Empowering Teacher Leaders: The Role Of Research In Changing Teacher Leaders' Sense Of Themselves As Professionals, Joshua W. Reid, Allison B. Hardee, Brett A. Criswell, Melody Elrod, Steven B. Berryhill Jr., Gregory T. Rushton

Secondary Education Faculty Publications

Teacher leaders often have to navigate implicit leadership structures within their schools and often move between communities as part of their roles. This study explores how a Noyce Master Teaching Fellow program fostered a sense of empowerment within teacher leaders. The program provided opportunities for the teacher leaders to become legitimate participants in a research community in addition to supporting the transfer of new meanings, practices, and identities to their teaching community of practice. Drawing upon frameworks of border crossing and communities of practice, we highlight mechanisms by which teacher leaders become empowered and cross the boundaries between research and …

Resisting Neoliberal Policy And The Intensification Of Racial Capitalism Through Fostering Critical Awareness: A Series Of Educational Workshops To Occur Within Social Justice Unions, Chloe Polentes

West Chester University Master’s Theses

This is a master’s thesis that focuses on neoliberal policy within the education system. In this thesis I prove that neoliberal policy intensifies the current overarching framework of racial capitalism. I explore central elements of neoliberalism and racial capitalism to bridge understanding of how the two are intertwined with the goal of providing the reader an understanding of how neoliberal policy is detrimental. After an introduction to my thematic concern, an in-depth analysis of theoretical frameworks that helped shaped my understanding of my concern, and a historical and literature review focused on central elements of my concerns, I propose of …

Grades Do Not Define You: Mindfulness-Based Intervention Effects On College Students' Self-Efficacy, Health, And Wellbeing, Jayla Godfrey

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Abstract

This thesis explores the punitive grading norms and lack of support from institutions and how it effects college students. More specifically, how it effects college students’ self-efficacy, self-esteem, health, and wellbeing. Through the lens of critical action research this thesis investigates the experiences of stakeholders and will integrate research and methods that have been supported by seasoned scholars. In this thesis, a two-part program focusing on imposter syndrome, fear of failure, grades, mindfulness, and improving student’s self-efficacy and wellbeing is proposed. The leadership of this programmatic intervention relies on the facilitator and focuses on mindfulness-based interventions and group discussions. …

An Evaluation Of Student Government: Diminishing The Disconnect Between Student Government Organizations And Their Constituencies, Elizabeth Roberts

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Student Government Organizations (SGOs) exist to serve and represent the student body. However, SGOs often face issues that lead to a disconnect between them and their constituency. The issues that can lead to a disconnect include responsibilities and purpose, representation and voter turnout, lack of knowledge and transparency, relationship to administration, and internal issues such as bias and mistreatment, transition, and personal outcomes. This thesis proposes an intervention of a yearly Student Government Evaluation where student government organizations are evaluated by the student body and their members and then create an action plan based on the results. The aim of …

Transformational Learning Through A Success Coaching Graduate Assistantship Experience: A Qualitative Case Study, Rita Patel Eng

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study examines the impact that graduate assistantships in Success Coaching had on graduate students’ professional practice as they entered their respective employment areas as entry-level professionals. I interviewed a total of 11 participants who were now entry-level working professionals in their respective fields of study, and who had completed at least one semester as a master’s degree graduate assistant in a Success Coaching Center. The qualitative semi-structured interviews focused on graduate student skills, transformational learning, and growth (self-authorship). Participants identified skills that made their transition into the workforce smoother, shared their challenges, and shed light on the transformational growth …

The Impacts Of Learning 2 Breathe On Rumination, Adessa Flack

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The present study examined the impact of Learning2Breathe (L2B), a mindfulness-based stress reduction program developed for use with adolescents on rumination. The program was applied to rumination in college-age men and women. Our experiment utilized a quasi-experimental design. The sample consisted of 50 undergraduate students that were placed in either the experimental or control group. Data was collected pretest and posttest through a variety of measures including the Rumination Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ) which consisted of a rumination and reflection subscale, and the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). A two-way mixed ANOVA design was used to analyze data. There was no …

The Sadie Alexander Project: A Professional Development Mandate For Student Affairs Professionals, Lauren Sealy

West Chester University Master’s Theses

In this thesis, I address the lack of professional development and the absence of resources provided for student affairs professionals. By utilizing critical action research, I propose an intervention of creating a professional development mandate for all student affairs professionals called the Sadie Alexander Project. The Sadie Alexander Project uses holistic and collaborative division efforts with a focus on supporting and advocating for student affairs professionals. The proposed intervention also promotes continuous education initiatives for student affairs professionals and ensuring that institutions have up-to-date resources for students in need. I emphasize the importance of evaluating employee satisfaction and highlight the …

Yoga, Stress, And College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study, Lori Klein

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

College students have experienced exponential increases in stress and mental health concerns that continued to rise during the global coronavirus pandemic. Yoga is a popular, well-regarded method for improving psychological wellbeing, and this study explored how students’ perceived stress improved during a semester-long introductory yoga course upon returning to in-person instruction after a period of remote learning as a result of coronavirus restrictions. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed method design to first measure perceived stress scores and then compare this data to student-reports of wellbeing. College students (n = 121) enrolled in 8 sections of Yoga 1 completed …

Career Longevity In Student Affairs: Implications For New Professionals From A Qualitative Study, Diane R. D'Arcangelo

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Over the past several decades, the retention of new professionals in student affairs has been a concern. Many newcomers leave the profession before completing five years in the field. This qualitative study explored factors contributing to career longevity in student affairs professionals through semi-structured interviews. I interviewed eight participants working at Mid-Atlantic University for more than five years. The semi-structured interviews were set up with a dual focus. The first half of the interview focused on the participants' experience as new professionals, followed by questions that explored their perspectives on supervising new professionals. Seasoned professionals who remained in the field …

Collaborating In Crisis: A Case Study On The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Georgia Pre-Kindergarten Program Providers, Arlene Charles

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Utilizing a mixed methods approach, this case study explores the level of resiliency demonstrated by Georgia Pre-kindergarten providers while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic based on surveys, interviews, and a review of publicly available information. Quantitative methods were used to identify the cases and to further assess organizational resiliency based on fiscal and enrollment indicators. Case study methodology was utilized to compare two Georgia Pre-kindergarten providers with different business types within two counties with vastly different socioeconomic poverty. Although the programs have access to similar resources, the non-profit entity was better prepared to continue serving students than the for-profit entity. The …

The Pandemic Dilemma: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Student-Centered Science Education In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Slavick

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to determine how student-centered instruction shifted and what dilemmas teachers experienced in enacting science instruction as they worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. A modified Draw-A-Science-Teacher-Test was used to examine teachers’ perceived instruction during the Fall of 2019, Fall of 2020, and Fall of 2021. Scores on this modified checklist were compared to determine differences in instruction year-to-year, across grade-bands, and to find trends in instruction concerning student demographics. Interviews were conducted with a subset of teachers in the study to learn more about the dilemmas they faced as their attempted science …

Communicating Effectively: An Exploration Of Communication Methods Between Parents And Teachers With Mixed Methods, Melanie Solano

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study explored the communication preferences of parents and teachers through traditional and new technology-based communication modes. Parents (n = 34) and teachers (n = 6) were selected from a public elementary school in the northeastern United States. Participants were administered Likert-type scales on the perceived connectedness of communication modes, as well as the Parental Academic Support Scale, Importance of Supportive Behaviors Scale, and Satisfaction of Communication Tools Scale. The survey contained four open-ended questions on home-school communication preferences. Survey results indicated that parents (M = 17.61, SD = 4.14) and teachers (M = 18.33, SD = …

United States Leadership And Collaborative Actions Challenges Sars Covid-19, Omar Aldabagh

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Abstract

The Coronavirus known as the COVID-19 pandemic has set people at massive risk with all different dimensions of dilemmas and issues; The United States has put efforts to control the virus's spread by focusing on a strategy to reduce the impact. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between public policy and public health. However, the current data have shown the U.S. is continuing to struggle to respond to the pandemic. This study aims to analyze the role of leadership behavior, disaster preparedness and response programs, and collective actions toward COVID-19 in crisis response. This virus's nature includes treatment …

Perceptions And Use Of Digital Technology By Educators Who Support Students With Disabilities In Public Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Tammy Thompson-Cooke

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this explanatory, sequential, mixed-method study was to examine the perceptions and use of digital technology by educators supporting the needs of students with disabilities attending K-12 classrooms and any correlation between the assistive technology (AT) knowledge, skills, and needs of K-12 educators within Pennsylvania. Technology has become ubiquitous and has emerged in schools as a means for students to interact with academic content. The provision of 1:1 devices was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which created opportunities for educators to discover innovative features that made learning more accessible to all students. Results indicated educators recognized AT as …

Intermediate Elementary Teachers’ Perception And Use Of A Learning Management System In Supporting Effective Teaching And Learning: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Southmayd

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Teachers in K-12 public schools have found themselves immersed in educational technology amidst a global pandemic that has shifted the landscape of instructional delivery. This study targeted intermediate elementary (3-5) teachers’ acceptance of an LMS as a central hub for student learning. While there is a volume of research to support the efficacy of an LMS at the secondary level and in higher education, there is minimal research to show its value-added in supporting intermediate learners at the elementary level. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study inquired to capture teachers’ perceptions and use of an LMS to support student learning. …

Trauma-Informed Educational Practices In The Middle School Classroom During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Loralynne Yost

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This collective case study used a mixed methods approach to examine how Trauma-Informed Educational Practices (TIEP) manifest in the middle school classroom. This study is important due to the trauma students experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher participants had district training in trauma-informed practices prior to this study.

Teacher participants took an initial survey to capture their conceptualization and perceived usage of the TIEP in the classroom. Teachers then used TIEP in their classrooms for two weeks. Teachers kept a checklist of which of the TIEP they used each day and commented on the context for the use of the …

Improving Perceptions Of On-Campus Activism: Preparing Student Affairs Professionals To Support Student Activists, Kathryn Melvin

West Chester University Master’s Theses

This thesis explores the perception of student activism at institutions of higher education and proposes a starting point to begin to change it. Increasing numbers of students are involved in on-campus activism but the typical perception remains negative despite its benefits. Using a transformative philosophy of education as a framework, I argue that activism is an undervalued form of student leadership and activists’ desire to push for change is integral to both their development and that of the institution where they attend. Through reviewing historical literature of past campus movements, the roles of student affairs professionals, and the dynamics at …

Ecological Development Of Purpose Among Graduating College Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Alexis Mccarthy

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This mixed methods study explored ecological purpose development among graduating college students at a large, public university in the Mid-Atlantic, focusing on the influence of college and familial contexts. Using Bronfenbrenner and Morris’ (2007) Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model as a framework, I undertook an explanatory sequential design (Creswell & Plano Clark 2017), assigning more weight to qualitative results (quan à QUAL). I collected quantitative survey data from 110 graduating students a college of liberal arts (consisting of Art and Design, Communication and Media, English, History, Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Theatre and Dance, and Women’s and Gender Studies majors) and then purposefully …

Checking The Box: Evaluating Professional Development Evaluations, Cristin Young

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This mixed-methods study aimed to examine questionnaires as an evaluation tool for professional development. The study measures the extent to which questionnaires reflect teachers' reactions to and learning in professional development sessions, how teachers view the use of questionnaires to evaluate these sessions, and how to improve that evaluation process. Data from a district-mandated professional development evaluation questionnaire was collected and analyzed from a sample of 825 teachers. Their experiences completing the questionnaires were measured by collecting survey and focus group data. The theories of satisficing and andragogy were used to frame the data analysis. I find that questionnaires do …

The Emotional Labor Of Special Educators: A Mixed Methods Study, Erika Thomas

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This mixed methods study specifically answered the questions (1) How much and what kind of emotional labor do special educators do? and (2) What are the lived experiences of special education teachers as they relate to emotional labor, mental health, wellbeing, and retention? I used the Brotheridge and Lee Emotional Labor Scale to survey 55 special education teachers employed in public education in a mid-Atlantic County and conducted semi-structured interviews with four of the survey participants. Prior literature had found that teachers reported engaging in emotional labor with students; while true of survey respondents, through the qualitative interviews, I found …

Exploring The Tensions Between Teacher Beliefs About Integrating Technology: A Case Study, Monica Frank

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This single case study examines teachers’ beliefs and attitudes toward technology integration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focuses on how teachers’ beliefs have shifted since schools pivoted to virtual learning in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many schools continuing some form of virtual learning, such as a hybrid model. The single case study design incorporated a survey instrument and semi-formal interviews during the two-phase study. The 20-question survey collected data on the participants’ demographics, teachers’ knowledge of technology integration, and their beliefs and perspectives on technology integration’s impact on student learning. The study participants …

Empowering Silenced Voices: Implementing Critical Pedagogy To Move Toward Decolonizing Music Education, Alexis Adams

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Throughout this thesis, I will delineate the historical and current issue of Eurocentrism and racism being perpetuated in K-12 music education and music teacher education programs. I will argue that music teacher education programs need to be decolonized and radically transformed so that music classrooms and curricula are anti-racist and counterhegemonic. Through utilizing theoretical frameworks, a historical review, and a literature review, I will further contextualize this problem. Lastly, I will propose a two-pronged intervention to address this over-arching issue: an undergraduate course entitled Critical Pedagogy in Music Education and a radically transformative professional development series for current music educators.

Well, What Are You Going To Do With That?: Combating The Corporatized University Through Transformative, Holistic Career Education, Alexandra Karlesses

West Chester University Master’s Theses

The corporatization of the university has brought with it a neoliberal ideology of belief that students should be funneled through systems of market-determined success that engineers its students to serve as human capital. Nowhere is this more evident than in career centers, which, due to declines in state education funding, have become chief sources of revenue for universities, and therefore have an increased dependence on employers to dictate university operations. The purposeful shift to a neoliberal, corporatized university model has removed focus from student-centered, holistic advising. Coupled with declines in funding, public perception, and extreme racial bias, the university has …

Creating Connections To Enhance International Student Sense Of Belonging, Emily Quinn Rooney

West Chester University Master’s Theses

This is a critical action research thesis proposal that explores international student sense of belonging at a United States University campus. As someone who has studied and lived abroad, I understand firsthand the importance of the relationships we foster and how having someone to lean on can be beneficial when you are in a new place. International students do everything in their power to come study in the United States, yet are met with endless barriers due to the laws the government has in place as well as the broader environment of higher education in U.S. society. They want to …

"Don't Let Your Schooling Interfere With Your Education:" A Comprehensive Look At Co-Curricular Involvement And Advising, Maryclare Rae

West Chester University Master’s Theses

In this thesis, I explore the need for continued student engagement. I am proposing an office or department responsible for advising students in their co-curricular endeavors and assisting them in translating transferrable skills. I plan to launch this program with a marketing campaign to inform students of the benefits of co-curricular engagement, followed by a survey to gauge interests, a meeting with an advisor to review results, and an exit ticket that students can take with them, detailing the conversation they had with their advisor. These advisors will be available to meet with students at any time in their college …

Finding The Yellow Brick Road: Bridging The Gap Between African American Foster Care Youth And Higher Education., Chyna Hart

West Chester University Master’s Theses

This critical action research thesis addresses the need for a university-based bridge program for African American foster care youth seeking to obtain a college degree. The reviewed literature explores a plethora of barriers experienced by African American foster care youth, which are brought on by social and systemic racism and inequity. In examining this literature, I have proposed and justified an intervention plan coined “The Yellow Brick Road Program”. This program will help to combat the barriers that hinder accessibility for African American foster care students by creating an on-campus hub that provides these students support services that address their …

More Than Just A Seat At The Table: Shared Governance For Graduate Student Mentorship, Katherine Canazzi

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Since its inception, public education in the United States has billed itself to the masses as an “equalizer” that “prepares the citizenry.” Although there are varying institutional types in higher education, Americans believe the myth that higher education is an extension of the same K-12 educational values. Despite higher education teaching the components of civic engagement separately, the skills are seldom combined for students to practice. Students do not learn how to transfer or combine these skills into their “real lives” outside of higher education. Since graduate students are electing to further their education, higher education has an increased responsibility …

Queer Composition: A Guide To Knowing And Supporting Lgbtqia+ Students, Cara Fordenbacher

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Influenced by its founding in religious, white, and male-dominated power structures, higher education today still often pushes marginalized communities out of academic spaces. Across the nation the LGBTQIA+ community is being threatened with anti-gay and anti-trans bills that are being signed into effect in schools. One of the most popular being the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill passed in Florida earlier this year. The work laid out in this thesis proposal aim to combat these efforts and create spaces on university campuses where LGBTQIA+ students can go and be their authentic selves; where their voices are highlighted and celebrated. All higher …