Conocimientos Sobre La Transición Postsecundaria De Estudiantes Del Programa De Educación Especial De Undécimo A Duodécimo Grado En Una Escuela Secundaria Pública En Puerto Rico, Nancy L. Ortiz Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue determinar el nivel de conocimiento que poseían los estudiantes del Programa de Educación Especial sobre el proceso de transición postsecundaria. La investigación se desarrolló mediante un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño descriptivo, considerando la transición como una etapa determinante en la vida académica y personal de los estudiantes con discapacidades, por su influencia en la preparación para la educación universitaria, la inserción laboral y el desarrollo de la vida independiente.

El estudio se llevó a cabo en una escuela secundaria pública de Puerto Rico e incluyó una muestra de 21 estudiantes del Programa de …

Teacher Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning On Student Academic And Behavioral Performance, Kayla Zucco

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored teacher perceptions of the impact of social-emotional learning (SEL) on students’ academic and behavioral performance. Guided by two research questions examining how teachers perceive SEL influences academic outcomes and behavioral development, data were collected through open-ended interview questions among seven participants. The study aimed to better understand how educators conceptualize and implement SEL within classroom settings and how these practices are perceived to affect student success.

Thematic analysis of participant responses revealed several consistent findings. All participants (100%) reported a strong understanding of and confidence in their SEL knowledge, suggesting a shared sense of competence in this …

Teacher Perceptions Of Social-Emotional And Behavioral Factors That Impede Preschool Adjustment, Allease J. Glamore

Theses and Dissertations

Children with behavioral and social-emotional challenges struggle to adjust to the preschool environment which places increased demands on preschool teachers to implement effective strategies. The purpose of the study was to assess teachers’ perceptions regarding social-emotional and behavioral factors implicated for successful preschool adjustment. The theoretical framework guiding this study is grounded in the integration of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, social-emotional learning theory, and behavior theory. A case study design was used to examine the perceptions and use of social-emotional and behavior interventions and supports by four early childhood teachers across two programs.

Data were collected using qualitative in-depth one-on-one …

Mixed-Methods Study Of High School Teachers’ Perceived Training, Self-Efficacy, And Assessment Competencies In Online Courses, Chantell Radford

Theses and Dissertations

The problem in this study was that, in a large urban school district in South Florida, the online high school teachers’ training, self-efficacy, and assessment competencies in courses required enhancement. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of high school teachers on their training, self-efficacy, and assessment competency in online courses.

Twenty high school online teachers participated in the study. Recruitment occurred through a link posted on Facebook and LinkedIn. The design (sequential explanatory mixed-methods design) aligned with the five research questions. Two instruments (survey and questionnaire) were used to collect data. Quantitative data analyis occurred with …

Examining Reframing Behavior Implementation: Teacher Perspectives And Discipline Patterns In Middle School, Francisco J. Hidalgo

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher-reported implementation of the Reframing Behavior (RB) Initiative at a middle school in North Central Florida. The districtwide training occurred in the 2024-2025 school year. The RB Initiative provides educators with opportunities to reframe how they address disruptive behaviors among students perceived as problematic, who may receive numerous disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions can affect students’ academic and social lives. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the study addressed four research questions and examined implementation fidelity, teacher perceptions, school-wide discipline patterns, and teacher experiences with RB implementation.

The researcher surveyed 19 teachers and interviewed four teachers. The …

Manejo De Oportunidades En Tiempos De Crisis: Liderazgo Y Cambios En Una Organización -Estudio De Caso, Maria Valente

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para proporcionar informaciones relevantes sobre situaciones de crisis que amenazan la supervivencia de las organizaciones. Además, busca comprender los fenómenos que desarrollan las crisis y explorar los resultados significativos del liderazgo en tiempos de crisis.

Se empleó un diseño de investigación cualitativa. Los elementos descritos en esta investigación cualitativa evalúan el impacto de las situaciones de crisis, describiendo cada etapa y factores intrínsecos y extrínsecos que son responsables por la desestabilidad en la organización.

En este estudio se identificaron las prácticas de liderazgo y los proyectos estratégicos que permiten planificar oportunidades de cambio en el …

How Leadership Styles Can Effectively Alleviate Some Of The Organizational Stressors Of Food-Plant Workers, Latarshe Mccuthin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate how leaders in the food processing industry perceive their management style and how they may alleviate some job related employee stress. There was no management training at the organization; the only training provided was for food safety for certification and licensure procedures. Once a year, the company listed a management course, but the supervisors had to pay for it without reimbursement. Further, although the course was available, most supervisors did not know of it.

The researcher developed semi-structured, in-depth interviews to answer the research questions regarding how supervisors perceived leadership styles, strategies, and …

A Qualitative Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of Reading Proficiency, Latia Tyler

Theses and Dissertations

This applied qualitative dissertation was constructed to provide insight into the experiences of teachers who provide reading instruction for third grade students at the target school. Seven teachers engaged in semi structured interviews that sought to examine their perceptions on their abilities in teaching reading instruction, their perception on school supports, their perceptions on reading proficiency and factors that contribute to it. Additionally, comprehensive reading plans, published by the state of Florida, were examined to further understand the perceptions of teachers alongside district intended approach for reading instruction.

Thematic analysis of data revealed eight key themes including gaps in foundational …

Competencias De Los Líderes Escolares De Un Sector De Las Escuelas Públicas En Puerto Rico En La Provisión De Servicios A Estudiantes De Educación Especial, Zuleira Franco Olivo

Theses and Dissertations

La siguiente disertación aplicada indagó acerca de las competencias que exhiben los líderes escolares en un sector de las Escuelas Públicas en Puerto Rico y cómo estas influyen en los procesos de provisión de servicios a los estudiantes participantes de Educación Especial. Desde una mirada del liderazgo distribuido se buscó conocer cómo al aplicarlo en el escenario educativo en conjunto con las competencias exhibidas por los directores escolares, promueve el funcionamiento y la provisión de los servicios del programa en cada escuela de los directores participantes.

Trabajado mediante un enfoque de investigación mixta con un diseño descriptivo fenomenológico, se emplearon …

Estrategias De Enseñanza, El Rol De Los Padres Y El Logro De Los Objetivos De Aprendizaje De Los Alumnos Del Cuarto Año De Una Escuela Alternativa De Puerto Rico, Marangely González Tavárez

Theses and Dissertations

Se examinaron las características de los docentes, el rol de los padres y el logro académico de los estudiantes de cuarto año en alcanzar sus metas de aprendizaje en la escuela alternativa ASPIRA de Puerto Rico. Estas instituciones buscan atender a jóvenes de 14 a 21 años que han dejado o están en riesgo de deserción en la escuela tradicional, ofreciendo un currículo flexible, atención personalizada y apoyo psicosocial. La investigación se fundamentó en la necesidad de generar evidencia sobre las competencias docentes y la percepción estudiantil en contextos educativos no tradicionales, dado que la literatura existente se ha centrado …

The Continuity And Fluidity Between Emergent Literacy Skills And Literacy Acquisition, Shiesha D. Otokina

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was undertaken because emergent literacy skills are crucial in helping children develop their reading abilities. Research suggests that early intervention is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap, and that early literacy skills develop as early as when children begin to communicate verbally and nonverbally. Studies show that the larger a child's vocabulary is, the quicker they learn to read.This study examined the significance of reading development and a child’s ability to acquire reading skills across the stages of reading acquisition.

This study compared student scores in the experimental and control groups to determine whether the …

Perceptions Of Georgia Elementary School Administrators Toward Elementary Agricultural Education, Addie Tucker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Elementary agricultural education (EAE) is a growing component of K-12 agricultural education, yet limited research exists on how school leaders perceive its value. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of Georgia elementary school administrators regarding the implementation and value of EAE programs. Specifically, this study examined elementary principals’ and district superintendents’ views on the benefits, effectiveness, and value of EAE. A descriptive research design was used. Georgia elementary principals and district superintendents with active EAE programs during the 2025-2026 academic year were surveyed in the fall of 2025. The sample consisted of 18 principals and 18 …

Beyond The Classroom: The Continuing Impact Of Brown V Board On Equitable Access To Career And Technical Education For Historically Underrepresented Students, Shannon Hood

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Using a qualitative phenomenological design grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), this study examined how institutional structures, instructional practices, and community and industry partnerships shape equitable access, engagement, and outcomes in secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs serving students from historically marginalized backgrounds. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen participants, including educators, administrators, and industry partners engaged in secondary CTE implementation. Thematic analysis identified recurring patterns related to leadership decision-making, instructional relevance, culturally responsive teaching practices, relational trust and advocacy, and authentic work-based learning (WBL) experiences. Findings indicate that equitable participation in CTE extends …

The Effect That Positive And Negative Self-Concepts Have On Adolescents' Behavior And Personalities, Portia L. Davis

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The development stage of adolescence is a complex process in which adolescents begin to explore their identity and form either a positive or negative self-concept. Self-concept plays a crucial role in shaping adolescents' personalities and behaviors. Self-concept includes how adolescents view themselves and how others see them. An adolescent's self-concept can influence their self-confidence, social relationships, and decision-making abilities. This study examines the relationship between overall self-concept and adolescents' personality traits and behaviors. To gather this information, a quantitative research design is used, in which adolescents complete assessments such as the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Woodcock-Johnson IV (WJ-IV), …

The Economic Impact Of The Georgia Young Farmers Association On Georgia's Economy, Robert E. Bodiford Iii

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture is Georgia’s largest economy, generating billions of dollars annually. Sustaining this sector requires ongoing investment in human capital through education, training, and leadership development. While research has extensively examined youth agricultural education, limited attention has been given to the economic contributions of adult agricultural education programs. The Georgia Young Farmers Association serves as a primary provider of structured adult agricultural education in the state, offering continuing education through meetings, farm tours, workshops, and leadership development activities. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the Georgia Young Farmers Association on Georgia’s economy[BL1] . The …

Career Readiness Indicators In High School Influenced By Leaders In Alabama, Kevin J. Wieseman

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how educational leaders conceptualize and influence Career Readiness Indicators (CRI) in Alabama high schools. As Alabama places increasing emphasis on College and Career Readiness (CCR), this research explored how leaders’ lived experiences affect initiatives designed to prepare students for postsecondary achievement. Drawing on Transformational Leadership Theory and Distributed Leadership Theory, the study examined leadership practices associated with work-based learning, soft skills development, academic preparedness, and career-readiness outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with educational leaders from Alabama school systems recognized for exemplary CCR performance. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to identify shared leadership experiences and …

Comprehensive Postsecondary Transition Planning For Students With Intellectual Disability In Florida, Sonia Y. Clark-Rosier

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impact of early transition planning on parents’ postsecondary expectations for their child with an intellectual disability and to examine the benefits of planning, particularly when considering higher education opportunities. This study also probed the factors that contribute to the development of self-efficacy in special education teachers facilitating comprehensive transition planning. Schlossberg’s transition theory, with its four S’s—situation, support, self, and strategies—served as the theoretical framework. The data collection methods were document analysis, focus groups with special education teachers, high school teachers, and parents, and researcher observations. Seven themes emerged to …

Wired For Inclusion: Leveraging Strengths Of Neurodivergent Special Educators, Brok Hess, Teresa Clark Ed.D.

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Special education teachers face unique challenges, and neurodivergent special educators possess distinctive strengths that can allow them to excel in the classroom. However, barriers, stigma, and ableism persist that have prevented neurodivergent individuals from accessing this career, receiving support, and thriving as special educators. Self-efficacy and executive functioning both correlate to success and retention within education. This research analyzed the relationship between special education teachers’ self-efficacy and executive functioning, specifically among neurodivergent special educators. Results concluded that a significant positive correlation exists between neurodivergent special education teachers’ executive functioning and self-efficacy. Attention to these results will highlight the importance of …

Career And Technical Education Readiness Trends Across Kentucky High Schools And Workforce Regions: A Longitudinal Analysis, Brittany Forgey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has become an increasingly important component of Kentucky’s educational accountability system and workforce development initiatives. Despite expanded emphasis on career readiness and technical skill attainment, limited research has examined long-term trends in CTE readiness across Kentucky public high schools. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal study was to examine trends in CTE readiness indicators from 2011 through 2025. Human Capital Theory and Social Capital Theory provided the conceptual framework. Publicly available data from the Kentucky Department of Education School Report Card, KYStats, Supplemental Career and Technical Education reports, and other Kentucky Department of Education …

International Teacher Attrition: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Through The Job Demands-Resources Framework, Lakeysha Rena Joseph Toliver

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Teacher attrition has emerged as a persistent crisis for workforce sustainability across international education systems. This crisis is threatening instructional continuity and deepening inequities that extend across the P-20 continuum. A substantial amount of research has been conducted on teacher attrition in individual countries worldwide. Isolated national studies rarely shed light on the structural patterns driving educators out of the profession, leaving policymakers without a clear cross-contextual understanding of why teachers leave. This qualitative meta-synthesis examined how the interaction between occupational demands and institutional supports shapes teacher attrition across international education contexts, using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework to …

Identifying The Knowledge And Skills That Students Enrolled In Agricultural Systems Technology Degree Programs Need: Perspectives From University Faculty, Jerry Blake Kennedy

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

National trends have highlighted the need for a knowledgeable, skilled workforce in advanced agricultural systems. University-level Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) undergraduate degree programs and closely-related degree programs are vital to equipping the agricultural workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to support the industry. Ensuring that AST curricula are relevant and appropriate is vital to equipping undergraduate students in such programs with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the modern agricultural workforce. This study sought to identify the essential knowledge and skills needed by undergraduate AST degree program students from the perspectives of university-level faculty across the …

The Relationship Between Program Staffing And State-Level Student Outcomes In Georgia School-Based Agricultural Education Programs, Taylor Ogle

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of agriculture teachers employed in Georgia high school agricultural education programs and selected indicators of program success. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between the number of agriculture teachers and first-place state-level competitive success in Career Development Events (CDEs), Leadership Development Events (LDEs), proficiency awards, Georgia State FFA Degrees earned, and student participation in state-level FFA leadership positions. A quantitative, correlational research design was utilized for this study. Data was collected from Georgia FFA records. Agricultural education programs within the state of Georgia served as the unit …

Eyes Turn To Adoptees: A Critical Content Analysis Of Eyes That Weave The World’S Wonders, Becky Leathersich

Education Faculty/Staff Publications

In this article, Critical Adoption Studies, Asian Critical Race Theory, and the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Rubric are applied to analyze Eyes That Weave the World’s Wonders (2024) by Joanna Ho and Liz Kleinrock, illustrated by Dung Ho. The article situates the picture book against trends in children’s literature and scholarship on Korean transracial adoption. A critical content analysis reveals the racialization of the adoptee, centering of the adoptive parents, and description of adoption as an act of love with a discussion of how the authorship, as well as the socioeconomic and geopolitical factors of adoption, impacted this picture …

Where Perspectives Meet: A Comparative Case Study Of How Participatory Practices Shape Deliberation During District-Level Educational Change, Gregory Vincent Massara

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Public education in the United States is socially and politically constructed, and ongoing reforms increasingly require collaborative engagement among diverse stakeholders amid heightened divisiveness. This mixed methods comparative case study examined how educational stakeholders make sense of one another’s perspectives during district-level collaborative work and the conditions that may foster conscientization, the critical reflection on one’s positionality. Two school districts developing a Profile of a Graduate (POG) and one engaged in deliberation about the relationship between public and charter schools within its community serve as comparative cases. The study triangulated meeting observations, a post-deliberation survey of stakeholders (N = 43), …

Evolving Legal Issues In Higher Education: Introduction To The Higher Education And The Law Symposium, Patricia E. Salkin

Touro Law Review

The Touro Law Review could not have selected a better time to highlight many of the evolving legal issues in higher education. It can be both an exciting time to practice law in this space and one that challenges the creative problem-solving skills of lawyers and their clients. This issue of the Law Review highlights a number of key developments and trends.

Loper Bright Enterprises V. Raimondo And The Prospect Of “Management By Judiciary”, Rodger D. Citron

Touro Law Review

In January 2025, Touro University, Touro Law Center, and Touro Law Review held a wide-ranging conference on higher education in the 21st century. The timing could not have been more apt. We were days away from the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second term as President. The ferment in higher education would continue, only more so. In addition, in its 2023-24 term, the Supreme Court had decided a number of important administrative law cases, none more significant than Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (“Loper Bright”). Although I did not speak at the panel session on “The Changing Regulatory Landscape in Higher …

Phonics And Friends: A Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis Of Popular Teacher Influencers' Content, Zachary T. Milford

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This critical multimodal discourse analysis examined how five teacher-influencers aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR) movement performed authority, constructed discourses, and used affective and semiotic resources in viral TikTok videos about reading instruction. Drawing on Kress and van Leeuwen's (2001) multimodal social semiotics, Fairclough's (1992) critical discourse analysis, Foucault's (1977, 1982) theorizations of power, Papacharissi's (2014) theory of affective publics, Ong's (1982) secondary orality, and Taussig's (1993) mimesis and alterity, this interpretive, qualitative, multiple-case study analyzed fifty viral TikTok videos and four semi-structured interviews with teacher-influencers. Data were analyzed through within-case and within-mode coding, cross-modal analysis, and cross-case analysis …

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. …

Fant Memorial Library Strategic Plan, 2026-2031, Hillary Richardson

Fant Library News and Reports

Fant Memorial Library's vision, mission, and values statements, and its guiding priorities, goals, and objectives for 2026-2031

Influences On Student College-Major Decision And Satisfaction Rate Among Students In The School Of Agriculture, Danielle Shafer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence students to choose agriculture majors and agriculture careers and measure the level of satisfaction with their major based on these influences. There are many factors that influence students to choose a major in college and college-major satisfaction. These influences and satisfaction with major may have an impact on a student’s decision to choose a college career path. Some of the influences mentioned in studies are family, friends, educators, extension programs, clubs, financial, and recruitment efforts. The degree to which each of these influence students may depend on the …