Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lack Of Preparedness Of Recent Graduates In Sports Management Businesses In The Northeastern United States, Daria M. Mickowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to facilitate a better understanding of the competitive nature of private sports management businesses that provide coaches and sports programming for school systems and townships. The problem investigated by the study involved how the significant lack of preparedness of recent sports management/education graduates in the northeastern United States impacts professional development and the ability of organizations to compete, reduce undesirable turnover, and retain talent. The purpose of the study was to understand why recent sports management/education graduates were unprepared in three critical areas: leadership capability, managing interpersonal conflict, and effectiveness in working on diverse teams. A qualitative …

Examining The Role Of Self-Awareness In Shaping Constructive Behaviors In Conflict Management: An Elementary Principal Perspective, Laura E. Lockhart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative study, the researcher explored school leaders’ perceptions of the role of self-awareness in shaping constructive conflict management behaviors and the training and development systems that provide these leaders with essential knowledge and skills to learn and grow. The researcher limited the study to the role of the elementary campus principals and used purposive sampling to select three participants from three different districts in the state of Texas. Each participant completed the Conflict Dynamics Survey and participated in a debrief discussion of the results. Additionally, the researcher conducted interview sessions with the principals and examined online documents and …

School Safety In Rural Communities: A Qualitative Phenomenological Research Study, Tamara D. Nance-Bethea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many students in rural schools have negative school safety perceptions. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the school safety perceptions of students in rural elementary, middle, and high schools in a public school district in South Carolina. The school safety perceptions of students in grades three through twelve were investigated and examined.

The setting for this study took place in a rural school district in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Three schools in this district were utilized. Forty-three students participated in a short school safety interest survey. The survey provided basic information such …

Principals' Perspectives Of The Impact Of Faculty Engagement, Self-Efficacy, And Resiliency On First-Year African American College Student Retention, Hattie Marie Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This study examined principals’ perceptions of the impact of faculty engagement, student resiliency, and student self-efficacy on the retention of first-year urban and rural African American college students. The aim of the study was to determine why students from this demographic leave their higher education institutions after the first year. In the United States, about 30% of students, regardless of race or ethnicity, drop out of college after the first year. Further, given 6 years, about 50% of students drop out before obtaining a degree. Researchers have identified African American students as having a high college dropout rate. This …

Superintendents’ Perceptions Of Strategies For Implementing Social Justice Leadership For Diverse Student Populations, Stefani Morrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore superintendents’ perceptions of implementing social justice leadership strategies within their K-12 school systems. The study sought to identify how superintendents leveraged the components of social justice leadership in the pursuit of equity for diverse student populations. The researcher conducted the study using interpretive phenomenological analysis methodology to examine the lived experiences of eight Texas superintendents with experience leading equity-focused agendas in their respective districts. The study’s participants included superintendents with experience ranging from 18 months to 16 years, representing districts from small rural areas to major suburban regions. Each participant engaged …

Professional Staff Retention In Higher Education: Making Sense Of Why Advisors Stay, Frankie Roark Weeks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated staff retention in higher education by focusing on the retention of academic advisors. Academic advisors play an integral role in student success and advising is notably one of the fields in higher education with the greatest turnover. This turnover comes at great costs, financial and otherwise, for the institution.

An interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) was used to study how academic advisors make sense of their persistence in a high turnover field and to identify professional, personal, and institutional factors that contribute to persistence. Eleven professional staff members whose primary role is academic advising at a four-year …

It Is All Relative: Intergenerational Postsecondary Education And Economic Mobility, Leslie Jean Barrett Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the intricate relationship between intergenerational postsecondary education and economic mobility by focusing on the nuanced themes of environment and exposure, encouragement and expectation, and experience and equal opportunity. Drawing from the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), this research seeks to unravel the nuanced mechanisms through which familial and societal influences shape individuals' educational trajectories and economic outcomes across generations.

The study is conducted through an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in which 10 participants provide meaningful insights of their interpretation of experiences in an eight open-ended question interview. Participants are postsecondary education graduates in the age range of …

Portraits Of Hispanic/Latino Principals’ Leadership Development In Elementary Schools In Texas: A Narrative Study, Lily Dominguez-Carrero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the factors influencing the leadership development of Hispanic/Latino principals in elementary public schools in Texas. As the Hispanic/Latino population of students rises, understanding the underrepresented Hispanic/Latino principals’ experiences from adolescence to middle adulthood is critical to unveiling factors that influence their leadership identity development. Using a life story narrative approach to examine leadership development across the lifespan, the study provided themes regarding the pivotal environmental, contextual, personal, and intrapersonal factors influencing the principals’ leadership development. The thematic analysis of the life stories uncovered three prominent themes associated with the most influential factors in leadership development: …

Raising Their Voices: Lived Experiences Of Gifted Women With Adhd, Jessica Leigh Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the imbalance in the ratio of male to female ADHD diagnosis, there is a dearth of information on the profile for women with ADHD, especially in adulthood and with those of higher intelligence levels (Rommelse et al., 2016). Each, if not all, diagnoses of ADHD or giftedness come from a parent, teacher, or outside observer’s scale of symptoms and behaviors (Hay et al., 2007; Klesfjo et al., 2020; Polderman et al., 2007). In this study, ten gifted women with ADHD aged 29-77 completed semi structured interviews to examine their lived experiences of education, career, and relationships. Using a dual …

Navigating The Black Student First-Year Experience: Exploring Ways Peer Mentoring Can Enhance Engagement And Belonging At A Pwi, Richard V. Frazier Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies indicate that minoritized students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) may struggle with engagement and establishing a sense of belonging. Peer mentoring may play a role in enhancing these opportunities to foster academic performance and retention. The sense of belonging and engagement for minoritized students at a PWI is essential to their academic sustainability. This qualitative narrative analysis study uses Strayhorn’s (2012) theory of college students’ sense of belonging as the theoretical framework to explore the peer mentoring experiences of 10 Black first-year students participating in a stand-alone model. Interviews were used to acquire insight into peer mentoring’s influence on …

Exploring The Community Standards Review For College Admission: A Comparative Case Study, Kayla E. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many higher education institutions review the disciplinary and criminal history of applicants to assess potential threats and ensure a safe learning community in the college admissions process. This review is often criticized for exacerbating the opportunity gap and racial disparities for marginalized populations and creating barriers to college admission. This study explores the institutional processes for community standards review at four public regionally accredited 4-year institutions and how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) influence the community standards review process. Three research questions guided the study: How do college administrators at 4-year public universities describe their perceptions of the community standards …

Consultation Versus Direct Special Education Services And Postschool Outcomes For Individuals With Disabilities As Assessed By Indicator 14 Data, Callie Welch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is abundant research relating to transition supports and services for students with disabilities as they move out of high school into adulthood; however, relatively little is known about the relationship between the type of special education services they received and their postschool outcomes. Guided by the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Tennessee’s Indicator 14 survey, I sought to better understand the relationship between the type of special education services received in high school and student further schooling or employability after graduation. Data were drawn from Indicator 14 surveys from 2021 and 2024 conducted by a rural school district …

Adjunct Faculty Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Analysis, James Bernard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences of adjunct faculty. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unparalleled disruption around the globe. Challenges that were faced in higher education included health and safety protocols, social distancing, emergency remote teaching, and closing campuses while trying to maintain quality of the education and perceived value for the student.

Adjunct faculty play a significant role in higher education, teaching and supporting academic programs. Given the reliance on the use of adjunct faculty and recognizing the link between job satisfaction and performance, the experiences of adjunct …

Diversity Management And Organizational Resilience Among Midsized Cccu Institutions In Christian Higher Education, Kristopher M. Sutton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative cross-case analysis was developed to investigate how diversity management strategies were implemented and whether they coexist with organizational resilience capabilities at three U.S. private, midsized Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education associated with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. The researcher collected data from a senior-level chief diversity officer at each institution to determine how their diversity strategy was managed and whether a mature diversity program was concurrently present with organizational resilience capabilities. Data were collected using two primary instruments: the Diversity Management Competencies Questionnaire and semistructured interviews focused on organizational resilience. The collected data were supplemented …

A Critical Policy Analysis Of Universal Preschool In Colorado: Its Roots, Intentions, And Development, Jamita Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-quality preschool experiences are essential for preparing four-year-old children for a successful transition to kindergarten, benefiting them academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. However, access to such preschools remains limited, particularly for children from marginalized communities. This qualitative critical policy analysis examines transitioning from the targeted Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) to a universal preschool approach through the 2022 Colorado House Bill 1295: Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program. Drawing on Young and Diem's (2017) framework for critical policy analysis, this study explores the roots, development, and potential implications of the universal preschool policy.

This study analyzes documents and audio …

The Impact Of Dual Credit On Student Success: A Mixed Methods Study At A Texas University, Jennifer D. Coker Goddard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2015, the number of students enrolled in dual credit coursework in United States (U.S.) schools had reached over 1.4 million, a 68% increase over the previous few years (Field, 2021). By this year, 88% of U.S. high schools offered dual credit programs, and 34% of students enrolled in dual credit coursework, indicating a steady growth in dual credit programming (Rhine, 2022). Furthermore, 27% of public high school students in Texas earned credit for dual credit coursework (Villarreal, 2017). Despite significant growth in dual credit coursework offerings, limited knowledge of the effectiveness of these programs in preparing students for post-secondary …

A Multiple-Methods Assessment Of Faculty Attitudes Toward Inclusive Instruction., Kate A. Snider

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The enrollment landscape of postsecondary institutions in the United States has undergone significant demographic shifts, marked by increasing racial and ethnic diversity and a rise in enrollment of students with disabilities. Recognizing the importance of accommodating diverse learners, this study investigates faculty attitudes toward inclusive instruction, Universal Design for Instruction, and disability-related topics. This multiple-methods study aimed to identify differences across faculty groups to establish an initial measure of faculty attitudes toward inclusive teaching practices that can be used to design future training or professional development opportunities. Data was collected via an online distribution of the Inclusive Teaching Strategies Inventory …

Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of Stress And Burnout After Covid-19 On Educators: Supporting Teachers In Resiliency And Facilitating Adversarial Growth Post-Pandemic., Rebecca Hicks-Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 has not only caused anxiety and fears among teachers for their own health and that of their families; they are also facing increased responsibility. Planning periods had been replaced with coverage periods, where teachers must teach other classes when their colleagues are out—often due to illness—because the supply of substitute teachers cannot meet the demand (Barton & Dickason, 2022). Teaching is a demanding profession, and there will always be stress associated with a job where so many external factors come into play (Hansen, 2013). However, in the face of adversity some teachers were thriving. They are showing up and …

Examining Teacher Knowledge And Preparedness: Teachers From India In South Carolina And The Implementation Of Udl Principles In General Education Classrooms, Lakshmi Surya Narayana Vishnubhotla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing student diversity and the global emphasis on inclusive education necessitate a critical focus on teacher preparedness in implementing inclusive practices within classrooms. Teacher preparedness in inclusive practices is essential to ensure all students thrive in a truly inclusive educational environment. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promotes equitable learning environments by empowering educators to address the diverse needs of their students. This framework is aligned with inclusive education legislation and provides multiple ways for learners to engage, understand information, and express their knowledge. UDL recognizes learner variability and supports student self-determination by offering choices along the learning journey, fostering greater …

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Investigation Of Teacher Perspectives, Shanda Salvant Theriot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the self-efficacy of middle school teachers as they address cyberbullying in the classroom. A phenomenological research design using a purposive sampling method was used. To understand the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives on cyberbullying, open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventh-grade teachers from two parochial schools and three charter schools. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, which was used to gather additional information regarding the teachers’ background and experience. Seven themes emerged from coding the data collected from the teacher interviews and focus group session: 1) collaboration and communication, 2) professional development and training, 3) support and …

Navigating New Frontiers: A Narrative Of Cte Administrators Leading Rural Innovation, Claire Bass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public school districts play a pivotal role in the well-being of rural communities. To help mitigate the impact of labor market trends, societal shifts, and the skilled labor shortage, rural schools are in the initial stages of expanding innovative career pathways. As such, career and technical education (CTE) administrators serve their rural communities by facilitating robust career pathways to support local labor markets. Due to a skilled labor shortage, a declining labor force participation rate, and a rapidly evolving labor market, there is a lack of qualified and certified personnel to fill industry jobs (Davis et al., 2022). School districts …

An Examination Of Early Childhood Leadership In Public Elementary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Wesam Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As state-funded Pre-K programs in elementary schools continue to grow, elementary principals are increasingly responsible for supporting, supervising, and leading these programs. Therefore, examining elementary principals' early childhood leadership competencies and the factors influencing them may help understand and improve their experiences as early childhood education (ECE) leaders. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examined the ECE leadership of Tennessee public elementary school principals in two phases.

In the quantitative phase, statewide surveys were used to collect data from 67 principals. The survey comprised 51 items assessing nine ECE leadership competencies, synthesized from statements of leading ECE and elementary education …

The Impact Of Cognitive Coaching On Educator Identity And Teamwork Through Classroom Observation As Perceived By Teachers And Administrators., Carrie Elizabeth Wade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Classroom observations are meant to help teachers improve their instructional practice and improve learning outcomes for students. But for many educators, traditional, in-person classroom observations can not only be difficult to arrange but difficult to truly gain valuable feedback from when teachers can’t see what was happening in the moment (Drago-Severson & Blum-Stefano, 2017). Teaching and leading in an environment characterized by a constant state of change is more likely to cause stress and negative feelings when the employees care deeply about the outcome (Wisse & Sleebos, 2016). Cognitive Coaching methods, applied to classroom observations, aim to reduce focus on …

Does My Voice Matter? Understanding The Lived Experiences And Turnover Intentions Of Professional Academic Advisors, Keith Kanard Douglas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic advising has been a vital aspect of the higher education setting for at least a century. Academic advising has evolved from the vocational development of young men to a full-time profession, especially after the creation of the National Academic Advising Association in 1979. Although the academic profession has developed through research, master’s programs, and courses designed to expand the field of academic advising, researchers still question whether full-time academic advising is a profession. Questions regarding the legitimacy of the work of academic advisors have led to miscommunication between upper administrators within the university. Universities have experienced a trend of …

Disability Services As Related To Higher Education Leadership: An Exploratory Study, Tara Wade Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past three decades, the number of students with disabilities (SWD) attending postsecondary institutions has increased, yet their completion rates remain significantly lower than those of students without disabilities. This mixed methods exploratory study investigates the role of provost leadership in supporting disability services and understanding the needs of SWD in higher education. The study focuses on Texas higher education institutions, examining the relationships between provosts and directors of disability services. Data collected through the e-survey with open-ended questions primarily came from directors of disability services. Quantitative analysis of Likert scale items explored domains such as leadership, collaboration, consultation, …

Disability Services As Related To Higher Education Leadership: An Exploratory Study, Tara Wade Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past three decades, the number of students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions has increased, yet their completion rates remain lower than those of students without disabilities. This mixed methods exploratory study investigates the role of provost leadership in supporting disability services and understanding the needs of students with disabilities in higher education. The study focuses on Texas higher education institutions, examining the relationships between provosts and directors of disability services. The researcher collected data through esurveys and open-ended questions of 16 participants, primarily directors of disability services. Quantitative analysis of Likert scale items explored domains such as leadership, …

Harnessing The Power Of Cliftonstrengths®: How Multinational Corporations Can Use Deep-Level Diversity To Enhance Organizational Inclusion, Trapper Kay Pace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explicitly investigated how multinational corporations can enhance workplace inclusion through the novel use of the CliftonStrengths® assessment as a dimension of deep-level diversity. The study gleaned insights from employees’ perspectives, employing a constructivist grounded theory approach to explicate their experiences in rich qualitative narratives. Through open-ended surveys and intensive interviews, participants were selected using purposeful sampling to ensure meaningful data collection from the study organizations’ three global regions. The researcher conducted the analysis systematically through the constant comparison of data utilizing the NVivo14 software to assist in constructing codes, themes, and a theoretical schema. Results highlighted the significance …

Balancing Wellness And Leadership: Exploring Black Women Administrators’ Subjective Well-Being, Resilience, And Radical Self-Care In Higher Education, Lashae Grottis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leaders in higher education experience high and unrealistic demands for their skills, time, and energy, causing stress, competing priorities, burnout, compromised health, and attrition. However, unlike other racial and gender groups, Black women higher education administrators experienced these challenges more intensely. As a result of chronic stress associated with being undervalued and overworked, discriminatory and unwelcoming workplaces, and intersectional biases, Black women leaders are leaving higher education workplaces. Despite the link between gendered racism and unwellness, little is known about the problem from a positive leadership perspective. This study addressed the lack of knowledge of the wellness strategies Black women …

The Influence Of The Principalship In Retaining Novice Teachers, Casey Whittle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to understand novice teachers’ perspectives of principal behaviors that keep them employed in a North Texas school district. A purposive sample of 12 novice secondary teachers and six secondary principals participated in semistructured interviews. The individual interviews were recorded and transcribed. In vivo coding and structural coding were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study confirmed that participants in the study believed certain behaviors of secondary principals influenced novice teacher retention. Novice teacher participants expressed a need to trust their principal and fit into the principal’s vision and …

Resiliency, Mindset, And Academic Performance: A College Athlete's Perspective, Trisha C. Giacomazzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this qualitative case study was the low graduation rates self-reported by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institutions when compared to the general student population at a small Christian university in the Southern United States. In this study, I sought to acquire a deeper understanding of the degree to which an athlete’s mindset and psychological resilience influenced their perseverance and academic achievement on their path toward graduation. Utilizing semistructured interviews as the primary data collection method, I used purposive, convenience, and snowball selection methods to enlist a total of 10 participants from a pool of 52 …