Education Commons^™

Topic Modeling The Cuny Graduate Center's Dissertations And Theses, Michael Mandiberg

Open Educational Resources

This 4 week module is designed for Data Analysis, Data Visualization, and Digital Humanities courses at the MA/MS or advanced 400-level undergraduate level. It introduces students to textual analysis with topic modeling and requires a solid foundation in Python. The module uses Gensim and a Colab notebook to introduce a standard text analysis workflow used in Digital Humanities, archival research, and exploratory data analysis.

Students build a topic model describing 19,000 CUNY Graduate Center dissertations and theses. They work with an unexplored dataset to load and explore the data, prepare the corpus, train and evaluate a topic model, and interpret, …

Effects Of Differential Stress And Mental Health On Substance Use Among College Students, Avdi S. Avdija, Arif Akgul

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Substance use among college students is often seen as a coping mechanism for some students who are prone to extreme stress, depression, or anxiety. Multiple forms of stress become the leading factors that push students toward substance use. This study tests the effects of college stressors, depression, and anxiety on substance use among college students. The results are based on the data that were collected using a 101-item questionnaire administered to 302 college students at a public university in the Midwest U.S.A. Using Logistic Regression as the primary data analysis technique, the findings of this study show that social stressors …

The Acquisition Of English Proficiency By English Language Learners In The Elementary Grades: An Event History Analysis, Elisabete Sousa

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

It is important that educators develop a deeper understanding of the process by which English Language Learners (ELL) acquire English proficiency. This hypothesis-generating event history study followed 285 Grade K-5 ELLs in a suburban public school district in New York State. Its longitudinal component used Kaplan-Meier techniques to provide a descriptive foundation and then conducted discrete-time event history analyses using binary logistic regression to create parametric life tables, analyze the effects of dual-language instruction and other factors, and estimate transition times between proficiency categories and overall. The cross-sectional component employed ordered logistic regression to analyze selected effects on classification into …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of K–12 Educators’ Perceptions And Use Of Artificial Intelligence Across Multiple Settings: Personal, Professional, And Classroom, Christopher M. Casal

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

How U.S. K-12 educators perceive and use artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging field of research as most existing research originates from Europe and Asia, often focused on higher education. This mixed-methods study examines U.S. K-12 educators’ perceptions of AI across three settings; personal, professional, and direct instruction, along with factors influencing acceptance, or resistance, and strategies to support integration. An anonymous survey, administered in the Spring of 2026, yielded 79 responses, primarily from suburban public school educators in the New York City vicinity. Quantitative data were analyzed, and open-ended responses were thematically coded. One of the most notable findings …

2026 Retirees Association Newsletter., Morehead State University. Alumni Association.

Morehead State Alumni Association Publications

The Morehead State University 2026 Retirees Association Newsletter.

State Of The University Annual Report - 2025-2026, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

Office of the President State of the University Annual Report

No abstract provided.

New Student Convocation, Brady Poisal

Remarks and Messages

No abstract provided.

Narrating Institutional Becoming: Faith, Leadership, And Identity Reconstruction During A College-To-University Transition, Viviene H. Dyer

Dissertations

Problem

The contributions of faith-based higher education institutions to the tertiary landscape in small island developing states are insufficiently addressed in the scholarly literature. Consequently, there is limited understanding of how these institutions navigate organizational transitions and respond to capacity gaps that the public sector is unable to fill within dynamic cultural and regulatory environments. This gap is especially evident for Seventh-day Adventist institutions, whose efforts to preserve mission and identity during periods of institutional change remain underexamined and poorly documented.

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to examine how university administrators influenced the development and ongoing …

Teacher Self-Efficacy Perceptions For Technology Integration And Social Media Use As Instructional Tools: Future Implications For Pedagogy In Trinidad And Tobago, Paula Edwards Sealey

Dissertations

Problem

As the educational landscape in Trinidad and Tobago evolve post COVID-19, gaining an understanding of the purpose of teachers in the implementation of national and ministerial ICT policies seem imperative. The exploration of teacher’s personal belief about their ability to effectively infuse technology and social media with their traditional teaching practices, may provide much needed insight about the role that teacher self-efficacy plays in this educational shift (Caner & Aydin, 2021; Phillip & Cain, 2015). Very few studies in the local and regional literature involve teacher self-efficacy as a variable of interest. Moreso, there has been no research to …

A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Board Chairs Toward Governance In Seventh-Day Adventist Schools Across Canada, Shad Lehmann

Dissertations

Problem

There is limited understanding of how school board chairs within the Canadian Seventh-day Adventist education system perceive and carry out their leadership and governance roles. The role of the board chair is complex, involving oversight of the organization, adherence to denominational policies, and alignment with the school’s academic and spiritual missions. Although effective governance is vital for school success, there remains a lack of clarity about how board chairs interpret their roles, fulfill their responsibilities, and navigate the unique demands of faith-based school leadership. This gap in understanding restricts the system’s ability to provide appropriate training, support, and clear …

The Impact Of Culturally Diverse Student Populations On High School Mathematics Teachers’ Preparations And Practices In Southern Union Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Carla Thrower

Dissertations

The Problem

Across the United States and within faith-based schools recent social and political currents have amplified tensions around culture and belonging in classrooms, particularly for students from racially, ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities. Evidence indicates that when schooling practices overlook students’ cultural identities or normalize a single cultural frame, students can experience marginalization and reduced access to equitable opportunities to learn (Gay, 2018; Ladson-Billings, 1995; Milner, 2010). In mathematics, a subject often perceived as culture-neutral these dynamics may surface through curriculum choices, participation norms, and expectations that do not meaningfully connect to students’ lived experiences (Aguirre, Mayfield-Ingram, & …

Role-Differentiated Ai Competencies And Curriculum Implications For Health Professions Education: Qualitative Study, Yuyi Park, Yejin Han, Hyeongjo Kim, Solmoe Ahn, Frederick William Kron, Jihyun Lee

Department of Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: As AI fundamentally transforms the healthcare landscape, medical education curricula have struggled to keep pace with these technological shifts. While current research has established a foundation for general AI literacy, less attention has been given to the role-specific competencies required for the diverse functions that healthcare professionals perform in an AI-integrated environment. Although existing tiered and domain-based competency models have clarified general AI competency requirements, they offer limited guidance on how such competencies should be differentiated according to the roles healthcare professionals perform in practice.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how AI-driven changes in healthcare shape competency requirements …

Building Capacity For Change At The Inter-Lakes School District: Modifying Professional Development To Support The Transformation To Competency-Based Education, Erica Pappalardo

Doctor of Education

Since 1998, the New Hampshire Department of Education has supported the integration of competency-based education (CBE), promoting a shift from traditional time-based models toward mastery-based, personalized learning. While important progress has been made through pilot programs and local innovations, full system-wide transformation remains incomplete. Many districts, including the Inter-Lakes School District (ILSD), continue to face challenges in dismantling entrenched structures and fully operationalizing CBE principles. One critical gap is the lack of a clearly defined, job-embedded professional development (PD) model that prepares educators to lead the shift to learner-centered, competency-based practices, a pathway to disrupt traditional systems. This study investigates …

When Play Fades And Screens Rise: Teachers' And Parents' Lived Experiences Of The Push-Down Of Academics In Kindergarten, Rachel L. Hunter

Doctor of Education

In the span of a single generation federal mandates have transformed kindergarten from a place of play into an academic pressure zone. This study is grounded in early childhood education, child development, and educational policy, with a focus on heightened academic expectations in kindergarten alongside the rising influence of digital technology in young children’s lives. It addresses two questions: (1) How has the reduction or elimination of play in kindergarten impacted children’s peer-to-peer engagement? and (2) What role, if any, does digital technology play in compounding this shift? This phenomenological study employs qualitative, transformative action-research methods to examine the lived …

Developing A Socioculturally-Informed Esl Curriculum For First-Grade Students In Public Schools, Russul R. Abtan

Doctor of Education

Most English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in US elementary schools do not accommodate developmental, linguistic, and cultural needs of young learners, which leads to insufficient language uptake and future academic-related issues. This study examines how an English as a Second Language (ESL) language arts curriculum for first grade can be developed within the framework of the sociocultural theory and developmentally appropriate practices. Research indicates a difference between existing ESL curricula the linguistic, cognitive and emotional needs of young learners. This project integrates key components of Krashen’s Input Hypothesis and Cummins’ BICS/CALP model by drawing on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory …

A Case Study Of California Postsecondary Faculty Collaboration On Rubric Development To Foster Student Learning, Emmanuel Kwadwo Frimpong

Dissertations

Although perceived as the ‘gold standard’ strategy for conquering complex problems, collaboration can be ignored by intellectuals who prefer to work independently. This oversight may occur even in the face of challenging problems such as assessment of scholarships, institutional effectiveness, strategizing, and even the crafting of effective rubrics for assessing student learning. The scholarly literature clearly reveals that real difficulties often refuse to respond to routine assignments or common bureaucratic patterns. Additionally, 21st century conflicts may require creative solutions involving interdependence, joining of forces and brains, or vision sharing. Effective assessment of student learning within higher education may reflect just …

An Autoethnography Of A Scholar Practitioner: Applying Social-Emotional Learning In A Math Classroom Through A Feminist Lens, Resha Layla Hissen

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Math anxiety occurs when individuals experience fear and stress while engaging in mathematical tasks (Lopez-Ramírez et al., 2025). While math anxiety is often examined through its impact on students, this autoethnography explores it through the lived experience of a Middle Eastern female mathematician and educator. Grounded in social-emotional learning (SEL) and feminist theory, this study investigates how personal, cultural, and gender-related experiences of mathematical trauma have shaped the author’s pedagogical approach. By tracing a personal journey from anxiety and emotional suppression to empowerment and reflective teaching, this work highlights strategies for integrating SEL and feminist-informed practices into K-12 public school …

Against Audiepistemic Injustice: Claiming Deaf Futurity, Pamela R. Conley

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation proposes a new theoretical framework: Audiepistemic Injustice (AEI). Expanding upon existing theories of epistemic injustice (EI), I identify AEI as the systemic marginalization and dismissal of deaf ways of knowing. AEI is a multidimensional phenomenon rooted in the nineteenth century, when auditory and linguistic biases became codified across education, law, and literature. This interdisciplinary study interrogates three nineteenth-century literary narratives as primary case studies to examine AEI: (1) Ivan Turgenev’s “Mumu,” (2) Guy de Maupassant’s “The Deaf Mute,” and (3) Abigail Bradley Hyde’s “The Deaf and Dumb Child: A True Narrative.” I synthesize these literary works with legal …

Deborah Morton Reviews Her Star Pupils, Deborah Morton

Westbrook College Alumni Reminiscences

Notes regarding several  former students collected by Deborah Morton.

Erased From The Permanent Record: Data Collection Practices And Non-Binary Student Experiences In School, Ashley Carey, Peter Piazza

Education Faculty Publications

State education data systems often undercount non-binary students, constraining schools’ ability to support them. This study examines the scope and implications of non-binary erasure in school data collection. Drawing on survey responses from nearly 13,000students across seven Massachusetts districts, we find that current practices substantially undercount non-binary students, who also report less positive experiences of school culture, including student–teacher relationships, belonging, and emotional safety. Although inclusive data could guide efforts to create more supportive environments, districts face growing political resistance from parent organizations aligned with the White Christian Nationalist movement. These groups frame inclusivity as a threat to parental rights. …

From Enthusiasm To Exhaustion: Investigating Burnout In New Secondary Teachers, Casey Gruver

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Teacher burnout remains a critical concern and commonly experienced phenomenon in secondary education, particularly among educators in their first five years of practice. This mixed-methods study examined the experiences and perceptions of burnout among new secondary teachers (grades 7–12) in a single, large suburban school district. Guided by the Job Demands Resource Model and Conservation of Resources Theory, the study explored how job demands, access to resources, and organizational supports shape early-career burnout. Survey data and semi-structured interviews support the framework that burnout is a multidimensional, cumulative experience influenced by job demands and insufficient organizational resources.

Filipino Teachers’ Grit And Organizational Resilience During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jyro B. Triviño, Moses G. Manalang

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between employee grit and organizational resilience, focusing on perceptions from Filipino teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a quantitative survey, data from 108 teaching faculty from a Southern Luzon university were analyzed using Spearman correlation to identify potential associations between these constructs. Findings reveal significant but weak to moderate correlations between dimensions of grit and facets of organizational resilience. Notably, adaptability to situations emerged as the most substantial grit component linked to organizational resilience, indicating its critical role in fostering organizational adaptability and planning strategies during uncertain times. The results suggest that individuals with high …

Burnout Among Licensed Central Office Administrators In Illinois School Districts: A Quantitative Study, Ivone De Jesus

Dissertations of Practice

Burnout among educational leaders is well documented; however, limited empirical research has focused on central office administrators. This study examined burnout among licensed central office administrators in Illinois school districts, focusing on self-reported levels of burnout and associated organizational stressors. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, burnout was conceptualized as a systemic organizational phenomenon shaped by workplace conditions. A cross-sectional survey was administered to licensed central office administrators across Illinois public school districts. Descriptive analyses assessed burnout prevalence, while correlational analyses examined relationships among burnout, organizational stressors, and coping strategies. Results indicated that burnout was common and multidimensional, with organizational …

Measuring Academic Momentum: A Quantitative Study Of Supplemental Instruction As A Community College Student Support Strategy, Cornelia Slater

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

MEASURING ACADEMIC MOMENTUM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT STRATEGY

Cornelia Vanessa Slater, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Quortne R. Hutchings, Director

Community colleges serve as critical access points to higher education for diverse populations of students where completion rates are an ongoing challenge. Supplemental Instruction have been used as an academic intervention to improve success largely in four-year institutions. This quantitative study, guided by Xueli Wang’s momentum theory analyzed two research questions: (1) how supplemental instruction (SI) participation is associated with student academic success, course retention …

Examining The Association Between Educational Spending In Well-Resourced School Districts And The Academic Performance Of Hispanic Students In Low Socioeconomic Communities, Alicia Cieszykowski

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF HISPANIC STUDENTS IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITIES

Alicia Cieszykowski

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Benjamin Creed, Director

This study examined the relationship between school district expenditure patterns and academic performance for Hispanic students in adequately funded Illinois school districts. Using a quantitative correlational design, the study explored whether overall spending levels and the allocation of financial resources were associated with Hispanic student achievement and Hispanic–White academic disparities in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The sample included Illinois Tier …

We See You! Mentorship Matters: Female Superintendents' Experiences In Illinois, Nicole Maxwell-Aldred

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of the study was to examine female superintendents' lived experiences with mentoring and the impact it had on their trajectory to the position. Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews from a phenomenological lens who are currently women superintendents in the northern portion of Illinois. The results of this study shows the impact of mentorship along the way to the superintendency, once in the role, and the need to pay it forward. Gender dynamics had an impact on women across time. Additionally this research amplified women’s voices, provided deeper understanding of women's experience with mentorship, and added to the body of …

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Public Service Loan Forgiveness Through Critical Pragmatism And Equity, Cathy Davis

Dissertations of Practice

Student loan debt in the United States has surpassed $1.8 trillion, placing substantial financial strain on more than 42 million borrowers. Public service professionals—including teachers, social workers, nurses, and government employees—are among those most affected, as their essential work is often undercompensated. The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program was created to reduce these burdens and strengthen the public service workforce, yet persistent administrative complexity, low approval rates, and inequitable access undermine its intended impact.

Guided by a critical pragmatism framework that integrates the outcome‑oriented inquiry of classical pragmatism with the equity‑centered critique of critical theory, this dissertation evaluates …

Implementing Restorative Practices For Girls In Elementary School Classrooms: A Participatory Action Research Approach, Mellissa Douglas

Dissertations of Practice

This participatory action research study examined how varying approaches to implementing restorative practices, together with teacher collaboration and influence, support resilience, enhance communication, establish healthy boundaries, encourage accountability, and build confidence among elementary school girls ages 8–10. Two third-grade teachers, three fourth-grade teachers, and three fifth-grade teachers in a midwestern elementary school implemented restorative practices through proactive circles or conferences over the course of forty school days. The eight teacher participants recorded the implementation of restorative practices in an action research journal, field notes, and photographs, and they collaborated to discuss strengths, areas in need of support, and next steps. …

Educator Understanding Of Mtss: A Quantitative Descriptive Study, Danielle Valiente

Dissertations of Practice

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) require coordinated implementation across the full educator workforce. This study examined MTSS knowledge and self-reported understanding across the Illinois educator workforce to identify the specific knowledge gaps a targeted professional learning solution would need to address. Using a quantitative descriptive design, 208 Illinois public school educators across 16 job roles and four experience bands completed an online survey consisting of an eleven-item true/false knowledge assessment, a ten-item multiple-choice knowledge assessment, and a 10-item Likert self-report inventory. Data were disaggregated by job role and by years of professional experience. Educators demonstrated strong understanding of MTSS structural …

Hehanyela Istogmuzapi S’E Unk’Unpi Sni (Blind No More): Storying Transgenerational Healing And Relational Indigenous Leadership Through Practitioner Research, Dowan Wasté Win Tamera Miyasato

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation, Hehanyela Istogmuzapi S’e Unk’unpi Sni (Blind No More), examines how Indigenous leadership emerges through transgenerational healing, story, and relational accountability. Grounded in Indigenous methodologies and guided by Absolon’s (2022) Kaandossiwin framework, this practitioner research positions story not as data to be analyzed, but as method, theory, and ceremony. It asks how healing inherited wounds through story, memory, and land shapes Indigenous approaches to leadership and restores relational responsibility within educational and community spaces. The work unfolds through intergenerational and transgenerational dialogue between the author and her mother, whose stories carry the teachings of her father, the author’s grandfather. …