Education Commons^™

Effective Professional Development Practices For Adult Educators, Jessica Lureen Mcgee

All Graduate Projects

Professional development has evolved from a one day workshop that is isolated from the school setting, into a process that is on-going based at the school site. In order for professional development to be effective in the school environment, administrators need to take adult learners' needs into account when planning training. Professional development needs to be ongoing in the school setting, meeting the needs of the adult learners and evaluated by its effects on student achievement. The administrator is an instructional leader who provides support for staff to continue their growth. This handbook will provide administrators with resources to assist …

A Model Faculty Handbook To Promote A Shared Vision And A Collaborative School Culture, Nadine D. Betts

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the study was to develop a model faculty handbook to promote a shared vision and a collaborative school culture. To accomplish this purpose, a review of related literature was conducted. Related information and materials from selected sources were obtained and analyzed. Additionally, specific information and forms were adapted and developed to serve an elementary faculty.

A Clinical Instructor Online Training Course For Radiologic Technologists, Christine Marie Beaudry

All Graduate Projects

An online training module was developed for Radiologic Sciences Clinical Instructors at Clinical Education Centers for Yakima Valley Community College. This training module orients new Clinical Instructors to accreditation standards, as well as orients them to student and technologist requirements for the Radiologic Sciences Program.

An Educational Dilemma: To Touch Or Not To Touch, Ronald G. Jeffries

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to aid both pre-service and in-service teachers in solving the dilenuna of whether or not to touch students in the classroom environment. The harmful effects and consequences of the use of inappropriate touch by teachers, which tend to cause teachers and administrators to say, "Hands off!", were examined. However, numerous studies were researched which support the use of appropriate touch in teaching children. In addition, educators from fourteen schools in North Central Washington were surveyed to determine the consensus of whether or not teachers today continue to employ touch and for what purposes. The …

The Design And Development Of A Student-Parent Handbook And A Parent-Family And Community Volunteer Handbook For An Elementary School, Richard Kevin Bates

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a Student-Parent Handbook and a Parent-Family and Community Volunteer Handbook for Robert Gray Elementaiy School in Aberdeen, Washington. To accomplish this purpose, a study of current research and the incorporation of State laws, Aberdeen School District Board policies, and the special needs of Robert Gray Elementaiy School were all taken into consideration. The Student-Parent Handbook was developed to communicate in written format with the parents. It was to include information, rules, policies and procedures to further students', parents' and school staffs understanding. The Parent-Family and Community Volunteers Handbook was developed …

A Comparative Study Of 1-12 Public School Systems Of The United States And People's Republic Of China, Sean Xiong Chi

All Graduate Projects

The purpose ofthis study was to recognize and extrapolate the major similarities and/or differences between the public education systems of the United States and the People's Republic of China. The researcher was primarily concerned with the examination of similarities and differences in origin, evolution, structure, organization, curriculum, funding, law and governmental regulations in Grades 1-12 school systems in the two countries. The researcher's analysis of the project was intended to provide other educators and researchers with a picture of the nature of the two school systems. There is no value judgement of either country's educational system in this comparative study.

A Uniform Dress Code Policy For Middle/Junior High School, Cynthia A. Thoman

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a model uniform dress code policy for the student population of a selected middle/junior high level school district in Washington State. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current literature regarding student dress codes and policies was conducted. Additionally, related information from selected public schools currently using student uniforms was obtained and analyzed.

A Procedural Handbook For The Washougal Learning Center, Michael J. Strever

All Graduate Projects

It is the intent of this project to create a handbook for the parents, students, and staff of Washougal Leaming Center in Washougal, Washington. This handbook was designed to both be consistent with current district, state, and federal guidelines, and communicate the policies and procedures of the Washougal Leaming Center to parents, students, and staff. The handbook was developed with input from staff of Washougal Leaming Center. Handbooks from various school in Washington were also review in the development of this project. Recommendations included an annual review of the handbook to ensure its validity and appropriateness.

Teacher Behaviors And Their Effect On Student Behavior: An Inservice Project, Cindy K. Dracobly

All Graduate Projects

This project was developed as a means to provide meaningful inservice for school staff in the area of classroom management as it relates to student behavior. This project established inservice activities providing staff with simple strategies to develop a positive classroom climate and to foster effective management of the learning environment while minimizing off task and disruptive student behavior.

One School's Emergence Toward Participatory Decision Making, Terry W. Bloomquist

All Graduate Projects

A look at the development of participatory decision making, in one high school, was described in this study from a historical perspective. Kent-Meridian High School, in the Kent School District, was the studied school. Between the years 1979 and 1992 KentMeridian had three principals with very different and distinct styles. During this time span the emergence of a shared decision model, called "Empowerment", developed as a result of faculty expectation and pressure. Conclusions, implications, and recommendations are discussed.

Volunteer Assisted Reading, Linda Laurene Young

All Graduate Projects

The problem investigated in this study relates to the need in schools today to find ways of providing educational support assistance for classroom teachers as part of the classroom learning process. With the continued rise in school enrollments, it is difficult for school funding to keep up with growing educational demands. Favorable student-teacher ratio issues emphasize the need to provide additional help for the classroom teacher. Finding additional classroom help has become a major concern; parents' commitments to employment and social obligations have changed their availability to participate at the schoolhouse and have lessened parent-child contact time (Cassidy, 1981). According …

Towards Teacher Efficacy: A Handbook For The Implementation And Development Of A Peer Coaching Program, Roy M. Abshire

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between successful implementation of the peer coaching process and the enhancing of teacher efficacy, student learning, and improvement of school climate was studied. Also examined was the assumption that successful implementation of peer coaching will require specific administrative support. The results of the study show support for a peer coaching program's ability to positively affect teacher efficacy, student learning, and the school climate. A handbook aiding the implementation and development of a peer coaching program is provided.

An Inservice Program For The Training Of Instructional Paraprofessionals And Classroom Teachers, Debra Renee Helm

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop an inservice program to increase the job related skills of paraprofessional classroom assistants and the human management and supervision skills of the classroom teachers with whom they work. To accomplish this purpose, the inservice training needs of class-size paraprofessionals and the classroom teachers were studied. An inservice training program was developed and implemented with twelve class-size paraprofessionals and twelve supervising teachers from selected elementary schools in the Auburn School District. The results of the program showed that the increased use of paraprofessionals in instructional roles creates significant need for inservice training for …

Cedar River Mini-School, Judy Anne Rene

All Graduate Projects

A mini-school was set up in Cedar River Elementary School in Maple Valley, Washington. The mini-school will keep the same students and teachers together for a three-year period of time. There will be a fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classroom, each with its own teacher. Research suggests that students in small schools perceive a closer, warmer relationship with their teachers, fellow students and other adults and a stronger connection with the school. This project presents a justification for and a description of the mini-school. The only conclusions reached come from the development of the mini-school, not in an evaluation of …

The Selection And Implementation Of A Drug And Alcohol Intervention Program/Model For Grand Coulee Dam Junior High School, Grand Coulee, Washington, Scott L. Ramsey

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to plan and implement an intervention program to combat adolescent substance abuse at Grand Coulee Dam Junior High School, Grand Coulee, Washington. This study presented a review of the research and literature related to drug and alcohol intervention models and has documented the steps and procedures taken by the Grand Coulee Dam Junior High School Core Team to implement the intervention model selected.

Corss-Age Tutoring Program, Velma Jean Thompson

All Graduate Projects

This master's project provided a teachers~ handbook to assist in establishing a cross-age tutoring program. In addition to a philosophy statement and a review of the literature, this project also .provided forms for implementing the program and materials for training the tutors. This manual was prepared for use in an elementary school setting and contains a step-by-step approach to establish a cross-age tutoring program.

A Recycling Proposal For The Vashon Island School District, John Turner Green

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify a process by which the Vashon Island School District could reduce its waste stream and involve and educate students in an environmental ethic that actively seeks to reduce and recycle wastes. A search of the general and educational literature was made. An extensive research of state and local agencies helped to identify appropriate goals and actions for the Vashon School District. The proposal calls for seven specific actions to be taken.

Parents' Perceptions Of School-Community Reations Within One Elementary School Attendance Area, Lisa Hoffman

All Graduate Projects

The relationship between the school and its community is enhanced through effective communication. Parents were interviewed to discover their perception of effective communication and to understand, from their perspective, what is needed to improve communication. The interviews and implications thereof are discussed as well as the results.

A Practical Reference For Students, Parents, And District Employees For The Governing Of Sterling Middle School, Debra J. Lacy

All Graduate Projects

A study was conducted of several aspects of Washington State Law, including portions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), plus an in-depth study on search and seizure rights of the school. The search and seizure study was limited to locker searches by school personnel. The study primarily included relevant aspects of school attendance, bus behavior, corporal punishment, student discipline, student and school property, student dress, search and seizure, and first amendment issues (i.e., publications by students). From this study, an in-depth handbook was produced for use by school administrators and students of Sterling Middle …

Absenteeism Trends In The North Franklin School District From 1974 To 1985, Gail A. Thompson

All Master's Theses

This study is concerned with the question: Is there a trend toward an annual increase in certificated absenteeism in the North Franklin School District, Connell, Washington, and does any such change parallel trends as identified in the literature?

An Analysis Of Parental Rights In The Education Of Their Children, Marylou Brain Mundy

All Master's Theses

This study presents an analysis of the parental rights involved in the selection and direction of the education of their children.

Six kinds of source materials are examined in the study: (1) legal citations, annotations, and digests; (2) constitutions, laws, codes, statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and proceedings; (3) law reports, reviews and analyses; (4) general reading lists, books and periodicals; and (5) related graduate degree dissertations.

There were two major reasons for analysis of parents' rights in the affairs of learning and education of their children. They include (1) that many of the controversies involving parental rights have their roots …

School Organization Placement For The Ninth Grade Student, Karen D. Garrison

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the best placement of the ninth grade student in the school organizational pattern. Thirty-six superintendents, seventy-seven high school principals and sixty-four high school teachers, in the state of Washington, responded to a questionnaire-opinionnaire regarding the physical, intellectual, emotional and social maturity level of the ninth grade student. The results showed support for the ninth grade student to be in a four-year high school grade configuration.

The Cost To And The Public Relation Effects Of Federal Education Dollars To The Local School District, Raymond L. Cooper

All Master's Theses

The costs and public effects of using federal vocational education dollars in the local school district were studied. Twenty-five Washington school districts were randomly selected. Financial data were compiled and a survey distributed to these schools. The results showed increased use of federal vocational monies resulted in increased local administration, as school size decreased use of federal monies decreased, smaller schools spend more money per student, and local advisory committees feel that vocational education needs federal monies.

Administrative Internship Program & Intern Handbook For The Kennewick School District, Charles Douglas Watson

All Graduate Projects

This project provides a program handbook to be used by the Kennewick School District in their cooperative effort with the universities to provide a meaningful experience for potential future administrators. The intent was to provide a tool that will help both the school district and the intern form a stronger commitment in the administrative training process. The Program Handbook contains necessary information, application forms, processes and expectations of persons involved. It also provides an organizational and recording tool for selected interns and their supervisors.

Textbook Selection Process: An Historical Account Of The Steps Involved In Textbook Selection Guidelines For Washington State Public Schools, James D. Shannon

All Graduate Projects

Local schools and school districts in the State of Washington have the responsibility for selecting textbooks to meet the district's philosophies, goals, and objectives as well as state regulations. To eliminate some of the problems inherent in this situation and to ensure more satisfactory results, this writer developed a procedure based on a committee approach, using a participatory decision making mode. Also, evaluative criteria and a rating tool were designed for use in screening, evaluating, and selecting textbooks. This project presents the steps used in the process.

A Content Analysis Of Public School Education News In An Independently Owned Small Daily Newspaper, Linda L. Mccleary

All Master's Theses

Newspapers and school districts form a tentative partnership in the dissemination of education news. Subjects preferred by readers have not been reflected in actual education news coverage. Emphasis on utility information at the expense of in-depth writing about what is going on in public education has been standard practice. Content analysis shows that while quantity of education news seems reasonable, the quality of that news fails to transmit to readers the substance of what teachers and children are accomplishing in the public schools.

The Significance Of Projecting Enrollment In Determining School District Apportionment Revenue In Washington State For 1979, Charles M. Plesha

All Graduate Projects

The enrollment of the Sunnyside School District for the 1979-80 school year was estimated. This enrollment figure determined the potential staff allocation size, which in turn determined the 3010 apportionment revenues from the state. Revenues, likewise, determined the district's 00, 30 and 97 programs' staff expenditures. Those predictions were made for the general fund budget only. In addition, other revenues received from the state by Sunnyside School District, which effected the 3010 apportionment account, were explained. Actual historical enrollment data of Sunnyside School District No. 201 were utilized to make all projections as meaningful as possible.

A Policy Handbook For The Union Gap School District, Gary Fredrick Johnson

All Graduate Projects

This project presents a proposed policy handbook to the board of directors of the Union Gap School District which will replace the present outdated handbook. Prior to writing the new policies, a review was made of educational literature on policy development, the Union Gap School District's board minutes, and surrounding school districts policy handbooks. The policies from the surrounding school districts were categorized according to subject matter, and, utilizing these policies along with a close communication with the school board and the superintendent, new policies were developed that would meet the unique needs of the Union Gap School District.

The Faculty Handbook, Jerry L. House

All Graduate Projects

This project presents a faculty handbook prepared for the staff at Tahoma Junior High School in Maple Valley, Washington, The handbook was designed with two main purposes in mind: 1) to establish two-way communication among staff members as well as staff and administration; and 2) to render the educational process more efficient. The handbook includes fifteen major sections dealing with such topics as duties, rights and responsibilities, school policy and procedures, evaluation, and scheduling. It also includes copies of the forms a teacher will be confronted with through the school year. It was found that a handbook is a credible …

Survey Of Second And Third Class School District Administrator Evaluation In Washington State, Mack Douglass Armstrong

All Graduate Projects

In October 1974, a pilot survey was conducted at the state convention of the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals in Spokane, Washington. The concern of the pilot survey was to indicate the general compliance for school administrators with RCW 28A.67.065. The results indicated that 75 percent of the districts surveyed evaluate their principals while only 41 percent indicated an evaluation of the superintendent. Were these percentages to hold true and accurate, eighty districts in the state would not be evaluating their principals and 188 superintendents would not be evaluated. Fifty-nine percent of the school districts then would be failing …