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Full-Text Articles in Education

Leadership Strategies Used To Reduce Turnover In Turnaround Settings, Sharafdeen Olatunde Saidu Jan 2021

Leadership Strategies Used To Reduce Turnover In Turnaround Settings, Sharafdeen Olatunde Saidu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher turnover continues to contribute negatively to academic achievement of a majority of turnaround schools serving students with low socioeconomic status, and many school leaders lack effective strategies to reduce teacher turnover, especially during the school turnaround process. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies, behaviors, and practices used by turnaround principals in reducing teacher turnover during school turnaround. The framework for this study was based on Herzberg’s motivation and hygiene theory. The population in the study consisted of eight school principals who have implemented effective strategies that increased teacher retention in turnaround schools. …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Junior Secondary Education And Student Academic Performance In Central Ethiopia, Mulugeta Haile Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Junior Secondary Education And Student Academic Performance In Central Ethiopia, Mulugeta Haile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth and its attempts at different educational models, there is a significant problem with junior secondary school education and student academic performance. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of junior secondary school education in central Ethiopia and what innovative academic approaches are necessary to increase student academic performance. The study used self-determination theory as its foundation. The main research question was focused on junior secondary school education, current policies, and students’ academic performance. A nonprobability purposive sampling method was used to select 10 teachers from two schools. The study used semi structured …


Elementary Principals’ Behaviors And Actions For Retaining Teachers, Sharonda Gregory Jan 2021

Elementary Principals’ Behaviors And Actions For Retaining Teachers, Sharonda Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrincipal support is critical in promoting teacher retention, which has continued to be a challenge in elementary schools in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to ascertain how principals described their strategies for retaining teachers at elementary schools in a large, urban-suburban school district in the Eastern United States. The conceptual framework was based on Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory and transformational leadership theory. The research questions addressed challenges, supports, and leadership practices principals identified that increased teacher retention in the elementary school setting. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight elementary school principals who had at least …


Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenges Implementing Best Practices For Inclusion, Julie Deshann Miller Jan 2021

Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenges Implementing Best Practices For Inclusion, Julie Deshann Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a small, rural district in southeastern United States, general and special education teachers have not consistently provided inclusionary practices for students with disabilities to help them be successful in the general education setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate what general and special education teachers perceive are effective inclusionary practices, why they are not implementing the strategies, and what teachers think they need to help them improve implementing inclusion practices. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was Knowles' adult learning theory. The research questions addressed the inclusionary practices teachers use, challenges of inclusion, and teachers' perceptions …


Perceptions Of Parents Of K-5 English Language Learners Regarding Teacher-Parents Nights, Jean David Annulysse Jan 2021

Perceptions Of Parents Of K-5 English Language Learners Regarding Teacher-Parents Nights, Jean David Annulysse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFewer than 10% of the parents of K-5 English language learners (ELLs) participated in teacher-parents interview nights in a Northeastern United States urban public elementary school district. The purpose of this basic qualitative research was to identify the factors influencing the capacity of the parents of K-5 ELLs to participate in teacher-parents interview nights. The research question focused on identifying the factors influencing the capacity of the parents of K-5 ELLs to participate in teacher-parents interview nights. The conceptual framework was the school community theory developed by Epstein, which posits separate responsibilities of families and schools, shared responsibilities of families …


The Diffusion Of Innovation In A Math Professional Learning Community, Daphne Shannon Kahn-Wiley Jan 2021

The Diffusion Of Innovation In A Math Professional Learning Community, Daphne Shannon Kahn-Wiley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn a southern U.S. suburban middle school, officials required the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) to improve student achievement in math. Despite PLC implementation, math student achievement did not improve over 4 years since implementation in the fall of 2014. The problem was that middle school math teachers and educational personnel struggled to implement the innovation of a PLC at the target school. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to examine teachers’ and school officials’ perceptions of the math PLC process using Rogers’s diffusion of innovation (DOI) framework and archival documents to determine reasons for the challenges …


Comparison Of Course Grades Among Learning Modalities In Historically Black College And Universities, Murdell Walker Mcfarlin Jan 2021

Comparison Of Course Grades Among Learning Modalities In Historically Black College And Universities, Murdell Walker Mcfarlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe growth of online courses in higher education, combined with the distinct situational identity of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their continued emphasis on face-to-face (F2F) instruction, provided an opportunity to learn more about learning modalities and student grades at HBCUs. The problem was previous research findings are contradictory regarding grades among modalities at HBCUs. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in grades among three learning modalities (F2F, hybrid, and online) for three student groups (African American, non-African American, and all students) at three public, 4-year HBCUs in one U.S. state. This cross-sectional, ex post …


The Academic And Nonacademic Perceived Barriers And Resources Of Latinx First Generation Students At A Community College, Jessica Caridad Rivera Jan 2021

The Academic And Nonacademic Perceived Barriers And Resources Of Latinx First Generation Students At A Community College, Jessica Caridad Rivera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the 1970s, the college enrollment of Latinx first generation students (FGS) has increased nationally and within the research site. In this vein, the purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding regarding the actual academic and nonacademic experiences that prevent Latinx FGS from graduating community college. This qualitative study was framed by Ladson-Billings and Tate’s theory of critical race in education to explore what Latinx FGS identify as barriers in graduating from a community college while providing feedback on how college leadership can support them in graduating. By using a phenomenological tradition, participants used storytelling to define …


Analysis Of School Discipline Policies At A Title I High School In Texas, Kimberly N. Guess Jan 2021

Analysis Of School Discipline Policies At A Title I High School In Texas, Kimberly N. Guess

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Discipline referrals and suspensions are used as a last resort to address inappropriate student behavior in schools. The problem investigated in this study was the inconsistent trend in the number of discipline referrals and suspensions during implementation of three different discipline policies (zero tolerance, progressive discipline, and restorative practice) at a local Title I high school in north Texas from 2013 to 2019. Guided by Skinner’s theory of behaviorism, the purpose of this quantitative, ex post facto study was to determine if significant differences in the total number of disciplinary referrals and suspensions existed between the 2-year implementation period of …


Chinese Parents’ Perceptions Of Critical Thinking And Its Pedagogy, Suning Li Jan 2021

Chinese Parents’ Perceptions Of Critical Thinking And Its Pedagogy, Suning Li

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a result of China’s education borrowing many Western educational values, such as critical thinking, became known to Chinese education practitioners and parents. However, Chinese parents’ perceptions of such educational values have not been studied. Three research questions centered on understanding Chinese parents’ perceptions of critical thinking and the role of schooling in the development of critical thinking. The conceptual framework comprised the established conceptualization of critical thinking from the Western research tradition and Confucian ideas of critical thinking. Qualitative data were collected from interviews with 12 participants and were coded to find emergent themes. The research results suggested that …


Early Childhood General Education Inclusion Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development, Susanne Metscher Jan 2021

Early Childhood General Education Inclusion Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development, Susanne Metscher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the use of professional development (PD), early childhood inclusive teachers lack the knowledge and skills needed to support students with disabilities. It was unclear what types of PD teachers have received and what supports they still need. If teachers lack PD and the skills needed to teach students with disabilities effectively, then student progress may be negatively affected. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study and the research questions were to understand early childhood inclusive general education teachers’ perceptions of past PD experiences of working with students with disabilities and what supports they need to implement evidence-based practices. …


Collective Teacher Efficacy And Teachers’ Intent To Teach And Site Performance, David Ruiz Ramirez Iii Jan 2021

Collective Teacher Efficacy And Teachers’ Intent To Teach And Site Performance, David Ruiz Ramirez Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition has been a widely researched topic in the United States. However, little research has been conducted in large urban districts divided by high- and low-performing schools in regards to collective teacher efficacy and teachers’ intent to continue teaching. Considering this research gap, this quantitative study was conducted to examine collective teacher efficacy in relation to middle-school and high-school teachers’ intent to continue teaching and their perceptions of school performance. Within the conceptual framework of collective teacher efficacy, the research questions addressed the extent the independent variable, collective teacher efficacy, predicted the dependent variable, teachers’ intent to continue teaching …


Educator Perceptions Of Restorative Justice Practices That Provide Academic Support For Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brigid Sullivan Ripley Jan 2021

Educator Perceptions Of Restorative Justice Practices That Provide Academic Support For Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brigid Sullivan Ripley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) has been of interest to scholars since the late 1990s when their impact on life outcomes concerning physical and mental health was first acknowledged. Educators are challenged to support students who have experienced ACE, but many have implemented alternative practices such as restorative justice (RJ) to support students’ academic needs. There is insufficient empirical evidence to determine how elements of RJ support high school students who have experienced ACE. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the RJ practices that teachers, administrators, and other school personnel have implemented to support …


General Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Perceptions Of Teaching Students With Disabilities, Hester Jackson Mallory Jan 2021

General Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Perceptions Of Teaching Students With Disabilities, Hester Jackson Mallory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over recent decades, a challenge faced in public schools in the United States is the appropriate education of students with disabilities (SWDs) in inclusive classrooms. The problem this study addressed is that, despite the implementation of inclusive practices, SWDs in a small rural school district in Virginia have low achievement rates. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine general education teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions, exploring the relationship between lived experiences with SWDs and their professional practices. The conceptual framework for this study was built upon Bandura’s self-efficacy and social cognitive theories. The research questions centered on how the …


Relationship Between Criminal Behavior And High School Equivalency Program Completion, Lashawnda Cabey - Washington Jan 2021

Relationship Between Criminal Behavior And High School Equivalency Program Completion, Lashawnda Cabey - Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High School Equivalency (HSE) Programs operate in response to the national increase in high school dropout rates. These alternative learning methods are attractive to nontraditional high school students because they are designed to accommodate students who are unable to complete their high school diploma via the traditional classroom setting. However, even though these programs continue to thrive in many communities, many students are still unsuccessful at completing these programs. Therefore, there is a need to research the possible factors that prevent students from earning the equivalent of a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED) via these programs. Grounded …


College Deansʼ Perceptions Of How Their Leadership Styles Affect Graduation Rates, John Johnston Jan 2021

College Deansʼ Perceptions Of How Their Leadership Styles Affect Graduation Rates, John Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem was that in 2016 the U.S. graduation rate of undergraduate students in for-profit higher learning institutions was only 23%, compared to 59% for public institutions and 66% for private nonprofit institutions. The purpose of this comparative case study was to explore for-profit and nonprofit college deansʼ perceptions of their leadership styles and how their leadership style affects graduation rates. Thus, the focus of the research question was determining college deansʼ perceptions of their leadership style and how their leadership style affects graduation rates. The basis of the conceptual framework was the full range leadership model. The sample required …


Barriers To The Hiring Of Women For The Independent School Headship, Kelley King Jan 2021

Barriers To The Hiring Of Women For The Independent School Headship, Kelley King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite over a century of activism to increase gender equality, inequalities persist across U.S. employment sectors, including in independent K-12 schools, which are predominately staffed by women yet led by men. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory case study was to understand the perceptions of six female heads of school and six female search consultants regarding the barriers that women face in being hired for the head of school position in independent K-12 schools. Most researchers studying gender equality have focused solely on the perspectives of female leaders, although executive search consultants are important arbiters in the search and hiring …


Parents’ Perspectives Of Parental Involvement To Support Student Academic Achievement, Arega W. Nigussie Jan 2021

Parents’ Perspectives Of Parental Involvement To Support Student Academic Achievement, Arega W. Nigussie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractParental involvement is the foundation for family-school relationships that empower parents, improve student academic achievement, and encourage parents to participate in their children’s education. The problem is the inconsistent parental involvement in a Midwestern school to support students' academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of parents about parental involvement and parents’ perspectives about their role in supporting the academic achievement of their children. The study was grounded in Epstein’s theory of six types of parental involvement and Moll’s theory of funds of knowledge. Two research questions were used to investigate parents’ perspectives on parental …


Elementary Administrators’ Perceptions Of Support For Novice Alternatively-Certified Teachers In High-Poverty Schools, Kelle Wilson Lofton Jan 2021

Elementary Administrators’ Perceptions Of Support For Novice Alternatively-Certified Teachers In High-Poverty Schools, Kelle Wilson Lofton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Novice alternatively-certified teachers are hired to teach in high-poverty schools at a higher rate than traditionally-certified peers. These teachers are often unprepared to teach in challenging environments and struggle to manage their classrooms and achieve student academic success. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative case study was to investigate elementary school administrators’ perceptions of support for novice alternatively-certified teachers in high-poverty schools in a southern U.S. state. Burns’s transformational leadership paradigm informed the study. The research questions focused on how elementary principals and assistant principals perceived transformational practices to support novice alternatively-certified teachers in high-poverty schools. Data were collected using …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing The Collaborative Problem-Solving Model, Jeremy Derrel Sager Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing The Collaborative Problem-Solving Model, Jeremy Derrel Sager

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some children display challenging behaviors because they do not have the skills to manage their behaviors appropriately. The collaborative problem-solving (CPS) model was implemented at a local middle school in Tennessee to provide students with social-emotional learning and support (SELS) as a means for promoting students’ self-directed behavior management skills. The problem was that despite the implementation of the CPS model prior to the intervention of administrator support/disciplinary action, the out-of-school suspension (OSS) rate increased since 2016. Guided by Greene’s CPS model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of the implementation of the CPS …


Exploring 4-Year Business School Curriculum’S Relation To Graduates’ Hiring And Earnings, Richard A. Gayle Jan 2021

Exploring 4-Year Business School Curriculum’S Relation To Graduates’ Hiring And Earnings, Richard A. Gayle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2013, roughly 7% of college graduates under 25 could not find employment, and about 37% were underemployed. Public university tuition costs increased by 42% between 1999 and 2012, and 71% of college graduates have an average of $29,400 in outstanding student debt. Employers for several decades have complained about how higher educational institutions have failed to deliver graduates with developed nontechnical skills comprising (a) work ethic, (b) communication, (c) organization, (d) problem solving, and (e) teamwork. The purpose of this qualitative archival study was to assess and explore integrating the nontechnical skills that businesses require to hire graduates immediately …


Elementary School Principals’ Perceptions Regarding Instructional Leadership Practices Supporting Character Education, Dawn Angela Engle Jan 2021

Elementary School Principals’ Perceptions Regarding Instructional Leadership Practices Supporting Character Education, Dawn Angela Engle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem addressed in this project study was that principals at the elementary schools under study had been inconsistent in applying instructional leadership practices (ILP) supporting character education (CE). The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of elementary school principals regarding ILP to support CE. The instructional leadership model was the conceptual framework guiding the study. The research question asked what practices elementary school principals implement to support CE in their schools. A basic qualitative research design with purposive sampling was used to select elementary school principals who were state-certified and administrators for at least 2 years. …


K-12 Teachers' Perceptions Of Barriers To Implementing Service Learning, Cassandra Aiesha Lewis Jan 2021

K-12 Teachers' Perceptions Of Barriers To Implementing Service Learning, Cassandra Aiesha Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

K-12 teachers in a large metropolitan school district in the Northeast United States experienced difficulties integrating service learning into the curriculum due to state-based curriculum standards. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to explore K-12 teachers’ perceptions of barriers to, and best practices that support, implementation of service learning into the curriculum while considering state-based curriculum standards. Cooperrider and Srivastva’s theory of appreciative inquiry, which emphasizes assets rather than deficits within organizational structures, was used as the conceptual framework that guided data collection and analysis. Research questions were used to describe the perceived barriers to, and best practices …


Exploring The Strategies English As A Second Language Teachers Use To Teach Students, Unika Lasha Felton Jan 2021

Exploring The Strategies English As A Second Language Teachers Use To Teach Students, Unika Lasha Felton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the local school district under study located in southern United States, English as second language (ESL) students are experiencing lower than expected standardized testing scores according to expectations set forth by the state Department of Education. The purpose of this project study was to explore the strategies ESL teachers use to teach ESL students. The conceptual framework was Gagne’s conditions of learning theory, which is used to assess students’ lack of preparation for future academic and career success. The research question asked what strategies ESL teachers use to teach ESL students. A qualitative exploratory case study with purposive sampling …


Perceptions Of Community College Success Seminar Faculty Regarding First-Year Student Persistence, Ikpobari Dumletam Senewo Jan 2021

Perceptions Of Community College Success Seminar Faculty Regarding First-Year Student Persistence, Ikpobari Dumletam Senewo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistence of first-year, full-time students toward graduation at U.S. community colleges poses concerns for administrators, faculty, and policymakers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of faculty members teaching a college success seminar at an urban multicampus community college on what impedes or supports the persistence of these students through the first year. Tinto’s student departure and Astin’s student involvement theories served as the framework. Using a basic qualitative approach, interviews with 10 faculty members at a multicampus community college were analyzed using Creswell’s 6-step data analysis strategy. Findings suggested that sense of belonging, early connection to …


Perspectives Of Online Cda Recipients Regarding Development Of Expertise Without Apprenticeship, Victoria Lynn Long-Coleman Jan 2021

Perspectives Of Online Cda Recipients Regarding Development Of Expertise Without Apprenticeship, Victoria Lynn Long-Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about how online Child Development Associate (CDA) credential recipients developed practical expertise in early childhood education (ECE) without the benefit of an apprenticeship. Learning the practice of teaching from a qualified more knowledgeable other (MKO) through an apprenticeship is a feature of teacher preparation in public school contexts but is missing in preparation for child care teachers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how online CDA recipients developed practical expertise in ECE without a supervised apprenticeship. Vygotsky’s social construction of knowledge was the conceptual framework of the study. The research question addressed how …


Training And Experience As Predictors Of Principals’ Efficacy For Inclusive Education Implementation, Courtney Lynch Jan 2021

Training And Experience As Predictors Of Principals’ Efficacy For Inclusive Education Implementation, Courtney Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Federal inclusion law requires that school administrators provide an equitable and legally compliant inclusive education for all students. Previous research has shown that successful program delivery is not possible without efficacious school leadership. Prior studies have also revealed that principals’ self-efficacy judgments are directly influenced by contextual and personal factors. Limited research-based inquiries have explored which factors contribute to administrator confidence as it relates to successfully implementing inclusive educational programs in particular. Grounded in social cognitive theory, the purpose of this nonexperimental, survey-based, quantitative study was to assess the extent to which facets of elementary school principals’ educational background, experience, …


Culturally Responsive Curriculum Implementation Of Middle School Principals In Southern Texas, Caroline Wendy Narine Jan 2021

Culturally Responsive Curriculum Implementation Of Middle School Principals In Southern Texas, Caroline Wendy Narine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although culturally responsive curricula are designed to educate students to be both socially and culturally successful, the curriculum implementation leadership practices middle school principals have used to support such curricula have been unclear. This study explored how middle school principals in southern Texas were supporting their teachers with implementing a culturally responsive curriculum in their schools. This basic qualitative study employed the applied critical leadership conceptual framework to explore the culturally responsive curriculum implementation leadership practices of middle school principals in southern Texas. The criteria for the selection of participants were 2 to 5 years’ experience as a principal in …


Effects Of School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports In An African American All-Boys Urban School, Theresa Thomas Jan 2021

Effects Of School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports In An African American All-Boys Urban School, Theresa Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Teachers and administrators spend a great deal of time addressing minor to moderate school discipline behaviors with punitive actions such as suspensions and expulsions from school. Past research has revealed that such punitive actions do not correct the unwanted behavior, and extensive use of punitive disciplinary actions have been linked to negative outcomes such as repeated suspensions, repeating grades due to time missed from school, increased likelihood of dropping out of school, or potential involvement in the juvenile justice system. This single case study design addressed the following research question: How school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) affected …


Employee Perceptions Of Collaborative Communication Skills Learned In The Informal Workplace, Wendy Marie Lewis Jan 2021

Employee Perceptions Of Collaborative Communication Skills Learned In The Informal Workplace, Wendy Marie Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Collaborative communication skills are underdeveloped through higher education experiences; therefore, employees need to develop these skills while working. Current research has not focused on how employees identify collaborative communication skills developed from informal workplace learning experiences, specifically those presented as coaching, mentoring, and networking. Marsick and Watkins’s informal workplace learning theory was the conceptual framework for this basic qualitative study, which used a researcher-produced interview protocol with eight United States employees who had been in their positions longer than 6 months. Data were analyzed using three rounds of hand coding. Participants described how informal coaching, mentoring, and networking encounters influenced …