Education Commons^™

Stakeholder Participation And Perceptions In Professional Learning Communities: A Case Study In A Small, Rural School District, Rachel M. Kowalski

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the interplay between collaboration within PLCs and classroom teacher perceptions of PLC implementation within a small, rural district. It examined how the involvement of different stakeholders in PLCs connects to overall perceptions of professional learning communities and how the participation of principals, administrators, and paraprofessionals shapes collaboration. The unique setting of a small and rural school district allowed the study to consider close interpersonal relationships that are common within these settings since these districts have limited human resources and individuals serve in various capacities within the organization. When stakeholders actively participate in PLCs, concerns arise about …

El Impacto De La Herramienta Teams En Los Maestros Como Medio De Enseñanza Ante Un Evento Pandémico, Jessica M. Rivera Figueroa

Theses and Dissertations

La herramienta de Microsoft Teams demuestra ser una completa y efectiva en el desarrollo de clases virtuales sincrónicas y asincrónicas ante una pandemia. La accesibilidad permitió la continuidad de la educación en el Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico. Dicho proceso trajo consigo muchas incógnitas para el uso efectivo de la herramienta a pesar de adiestramientos y asistencias.

El propósito del estudio fue identificar el impacto de la herramienta Teams en los maestros como medio de enseñanza durante la pandemia para mejorar su uso en el proceso educativo y que se logre un uso efectivo en todas las materias de …

Black Teachers, Black Students, And Cultural Brokering: Leveraging Positionality To Strengthen Academic Identity, Shakasha L. Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a phenomenological photovoice approach to understand the lived experiences of veteran Black high school teachers. Black teachers are positioned to serve as cultural brokers to support the academic identity of Black students. The prevalence of symbolic violence in the Eurocentric curriculum and other curricular practices continues to hinder successful outcomes for Black students. The study leverages the experiences of Black teachers to understand how their positionalities influence their decision-making and pedagogical practices.

The literature review explored research on the social and political implications of Black education, Black identity development, cultural brokering, and academic identity. More specifically, the …

Harm-Focused Policing: A Comparison Of Citizen And Patrol Deputy Perceptions On The Severity Of Social Harms, Christina Finn

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of Volusia County citizens and patrol deputies regarding the severity of social harms attributed to incidents of criminal activity. Despite the widespread assessments of crime, the perceptions of associated harms remain unclear. Developing a social harm index may provide current insight into the opinions of harm as perceived by both the public and law enforcement agencies. Using a sequential explanatory mixed method design, patrol deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and residents of Volusia County, Florida, were invited to complete a series of surveys and follow-up interviews. This study aimed to compare participant ratings …

Campus Police Legitimacy And Campus Crime Reporting: Moderating Effects Of Academic Major, James Earl Lyons Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Investigating crimes on college campuses is a prevalent phenomenon that often requires student cooperation with campus police. Using the procedural justice theory’s process-based approach, this applied research examined the likelihood of students reporting campus crime based on their perceived legitimacy of campus police and whether the student’s academic major moderated the relationship. The study used a quantitative, non-experimental design employing non-probability sampling methods.

Procedural justice is a theoretical approach that explains cooperation with police as the result of interactions. The theory asserts that regardless of the outcome, when citizens perceive interactions with police as procedurally just and fair, they are …

Punitive Experiences: Perspectives Of School Discipline Among Black American Males, Joseph Martin King

Theses and Dissertations

Among student groups within American public schools to date, Black males continue to be one of the most marginalized student groups in America. In spite of all the documented research findings that describe the problem from a research, policy, and practice standpoint, and given the plethora of well-documented knowledge of structural patterns identified and labeled as zero-tolerance policies and/or the school-to-prison pipeline, in conjunction with school reform attempts, Black males remain the largest segment of students who are academically discouraged and disproportionally affected by discipline in American public schools. Among the abundance of academic literature that describes the academic marginalization …

The Predictive Validity Of Sex Offender Treatment Progress Scale (Sotips) Using Iowa Sex Offenders, Holly Kelley-Chown

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a replication study of McGrath, Lasher, and Cumming's 2012 study. McGrath et al.'s population consisted of convicted Vermont sex offenders, while this replication study's population consisted of convicted Iowa sex offenders. Nearly 2,000 sex offenders are under the Iowa Department of Corrections community supervision (Daily Statistics-DOC Offender, 2023). Iowa uses SOTIPS, Static-99R, and the Iowa Risk Revised (IRR) to determine recidivism risk and supervision levels. The Static-99R was developed in Canada and has been validated in several jurisdictions, including Iowa (Statistical validation of the ISORA8 & Static-99 final report, 2010). The IRR was developed in Iowa using …

The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach With Contingency Management: Examining The Effectiveness Of Relapse Prevention Program For Adolescents, Gwendolyn Bullard

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the efficacy of the adolescent community reinforcement approach with and without contingency management to improve the lives of adolescents with substance use disorder in relapse prevention programs. Adolescents with substance use disorder do not have access to effective continuing care and relapse prevention in rural towns in the state of Georgia. There is no ongoing care for adolescents with substance use disorder that incorporates a comprehensive treatment plan that includes community reinforcement approaches along with contingency management.

Relying on a multi-element research design, the researcher investigated the interaction between the adolescent community reinforcement …

Investigating Teacher’S Perceptions Of Equitable Author Choices In Secondary High School Classrooms, Joy Price

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how English teachers can incorporate diverse authors into instruction. The following research questions guided the study:

1. What do teachers describe as the pros/cons of integrating diverse perspectives into teachers’ instruction, in the form of literature by diverse authors?

2. In what ways and how can incorporating literature by diverse authors benefit students?

3. What challenges may teachers face when integrating diverse literature perspectives into instruction?

4. What might enable teachers to integrate diverse literature perspectives into instruction.

The researcher developed designed and field tested a questionnaire for teachers to take …

Efectividad De Una Estrategia De Gamificación En El Aprendizaje En Un Curso De Microbiología En Una Escuela Superior En Puerto Rico, Frank Gregorio Torres Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la efectividad de una técnica de gamificación en la proficiencia académica de estudiantes sobre estructuras y funciones celulares de organismos procariotas en una escuela especializada en ciencias y matemáticas de Puerto Rico. Esta investigación se fundamentó en la Teoría del Aprendizaje Gamificado de Landers y Teoría de la Autodeterminación de Deci y Ryan. Una muestra de 36 estudiantes del 11mo y 12mo grado, matriculados en un curso de Microbiología, participaron de este estudio cuantitativo de muestreo no probabilístico. Los estudiantes participaron de una clase invertida, ¡una actividad gamificada mediante Kahoot!, completaron preprueba, posprueba …

Exploring Human Resources Practices And Challenges To Retain And Develop Millennial Workers For Future Leadership Roles In The Transportation And Logistics Industry: A Phenomenological Perspective, Graciela Pineda-Blasco

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined Human Resources practices in place in the Transportation and Logistics industry aimed at the retention, and development of millennial talent into future corporate leaders in the industry. Despite extensive literature on millennials, there remains ambiguity regarding their specific traits, behaviors, and commitment within corporate settings.

Given the generationally diverse workforce, it is crucial to understand the unique needs and expectations of different cohorts. This study focuses on millennials' communication styles, technological adaptability, and expectations for training and advancement. The findings highlight significant issues in current corporate culture, particularly in HR retention and training strategies, which are …

A Qualitative Study: Sex Offenders’ Perceptions Of The State’S Sex Offender Registry, Ann Marie Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Sex offender registries (SOR) were created because of gruesome crimes committed against minors and the vulnerable, and they serve as a punishment. Empirically, SORs have become more functional over the years, so providing accurate information should be fundamental. It is the topic of discussion in many conversations, specifically during holidays and events involving minors, and it is used for background searches and ongoing investigations. Consequently, society expects the information displayed to be precise. Inaccurate information can potentially be harmful, especially to sex offenders. Nevertheless, when SOR is mentioned, rightfully so, society, including law enforcement, immediately exhibits sympathetic emotions for the …

Examining The Intersection Of Policing And Mental Health: Analyzing Baker Act Admissions In Davie, Florida, Matthew Goodnow

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the Police Department of the City of Davie, Florida. It analyzed the rate of involuntary admissions under the Florida Mental Health Act, commonly known as the Baker Act, focusing on factors such as officer experience, training, demographics, and other variables. Using descriptive and inferential statistics, the research provides insights into Baker Act admissions to inform policies and interventions to improve mental health services and relieve strain on law enforcement resources.

Key findings indicate that Crisis Intervention Team training significantly increases the likelihood of officers performing Baker Acts. In contrast, more experienced officers tend to perform fewer …

Exploring Mental Health Stigma Among Law Enforcement Officers, Nicholas David Chestnut

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation investigates the prevalence and impact of mental health stigma among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States. Despite growing awareness of the importance of mental health in the law enforcement community, stigma surrounding mental illness remains a significant barrier to help-seeking behaviors among officers. The study employed a research design that examined attitudes, perceptions, and experiences related to mental health stigma among LEOs.

Through online self-assessment surveys administered via a secure portal, participants provided insights into their attitudes toward mental illness, perceptions of stigma, and willingness to seek help for mental health concerns.

Data analysis revealed …

Exploring The Differences In Military Attitudes Toward Rape Myths And Their Relationship To Demographic Factors, Essence Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Military sexual assault crimes, including rape, attempted sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, and sexual harassment, have continued to increase over the last few decades. The issue has become problematic enough for the Department of Defense to allocate a significant amount of money for sexual assault resources. Specifically, the Department of Defense gives millions of dollars each year for the prevention and training of sexual assault, yet the issue continues to persist. There is a lack of understanding of the posture of service members' attitudes toward sexual assault and if certain demographics differ in their attitudes toward rape myths. While sexual …

Strategies Teachers Use To Encourage Student Reading Motivation And Engagement In The High School Setting: A Generic Qualitative Study, Shelia Tate

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the practices and strategies used by Title 1 high school teachers to promote student reading motivation and engagement. Engaging students in the curriculum and motivating them to read is essential to a successful classroom experience. As districts move to a more prescribed curriculum with provided scope and sequence, teachers look for ways to engage their students and provide relevant resources to meet their students' needs creatively.

The researcher interviewed teachers to explore their beliefs, strategies, and practices for fostering student reading motivation and classroom engagement in high school. The guiding …

The Effects Of Jurisdictional Variances On Rates Of Rape Offenses: How Differing Jurisdictional Definitions Contribute To America’S Rape Culture, David Lopez-Herrera

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between jurisdictional definitions of rape and rape offense rates across various states in the U.S., with the goal of proposing a standardized federal definition to enhance consistency in data collection and improve the efficacy of legal responses. Despite extensive research on rape, no prior studies have explored the impact of jurisdictional definition variances on state rape offense rates. This seminal study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing the correlation between state-specific rape definitions and reported rape offenses, utilizing a theoretical breakdown of definitions into eight components and a rubric for evaluation.

The analysis revealed …

Exploring The Role Of The Teacher In Motivating Students To Learn Mathematics At Alternative High Schools, Anne-Marie Johanne Mohammed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to provide an in-depth understanding of the teacher’s role in motivating students to learn mathematics at alternative high schools because motivation impacts academic achievement in mathematics. Students in South Florida must pass an end-of-course exam in algebra as a requirement to receive a high school diploma. Therefore, it is essential that students are motivated to learn the mathematics concepts that are necessary to pass the end-of-course exam. This research study was guided by the following research questions:

1. How and in what ways do mathematics teachers adjust and integrate instructional strategies to support …

Female Offenders: Exploring Risk Factors For Adulthood Violence, Lauren N. Fowler

Theses and Dissertations

The number of females under correctional supervision has been increasing in the last four decades. For adult women, these offenses are generally drug offenses; however, there have also been increases in the number of women committing violent crimes. Unfortunately, violent females are an understudied population, which limits the data available to inform programs and policies that could address the problem. This study explored potential factors related to violent behavior among adult females by analyzing public-use data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. More specifically, violent and nonviolent state and federal female inmates were assessed regarding …

A Systematic Review Of Preferred Practices To Reintegrate Male Opiate Addicts Into Family Relations While In An Evidence-Based Recovery Program, Arkaya Williams-Abbott

Theses and Dissertations

Active addiction strains family relationships. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to determine preferred practices to help reintegrate male opiate addicts into family relations while in an evidence-based recovery program. Twenty-three articles of various methodologies were reviewed. Findings indicated three themes: stigma and men with opioid disorder, how men seek help, and family relationships and role in substance abuse treatment. Findings showed evidence-based programming should ensure training for treatment providers on men’s socialization and how it affects their approach to treatment and lack of willingness to seek help. Effective communication and de-stigmatized language is another …

"The Impact Of Being Seen": A Study Of Restorative Practices At Community Colleges, Mikel Birch

Dissertations of Practice

Restorative justice provides a relationship-centered framework for addressing challenges that build community and promote social justice. While there are various applications of restorative justice in U.S. Public Education, criminal justice and juvenile justice, there is a dearth of research on how restorative justice practices have been applied at community colleges. The purpose of this qualitative multisite case study was to explore how community colleges are using restorative justice practices in order to build better relationships and improve campus culture. This study was conducted using Perkins and Zimmerman’s (1995) Empowerment Theory, which asserts that engaging in empowering processes will result in …

The Personal Is Political: School Board Members’ Motivation For School Governance, Andrew Lobdell

Dissertations of Practice

Understanding the motivation behind school board members' governance is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of public schools. This research aims to analyze the motivations of five newly elected board members and compare them with past research on governance and motivation. The leadership qualities of school superintendents also impact governance and can influence board members' motivations for running and serving their communities. Similarly, board members' motivations can affect how superintendents lead their districts and prioritize different topics. The research is divided into three papers. Paper 1 reviews existing literature and is organized into three distinct sections that explore school board governance, …

Being A Leader: Exploring Generation Z Students’ Conceptualizations Of And Engagement In Leadership In College, Zachary G. Birch

Dissertations of Practice

Colleges and universities have always helped students learn leadership skills. As Generation Z college students began to enter institutions of higher education, there had been a noted shift in how they were engaging in traditional leadership organizations. This phenomenological research examines the essence of how Generation Z thinks about and gets involved with leadership on campuses. This study interviewed eight participants from across the United States, talking about how they think about the concept of leadership and why they choose to engage. What was discovered in this research as a phenomenon noted as the “Four Commitments to Student Leadership.” These …

Latino Students' Perceptions Of Belonging And Inclusion Of The Recruitment Strategies And Marketing Materials At An Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, Julie Wiejak

Dissertations of Practice

Latino students are the fastest-growing minority enrolling in higher education institutions. If higher education institutions want to recruit, attract, and retain Latino students, they must create a recruitment marketing strategy that highlights inclusion for these students on their campuses. Therefore, the purpose of this critical visual qualitative case study is to understand the perceptions Latino students have of marketing materials at a four-year emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as those materials relate to inclusion and access. The research site for this study was a regional public four-year institution named North Calumet University (NCU), which is an emerging HSI. The conceptual …

Sel Walkthroughs: Promoting Practices That Foster Social And Emotional Learning, Garrett Podgorski

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been around Illinois since the early 2000s and a part of legislation for schools to implement since 2003. This dissertation focuses on the extant data of 483 observations from the Municipal Nashville Public School (MNPS) SEL walkthrough tool, which was utilized to investigate SEL implementation in select Illinois schools. Data were collected in the South Cook County area of Illinois.

This dissertation provides a review of literature in the areas of SEL that should be taught in K-12 schools and provides an in-depth review of best practices for utilizing walkthrough observations …

School District Budgeting: How School Principals’ Lack Of Budget Knowledge Can Lead To Negative Impact On Funding, Maria Treto-French

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETING: HOW SCHOOL PRINCIPALS’ LACK OF BUDGET

KNOWLEDGE CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON FUNDING

Maria Treto-French, Ed.D.

Department of Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Kelly Summers, Director

Effective decision-making by school administrators is crucial for enhancing student

learning outcomes. However, many non-finance administrators need a comprehensive

understanding of school funding and allocation, which can hinder their ability to make informed decisions that positively impact student learning. This paper explored the importance of preparing non-finance administrators specifically those at the “Participating Community Consolidated School District” (PCCSD)to navigate the complexities of school funding …

Understanding School Financial Administrator’S Sphere Of Influence And Perception Of Role In Decision-Making Through A Comprehensive Review Of Historical, Legal, Philosophical, And Practice Perspectives On Local Decision-Making And Resource Allocation, Jacquelyn M. Bogan

Dissertations of Practice

UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR’S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND PERCEPTION OF ROLE IN DECISION-MAKING

THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF HISTORICAL,

LEGAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND PRACTICE PERSPECTIVES

ON LOCAL DECISION-MAKING AND RESOURCE

ALLOCATION

Jacquelyn Bogan, Ed.D.

Department of Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Benjamin Creed, Director

Public education in the United States is a multilayered endeavor with complex governance and oversight from federal, state, and local agencies. While there is involvement across all levels, local school districts have a significant degree of control in decision-making regarding resource allocation. Public education has undergone legal, economic, and philosophical changes since …

Feeling At Home In The Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study Of Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Connected Classroom Climate At One Midwestern University, Cynthia A. Grobmeier

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of a connected classroom climate considers that peer-to-peer interaction, not just instructor-student interaction, contributes to a sense of community in the classroom that can impact student outcomes. This qualitative case study considers both student and instructor perceptions of what contributes to that sense of connection in the classroom at a mid-size, four-year, Hispanic-serving university. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and member checks with students and instructors who engaged in the first-year basic communication course during the Spring 2022 semester. Five themes emerged in this study: a) the communication classroom is uniquely positioned to create a sense of …

The Complexities Of Disproportionality In A Large Urban School District: A Look Into District Interventions And Identification Processes, Linnie Tennile Tarrant

Dissertations of Practice

This study delves into the implementation of the multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and the special education identification process in a large urban school district in Illinois, with a specific focus on disproportionality in special education referrals. The district has been identified as disproportionate in categorizing African American students under the emotional disturbance (ED) category since 2014. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews were conducted with ten building-level administrators to investigate the consistency of MTSS implementation and the process of identifying students for special education services. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, and themes were analyzed using open, axial, and …

A Case Study Of Instructor Experiences Teaching In The Hyflex Modality At A Midwestern Community College In A Post-Pandemic Context, Jaime Riewerts Budziak

Dissertations of Practice

A CASE STUDY OF INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCES TEACHING IN THE HYFLEX MODALITY AT A MIDWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN A POST-PANDEMIC CONTEXT

Colleges are adding courses in the hyflex modality to their schedules to support the increasing need for students to take flexible paths to course completion. While there is research detailing the outcomes and experiences of students who take these courses, there is a marked scantness of inquiry into the experiences of the instructors who must provide multi-modal instruction and nearly nothing probing the topic in a community college setting. Since hyflex instruction poses a host of challenges, it requires targeted …