Education Commons^™

Beyond First Thoughts: Understanding The Essence Of Equitable Decision-Making, A Phenomenological Study, White Practitioners As Equitable Educational Decision-Makers, Zinnia Un

Dissertations and Theses

This interpretive phenomenological study aims to understand the lived experience of White educational decision-makers (EDMs) as they make equitable decisions for racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse (RCLD) students. Six decades after the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, the landscape of American education changed. Many scholars theorized the impact of colorblindness in decision-making and the connection to disproportionate outcomes for RCLD students.

The Student Success Act (2019) brings an additional $1 billion in investment to schools in Oregon annually. This allocation of school resources required an initial and ongoing community engagement process to ensure funding supports well-rounded education …

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 …

Unapologetic! Leading In White Spaces: A Critical Race Grounded Theory Study About The Experiences Of Black Women College Presidents At Four-Year Predominantly White Institutions And Gendered Racisms’S Influence On Their Leadership Approach, Damita A. Davis

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

For higher education to be responsive to the changing national and student population, its leadership must be “reflective of the world around it, (which) will be key to managing the challenges of today and the unknown challenges of tomorrow” (American Council on Education, 2017, para. 4). Unfortunately, despite the increasing diversity of the student body, college presidents remain primarily white; therefore, maintaining a limited view of leadership. Centering the experiences of Black women as a “strength to build, develop, and perform leadership” (Lloyd-Jones, 2016, p. 66), and understanding their ways of knowing, is an important step for postsecondary education in …

School Accountability Within The Dominican Republic: A Qualitative Study Of School Principals’ Beliefs And Knowledge, Massiel Cohen Camacho

Dissertations

The school accountability system in the Dominican Republic (DR) involves the use of several national assessments, the reporting of such data, and the training of principals on how to use such data as part of school improvement efforts. While this type of indicator accountability system does not include specific consequences, there is still significant measuring and reporting of student achievement data, with the implied connotation of teacher and principal responsibility for specific school outcomes. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of research on what school principals know about such school accountability in the DR, and how they …

Building Dynamic Capabilities Towards Innovation And Flexibility, Marianne Iaboni Marando

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

In March 2020 most Higher Education Institutions around the world quickly moved to online learning and work with only one week to prepare. While the pandemic forced us to do this quickly and without a well thought out plan, most of us met this challenge. The World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency on May 5, 2023, but many institutions had started the return to “normal” before then. This Organizational Improvement Plan starts with the vision that rather than retrenching back to “normal”, Ontario Polytechnic, a large polytechnic institution in Ontario, Canada, should be …

The Perception Of Army Counselors On The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence Training On Army Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Decision-Making Effectiveness, Geraldine Turituri

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the perception of Army counselors in the Military Family and Life Counselor (MFLC) program about the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) training on Army non-commissioned officer (NCO) leadership decision-making effectiveness in their supervision of the soldiers they are responsible for. This study also researched the perception of these counselors about the benefits and challenges of incorporating EI leadership preparation with traditional Army training for NCOs.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study explored Army counselors’ perceptions about the need for EI training for Army NCOs to perform as effective decision-makers. Since …

Social Work Educators’ Perceptions Of School Social Work Leadership – What Are The Characteristics That Make A Leader?, Christine Vyshedsky

International Journal of School Social Work

Social workers in school settings are uniquely poised to propose and implement proactive solutions to climate stressors, but they may not capitalize on this opportunity to lead. This study explored the perceptions of Masters’ level social work educators, who set the tone and expectations for school social workers through curricula, towards the inclusion of leadership-related skills within school social work curriculum. A survey of educator administrators (n = 75) at Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institutions examined leadership as defined through a combination of two proposed definitions for social work leadership, delineated by Holosko, 2009 and Hopson & …

The Faculty Journey As Ontological Inquiry, Miriam Carey

Turning Toward Being: The Journal of Ontological Inquiry in Education

In this essay, Miriam Carey (recently retired Full Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada) suggests a new form of faculty development based in ontological inquiry. Challenging the dominant educational paradigm, rooted firmly in epistemological approaches, she encourages us to explore what might become possible in educational development when ontological approaches are embraced. Finally, Dr. Carey suggests some of the many benefits to both faculty and students which become available when ontology is the focus of education.

Leadership, Service, And Wicked Problems: Impact Of War, Lack Of Funding, And Covid-19 In Service Of Those With Fewer Opportunities, Ruth V. Akumbu

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

As the world and organizations struggled to overcome the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, I, the Founder and CEO of Plant A Seed, also known as Plant a Seed Africa, used this chaotic period to assess and address issues facing the organization. Multiple challenges are addressed, including the pandemic, financial, political, and leadership. I created a new leadership strategy that switches between pacesetting, visionary, and transformational leadership styles. The new organizational change model will use the 5-F or Plant A Seed 5-F model.

Leading And Mentoring Women In Stem: Mitigating Gender & Microaggressions, Lilicia Bailey, April Curry

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Microaggressions, behaviors that can be nonverbal or verbal, can occur when individuals “communicate negative, hostile, and derogatory messages to people rooted in their marginalized group membership (based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality).” This statistic, according to the Institutional Transformation program at the University of New Hampshire,¹ is in alignment with what researchers indicate regarding microaggressions, asserting that they can be “intentional or unintentional” can occur daily, and are unacknowledged (Making the Invisible Visible: Gender Based Microaggressions, n.d.).

We consider the various types of microaggressions, specifically those based on gender, and assess the effect it has on women in leadership …

The Pathway Forward: Uncovering The Barriers Faced By Women Police Chiefs, Michael Llamas, Amor Roma, Tianshi Hao, Wendy Perkinson, Kayleigh Axtell, Anshu Lal, Jesse Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Women have encountered many obstacles in their quest to gain leadership in law enforcement. While research has studied how well women officers strive to achieve higher-level positions within police departments, the challenges women face when they gain top leadership roles remain largely unexplored. This research paper will discuss the unique challenges faced by women police chiefs, drawing from first-hand experiences of women police chiefs and existing literature. The study finds that women police chiefs encounter challenges in communication, transferring to a new department, overtasking, introvertedness, and general police chief stress. The study also finds that women police chiefs implement ways …

An Analysis Of The Rising Xenophobia Against Asian Americans In The U.S. And Higher Education Regarding The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shiqian Zheng

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This paper analyzes the cause of anti-Asian hate, the rising xenophobia against people with Asian origins, as well as the vaccine distribution and governmental leadership. By conducting a short case study on universities’ leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, this paper contributes to the literature regarding Asian Americans overall, as well as to the literature on approaches to a public crisis on hate crime in higher education in the United States.

The Reluctant Feminist: Angela Merkel’S Cautious Leadership, Ls Gaiek, Marlyn Garcia

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Abstract: What does it mean to be a modern feminist global leader today? Global leadership research is growing, but less research focuses on female leaders, even though the 21st century thus far contains a significant rise of female leaders. Angela Merkel’s infamously historic reticence and aversion, concerning speaking about feminism, irrevocably dissolves in an interview in January of 2019. This interview offers a glimpse into Angela Merkel’s cageyness, and provides an intimate insight into her circumspect perspective concerning feminism. This article aims to explore barriers and challenges to Angela Merkel’s rise as a global leader, how crisis forged and …

A Phenomenological Understanding Of K-12 Leaders’ Lived Experiences Of Changing From Teacher-Centered Practices To Student-Centered Practices, Claudia Burregi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the process of changing from teacher-centered practices to student-centered practices for K-12 educational leaders at Blue Ocean school district (pseudonym) in Louisiana to equip students with 21st-century skills. The theory guiding this study is Lewin’s change theory, which undergirds the premise that as individuals embrace change, they are better equipped to support the vision of why change is needed, ultimately leading to lasting change. A transcendental study was used to capture the essence of the change from TCL to SCL experience of ten educational leaders from seven schools in BOSD …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Christian Leaders' Competency Development Experience: Prepared To Equip The Laity, Shamekia Shonta' Smith-Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research indicates that missional or nondenominational U.S. churches may include more than 60,000 such churches, representing at least 12 million followers (Thumma, 2020). Additionally, some ministry leaders predict denominational affiliation will wane over the next decade (Earls, 2021a), as will the training and other support they offer. The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to assess and understand the experiences of missional ministry leaders after participation in a structured or unstructured competency development program and their ensuing dynamic engagement in ministry. Dynamic engagement will be defined as "fully engaged and intentional" (MacFarland, 2019, para. 1), as evidenced by implementing …

Go On…Shatter It! A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Gender-Based Prejudices Of Senior-Level Women Administrators At Community Colleges Across Texas, Janene Marie Dotts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to understand the gender-based prejudices and obstacles and barriers for women pursuing senior leadership roles at community college in Texas. The Role Congruity Theory of Prejudice toward Female Leaders, plays an essential part in understanding how women were perceived when in a leadership position, guides this study. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and letter writing were conducted with 14 women who had achieved senior-level administration roles at a community college. By horizontalizing, reducing, and ultimately determining a composite structural description or substance of participants' experiences, Moustakas' phenomenological analysis method was used to …

Dear Education System, It’S You, Not Me: Burnout In Elementary Special Education Teachers, Bernadette Putman-Bailey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Putman-Bailey, B. (2023). Dear education system, it’s you, not me: Burnout in elementary special education teachers. Burnout is not new to the education system as there seems to be a news article around burnout in the teaching profession and the shortage of teachers nationwide. Minnesota is not immune to this problem, but it is particularly true in special education. Special education teacher positions are the most difficult to recruit and retain for school districts in Minnesota. This research focused on the phenomenon of burnout in elementary special education teachers in urban and suburban areas of Minneapolis. The primary research question …

Severe Special Need Student Inclusion In The Classroom, Samantha Thompson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This school improvement plan focuses on enhancing student inclusion within the general education environment. With inclusion being a pivotal topic in educational settings, this study aims to explore and elucidate its significance. The project encompasses a comprehensive investigation of the issue, examining aspects such as leadership support, differentiated instruction, and the practical implementation of inclusion in the general education setting. Emphasizing the vital role of inclusion in fostering student success, particularly within the inclusive environment, this research advocates for the integration of students with diverse abilities in the general education setting to sustain their social and academic growth. The findings …

Summer Therapy And Coaching Resource Notebook, Kelli J. Pease

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project aims to fulfill the need for an easily accessible and well-organized resource notebook for summer Educational Therapy and Academic Coaching that our organization has talked about doing for some time now but has always lacked the manpower to make happen. I desire to have this be a stepping stone towards offering a valuable, well-defined service for our administration to offer to our students and families in the future.

This approach will address the frustration of having data and information scattered between our three schools, departments, and people. It will also take current resources, information, and opinions from other …

What Is The Role Of An Athletic Director At The High School And College Levels?, Richard O'Donnell

Master of Science in Kinesiology

What is the role of an athletic director? Athletic directors work in both high school and college level settings. Not all athletic directors run their programs the same way. This proposed study involves a survey of high school athletic directors and college athletic directors. The survey would gather data on leadership style, delegation tactics, daily tasks, annual planning, and fundraising. If conducted, this study will provide information on how high school and college athletic directors are similar, as well as how they are different. This study would benefit those already in the profession and those who are aspiring to become …

Beyond The Ice, Nikolaus T. Butz, Joshua Hunter, Emma Fisher

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Leadership is a management tool to direct effective achievement of goals. Historical investigation can provide a valuable lens for the study of leadership styles. To that end, this study examines the disparate approaches of Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott as they raced to be the first explorer to reach the South Pole. The objective of this study is to analyze the leadership techniques used in these expeditions, and to determine how they shaped the outcome of each. The process of tacit knowledge and experience coalesce and foster both leadership and action that is not only communication-oriented and value-driven, but also …

Book Review: The Courage To Lead Through Values: How Management By Values Supports Transformational Leadership, Culture, And Success, Nidhi Aggarwal, Nana Manu, Eya Mahouachi, Jyoti Aggarwal

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

The Courage to Lead through Values: How Management by Values Supports Transformational Leadership, Culture, and Success is about being fearless and implementing the values in changing or sustaining the organization and its people. Transformational leadership is shown as an influential factor in the individual’s ability to deal with different circumstances and where leaders courageously provide support to maintain the employee confidence level. This book is also about the type of leader an individual can become, who may not have answers or solutions to every problem, but genuinely keep working on and acknowledge their inner sense of courage and values by …

Latter-Day Saint Women And Leadership In Higher Education: An Intrinsic Case Study, Elizabeth J. Darger

Theses and Dissertations

There are few women in the highest levels of leadership in most industries, including higher education. This intrinsic case study provides insight into the leadership journeys of 15 female leaders at Brigham Young University, which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Four prevalent themes emerged about their leadership journeys. First, a leadership role was not part of the participant's life plan. The remaining three themes related to acceptance of a leadership role. Participants reported feeling nudged to consider a leadership role, feeling a sense of relational responsibility in accepting a leadership role, and receiving a …

Equity During The Pandemic: Exploring Rural Women Superintendents Perceptions Of Equity Leadership, Kelly Brown, Kathryn Washington

Tapestry: Journal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Education

While the percentage of women in the superintendency has grown in the last 30 years, most superintendents (87%) are male compared to 13.2 percent female (Glass, 2021). The participants of this study were female superintendents leading rural school districts. Rural schools educate approximately 25% of the students in our country. Superintendents of rural schools face many additional challenges such as limited resources, declining student enrollments, high teacher turnover or chronic instability due to geographic isolation, a lack of professional development opportunities are just a few of the challenges these school districts face (Azano & Stewart, 2015; Baker et al.; 2014; …

2022 Tcpea Outstanding Dissertation Of The Year Research Summary, Ijeoma Anugweje Ed.D., Jennifer Grace Dissertation Advisor

School Leadership Review

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of administrative support on teachers in Title I schools during the Coronavirus pandemic. This study added to the knowledge base by providing information on teachers' work experiences in Title I schools during the Coronavirus pandemic. This study included a review of data collected from interviews of elementary teachers in a Title 1 district. A purposeful sample of 12 teachers who worked in Title 1 elementary schools during the Coronavirus pandemic were interviewed. The interviews provided an in-depth understanding of the teachers’ perceptions on administrative support during the pandemic in Title …

A Program Evaluation Of The Reasons Some Educators Do Or Do Not Remain In The Teaching Profession, Joshua Karren

Dissertations

Abstract According to Sutcher et al. (2016), hundreds of thousands of teachers (eight percent of the overall United States teaching force) leave the profession annually for various reasons. These reasons include dissatisfaction with some parts of their jobs, including poor leadership, lack of control over teaching, family or personal reasons, pursuing a job outside of education, retirement, and financial reasons. The purpose of this study is to understand why teachers choose to stay at their school, why they leave certain schools and what school and district leaders can do to keep teachers in their classrooms. The context of this inquiry …

School Principals As Leaders Of Educational Environments In School Settings: Recontextualization Of American Educational Practices In China, Wei Zhang

Dissertations

Chinese principals play a significant role in recontextualizing the U.S. principals’ practices in leading their school reform and student outcomes in Chinese social, cultural, and educational contexts. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is twofold: (1) to describe and interpret how Chinese principals make meaning of their experiences as active democratic leaders and (2) to identify the challenges they are going through in creating an educational environment based on the creative use of U.S. research and theory supporting best practices for principals. The study has a total of 50 participants (n=50) across the United States (n=32) and China (n=18). …

Transactional And Transformational Leadership In The Superintendency: A Phenomenological Study Of Three Upper Peninsula Superintendents’ Experiences, Lisa A. Coombs-Gerou

All NMU Master's Theses

This study aimed to analyze and provide an understanding of how three rural public school superintendents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan practiced transformational leadership. Transformational leadership includes the elements of idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration (Burns, 1978). Transformational superintendents must lead our schools to provide students with the best educational opportunity. The study focused on the superintendents experiences in deciding to become a superintendent, their beliefs about leadership, and how they approached decisions through a transactional or transformational process. The study also sought to provide insight into the relationship with their school board and how …

The Role Of School Leadership In Preparing High School Teachers To Engage In Restorative Practices, Margaret Chmura

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

In schools across the United States, student discipline policies have traditionally been punitive, removing students from the educational. Researchers have shown that punitive consequences are often assigned inordinately to subgroups of students (e.g., Black or Brown students and special education students). Restorative practices are an alternate approach to punitive consequences and are transforming student discipline in schools across the country. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover types of support that are needed from school leaders in transitioning teachers to the use of restorative practices in the high school setting. Five teacher participants engaged in the study …

Leadership Styles In Ncaa Division I Athletic Administration And Their Relationships To Job Satisfaction, Valerie Gomez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As an industry, college athletics has become a focal point of much attention and scrutiny as a result of increasing moral and ethical scandals, as well as lucrative media and personnel contracts. Scandals such as admissions fraud, academic cheating, and financial crimes are a cause for concern regarding the leadership within Division I athletic departments. Organizational and individual outcomes have been associated with leadership. While extant research has focused on the leadership of coaches and the athletic director, the leadership of the senior-level leadership team has been largely neglected. Given the structure of many Division I athletic departments, the senior-level …