Education Commons^™

Quality Control: How School Districts Define, Recruit, And Retain High-Quality Teachers, A Qualitative Case Study, Tandalaya White

Dissertations of Practice

This research investigates how school administrators define, recruit, and retain highquality teachers and examines the implications of these efforts on student outcomes. Emphasizing the distinction between teacher quality: skills, abilities, and dispositions and teacher qualifications: certificates, degrees, and credentials, the study explores their overlap and importance in meeting the unique needs of districts, particularly in high-needs areas such as English as a second language (ESL) and special education. The presence or absence of such teachers critically impacts academic performance and social-emotional development, disproportionately affecting students of color and those in impoverished areas. Inadequate practices may contribute to the misidentification of …

A Qualitative Examination Of Multilingual Latino Students’ Perspectives Of Their Educational Journeys In Preparation For Careers In Stem, Rebecca S. Powers

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of six bilingual Latino students regarding their experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in high school, and how these experiences influenced their decision to pursue STEM careers. Using Norton-Peirce's investment theory as a theoretical framework along with Gay’s culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explores how participants' identities, social and cultural capital, and ideologies interact with their educational experiences.

The findings reveal that family involvement, bilingual mentors, and students' funds of knowledge played a crucial role in their academic success and career choice. However, participants also faced significant challenges, including: segregation, negative …

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …

Proficiency And Positivity: Investigating Learner Affect Toward L2 Instructional Methods, Learner Goals, And L2 Success, Natalie Spiva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Second language (L2) learning outcomes vary widely due to factors both internal and external to the learner, including learning and usage contexts and learner goals and motivations. Learners may feel more proficient in and positive towards an L2 if they have intrinsic motivation and positive experience with the L2. Many students in the United States are first exposed to an L2 later in life as an academic requirement, which often impedes L2 learning success and can limit the learner’s relationship with the L2 and related cultures. Because of the highly interconnected global society, investigating the experiences of today’s language learners …

Perceptions Of Teachers, Administrators And Counselors On The Adaptation And Integration Of Social Emotional Learning Standards In Academic Settings, Meva Black Rhooms

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aims to explore the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and counselors on the definition, adaptation, and integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within Mae Wright School District. The district’s commitment to educating the whole child has prompted efforts to incorporate SEL into the academic and social environments. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examines how teachers, administrators, and counselors define SEL and their perceptions on the adaptation and integration of SEL standards in academic settings.. Findings reveal diverse interpretations of SEL, with varying levels of support and understanding among participants. Teachers highlighted the need for practical strategies, while administrators …

Indigenous Artists Working With Digital Materials, Luke A. Meeken

Teaching Resource Archive

This is a static PDF version of the online resource found here: https://www.gildedgreen.com/indigital This document contains the five thematic curricular modules from the online resource but does not contain the always-growing online database of contemporary Indigenous digital artists, who can be found at the above link.

This resource includes several thematic modules designed for use by educators of preservice art teachers, which can be adapted for use in graduate and undergraduate level courses (and parts of which will be deployed in my own elementary and secondary methods courses). These could be used in whole or in part, and are designed …

Reflections On The Effectiveness Of Classroom Management Training: A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Elementary-Level Teachers Trained Through Alternative Route To Licensure (Artl) Programs, Christopher Brunst

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to add to the body of research related to alternative routes to licensure (ARTL) program training by analyzing the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding how their ARTL-based knowledge, experiences, and training support their ability to manage a classroom. This research described the perceptions of elementary-level teachers who were trained in ARTL programs relative to the effectiveness of classroom management strategies they have learned on the job, through professional development from their school districts, or through their ARTL programs, and their recommendations for improving ARTL classroom management training in ARTL programs. The researcher used a …

Building An Interdisciplinary Simulation Orientation For The Mobile Health And Wellness Program, Meredith Deegan, Lauren Goeke

School of Nursing Publications

No abstract provided.

Roadmap To Developing Clinical Competency For Novice Nursing Students, Meredith Deegan, Lauren Goeke

School of Nursing Publications

No abstract provided.

“Someone Else Saw Something In Me”: A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Leadership Development In Catholic High Schools, Alicia Mitchell

Doctor of Education (EdD)

With many changes in K-12 education in recent years, especially in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 pandemic, schools are in need of new solutions to challenges. Teacher leadership may provide

an underutilized resource in addressing the myriad issues facing schools. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of teacher leaders in Catholic high schools in the Pacific Northwest. The participants in this study all serve as teacher leaders in one of four different Catholic high schools and participate in the Teacher Leadership Development program designed for K-12 educators in Catholic schools. Two semi-structured interviews with each of the …

A Landscape Analysis Of Civic And Community Engagement In Community Colleges, Carrie Kisker, Carol Cutler White, Stephanie King, Janet Johnson, Will Bowlin

CoE Publications

Providing opportunities for civic learning and democratic engagement has been central to the community college mission for over 100 years. This report presents findings from the 2024 AmeriCorps Civic Engagement among Community Colleges Project (ACECCP) survey, highlighting the ways and extent to which community colleges demonstrate an intentional commitment to civic and community engagement, illustrating how they incorporate this intentionality into curricular and co-curricular structures, and identifying the barriers and challenges that may preclude some colleges from engaging more fully in their civic mission. The report offers recommendations for future research on the positive impacts of community colleges in their …

Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Gifted Students' Characteristics And Needs, Courtney Warren

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Gifted students possess unique needs that require appropriately challenging opportunities to develop their advanced abilities. To meet these needs, gifted students must be correctly identified, which is often through teacher referral, thus subjecting the identification process to teachers’ knowledge and perceptions of giftedness. Teachers can also implement practices, such as differentiation, to meet gifted needs within their own classrooms. Thus, teachers must hold accurate perceptions of gifted students and their needs. However, teacher preparation programs often offer minimal training in giftedness. The purpose of the current study was to examine preservice teachers’ perceptions of gifted students’ characteristics and needs. Thirty-one …

Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions Of University Libraries’ Services, Resources, And Physical Spaces: A Descriptive Analysis, Amanda Hardin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Understanding undergraduate students' perceptions regarding university libraries’ services, resources, and physical space allows library leadership to improve student support. The purpose of this needs assessment using cross-sectional survey data of undergraduate students (N = 1733) was to examine how students use the libraries, how they perceive their ability to use resources, services, and physical spaces, and the relationship between use and perception to better understand satisfaction levels with everything academic libraries offer. Interviews with library leadership (N = 3) offer insight into how data received from the needs assessment were utilized to improve academic libraries and highlight the importance of …

Person-Centered Planning: An Improvement Science Approach To Interventions Impacting Teacher Implementation, Stacie Hutchison

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study used an improvement science framework to influence special education teachers’ behaviors and their implementation of transition service development through person centered planning and ongoing teacher support. Grounded in adaptive leadership principles and a theory of action emphasizing the need for new professional learning and sustained support, this research investigated how targeted interventions impact teacher practice.

I selected a mixed-methods design for this study, combining semi-structured interviews, Likert scale surveys, open-ended questions, and a single-participant case study to evaluate outcomes. Findings revealed that a traditional professional development model incorporating opportunities to practice skills and proactively address potential barriers led …

Nsu Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.

Nsu Communiversity Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.

School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports As A Framework For Equity: Addressing The Discipline And Academic Achievement Gap In Minnesota Schools, Amy Danielle Mcguire

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to state-level legislative initiatives, many Minnesota schools have implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve student behavior and school climate, guided in part by the assumption that these improvements will lead to higher academic achievement. This study explored the possible association between PBIS implementation and academic proficiency among third-grade students, focusing on reading and mathematics outcomes on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). A t-test was conducted to determine whether statistically significant differences existed in MCA proficiency rates between elementary schools that had implemented PBIS with fidelity and those that had not. Results indicated no significant differences …

An Examination Of Clinical Self-Efficacy And Confidence After The Rolling Through The Complications Clinical Debriefing Experience, Laura Nugteren

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inadequate educational preparation for the clinical judgment demands of complex patient scenarios further perpetuates stress and burnout in the nursing profession. Self-efficacy and self-confidence have been correlated with decreased perceived stress, lower anxiety, and increased capacity for clinical decision-making underscoring the importance of their analysis. A clinical post conference activity entitled Rolling Through the Complications with the Clinical Judgment Model (CJM) was developed as a scripted debriefing experience based on the CJM framework to prompt anticipatory reflection of actual patient cues for analysis of potential complications. This study evaluated (n = 30) baccalaureate nursing students at private, nonprofit universities in …

Special Education Teachers’ Burnout: Exploring The Impact Of Special Education Setting And Teaching Experience, Adriana Noel Haugen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated the extent to which special education teachers' perceptions of burnout are associated with two contextual variables: federal instructional setting and years of teaching experience. Although burnout in special education is well documented, few studies have examined how these particular factors influence reported levels of burnout. A total of 15,412 licensed special education teachers in Minnesota, including those with Tier 1 through Tier 4 licenses and Out of Field Permission, were invited to participate. Of these, 1,468 completed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, a validated instrument measuring personal, work-related, and student-related dimensions of burnout. Participants were grouped by …

Increasing Academic Engagement In Underserved Elementary Students, Molly K. Boss

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The issue of student disengagement has been troubling teachers and school systems for years. The COVID crisis brought the issue to the forefront and renewed attention to the critical effects of disengagement on students’ academic and life prospects, most significantly - on marginalized students. This study analyzes the effects of disengagement and the factors that influence student disengagement. It also provides practical tools and strategies that can be implemented to promote engagement for underserved students. The goal of this literature review is to increase the understanding of disengagement and its effects on underserved students and to equip educators with tools …

Neurocognitive Teaching Strategies In The English Language Learner Classroom, Susan Annette Biasco

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of advanced medical technology in the past 30 years has allowed doctors and researchers to look inside the brain to more accurately model cognition and memory. The concept of neuroplasticity has replaced the outdated idea that we are born with all the brain connections we will ever have. Based on these new discoveries, neurocognitive teaching strategies seek to apply the model of how the brain learns best to classroom pedagogy. Teaching techniques that put the student at the center of the equation, instead of the teacher, have been repeatedly shown in the research to improve learning and knowledge …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Mathematics Education, Efe Mensah-Brown

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The literature review explored how Ladson-Billings’ (1995) definition of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), with the three tenets of academic achievement, cultural competence and sociopolitical consciousness, could be used in mathematics education. The use of CRP in mathematics education to positively transform mathematics instruction and combat racial stereotypes by improving the mathematics identities of all students was explored. The research found that the integration of CRP in mathematics education improved the academic success of students by making the mathematics more engaging and relevant. The research also showed that the use of CRP in mathematics education positively influenced students’ mathematics identities. For …

Investigating The Relationship Of Feminization Of Education And Teacher Attrition, Kate Irene Toriseva Trosen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The feminization of teaching has taken place over multiple centuries, born of a mixture of social-political movements which reveal current complex issues leading to a shortage of young women entering and staying in education careers. Through a review of literature and study on the subjects of educational feminization, teacher attrition, and female workplace concerns and preferences, this thesis assessed the correlations between current teacher shortages and female-based causes and solutions. By assessing these reasons, studying the working habits of women, and evaluating teachers’ reported concerns and reasons for leaving the classroom, this literature review identified important causational effects directly related …

The Unsurprising Lack Of Deia In Nasa’S Pathways Program Hiring Patterns, Shelita Augustus, Tiasia Saunders

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Working for NASA, a symbol of exploration and scientific advancement, is a dream for many, sparking aspirations of becoming an astronaut and contributing to humanity's understanding of the unknown universe. However, the path to a NASA career is often filled with unfair challenges and barriers, particularly for talented individuals from underrepresented groups who have no control over systemic bias. NASA's Pathways Program is an entry point for undergraduate and graduate students seeking opportunities within the agency with a highly competitive hiring rate of only 1.4% between the fiscal years (FY) of 2021 to 2024. While NASA publicly affirmed its commitment …

Uncovering The Links: Drug Use, Mental Health, And Undergraduate Student Academic Success Using Data From The 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study, Brooke Inez Ellingson Eischens

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use and mental health challenges are prevalent among college students, raising concerns about their impact on academic success. Using secondary data from the 2022–2023 Healthy Minds Study (N = 76,406), this study examined associations between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, marijuana use, and academic outcomes in undergraduate students. Multiple zero-inflated Poisson regressions were used to assess the relationships between depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and marijuana use. Ordinary least squares and ordered logit regressions evaluated links with academic success. Sample numbers varied across analyses (n = 23,629 to n = 47,355). Findings revealed modest but consistent associations between mental health, substance …

Investigating The Relationship Between Discovery Learning And Students' Engagement And Knowledge Acquisition In Montessori And Traditional Schools, Jessica Phelps

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examines the relationship between discovery learning and student engagement and knowledge acquisition in Montessori versus traditional schools within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). This study, grounded in constructivist and experiential learning theories, compared Montessori schools with traditional schools in DISD. A sample of middle school students, grades 6-8, participated in the research. Data was collected through standardized engagement surveys, academic assessments, and classroom observations. A comparative non-experimental design was employed to analyze differences in engagement and knowledge outcomes between the two educational approaches. Findings revealed that instructional method was not a significant predictor of student engagement, …

"You Write What You Want And What You Need": Incorporating Reflective Practice In The Ela Classroom Through Caring Pedagogy, Melanie Shoffner, Helen Bentley

Department of Middle, Secondary and Mathematics Education - Faculty Scholarship

Caring pedagogy is critical in today’s classrooms, and supporting students’ emotional needs as well as educational needs is an integral part of the teaching profession. This qualitative case study examines how one 9th grade ELA teacher uses reflective practices to enact care for her students. Creating a specially designed 50- minute freewrite class, the participant centers students by welcoming their voices into the classroom. Notes from observations and semi-structured interviews are used to show how the participant’s reflections about her students’ journals and discussions drive instruction. Findings show that care-based instruction-giving students space to write about any topic, removing the …

Mentoring And Training In Performance Librarianship, Mallory Sajewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Performance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the …

The Perceptions Of Directors And Supervisors Of Guidance As It Pertains To Counselors Preparing High School Students For Their Future Careers, Kitty R. Klein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Early career awareness is essential in guiding students to explore their strengths and interests. Counselors serve as vital constituents in helping students foster academic and personal growth, while also providing opportunities to build salient ramps for career exploration. Although professional literature has recognized the vital role school counselors have in promoting college and career readiness, limited research has examined how their efforts are perceived by individuals in supervisory and administrative roles. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of directors and supervisors of guidance on the importance and existence of career development practices. Understanding how high …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …