Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Perspectives Of Mentor Teachers For Early Childhood Teacher Preparation, Shannon J. Rivera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood (EC) teacher education programs and public-school partnerships have broadened preparation of preservice teachers by providing more learning opportunities during preservice field experiences. These experiences require mentoring from highly qualified supervising teachers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore mentors’ perspectives of their qualifications to mentor EC preservice teachers in a 4-year university laboratory school. Ambrosetti’s theory of mentor preparation guided this study. The research question addressed mentor teachers’ perspectives of their mentoring qualifications for EC preservice teachers. A snowball sample of 8 mentor teachers, with at least 4 years’ experience mentoring EC preservice teachers, volunteered …

Instructors’ Perceptions Of Differentiated Instruction At Four Universities In The United States, Brandy Waldron

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to a 2015-2016 fall term end-of-course survey at a university in the southern United States, differentiated instruction (DI) was minimal and student participants reported that they may have performed better on coursework if given a variety of learning options. The purpose of this study was to determine how instructors at 4 U.S. universities perceive use of DI and their ideas about the necessary tools and strategies to practice it. Research needed to be conducted so instructors could successfully meet the diverse needs of students by having the necessary tools to practice differentiation. Tomlinson’s theory that focuses on the need …

Incorporating Twitter In The Clinical Supervision Process: Perceptions Of Secondary School Level Supervisors, Paula Abiola Willis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Collaborative supervision and social media in education have been the focus of many studies, yet research on incorporating Twitter into clinical supervision is limited. Secondary school level supervisors need to learn and understand educational opportunities when using collaborative supervision incorporating online support. This study explored the perceptions of secondary school level supervisors on using Twitter to collaborate with teachers in the clinical supervision process. Siemen’s theory of connectivism and Cogan’s clinical supervision model framed the study. The research questions explored the perceptions of secondary school level supervisors regarding the use of Twitter for collaborating with teachers during the clinical supervision …

Instructional Leadership Practices Of K-12 School Principals Regarding Teachers' Burnout, Lakeva Lajune Winchester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers who experience burnout leave the teaching profession. School principals in a public school district located in the southern United States are inconsistently implementing instructional leadership practices to support teachers who experience burnout. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to understand the instructional leadership practices of school principals regarding teachers’ burnout. The conceptual framework was Vygotsky’s theory of zone of proximal development, which posits that people are more motivated to learn when they are supported and encouraged and is based on Malcolm Knowles’ theory of andragogy, known as the adult leaning theory. The research question considered how …

Student Satisfaction And Educational Experience With Collaborative Learning Teams, Jacquelyn Lee Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe use of collaborative learning teams is successful at many traditional higher education institutions. However, the use of collaborative learning teams at 3 University X campuses was noted as a source of frustration for students and may affect student satisfaction. Lower satisfaction rates equate to lower rates of success, graduation, referrals, and retention. The purpose of this study was to explore student satisfaction with the use of collaborative learning teams and how learning teams affect students' educational experiences at University X. Vygotsky's social learning theory and Astin's theory of student involvement framed the study. The mixed-method design included a quantitative …

Middle And High School Administrators’ Perceptions Of Classroom-Management Support For Novice Teachers, Jerome C. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Administrator support of classroom behavior management increases teacher retention and improves student academic achievement; consequently, campus-level, district-level, and principal preparation personnel need to understand how to prepare principals to support teachers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how middle and high school principals and assistant principals provide classroom behavior management support to novice teachers in an urban school district in a southern state. Alig-Mielcarek and Hoy’s simplified model of instructional leadership formed the conceptual lens. The research questions focused on administrators’ perceptions of classroom-management support for novice teachers. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 11 …

Perceptions Of Leaders Regarding Succession Planning In State Universities In A Western State, Amy Jennifer Buckway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Succession planning is used to identify potential leadership vacancies, develop new leaders, and provide systems for knowledge transfer to ensure optimal functioning of the organization during leadership changes. Leaders in higher education have been reluctant to develop and implement succession planning. The local problem is that higher education leadership in a Western state has experienced aging leadership and a lack of succession planning. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine the use of succession planning in 5 state universities in a Western U.S. state and to explore the leaders’ perceptions and experiences in the implementation of …

Special Education Teacher Retention In The Early Years, Caroll Brant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intent of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic workplace experiences on the retention of beginning special education teachers of students with low incidence disabilities (LIDs). This study was designed in response to district leaders’ shared concerns of the continuous turnover experienced annually in several districts in a region of a southern state. Two research questions were developed to gain a deeper insight into the influence intrinsic and extrinsic factors have on beginning special education teachers’ decisions to stay in the self-contained, LID classroom. Ten beginning special education LID teachers participated in interviews …

Perceptions Of Administrators And Teachers As Facilitators Of Students’ Socioemotional Learning, Crystal January

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current conditions in the United States have resulted in an increasing number of middle and high school students experiencing trauma. To improve positive learning environments and graduation rates, a Southern school district transitioned from punitive, exclusionary consequences to restorative practices such as socioemotional learning (SEL). A bounded qualitative case study was used to explore the perceptions of administrators and teachers regarding teachers’ facilitation of SEL, the most effective strategies to facilitate SEL, and teacher preparedness to facilitate SEL. The study was guided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework. Data were collected from 5 teachers and 3 …

Elementary And Middle School Administrators’ Perceptions On Implementing Change Toward Inclusion Practices, Nicole J. Taguinod

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inclusive education programs exist in public schools to provide equitable education opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities. However, the processes for administrators to implement change toward inclusive classrooms and achieve program sustainability remain unclear. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative case study was to investigate campus administrators’ perceptions concerning challenges and facilitators that influence the implementation and continuation of inclusion practices and their roles in initiating change. An integration of Fullan and Quinn’s coherence framework and Lewin’s 3-step change model was the conceptual lens for the study. Research questions were focused on how administrators view aspects that hinder …

Job Satisfaction And Retention Of Middle School Teachers, Rebecca Jane Gault

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study was the high turnover rates of experienced, quality, and highly effective middle school teachers, which has a negative effect on student learning and achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover what specific support and professional development middle school teachers need to remain teaching. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. The research questions explored what experienced middle school teachers need in terms of support and professional development in order to improve their job satisfaction and increase their retention. Nine teachers, one from each middle school …

Principal Transformational Leadership And School Climate In Title 1 Schools, Heidi H. Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students living in poverty who attend Title 1 schools continue to underperform academically compared to their more-advantaged peers. Researchers have shown that leadership and school climate influence academic outcomes for students, and educators and community members need to understand effective leadership and school climate practices used where students have demonstrated academic growth. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of principals’ perspectives on their leadership and school climate practices that may contribute to students’ academic growth in Title 1 elementary schools. The conceptual framework encompassed elements of transformational leadership and constructs of school climate. Interviews …

Perceptions Of Curriculum Quality Management In A Multicampus Community College District, Cathy Donald-Whitney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community college systems must create and maintain curriculum quality management processes and mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of curricula as mandated by state accountability measures. This basic qualitative study was employed to understand the perceptions of members of a curriculum quality management team at a multicampus community college district. Senge's learning organization theory and tenets of Gronn's distributive leadership principles guided this study. Semistructured interviews were used as the data collection method to examine perceptions of 8 full-time curriculum team members at a multicampus community college district in the southwestern United States about the organization, collaborative formats, and governing procedures …

Principals’ Perceptions Of Administrative Preparedness For Implementation Of Project-Based Learning, Johane St Aime

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a school district located in the southeastern part of the United States, the local problem was that principals were concerned about their knowledge and training to effectively implement project-based learning (PBL). The purpose of this study was to explore the principals’ perceptions about PBL and the implementation, training, and resources needed to improve the instructional leadership of PBL. Daresh and Playko’s proactive leadership theory served as the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions focused on principal perceptions about PBL, about implementing PBL, and about necessary training and resources to improve principal training of PBL. A basic …

Canadian Postsecondary Leaders’ Understanding And Promotion Of Social Justice And Educational Equity, Pamela Jacqueline Cawley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Canadian universities are educating an increasingly diverse student body and have a role in rectifying inequities and educating students to contribute to a democratic and inclusive society, but little is known about how mainstream leaders understand such leadership. The purpose of this study was to examine how mainstream Canadian postsecondary leaders in Canada describe and understand their leadership related to social justice and educational equity. Critical social theory and applied critical leadership theory guided this study. This basic qualitative study using semistructured interviews explored how 11 mainstream postsecondary leaders have understood and promoted social justice and educational equity. Data analysis …

African American College Students’ Perspectives Of Academic Challenges To Graduation, Bobby Calvin Luckett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even though the enrollment numbers of African American students are comparable to other racial/ethnic groups at a university in the midwestern United States, the problem investigated through this study was that African American students were graduating at a slower rate compared to other groups. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African American university students about the academic challenges they faced as they worked towards graduation as well as their experiences with and suggestions to improve institutional support to meet these challenges. The study was based on Tinto’s retention theory. For this basic qualitative study, data …

Instructional Leadership Practices Of Middle School Principals Regarding Specialized Training In Mathematics, Sherry Ann Schock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem addressed in this study centered on middle school principals who were inconsistently implementing instructional leadership practices to support teachers teaching mathematics even though they received middle-grades leadership development (MLD) training. The purpose of this basic qualitative research was to understand why middle school principals, trained in MLD, were inconsistently implementing instructional leadership practices to support teachers teaching mathematics. The research question asked how middle school principals, trained in MLD, implement instructional leadership practices to support teachers teaching mathematics to improve student academic outcomes. The conceptual framework was Vygotsky's learning and development theory used within MLD training to …

The Relationship Between At-Home Reading Literacy Activities And Reading Literacy Scores Of Beginning Kindergarteners, Shera Chantel Caviness

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 33% of U.S. prekindergartners have trouble recognizing the English alphabet and their associated sounds. To compete and succeed globally today, children start early with English alphabet recognition and phonics instruction to develop fluent reading skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parental recollection of at-home reading literacy activities of prekindergartners and beginning kindergarteners’ reading literacy scores. Vygotsky’s theory of social interaction and Piaget’s theory of child development provided the theoretical basis for this study. The key research question focused on the relationship between parental recollection of at-home reading literacy activities of prekindergarteners and beginning …

Administrators' And Teachers' Perceptions Of Leadership Behaviors And Impacts On Student Outcomes, Kenya Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite more than 4 decades of school leadership research, a significant knowledge gap remains on how school leaders provide instructional practices to improve student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify administrators' and teachers' perceptions of school leaders' instructional practices and the key characteristics that influence student outcomes. Weber's model of instructional leadership was the conceptual framework for the descriptive case study. The research questions centered on principals' and teachers' perceptions of how school leaders provide instructional leadership to improve student outcomes. Data collection occurred through interviews and document reviews. Four principals and six teachers were …

Principals' Behaviors And Practices In Closing Gaps Of English Language Learners, Cathy L. Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractStudents in the United States who are English language learners (ELLs) are increasing in number, and they lag in academic performance in comparison to native English speakers. Educators and community members need to know more about how school personnel address closing the achievement gap as defined by local, state, and national assessments. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the behaviors and practices principals used to address the instruction of ELLs in their schools. The conceptual framework was based in Hallinger’s model of instructional leadership with emphasis on instructional supervision and management. Data were collected during interviews …

How Elementary School Principals Perceive Teachers’ Literacy Teaching Strategies, Cherron Lynnette Ukpaka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Principals are expected to serve as the lead instructional leaders on the campus, ensuring

academic growth for all students. The research problem of this study was the lack of

understanding of the perceptions of elementary school principals regarding teachers’

literacy teaching strategies. The purpose and research question of this study were to

understand the instructional leadership practices of elementary school principals

regarding teachers’ literacy teaching strategies. The conceptual framework was based on

constructivism. Ten principals participated in semistructured, face-to-face, audio-taped

interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that school principals: (a) focus on how to

increase literacy state scores, (b) struggle to apply …

Case Study Of A Principal-Directed Mentorship Program For Untrained Primary School Teachers, Joycelyn Archibald Pennyfeather

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Issues relating to teacher quality are being discussed internationally. Locally, teachers in St. Kitts and Nevis are hired to teach without any formal training, resulting in poor quality teaching. The problem studied was the poor-quality performance of first-year teachers in a rural primary school of St. Kitts and Nevis. One school principal introduced a mentoring program in an effort to improve teacher quality. The purpose of this study was to explore educators’ perceptions of the implementation of that principal-directed mentoring program and make suggestions for its improvement. Guided by Chinnasamy’s concept of mentoring as andragogy in action, this study examined …

Teacher And Administrator Perspectives On Low Reading Achievement Among Middle School Hispanic Students, Erica Criswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic middle school students in Southeast Texas were scoring below their peers on the Texas standardized reading exam, and the study site was placed on the Texas Education Agency needs improvement list. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to identify the perceptions of reading teachers and administrators regarding Hispanic students’ low reading achievement. Cummins’ empowerment of minority students formed the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research question focused on the teacher and administrator perceptions about low reading achievement of Hispanic students in grades 7-8. A basic qualitative design was used to capture the insights of 3 …

Principal And Teacher Perceptions Of How Principal Motivational Leadership Practices Influence School Climate, Emily Harber Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that school leadership influences the success of student outcomes through school climate. However, little is known about how principals and teachers perceive principals’ motivational leadership practices and how these leadership practices influence school climate. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of seventh and eighth grade principal and teacher perceptions of principal motivational leadership practices influence on school climate. This study was based upon Sullivan’s motivational language theory and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory by way of the utilization of the conceptual framework on charismatic leadership. The research questions focused on principal and …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Implement Ccss Writing Standards, Latonja Allen-Mallard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Writing achievement is a concern in the United States at the national and local level. The problem addressed in this study, in an urban Illinois school district, is that there has been a lack of adequate teacher instructional preparedness in Common Core State Standards (CCSS) writing instruction coupled with low student writing performance. The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school teachers who teach Language Arts perceive their instructional preparedness to teach writing that aligns with the CCSS writing standards; and, to explore what elements of instructional preparedness they perceive would be beneficial to meet the demands …

Retaining Teachers Rated As Effective In Title I Schools, Jessica Nicole Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher retention and continuity are important for students, particularly for those in middle- to high-poverty, low-achieving schools. There is a gap in practice related to providing support for and overcoming barriers to the retention of teachers rated as effective, particularly keeping them with students with socioeconomic and academic need. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of leaders in Title I schools to understand better the elements and support they identify for retaining teachers rated as effective. Bruner's work explaining how needs, motivations, and expectations influence perceptions informed the study. Research questions were designed to …

Elementary School Principals’ Instructional Leadership Practices Supporting Academically Marginalized Students, Stacy Lynette Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem addressed in this qualitative case study is the need to understand elementary school principals' instructional leadership practices supporting academically marginalized students. Instructional leadership practices to "close the achievement gap" are imperative to document, so that best practices can be highlighted and disseminated among educational institutions that face similar challenges. The conceptual framework of the principal instructional management theory is used to explore instructional leadership through 3 dimensions: managing the instructional program, defining the school mission, and fostering academic achievement. Semistructured interviews and thematic analysis were conducted to collect and analyze data from 11 elementary principals in response …

The Influences Of School Counselors' Professional Development On Their Comfort Levels Addressing Mental Health And Substance Use, Megan Lynne Hines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was an investigation of the comfort levels of school counselors to address PK-12 students’ mental health and substance use concerns. While incidents of bullying and school shootings rise it is unclear how school counselors’ professional development has influenced their level of comfort identifying and addressing PK-12 students’ mental health and substance use concerns. Accordingly, this quantitative descriptive survey examined school counselors’ recognition of mental health and substance use symptoms, frequency of encounter, and whether their developmental stages influenced their comfort levels in addressing students’ mental health and substance use concerns. Rønnestad and Skovholt’s counselor development model was the …

Perceptions Of White Mountain Apache High School Graduates About College, Tyler Rush Bangert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Very few high school graduates from the White Mountain Apache Reservation go on to college, and it is not known what perceptions may contribute to a decision not to attend college. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study is to investigate these perceptions, including cultural values and family obligations. The framework of this study is founded on Tribal Critical Race Theory, also known as TribalCrit, which came out of Critical Race Theory (CRT). TribalCrit posits that colonization (Western European peoples colonizing Native American lands and peoples) is endemic in society. Seventeen White Mountain Apache tribal members who had graduated …

Culturally Responsive Leadership And Distributed Leadership Practices In A Stem School, Cynthia Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive leadership practices and distributed leadership are strategies that could aid racially diverse students to become successful in STEM courses and later in a STEM field. The purpose of this study was to explore culturally responsive leadership practices and distributed leadership within a STEM school to support racially diverse students. Distributed leadership and culturally responsive leadership practices were the conceptual frameworks of the study used to explore the rationale for the decision-making within a school. The research questions addressed the challenges and opportunities of implementing culturally responsive leadership practices and distributive leadership to enhance the diversity of students in …