Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Experiences And Perceptions Of Local Diocesan Catholic School Teachers Regarding The Progress Of Their Implementation Of Project-Based Learning In The Classroom, Donna Lee Saladino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfter finding research confirming that the innovative approach of project-based learning (PBL) improves 21st century education for all students, the administrators of a large local diocesan Catholic school system (LDCSS) initiated PBL implementation in their schools. The problem was that after 6 years it was not known how the teachers were experiencing and perceiving their progress with this implementation in the classrooms. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to discover and understand LDCSS teachers’ experiences and perceptions of their progress of PBL implementation in the classroom. The conceptual framework for the study comprised John Dewey’s educational philosophy of …

Exploring School Leadership To Improve Graduation Rates For High School Ell Students In A Northeastern State, Scott Matthew Jaquith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English languages learners (ELLs) are the fastest-growing student population in the United States. Federal mandates, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, provide guidance and resources to states and local school districts to remove barriers for ELL students. Despite guidelines from one northeastern state to increase professional development, improve metrics to assess proficiency growth, and provide family outreach to support ELLs, school leaders have not achieved this goal of raising graduation rates for ELLs so they are comparable with their non-ELL peers. This project study uses a transformational leadership framework to explore perceptions of principals, assistant principals, and …

Principals’ Role In The Development Of Middle School Teacher Leaders, Ruben Lubala Chiza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School personnel across the United States are developing additional teacher leadership roles to improve professional learning and retain effective teachers. More information is needed concerning how middle school principals are guiding the development of teacher leaders in their schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the leadership strategies used by middle school principals to develop and support teacher leaders in their schools. Bass's conceptual framework of transformational leadership guided this research. Research questions were designed to explore how middle school principals in urban schools understood their roles in teacher leader development and the leadership strategies employed …

Administrators’ And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Administrators’ Instructional Leadership In The Inclusive Classroom, Tenesia Crook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of students with disabilities educated in the general education classroom has increased over time. As a result, administrators in inclusive settings have more expectations and responsibilities as an instructional leader. Therefore, the research problem addressed is that administrators are struggling to provide instructional leadership for teachers in the inclusive classroom. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore administrators’ and teachers’ experiences and perceptions regarding administrators’ instructional leadership for teachers in the inclusive classroom. The conceptual framework was based on Waters’ theory of balanced leadership. There were two research questions that guided this study. The first …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Student Performance On The Advanced Placement English Language And Composition Exam In Department Of Defense Schools, Tracee Nichole Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that guided this study was the low proportion of students scoring 3 or more on the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition (APELC) exam at one Department of Defense (DoD) school. Moreover, the qualifying ratios were lower than students attending all DoD and U.S. schools. The need for teachers to examine the performance of military-connected students has become a critical element of high-stakes accountability in all schools, most importantly at military-connected schools. The aim of this research was to explore DoD teachers’ insights into the factors influencing military-connected students’ low scores on the APELC exam and the instructional …

Exploring School Leadership To Improve Graduation Rates For High School Ell Students In A Northeastern State, Scott Matthew Jaquith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English languages learners (ELLs) are the fastest-growing student population in the United States. Federal mandates, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, provide guidance and resources to states and local school districts to remove barriers for ELL students. Despite guidelines from one northeastern state to increase professional development, improve metrics to assess proficiency growth, and provide family outreach to support ELLs, school leaders have not achieved this goal of raising graduation rates for ELLs so they are comparable with their non-ELL peers. This project study uses a transformational leadership framework to explore perceptions of principals, assistant principals, and …

Challenges In Improving Private Early Childhood Program Quality In Trinidad And Tobago From The Perspectives Of Program Administrators, Elizabeth Josephine King Oliver

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2003, the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Education recommended that the early childhood care and education sector be regulated to improve the quality of programs. The problem is that the sector remains unregulated, and improving program quality in the private sector remains a challenge. This basic qualitative study examined private early childhood program administrators’ perspectives on challenges to improve program quality in Trinidad and Tobago. The research questions investigated the challenges private early childhood program administrators encountered in improving program quality and support needed for improvement. Ten purposively sampled private early childhood program administrators shared their perspectives. The conceptual …

Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Instructional Coaching, Judith Salazar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional coaching focuses on increasing the effectiveness of instructional practices. However, little is known concerning the perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding the role of instructional coaching related to student performance. This basic qualitative study was conducted to analyze the perceptions of administrators and teachers within one region in Texas. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 participants—eight administrators and eight teachers—using a researcher-designed questionnaire regarding the effectiveness of instructional coaching in addressing achievement gaps among African American, Hispanic, and European American students. Fullan’s coherence framework provided the basis for data analysis. Data collected from the interviews were analyzed and four …

Synchronous Communication Technology For Remote Academic Advising At A State University, Charles Xiaoxue Wang, Michael Houdyshell, Matthew Plescia

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The use of synchronous communication technology has significantly increased in recent years for communications in online learning and instruction, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Synchronous communication technology, such as Zoom, Google Meets, and Microsoft Teams, is widely adopted by academic advisors to continue their advising services as many universities were forced to move their traditional in-person academic advising to remote academic advising (RAA) in an online format. In this context, we explored the knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of students and academic advisors at a state university using synchronous communication technology for RAA during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study includes data …

Quality Assurance, Meet Quality Appreciation: Using Appreciative Inquiry To Define Faculty Quality Standards, Ann M. Morgan, Rebecca L. Jobe, Juli K. Konopa, Lyda D. Downs

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study outlines the journey of an online university to evaluate faculty performance standards, key performance indicators, and systems for quality assurance using an appreciative inquiry summit model. The study reveals the power of quality appreciation as an approach that elicits a shared vision for quality definitions and standards and serves as a historical marker in the higher education shift from data-driven faculty performance approaches to strengths-based, inclusive methods.

Method: The retrospective business case outlines one university’s 2018 Appreciative Inquiry Summit, 5D (define, discover, dream, design, destiny/deliver) approach, resulting deliverables, lessons learned, and conclusions.

Results: The summit and subsequent …

Pandemic Issues: Faculty Value Alignment And Burnout, Eu Gene Chin, Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Burnout among faculty members impacts physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning and has negative socioeconomic consequences downstream. Prior to the pandemic, faculty members were already reporting high levels of burnout, which is characterized by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and a lack of personal accomplishment. Previous research reported that value incongruence functions as one of the strongest predictors of depersonalization (and subsequently) turnover intention. This study provides a snapshot of the value alignment and burnout of faculty at a regional public university in the months following the pandemic-induced pivot to remote learning. Results from our survey of faculty members (N = 58) suggest …

Perceptions Of Employability Skills Of Undergraduate Business Students In A Developing Country: An Exploratory Study, Wise Mainga, Reuben M. Daniel, Luis Alamil

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of different employability skills for business graduates seeking initial employment.

Method: Semi-structured survey questionnaires were administered to human resources representatives from industry, business lecturers, and graduating business students to determine gaps in perceptions between the three stakeholder groups.

Results: There was some alignment and moderate discrepancies in perceptions of the relative importance of different employability skills between the three stakeholder groups. There were statistically significant differences in perceived importance of communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills between graduating students and employers. There is evidence that employers were satisfied with …

The Effects Of An Undergraduate Research On Pre-Service Teachers’ Notions Of Stem Education And Educational Research, Erin Pearce, Jesse Brock, Phillis Bunch

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Pre-service teachers (PSTs) often lack the self-efficacy necessary to effectively implement STEM education into their classrooms. Undergraduate research experiences (URE) can help fill this void by providing opportunities for PSTs to engage with STEM content and K–12 students in a field-based research context. This case study details the impact a URE had on PSTs’ STEM self-efficacy and views on research. The URE consisted of STEM curriculum development, teaching the curriculum at a local middle school, gathering research data, and presenting results at academic conferences. Participation in the URE positively influenced the PSTs’ self-efficacy in STEM and changed their perceptions regarding …

Staff Education On Hepatitis C Screening Guidelines, Duy Le Trinh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is found worldwide, but the burden is much higher in correctional settings compared to general populations. In a detention centered located in Washington, the nurses at booking do not know who are at risk for Hepatitis C. This Doctor of Nursing (DNP) project attempted to answer the question of if educating nursing staff at the detention facility in Washington increase their knowledge of the importance of screening inmates for hepatitis C.The purpose of this project was to educate nursing staff about the risk factors for HCV so that proper screening can be done. Knowles’s adult learning …

Individual Public-School Teachers’ Influence On Technology Implementation, Aletcia Whren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many teachers in the United States, despite access to and demonstrated benefits of instructional technology, are reluctant to integrate these innovations into their teaching. Although public schools spend millions to supply the technology to improve instruction and student academic achievement, teachers often choose not to adopt it. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand better how and why many teachers are reluctant to integrate instructional technology in their classrooms. Guided by cultural historical activity theory, the study occurred in two phases. First, the Concerns-Based Adoption Model Stages of Concern Questionnaire was used to identify a sample of …

Novice Middle School Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Motivators And Supports That Enhance Teacher Retention, Carl Cleveland Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motivators and supports can be a crucial part of the growth of a new teacher. However, capturing the most effective motivators and means of supports for novice teachers can be a daunting task as the needs can be ever-changing. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of novice middle school teachers’ and school leaders of the supports and motivators needed to enhance teacher retention. Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Ten novice teachers and 10 school leaders from eight middle schools, serving Grades 6-8, in a school district located in a …

High School Educators' Perceptions Of Professional Development Needs For Implementation Of Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, Daniel Thomas Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated by this study is that professional development (PD) provided for educators had not prepared them to implement behavior interventions and positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) to meet classroom management and students’ needs. This basic qualitative study was conducted to investigate the experiences of high school educators, who implemented behavior interventions and PBIS at the exemplar sample site, and to identify the supports, advantages, and barriers they encountered. Using Glasser’s choice and Skinner’s operant conditioning theories, research questions focused on educators’ perceptions and experiences with PD to identify the supports, advantages, and barriers at the exemplar site …

How Teachers Support Students' Nutrition And Healthy Choices To Reduce Childhood Obesity, Angela Munns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is an issue that negatively effects the health and wellbeing of children across theU.S. The problem addressed by this study was the increasing percentage of obesity among elementary students in a southeastern school district. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of elementary teachers about increasing student obesity and the challenges they faced in teaching students about health issues in the local school setting. Ten elementary teachers who had knowledge of nutrition and awareness of the student obesity and overweight issues at the study site participated in semistructured …

Title I Middle School Teacher And Principal Perspectives On Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Kirsten R. King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Title I middle schools face challenges delivering effective inquiry-based science instruction within the framework of Title I requirements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Title I middle school teacher and principal perspectives on and experiences with the challenges of delivering inquiry-based science instruction within the framework of Title I requirements. Dewey’s theories of experiential learning and Vygotsky’s theory of sociocultural constructivism provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions focused on teacher and principal experiences with inquiry-based science instruction and the impact Title I school policies and practices had on the delivery of inquiry-based …

Elementary Principals’ Instructional Leadership Challenges Supporting Inclusive Special Education Students’ Ela Achievement, Teresa Bey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As instructional leaders, principals must apply leadership to ensure achievement of all students. There is a gap in practice involving challenges principals face while supporting the ELA achievement of their inclusive special education students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand instructional leadership challenges elementary principals perceived were necessary to overcome in order to support ELA achievement of inclusive special education students. The conceptual frameworks for this study were Weber’s instructional leadership model and Hornby’s theory of inclusive special education. The research question sought to explore the instructional leadership challenges elementary principals perceive as necessary to overcome in …

Community College Faculty’S Self-Efficacy In Teaching Students With Hidden Disabilities, Phyllis D. Lawhorn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractColleges use academic success strategies to improve the retention rates of students with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate community college faculty’s perceptions of their level of self-efficacy in meeting the learning needs of students with hidden disabilities (SHD) in higher education. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy provided the framework for the study. The purposeful sample included three full-time professors teaching SHD in any subject and one staff member from the student disabilities office. Each faculty participant completed a telephone or email interview, a demographic survey, and a qualitative self-efficacy survey. The staff member completed an …

Phenomenological Exploration Of Followers’ Lived Experiences And Their Perception Of Ethical Leadership, Saad R. Maklad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of followers under unethical leadership in private and public organizations in the United States. Data collection involved interviewing 20 participants from private or public U.S. organizations with open-ended interview question. Participant selection was limited to followers and frontline employees who directly contact stakeholders. Utilitarianism, Adams’s equity theory, social learning theory, stakeholder theory, and Eudaimonia were the conceptual frameworks used to guide this study. The data analysis process in this phenomenological study consisted of using the two-cycle analysis and the modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method. The findings demonstrated eight overarching …

Strategies That Financial Managers Use To Effectively Conduct Corporate-Responsible Financial Reporting, Wendelin Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary role of financial managers is to produce accurate financial reporting that shows financial health. Financial managers may experience negative effects on the financial stability of their business organizations if they do not conduct corporate-responsible financial reporting effectively. Grounded in the international accounting standards board’s framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies financial managers use to conduct corporate-responsible financial reporting to achieve financial stability. The participants comprised three financial managers in Georgia, US, with strategies to conduct corporate-responsible financial reporting to achieve financial stability. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, organizational documents, and …

Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of Responsibilities During District-Mandated Changes To Curriculum, Hope Albritton-Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Systemic changes to curriculum are an inevitable part of education; however, understanding how teachers and administrators perceive their responsibilities in implementing district-mandated changes to curriculum is unclear. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions related to their responsibilities in effective implementation of district-mandated changes to curriculum. The conceptual framework for this study was change theory to explore how teachers and administrators process district-mandated changes to curriculum. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight teachers and seven administrators who have implemented district-mandated changes in a public school in the mid-Atlantic region of the …

Midwestern K-8 School Principal Perceptions On Retention Strategies For African American Teachers, Sherrie Berry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attrition of African American teachers which outpaces the effectiveness of existing retention strategies used by principals is a documented issue in U.S. public schools. The problem addressed through this study was that K-8 principals in one midwestern school district were challenged to implement strategies to retain African American teachers. Guided by transformational and distributive leadership theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of K-8 school principals in the local setting about the challenges they faced retaining African American teachers and strategies required to increase retention. Five K-8 school principals who had at least one …

Campus Administrators’ Perceptions Of Their Influence On The Success Of Instructional Coaching Programs In Urban Elementary Schools, Sakinah S. Burroughs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Education and Human Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Sakinah S. Burroughs

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Robert Flanders, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty Dr. Kenneth McGrew, Committee Member, Education Faculty Dr. Cleveland Hayes, University Reviewer, Education Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2022

Relationship Between Mentorship And Career Advancement: African American Women In Higher Education Leadership, Torialyn Draper Crook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the underrepresentation of African American women in higher education leadership positions in the United States. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore to what extent mentorship predicts the career advancement of African American women in higher education leadership positions in the United States. Guided by Kram’s mentoring framework, 74 African American women who applied and obtained career advancement in the past 5 years in higher education leadership positions completed Toland Mentoring survey. The logistic regression model results showed statistical significance X2(1) = 38.911, p < .001, meaning mentoring was a predictor of career advancement for African American women. The Nagelkerke R2 = .54 indicates that 54% of the variation in getting advancement or not was based on mentoring. The recommendations for further study include comparing female and male mentoring, establishing best practices at institutions where the presence of African American women in higher education is increased, and exploring the effectiveness of formal mentoring programs at institutions of higher education. Mentorship can lead to positive social change by cultivating an institutional climate that reflects the overall student population proportionally. From a social change perspective, increasing the mentorship opportunities of African American women within higher education institutions can provide crucial role models and reveal new approaches to address the populations they represent.

Perceptions Of K-12 School Principals Regarding The Use Of Exclusionary Discipline Practices, Shalonda W. Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exclusionary discipline practices (EDPs), including suspensions and expulsions, are used in public schools, from kindergarten to 12th grade (K–12). Excessive use of EDP can have a negative impact as students face delays in completion of their academic work. The problem of increasing use of EDPs at a suburban public school district located in a southern state was addressed in this study. Hallinger and Murphy’s instructional leadership model was used to examine the perceptions of K–12 school principals regarding their use of instructional leadership practices to reduce the use of EDPs. Purposeful sampling was used in this basic qualitative study to …

An Exploration Of The Longevity Of High School Principals Tenure In California, Steven David Caminiti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has focused on the various reasons why high school principals leave their positions, yet minimal research has been done on the reasons why they stay. The problem of inconsistency of high school principals’ tenure within the first 4 years of service was addressed in this study. Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory was used in this exploratory case study to explore the perspectives of eight high school principals in one region of California who continued to serve for 4 years or more through a strengths-based approach to the problem. Research questions were focused on the motivators that high school principals …

Administrators And Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructional Leadership Practices To Increase Student Achievement, Keyna Crawford Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe lack of achievement in public schools has been a concern globally and has negatively affected the growth of communities and the economy. School principals have a central role in implementing effective instructional practices and creating a positive teaching and learning environment that fosters student achievement. The problem addressed was a lack of instructional leadership in a British territory. The conceptual framework for this research was the instructional leadership model of Hallinger and Murphy, which defines three main dimensions of instructional leadership: (a) defining the school's mission, (b) managing the instructional program, and (c) promoting a positive school learning climate. …