Education Commons^™

The Relationship Between Implementation Of Effective Schools Practices, School Performance, And Improvement, Kelly Mchugh Massinople

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Effective schools frameworks describe the evidence-based practices implemented at schools, including those with disproportionately high levels of students living in poverty, that have high levels of student achievement (Edmonds, 1979; Lezotte, 1982; Lezotte & McKee Snyder, 2010; Padilla et al., 2020; Sammons et al., 1995). This study examined the relationship between the implementation of effective schools practices, as described in the research, and school performance and school improvement, as reported in state accountability indicators. The analysis focused on improvement efforts initiated at 21 West Virginia schools identified in the fall of 2022 for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) under the …

Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, And Resiliency Strategies In Urban Public Schools, Clay Russell Welch

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Urban educators frequently support students who have experienced significant trauma, increasing their vulnerability to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue (CF). Although trauma-informed practices have expanded in public education, limited research has examined how educators develop and sustain resilience strategies as they navigate the emotional demands of their work. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the strategies urban educators use to mitigate STS and CF and to understand how these strategies develop across educators’ professional experiences. The study also examined potential differences in strategies across demographic groups and considered implications for educational leadership.

Seventeen educators from …

How Exemplary Elementary School Principals Embed The Infinite Mindset Practice To Inspire The Achievement Of Extraordinary Results, Amna Osman

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study explored how exemplary elementary school principals perceive and embed Sinek’s (2019) infinite mindset framework within their organizations to achieve extraordinary results. A secondary purpose was to examine how perceived organizational supports and barriers influence the development of an infinite mindset among these principals.Methodology: This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of exemplary elementary school principals and their perspectives on implementing the five Infinite Mindset practices in their schools. The study focused on public elementary school principals in Monterey County, California. From 49 principals across six districts, 10 were purposefully selected based on established criteria for exemplary …

Measuring Civic And Citizenship Education Through Large-Scale Assessments: Insights From The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study (Iccs), Wolfram Schulz, Valeria Damiani

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This chapter from the open access book ‘Promoting K-12 Civic Learning and Engagement Through Assessment’ edited  by Hamilton, Rikoon and  Kidd, discusses ways of measuring aspects of civic and citizenship education (CCE) cross-nationally with a specific focus on the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) commissioned by the IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement). The chapter starts with a brief overview of the main characteristics of the study, the legacy with previous IEA surveys of civic education, and the assessment design including a description of the cognitive and affective-behavioral dimensions that are measured in the …

Catholic Solidarity In American Jesuit Education Through The Radical Kinship Of Fr. Greg Boyle: A Conceptual Analysis, Sajit U. Kabadi

Journal of Catholic Education

This is a conceptual analysis that examines how American Jesuit secondary education can pursue greater Catholic solidarity in a polarized world through a framework of radical kinship, as espoused by Fr. Greg Boyle. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation program, in the city of Los Angeles. The purpose of this conceptual analysis is to delve deeper into Boyle’s conceptual framework of radical kinship in the context of American Jesuit secondary education. This conceptual analysis will use Catholic Social Teaching, Biblical references, and the values of the Jesuit mission.

Literacy Professional Development: Evidence-Based Practices And Insights From Virginia, Meleah Ellison, Shelby Garofalo, Vanessa Sekinger, Joan A. Rhodes, Sharrie Merritte, Maggie Szydlowski, Meera Mehtaji, Valerie Robnolt, Thea Racelis

MERC Publications

This report is part of the MERC Literacy Study. It explores recently published research and publicly accessible professional development (PD) offerings frequently used across the Commonwealth to support the implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). Findings from this report support the ongoing PD of school staff and relevant partners in the VLA’s purpose of improving literacy outcomes for students in grades K-8 across Virginia.

Leadership And Literacy Assessment Systems: A Multi-Case Study Of System Coherence And Assessment Use In Mississippi Elementary Schools, Kristin P. Walters

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This qualitative embedded multiple-case study examined how school-level literacy leadership shaped the coherence and use of literacy assessment systems in five Mississippi Elementary Schools. Situated within the context of Mississippi’s recent literacy gains and the policy environment emerging from the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, this study explored how literacy leaders guide assessment systems to support coherence between literacy instruction and assessment practice.

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 educators across five elementary schools in different districts. Analysis was conducted using descriptive and values coding organized into an analysis matrix that facilitated within-case and cross-case exploration of patterns in distributed …

From Silos To Systems: A Conceptual Framework For Workforce Aligned Oral Health Education, Meghan Bastin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

In the current U.S. educational system, becoming a dentist follows a few prescriptive pathways.  Learners typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering time-intensive doctoral training.  This results in only 3-4 years of direct professional education embedded within an eight -year process, while learners accumulate significant financial investment in their education.  With the average cost of graduate-level dental education alone exceeding $300,000 and new federal borrowing limits likely to further constrain access, there is an opportunity to explore alternative ways of structuring oral health education.

This poster presents a conceptual, system-level framework that explores a perspective in which oral health education …

Not Dating, Just Doing The Dishes: Reducing Anxiety And Increasing Participation Through Low-Risk Interpersonal Role-Plays., Alison Leah Morris-Neuberger

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Soon after last semester began, I found myself in a classroom where students seemed disengaged and often unwilling to participate in open class discussion. I decided to ask students for feedback on how I could do better. What I heard was something I had not fully considered before. Many students, primarily Gen Z, asked that I use more examples centered on roommates. Several shared that they did not have experience with romantic relationships or professional work environments, but there was one common thread among them - they all had roommates. Talking about a roommate felt much lower stakes than talking …

Noncognitive Predictors Of Academic Performance In Undergraduate Allied Health Professionals Students, Keleigh Pershina, Michael Mehall, Alexandra Hollo

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Undergraduate students in allied health professions face substantial academic, clinical, and personal demands that may affect academic performance and attainment of professional goals. Noncognitive factors such as stress, coping, and burnout have been identified as important contributors to academic outcomes in health professions education; however, empirical work examining these variables has yielded conflicting results. To identify potential student supports specific to undergraduate students within a land grant, rural serving institution in Appalachia, we conducted a survey to ask how personal factors such as burnout, stress, depression, and coping skills would predict academic success. A sample of 19 students complete a …

Developing And Proposing A Passion Project Course With Institutional Backing, Ron Reaser

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Developing and proposing a new course based on your passion project is achievable and rewarding for faculty of any rank, including teaching-track faculty and adjuncts, but it may feel confusing or daunting to glean the course design principles and institutional knowledge necessary to succeed. This presentation recommends a successful and replicable approach based on proactive communication with stakeholders in your unit and across the broader university system. The approach is tailored to faculty members of West Virginia University, Potomac State College, and WVU Institute of Technology.

The Vertical Blind Project, Barry Goldberg

College Partner Collection

This project began with a parent donating the very flexible white slats from their vertical window blinds. In the first part of this project, the children were simply given one of the slats to physically experiment with: to explore what was possible with this new, flat, white, flexible material. In addition to getting a feel for its surface texture, weight and floppiness, they explored its capacity to bend and twist. The engagement with their bodies inspired unexpectedly inventive aspects of dance and performance. After a time, we asked them to think about the blind as a material for a sculpture …

Why Do Communities Build Bridges? Social Studies: 5e Model Inquiry Lesson Plan, Ryanna Thorson

OER Materials

This lesson plan presents a 5E inquiry-based social studies lesson designed for 5^th-grade students to explore the compelling question, “How does a bridge change a community?” Through the analysis of primary sources (including historical photographs, maps, engineering diagrams), students investigate how bridges influence transportation, access, safety, and community development. The lesson integrates vocabulary supports, structured observation, and literacy connections to help students evaluate the significance of human-made structures in shaping community life. Grounded in constructivist learning theory, this word demonstrates how inquiry and evidence-based reasoning can deepen students’ understanding of social studies concepts.

2025-2026 Common Data Set, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Common Data Sets

This document contains data compiled by the SWOSU Office of Institutional Research for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Making Inquiry Accessible: Inquiry-Based Design And Instruction For English Learners In Secondary Social Studies Classrooms, Meghan T. Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This dissertation explores inquiry-based instruction for English Learners (ELs) in secondary social studies classes. The first article explored the existing literature in the field. The second article considered instructional design choices that could increase learning outcomes in an inquiry designed for ELs, implemented in a culturally and linguistically responsive classroom. Finally, the third article is an exploratory case study that examined how a secondary high school social studies teacher and ESL co-teacher designed and implemented inquiry-based instruction in a co-taught ESL class. The research questions included: 1. How do teachers build trust in a culturally and linguistically responsive social studies …

Comparing Strength Testing Measures And The Association Of Strength And Body Composition In Young Children, Abigayle R. Spong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Muscle strength is an important component of physical fitness; however, measuring it with isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) is expensive and requires dedicated space. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) provides a practical alternative for field and clinical settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare peak knee flexion and extension torque measured by IKD and HHD in 37 children (ages 5-11 years) and examine relationships with body composition. Participants completed a RAMPing protocol at 90^o knee flexion consisting of two warm-up contractions at 50% and 75% effort followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Body composition was assessed via DXA scans. …

Effects Of Constant Time Delay Using Multiple Acquisition Exemplars On The Generalization Of Self-Instruction To Complete Vocational Tasks For High School Students With Intellectual Disability, Anna Norby

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study presents findings from a multiple probe design that evaluated the effects of constant time delay with multiple acquisition exemplars on the acquisition and generalization of self-instruction to complete vocational tasks for high school students with intellectual disability. The research included three high school students with intellectual disability, and data were analyzed across baseline, intervention, and generalization conditions. Instruction targeted the use of self-instruction procedures embedded within vocational tasks, with multiple exemplars incorporated during acquisition to promote stimulus generalization. Participants were screened using a set of pre-arranged vocational tasks to identify existing skill levels and determine appropriate instructional targets, …

Investigating The Viability Of Fully Online Asynchronous Physics Instruction In Formal Education, Clifton W. Massey-Noel

Physics Dissertations

In this dissertation we present results from two consecutive investigations into the fully online asynchronous modality in Physics Education. We first discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Modern Physics held in Fall 2024. The asynchronous section is compared with four prior partially-flipped sections of the same class, two of which were held in-person, and two of which were held synchronously online. Results suggest that all three modalities can be made to be about equally as effective. We also discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Calculus-Based Introductory Mechanics held in Fall 2025. The …

Sdrc Update (Volume 7, Issue 1), Joanna Cayton-Velante

SDRC Publications

No abstract provided.

Perceptions And Practices Of Incorporating Student-Centered Menu Items In School Meals, Kristi L. Lewis Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Student-centered menu planning prioritizes learners’ preferences, nutritional needs, cultural relevance, and engagement in the development of school nutrition program offerings. Menus that reflect student preferences and incorporate student input are associated with increased meal participation and consumption. This study examined school nutrition professionals’ perceptions, best practices, and strategies for incorporating students’ voices into school-based menu planning and modification.

Using a participatory research approach, school nutrition professionals, administrators, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service representatives, and State agency staff participated as expert panelists and survey respondents. A literature review and qualitative expert panel responses informed the development of …

Meeting The Challenges Of Serving Scratch-Prepared Foods In School Nutrition Programs, Keith Rushing Phd, Rd, Ruaa Al Juboori Phd, Mackinsey Shahan Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children’s diets presents a significant public health concern due to associations with obesity, metabolic disorders, poor cardiometabolic health, and reduced academic performance. Scratch cooking in school meal programs has emerged as a promising strategy for improving meal quality by emphasizing preparation from basic, minimally processed ingredients. Although research indicates that scratch-prepared meals can improve nutritional quality and student acceptance, implementation remains challenging due to operational, financial, and workforce barriers.

The purpose of this study was to identify challenges school nutrition professionals face when offering scratch-prepared meals, assess the national prevalence of these …

Sdrc Update (Volume 6, Issue 2), Dlsu Social Development Research Center

SDRC Publications

No abstract provided.

Show Your Work: Assessment In The Age Of Ai, Kevin Yee, Laurie Uttich, Elizabeth Giltner, Anastasia Bojanowski

UCF Created OER Works

The fourth book from a team of college instructors who have been in the trenches of AI and higher education since the beginning, Show Your Work: Assessment in the Age of AI is a practical, discipline-spanning guide for educators who are ready to redesign their assignments for a world where AI is a given. Organized around three approaches—co-creating with AI, writing without it, and finding alternative AI-resistant assessments—this book offers more than 50 concrete strategies that faculty can mix, match, and adapt to their own courses and contexts. Whether you want to integrate AI as a learning tool, build assignments …

Reading Between The Lines: Representations Of Dyslexia In Young Adult Literature, Carli B. Gauvin

Honors Theses and Capstones

While dyslexia affects upwards of 20% of the population, this learning disability is not commonly brought up in young adult literature. This lack of representation negatively impacts those with dyslexia, who often fail to find themselves in the books they read, and readers in general, who are given fewer opportunities to gain insight into the learning disability. Young adult books that do discuss dyslexia can be at risk of portraying the learning disability in an unfavorable light, which can make dyslexic readers feel undervalued in society and can introduce misconceptions about dyslexia to all readers. It is crucial to analyze …

Navigating Yellow Zone Sexual Misconduct Cases: Exploring Title Ix Administrators’ Discretion, Angela E. Hobbs

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations

This study examines how Title IX administrators exercise discretion when responding to ambiguous sexual misconduct reports referred to as yellow zone. The 2020 Title IX Rules and Regulations introduced a more restrictive definition of sexual misconduct, requiring behavior to be severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive (SPOO) to meet the threshold for formal institutional response. Despite the practical challenges these cases present for institutions, there is limited scholarly understanding of how Title IX administrators make decisions when responding to them. Guided by street-level bureaucracy theory (Lipsky, 1969, 1980, 2010), the study explored how institutional actors exercise discretion in response to regulatory …

Crossing The Theory Threshold: The Pedagogical Potential Of Generative Artificial Intelligence In Educational Research, Amanda Burbage, Jennifer L. Styron

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Purpose

This paper presents findings from an educational research graduate course in which generative artificial intelligence (AI) was incorporated to strengthen learners' understanding of threshold concepts related to theoretical frameworks. Medical and health professionals often struggle with the transition from a clinical role into the educational research role.

Methods

The study posits that the use of generative AI will help learners understand and apply theoretical frameworks beyond a superficial level, furthering their understanding, constructing new knowledge, and strengthening their ability to develop sound educational research studies. Journal and AI transcripts were analyzed for 37 participants.

Results

Open-ended codes were grouped …

First-Generation Medical School Applicants: A Quantitative Study Designed To Identify Areas Of Educational Support, Bethsabe Romero, Amanda K. Burbage

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

First-generation (First Gen) students are unique medical school applicants. Due to their lived experience, they approach patient care by prioritizing trust, comfort and understanding. They have proven ability to overcome obstacles and were found to be more resilient than their continuing generation (Cont Gen) peers. Despite these notable attributes, they face unique challenges in gaining medical school acceptance. There are very few quantitative studies examining this student subpopulation, and our study identifies characteristics of first-generation medical school applicants while highlighting areas of needed support. This cross-sectional study used deidentified Application and Matriculating Student Questionnaire survey data that was obtained from …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On A Child’S Educational Success, Samson Ghirmai

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The accessibility of education has opened doors for children to pursue interests and be prepared for their transition into adulthood. Education is a resource that opens doors, but it has been found that there are gaps in achievement. This opens the conversation on possible solutions to reduce this gap. Schools have been developing new systems and strategies to increase parental involvement, determining this as a possible solution towards bridging the gap. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the solution towards the achievement gap is identifying strategies to get parents more involved in their child's education. Research determined …

Equitable Grading: Practices, Challenges, And Implementation, Hannah Lauree Jacott

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grading methods in K-12 education have remained largely unchanged over the past century. As schools consider revisiting grading policies, multiple factors influence the success and sustainability of reform efforts, particularly because grades serve conflicting purposes for various stakeholders. This thesis investigates traditional grading practices, reviews literature on equitable grading frameworks, and evaluates both existing and proposed grading practices in relation to the purpose of grading and principles of grading equity. The literature suggests that many commonly used grading practices, such as the inclusion of nonacademic behaviors and reliance on percentage-based systems, may reduce the accuracy and consistency of grades as …

Educating Black Males In Black Lives Matter Movement Space, Kimberly L. Hollis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This inquiry has been inspired by the stories of Black boys’ educational experience within the public school system in the South. Theoretically drawing upon anti-Black racism (Alexander, 2010; Collins, 2000; Davis, 2003; Du Bois, 1903; Watkins, 2001; Woodson, 1993; Wynter, 2003) and  Black Intellectual Traditions (Bell, 1992: Crenshaw, 1988; Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J., 2001; Ladson-Billings, 2003; Linscott, 2017; Yosso, 2006), I expound on the concept of systemic racism in the United States as well as the challenges that hinder Black males from achieving academic excellence and thrusts them further to the margins. Methodologically, I employ counter-storytelling (e.g., Delgado, 2017; …