Education Commons^™

Advancing Mental Health Awareness Among Persons Of Color: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Irene Rattitham, Cassandra Nelson

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aimed to advance mental health awareness among persons of color (POC) residing in a skilled nursing facility by developing and implementing a culturally responsive psychoeducational program. Informed by the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based practices, the program addressed barriers such as stigma, limited awareness, and cultural perceptions of mental health. A needs assessment guided the creation of an 8-module curriculum covering topics like emotional regulation, family involvement, and accessing support. Educational materials were translated into Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese to enhance accessibility. The program was delivered through group and individual sessions, in-service presentations, and …

Counternarratives In Art Education: Portraitures Of Underrepresented Students A Decade After Graduation, Marianna Elrayes

Art Education Masters Theses

The research sought to better understand and advocate for underserved and underrepresented art students in public education through the utilization of counternarratives. How can we effectively resolve social justice issues in art education if we do not listen to the voices and perspectives of the students these issues directly impact? Foundational theory for this research has been the works by Paulo Freire (1970/2017), Antonia Darder (2012), and bell hooks (1994). Through the lens of critical theory, the research provided an overview of academic socio-political issues and oppressive systems in place perpetuating the stigma around underserved and underrepresented students. The research …

Preventing Injuries In Cdl Drivers: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Jerika Eumecha Arnsworth, Cassandra Nelson, Lee Ann Hoffman

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Commercial drivers are at heightened risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to prolonged sitting, inadequate ergonomic environments, and limited access to health education. This doctoral capstone project aimed to address these challenges through the development, implementation, and evaluation of a five-week educational program focused on improving ergonomic awareness and occupational health among CDL drivers. Grounded in the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model, the program was implemented in collaboration with a small commercial logging company in Texas and featured weekly modules on hydration, preparatory movements, assistive technology, seating posture, and mental health.

A needs assessment revealed limited ergonomic knowledge among participants and a …

Educating Primary Care Professionals On The Management And Treatment Of Dementia Patients, Rosemarie Ashmeade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education program addressed the delayed treatment of patients with dementia at the outpatient project facility. Patients with depression were treated according to protocol; however, the practitioners were not recognizing that some of these patients with depression had dementia and required a different plan of treatment. This knowledge gap had the potential to result in delayed diagnosis, inadequate patient support, and less favorable patient outcomes. This evidence-based education program was developed to increase healthcare practitioners’ competency in recognizing dementia and providing early referral and treatment. I determined the effectiveness of the educational intervention by analyzing the data …

Rural Roots, Academic Roads: Exploring College Persistence Among Rural Students, Misty Wilburn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the financial and social challenges faced by first-generation college students from rural backgrounds as they transition from K-12 to four-year regional institutions. Using quantitative analysis of secondary data from the class of 2024 at a selected institution, this study examines factors influencing graduation rates and financial aid needs. Key metrics include geographic origins, high school backgrounds, academic assistance, and financial support. By highlighting these challenges, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the structural and social barriers that first-generation rural students encounter.

Motivating Factors Leading To Job Satisfaction Of Teacher Assistants And Their Perceptions Of Such, Jon Oswalt

Theses and Dissertations

This research study investigated the role perceptions, motivating factors, and perceptions of job satisfaction from the perspective of elementary teacher assistants. While key in the field of education, research focused on the position of teacher assistant is lacking, suggesting the need for a critical view of the role. A qualitative study was designed to examine the key components of the perceptions of job satisfaction, the motivating factors leading to it, and the perceptions of the position through the lens of the teacher assistant. Five elementary teacher assistants from a single school in a southern state participated in semi-structured interviews. Key …

Mastering Skills Together: Effects Of Video Modeling On Parent-Implemented Academic Intervention, Chelsea S. Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

Reading proficiency is a fundamental skill for academic success and long-term developmental outcomes. Yet, despite ongoing efforts to strengthen literacy education, a significant number of students continue to face reading difficulties that hinder comprehension, critical thinking, and overall academic achievement. National data demonstrate the urgency of this issue. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported that 40% of fourth-grade students and 33% of eighth-grade students scored below the Basic level in reading, marking the highest rate on record for eighth graders. Early reading challenges can often lead to other academic and psychosocial challenges such as low achievement, low …

Social Validity Of Functional Analysis Variations, Rita M. Druffner

Theses and Dissertations

The functional analysis was developed to systematically identify the antecedent and consequent conditions mediating challenging behavior. Modifications to the traditional procedures have been developed to address barriers to implementation, including duration, environmental control, and safety. Much of the research surrounding functional analyses addresses effectiveness, barriers to implementation, and practitioner acceptability. However, there is a lack of research assessing caregiver social validity of functional analysis procedures. Social validity is the assessment of the goals, procedures, and outcomes of behavior analytic practice. Even though there has been advocacy for including measures of social within behavior analytic research and practice, there is limited …

Mentorship In Music Education: Crafting A Supportive Path For New Teachers, Stephen P. Fields

Theses and Dissertations

Attrition rates among new secondary music educators is an ongoing problem. Many new music educators leave the profession in their first five years with many doing so between years two and three. This project examined the difficulties faced by new secondary music educators and how involvement in a structured mentorship program can aid in their growth and development. Bandura's (1977) social learning theory and Kolb's (1984) experiential learning theory was used in the creation of the practitioner’s manual. Three research questions were addressed in this study: (1) What challenges do early career music educators face and how can a structured …

Academics Vs Athletics: Prioritizing The Students In Student-Athletes And The Importance Of Their Return To The Classroom, Stephen Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) aims to enhance student- athletes' educational experiences but Law 6.5.1 inadvertently causes students to miss 300 hours of academic instruction annually. This dilemma forces school districts to choose between robust sports programs and rigorous academic schedules, ultimately creating a disadvantage for students. While participation in sports has been linked to improved academic performance, the current structure disproportionately allocates resources to athletics over academics, with only 51% of schools offering after-school academic programs compared to 77% for sports. This paper discusses the benefits of sports, including higher attendance and graduation rates, but also highlights …

When Quitting Isn't An Option: Learner Perceptions Of Persistence Factors In A Faith-Based Online Global English As An International Language Course, Heather Porter Ugege

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the perceptions of learners in an online, global, faith-based, English as an international language (EIL) course. The course is designed to help students with limited access to educational opportunities develop English skills and prepare for enrollment in an online university. Since its launch, course enrollment, retention, engagement, and completion metrics have shown significant gains year over year. However, the number of learners in the course who have met all course completion criteria is still limited. This inquiry aims to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing learner persistence from the perspectives of both course completers and …

Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Care Training For Teachers In Early Childhood Education Settings, Molly Michelle Michaels

Theses and Dissertations

The maltreatment of children is currently a global health priority (Chamberlain et al., 2019). By the age of 16, over two-thirds of children report having experienced at least one traumatic event (Toof et al., 2020). Exposure to childhood trauma can negatively impact brain development, leading to problems functioning across community, home, and school settings (Burke Harris, 2018). In response, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration developed a framework for trauma-informed care to address the significant impact of trauma on individuals (Loomis, 2018). However, few studies exist that explore the use of trauma-informed care practices in early childhood education …

From Assessment To Action: The Role Of Data In Shaping Tiered Literacy Instruction, Trisha J. Uebele

Masters Projects

Abstract

This project supports educators in identifying students’ literacy needs and implementing targeted, evidence-based interventions through a user-friendly, data-driven approach grounded in the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework and the Science of Reading. By enabling educators to input and analyze commonly available assessment data, the project aims to make data-informed instruction accessible even to those with limited training in data literacy. A digital tracking tool will monitor individual student progress across key reading domains (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension), allowing for the creation of flexible, skill-based instructional groups. The project includes an intervention guide with links to research-based activities …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Middle School Students’ Social-Emotional Learning And Sense Of Community In Collaborative And Non-Collaborative Learning Environments, Edielou Saroca

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a difference in social-emotional learning and a sense of community between middle school students whose teachers engage in collaborative learning structures and teachers who do not. This study is important because it addresses a gap in the literature regarding the impact of collaborative learning on middle school students’ social-emotional learning and sense of community. This study provides information and support to educational institutions to manage challenging behaviors in the classroom and enhance social-emotional and sense of community skills. The sample comprised 140 middle school students who attended …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Digital Consumption Has On Adolescent Cognitive And Behavioral Abilities: A Case Study, Latisha Lambert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand student digital consumption and its potential implications on cognitive and behavioral development at a suburban middle school in Southeastern United States. The study was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Veblen’s technological determinism theory, providing a dual lens for examining how environmental modeling and societal shifts in technology influence student learning and behavior. The study utilized a single-site embedded case study design. Ten middle school teachers from various grade levels and subject areas participated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and teacher journaling. NVivo coding was used to identify …

Differentiated Instructional Practices In Gifted And Talented Elementary Classrooms In Central Georgia: A Holistic Multiple-Case Study, Olethia Marie-White Calhoun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the factors influencing teachers' attitudes toward gifted education among elementary gifted-endorsed teachers at schools in central Georgia. Gifted education remains an underexplored and underfunded area within the United States (U.S.) educational system, leaving many high-ability students without the support they need to thrive. This researcher investigated the factors influencing elementary teachers' attitudes toward gifted education and how these attitudes, along with teachers' sense of self-efficacy, affect the implementation of differentiated instructional methods in central Georgia schools. Grounded in Gagné's differentiated model of giftedness and talent (DMGT), a gap in the literature …

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

Sustaining The Score: A Narrative Inquiry Comparing California Teacher Induction And Adult Ensemble Participation For Music Educator Longevity And Growth, David Haley Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between music educators' participation in adult ensembles and any perceived benefits to their teaching careers remains underexplored. At a time when teacher recruitment and retention rates are unsustainable, this information can help provide ways to engage educators in a way that benefits both themselves and the academic success of their students. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of music educators across a wide variety of ages and grade levels. This study compares explicitly the formal, mandated support of California’s teacher induction program with the informal, voluntary support found in adult ensembles. Many music educators in California began their …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Impostor Syndrome On Women Of Color In Leadership Roles In Predominantly White Institutions, Alecia M. Ho-Sang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the emotional, spiritual, and physical ramifications of impostor syndrome on women of color in leadership roles within predominantly white institutions using social cognitive theory. The impostor syndrome was coined in 1978 by psychologists Suzanne Inmes and Pauline Rose Clance (Clance & Imes, 1978, p. 241). It is the experience of individuals who, despite possessing the qualifications for esteemed positions, attribute their achievements to sheer luck. Benefitting from diverse social and organizational theories, including achievement goal theory and social identity theory, this study draws on social cognitive theory. It illustrates the multifaceted impact of environmental, behavioral, …

Examining Literacy Habits, Reading Attitudes, And Literacy Perceptions Of College-Educated Black Men: A Case Study, Turkesshia D. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple-case qualitative study was to explore the literacy attitudes, reading habits, and literacy perceptions of college-educated Black men in North Carolina. The theory guiding this study is Freire’s Critical Literacy Theory (CLT). CLT supports educators in providing critical pedagogy, which includes critical thinking and critical text analysis. Participants in this study viewed literacy as a valuable life skill. They felt they would have had more positive literacy experiences during their K-12 schooling if they received culturally relevant and culturally responsive instruction. The central research question for the case study was: How do college-educated Black men describe …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Teachers From The Northeast Region Of The United States And How They Cope With Workplace Stress And Burnout, Zakkiyyah W. Sally

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to better understand the lived experiences of Pre-K to 12th grade teachers from the Northeast Region of the United States as it relates to the development of burnout and stress. The central phenomenon of the study has been to discover ways teachers choose to cope and best manage stress, which can lead to burnout. This research study also served to investigate school related resources available to teachers to help support them with stress, burnout, and coping. Teachers have noted that they manage stress and burnout with various strategies, such as mindfulness, compassion, …

Investigating Black Students’ Perceived Motivations For Degree Attainment At A Community College: A Case Study, Kacie Rene Birdsong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to discover the motivation that influences the retention for Black student graduates at a local community college in southern Mississippi. The practical implications of this research are significant, as college graduation rates directly reflect the financial health of a higher education institution. Understanding why Black students are particularly motivated to complete their degrees is not only academically intriguing but also has practical implications for the future of higher education. As enrollment rates are on the decline, graduation rates become even more critical. When it becomes an issue of many students dropping out of …

Faculty Experiences With Evaluation Practices Within A Community College, Janie Dobbins Hamrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand faculty experiences with evaluation practices for teachers within two-year higher education institutions in the Southeast region of the United States. The theory guiding this study is transformational leadership theory as it aids in understanding the problem that some faculty experience with evaluation practices established by ineffective leadership. By researching transformational leadership theory, researchers have determined that leadership style influences faculty experiences with teacher assessment procedures like evaluation and observation practices. The Central Research Question is, how are teaching evaluation experiences of community college faculty influenced by perceived supervisor leadership style? The …

Immersive Insights: A Phenomenological Lens To Unveil The Lived Experiences Of Educators In Virtual Reality-Based Professional Development: A Phenomenological Study, Manjeet Kaur

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research is to understand the lived experiences of secondary educators who have participated in VR-based professional development programs in the southeastern United States. Using Kolb’s (1984) experiential theory, the study answered the central research question: What are the lived experiences of educators who have participated in VR-based professional development programs at urban middle schools in the southeastern United States? The sub-questions addressed educators' experiences with VR professional development regarding engagement, immersion, and perceptions to enrich their teaching practices or professional growth. Purposive, maximum variation, and snowball sampling were used to secure 10 educators who …

Evidence-Based Autism Assessments: Utility Of A School-Based Autism Evaluation Fidelity Checklist, Melissa Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has demonstrated limited use of evidence-based autism assessments in school settings. The use of fidelity checklists for evidence-based interventions for autism are a focus of research; however, there are not any fidelity checklists or tools for measuring evidence-based autism assessments. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to create and utilize a school-based autism assessment fidelity checklist rubric with a retrospective model. This study began with a focus group to refine the rubric and provide social validity. Then, the rubric was used to measure the fidelity of 52 initial school-based autism assessments across two time periods, one …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction And Emotional Exhaustion Among K-12 Educators, Shelbey K. Covington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine if there is a relationship between compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion in K-12 educators. There is limited research investigating the impacts of compassion factors on the emotional exhaustion and burnout of educators. This study is important because emotional exhaustion not only affects educators’ well-being and job performance but also has significant implications for student academic outcomes and overall school effectiveness. The research observed 111 full-time, certified K-12 educators, who were employed in a public or private school in the state of South Carolina. Data was collected utilizing …

The Frequency Of Academic Advising: A Quantitative, Predictive Study On Postsecondary Second-Year Student Satisfaction, Angelia M. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to examine the relationship between student satisfaction with academic advising, the frequency of academic advising activities, and the type of postsecondary institution (community college or public university). This study is important in providing valuable context for re-evaluating how academic advising efficacy is assessed and structured in postsecondary institutions. Through convenience sampling of second-year community college and public university students, data was collected via a self-paced online survey of 110 participants. In addition to demographic information, the survey incorporated the Academic Advising Inventory to measure student satisfaction with academic advising. Multiple linear …

Teacher Perspectives Of Supporting High School Students Who Are Sex Trafficked In Northeast Ohio: A Qualitative Study, Melanie Timco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of supporting students who are actively sex trafficked for the teachers at high schools in Northeast Ohio. The theory guiding the study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it applies to the formation of teacher perspectives based on cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Teachers shared their perspective of supporting students who were actively sex trafficked in high school through hermeneutic phenomenology. I utilized criteria and snowball sampling of 12 high school teachers in Northeast Ohio. Open-ended surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with teachers to render their …

Catholic Mass Music And Spiritual Growth, Stephenie Dinah Mokriakow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Participation in music among Catholic grade school students is insufficient, despite research suggesting the importance of music at Catholic Mass. Student perspectives provide researchers with an understanding of music's connection to students' spiritual development. This qualitative experimental case study investigates fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade student perspectives of their spiritual development through worship music participation during the Mass. This experimental case study identifies perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning this group of students. This study focuses on students' social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout the study regarding the connection of music to spiritual development. Approximately thirty students participated in pre- …

The Title Of My Project: Screen Time And Children's Health, Elisabeth Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Excessive screen time is harmfully affecting families emotionally, physically, and mentally (Brindova et al., 2014). Eating habits, physical exercise, sufficient sleep each night, and communication with family and peers are increasingly declining as screen time is increasing (Siegle, 2017). With the rise in screen time, young people are spending more time alone (Gingold et al., 2014). Behrens et al. (2019) “explored the cause of anxiety and depression in children as it relates to the use of technology” (p. 474). Since the increase in technological advances, there has also been an increase in cyberbullying. “Setting limits on the amount of time …