

Theses and Dissertations

Public health is in unstable times with funding decreasing, an exodus of retirees, and a paradigm shift with emergency preparedness and response critically changing the identity of the profession. Public health is at a grave trigger point where if something is not done, the entire field may be in jeopardy of caving in to consolidations, poor succession planning, and a field that cannot work toward the health of the public if they themselves are not operating well. It is commonly accepted that orientation practices exist in public health agencies, but the orientations that currently exist lack transfer to full socialization …

Developing A Partnership In Teacher Preparation Program Between Colleges, Universities And School Districts: A Policy Advocacy Document, Leah Gauthier

Dissertations

Teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. Many are unprepared for the rigors of the job, and others become overwhelmed with new initiatives. This problem is due in part to school districts in Illinois not currently being a part of the teacher preparation accreditation process for colleges and universities. This policy advocates for creating that partnership. The findings indicate that doing so will build expertise for the new teachers and help them stay in the classrooms. This, in turn, will help improve student achievement.

Improving Induction Of New Preschool To 12th Grade Teachers Through Differentiated Induction Activities Tailored To Individual Teachers' Needs, Timothy Teehan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the mixed methods pilot study, which used qualitative interview data and quantitative survey data, was to investigate the impact of providing induction activities tailored to individual teacher's needs on new preschool to 12th grade teachers in their first to fourth year of teaching. The district's attrition rate has been significantly higher than the 30% attrition rate experienced across the nation. This study asks: How can an individualized targeted multi-faceted induction program for teachers in the first to fourth year of teaching prepare individuals for the responsibilities of teaching? From the perspective of mentors, principals, and teachers in …

Do Mentoring Programs Make A Difference? A Qualitative Case Study On The Journey Of Latino Students In A Stem Track, Juan M. Morata

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A number of studies have sought to identify factors influencing STEM students’ success in colleges and universities (Crisp et al., 2009; Excelencia, 2011; Hagedorn & Purnamasari, 2012). However, there are few qualitative studies focusing on students’ perspectives and how they make meaning of their experiences as participants in a mentoring program.

The main purpose of this research was to explain the perceptions of Latino students in a STEM Mentoring Program at Miami Dade College. Because this study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of how students involved in a mentoring program make meaning of their experiences, the type of qualitative …

Lessons Learned And Wisdom Earned: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Mentoring Experiences Of Ontario's Vice-Principals, Terry W. Burwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Succession planning, leadership development, effective instructional methods, and successful mentorship practices are vital to the growth of today’s school boards. Existing research shows those willing to grasp the reins of leadership have benefitted from a district’s formalized mentoring program. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to determine the mentoring needs of beginning Vice-Principals and determine their views of the most critical areas that need addressing in the mentoring program at the Ottawa Valley District School Board (a pseudonym). This study uses a phenomenological design to explore the experiences of ten administrators who are new to the role of Vice-Principal. …

A College Outreach Mentorship Program For High School Students: Considering College Student Mentors’ Roles And Perspectives, Melissa A. Martinez, Daphne Everman, Paige Haber-Curran

Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice

This case study examined a uniquely designed university-based college outreach work-study mentoring program in practice that is rooted in university-school partnerships. The study focuses on the roles and perspectives of the college student mentors in the program, as such perspectives are limited in the literature. The mentors assist high school students, many from underserved backgrounds, as they navigate the pathways of college admission. Interviews with mentors, as well as mentor training documents and report data, revealed the overall positive role mentors believed they played in improving college access for their mentees. Findings also shed light on improvements for the university-based …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of The Lived Experiences And Mentoring Relationships Of Black Women Student Affairs Administrators, Tiffany Shawna Wiggins

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Contemporary literature regarding the experiences of Black women in higher education administration is scarce, and that which does exist, often focuses on those who serve in teaching faculty roles, and/or fails to provide a holistic perspective on the lives of those who makeup this group. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, this qualitative investigation explored the lives of Black women college administrators from their perspective. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Patricia Hill Collins’s Black Feminist Thought, this study aimed to uncover the lived experiences of Black women student affairs administrators as they relate to their professional demands and pursuits …

Opening The Classroom Door - A Survey Of Middle Grades Teachers Who Mentor Preservice Teachers— Lessons From Clinical Partnerships And Implications For Practice, Steven L. Turner, Carie C. Greene

Middle Grades Review

Mentor teachers that participate in school-university clinical experiences have a unique opportunity to support preservice middle grades teachers’ development and improve the schooling of young adolescents. This article investigates an early clinical experience and presents data from a survey of 38 middle school teachers who served as mentor teachers. Findings address how middle grades teachers view their role as mentors, their perceptions of the clinical experience as a collaborative learning partnership, and concludes with suggestions to improve clinical experiences for preservice middle grades teacher candidates.

Between Paradigms: Becoming A Pathological Optimist, Carol Isaac

The Qualitative Report

Using an autoethnographic poststructural lens, I examined my academic journey in becoming a qualitative methodologist. I integrated my mentor’s maxims such as, “the institution will not love you back,” “prisoner of your words,” “make plans; if they don’t work, make new plans,” “one has mentors and tormentors and both help shape us,” “ever the opportunist,” “strategic groveling,” “a mosaic approach to mentoring” and “just get naked.” Despite paradigmatic contradictions between my doctoral and postdoctoral experiences, I gained much from working between the polarities of the social science and biomedical discourse. In time, I became a “pathological optimist,” one of the …

The Influence Of Mentorship And Role Models On University Women Leaders’ Career Paths To University Presidency, Lilian H. Hill, Celeste A. Wheat

The Qualitative Report

While the literature concerning female administrators in higher education indicates the critical role that mentors and role models play in contributing to women’s professional advancement, the relationship between mentorship and women’s attainment of senior leadership positions including the college presidency remain underexplored. The purpose of this study was to explore how women in key-line administrative positions to the presidency (e.g., academic dean, vice president, chief academic officer) and women presidents understood the role of mentoring relationships and role models in their career paths to leadership. This study employed a postmodern feminist theoretical framework and a feminist qualitative design to give …

New Faculty Mentoring In Respiratory Care Programs, Kristen L. Mchenry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Because of the potential age-related mass departure of seasoned educators in respiratory care programs, higher education institutions should develop strategies for attracting practitioners who hold or are pursuing graduate degrees to transition to academia. The purpose of this study was to identify current mentoring practices of new faculty members in Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited respiratory care programs in the U.S. and to identify the perceptions of program directors regarding the observed impact of program mentoring practices.

The methodology for the study was quantitative nonexperimental survey research. The survey instrument was an electronic questionnaire. The survey consisted …

Evaluation Of The In2science Peer Mentoring Program: Final Report, Julie Kos, Jacynta Krakouer, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

Large-scale studies of 15-year-old school students show associations between students’ attitudes toward science learning and their levels of achievement (Ainley, Kos, & Nicholas, 2008). One model for improving students’ attitudes towards science and mathematics learning has been the provision of peer mentoring. The In2science program uses a peer mentoring approach to engage secondary school students in science and mathematics study. Working with the classroom teacher, university students serve as mentors and help students with their learning and build relationships in a small group or a whole class. Mentors talk to students about studying science (or another STEM area) at university …

Evaluation Of The In2science Peer Mentoring Program: Final Report, Julie Kos, Jacynta Krakouer, Sheldon Rothman

Jacynta Krakouer

Large-scale studies of 15-year-old school students show associations between students’ attitudes toward science learning and their levels of achievement (Ainley, Kos, & Nicholas, 2008). One model for improving students’ attitudes towards science and mathematics learning has been the provision of peer mentoring. The In2science program uses a peer mentoring approach to engage secondary school students in science and mathematics study. Working with the classroom teacher, university students serve as mentors and help students with their learning and build relationships in a small group or a whole class. Mentors talk to students about studying science (or another STEM area) at university …

An Investigation Of The School Superintendent Mentoring Program In Arkansas, Mary Ann Spears

Theses and Dissertations from 2017

The School Superintendent Mentoring Program was established in 2011 in Arkansas to provide essential training and support to enhance the new superintendents’ potential for success during their first year as school district leaders. This research study utilized a qualitative research approach in which an open-ended survey instrument was used to gather data. The Theory of Context Leadership served as the theoretical framework for this study. A systematic review of the data indicated that new superintendents perceived the program as beneficial, time spent with the mentor was helpful, finance was the topic about which participants had found it most important to …

Importance Of And Satisfaction With Characteristics Of Mentoring Among Nursing Faculty, Jacklyn Gentry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The nursing faculty shortage and its contributing factors have been well documented in the literature. Contributory factors include lack of graduate prepared faculty, difficulty recruiting and retaining faculty, and a decrease in job satisfaction within the faculty role. The use of mentoring programs has the potential to impact the nursing faculty shortage by increasing job satisfaction while providing novice faculty with additional support during the transition from clinical nurse to nursing faculty.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the importance of and satisfaction with characteristics of mentoring in full time nursing faculty teaching in baccalaureate …

Perceptions And Expectations Of College Students Choosing To Become Peer Mentors, Matthew Hicks

Masters Theses

Peer mentoring programs are a popular means of supporting students in transition in higher education. The success of these programs is based on the students who decide to become peer mentors. Further, institutions often have a variety of peer mentoring programs on their campuses that create varying experiences. The intent on this study was to identify best practices for recruiting peer mentors. The study utilized a quantitative instrument designed to reflect what previous literature suggested had been the positive outcomes of peer mentoring. A total of 110 student leaders at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville participated in the study, representing …

Intentional Mentoring Through 4-H: The Role Of 4-H In A Successful Mentoring Program Between Youth And Adults, Emily Ann Shepperd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

4-H Youth and Families with Promise (4-H YFP) is a one to one youth mentoring program that aims to help youth obtain skills that will help them to be successful. The purpose of this research was to determine if any positive outcomes were shown of youth participating in 4-H YFP. Positive outcomes were identified as peer social competence, greater ability to make positive choices, the development of effective communication skills, building connections, and contributing to the community. Results show that these outcomes positively increased among youth participants in the 4-H YFP program- but the changes were too small to be …

What I Discovered About Mentoring And Self-Directed Education While Listening To A Cat, Nicole M. Colter

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project bears witness to the self-directed learning journey of an aspiring self-directed education movement leader. This was an exploratory project on mentoring. The project outcomes are a personal definition and philosophy on mentoring, curated resources for mentors and mentees, and a detailed plan for a leadership development weekend for high school students. The learning journey was documented through journal entries prepared retrospectively. Without realizing it, the author made use of the cognitive behaviors described in the Deepening Expectations stage of the Torrance Incubation Model (TIM) as she attempted to authentically tame this mentoring giant; listening to a cat was …

Improving New Graduate Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Knowledge And Retention Using A Dedicated Orientation And Mentoring Program, Katherine Huffer

Dissertations

Abstract

Background: There has been a significant amount of research into the many challenges that nurse practitioners (NPs) face as they transition from school to practice, however, there is limited research on how to improve this transition. Regardless of the setting in which the NPs are working, novices NPs alike report feelings of being unprepared and experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, fear, and frustration. New research suggests that a comprehensive NP orientation and residency programs may provide a way to integrate the new NPs into their practice environment successfully.

Method: Kern’s Six Step Approach to Curriculum Development for Medical …

A Qualitative Case Study: Examining The Social And Cultural Impact Of Sisters Club, Andrea L. Barrale

Dissertations

Adolescent girls face social and identity issues as they transition into adulthood and after-school programs are one venue that allows adults to help students deal with the difficulties encountered. This is a qualitative case study focused on the impact the SISTERS Club, an after-school program, had on a diverse group of middle school female students over the course of a five year period, from 2001 to 2006. This study described the impact on identity development, multicultural relationships, and the long-term impact of the after-school program on the female adolescents interviewed.

I investigated the racial, social, and cultural barriers that impacted …

Cross-Racial Trust Factors: Exploring The Experiences Of Blacks Who Have Had White Mentors In The Counseling Profession, Eric Montrece Brown

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The primary researcher conducted a phenomenological study on cross-racial trust factors between Black doctoral students (n = 10) and their White mentors within the counseling profession. Three participants identified having a White professor as a mentor; two participants identified having White supervisors as mentors; five of the participants reported having both faculty members and supervisors as White mentors. Through semi-structured interviews, the primary researcher sought to ascertain what factors engendered cross-racial trust between Black doctoral students and White mentors within the counseling profession. The research team identified four superordinate themes related to cross-racial trust: contributors to trust, reasons for mistrust, …

Amplify Your Teaching Impact: Capitalizing On 1-On-1 Instruction, Abby D. Benninghoff

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The objective of this essay, which is based on a keynote presentation delivered at the 2016 Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference at Utah State University, is to address this central question: how faculty can make a positive, substantive impact on students through 1-on-1 instruction? The consensus answer derived from experiences and anecdotes offered by this author, her colleagues, and students is to be deliberate in 1-on-1 interactions with students. This simple message is expanded through discussion of 10 key concepts that can help faculty amplify their teaching impact: 1) be available, 2) help students feel comfortable, 3) be a model, 4) …

Turning Prospects Into Superstars: The Department Chair’S Role In Mentoring Junior Faculty., Christian K. Hansen

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Department chairs play a major role in helping new faculty members succeed and become valued and productive member of the faculty. In smaller department, chairs often mentor junior faculty directly, whereas in larger department the chair sometimes has a role in assigning senior faculty mentors to mentor new faculty. Some have referred to hiring faculty as a million dollar investment, and in reality, more than a million dollars is invested from the time the faculty ad is composed until the hired faculty member enter the ranks as a tenured faculty member. When a hired faculty member is turned down for …

Developing And Supporting The Diversity Of Chairperson Roles, Jean Pawl, Richard Griner, Deborah Richardson, Elizabeth Nesmith

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

A monthly Chair Professional Development program at Augusta University provides opportunity to mentor new chairpersons and foster collegiality amongst all chairpersons at a university with both liberal arts and health sciences programs. The merits and challenges of this program that addresses needs of such a diverse group will be highlighted

Promoting Chair Succession Through Development, Empowerment, And Encouragement, Christopher Benedetti

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

To ensure the stability of the department, department chairs should prioritize the identification and formation of potential successors. For this interactive session, a model and related strategies, supported by real examples, will be discussed for developing, empowering, and encouraging faculty to become ready to assume the role of department chair.

Students Taking A Right Stand – Male Youth Violence Prevention Through Positive Development And Role Modeling, Katie Dight, Rolanda Patrick, Corey Graham

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Cabarrus STARS is a comprehensive program designed to promote positive youth development for minority male youth through a combination of system-, group-, and individual-level services. Program staff will discuss the successes and challenges they experience in working with a variety of schools, students, and families. Ideal for student support staff and community-based organizations focused on adolescent health.

Identity And Integrity: The Conduit Of Vulnerability Between High-Risk Youth And Mentors, Thomas Peterson, Mildred Rabun

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Presentation will share SPARK Mentoring program’s journey of letting go of traditional behavioral models in working with youth from high-risk settings, and provide evidenced-based insight into creating a community of acceptance through a program that embraces identity and integrity as a way to connect undergraduate students and youth. This workshop is for individuals who work with youth in any capacity.

Preparing For Excellence: Mentoring African American Girls To Encourage Positive Academic, Interpersonal, And Vocational Outcomes, Tera R. Reid

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

African American girls face significant barriers to educational and personal success. Mentoring has been shown to have a positive effect among youth. This workshop will explore the interventions of a mentoring program in Georgia.

This workshop targets anyone interested in practical solutions. Participants will be empowered and engaged to learn specific strategies, interventions, and develop solutions of their own.

Mentorship Experiences Of Women Leaders In Adventist Higher Education Institutions, Nadine A. Joseph-Collins

Journal of Research Initiatives

There has been an increase in the rate at which women are being chosen to serve as university presidents at Adventist Higher Education institutions worldwide within the past few years. Notwithstanding that increase, the overall representation of women in that position is still proportionately low. To date, about 22 women have served since we first began operating higher education institutions in 1874. At present, about nine women are serving as presidents of AHEIs; the largest number to be serving at any one time since 1874 when AHEIs were established. Having so few women serving in these top-level positions does not …