Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Using Distributed Leadership To Impact Student Achievement, Jeffrey Pierro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the properties of the distributive leadership scores and to investigate whether the scores predict student test scores. This research was conducted during the 2019-2020 school year at Rowan University. The sample for this study will be selected from the principals from public school districts in New Jersey. Data was collected using one instrument with two parts: a pre-survey and Distributed Leadership Readiness Scale (DLRS) developed by Gordon (2005). SPSS 26 software was used to analyze the data and answer the research questions. While both linear regressions have significant variables impacting the …

Building College-Going Self-Efficacy For Rural Middle School Students, Laura Ann O'Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examines the role of an explicit college-going intervention on the self-reported levels of college-going self-efficacy for rural middle school students. While there are a multitude of variables that influence a student’s decision to pursue formal education beyond high school, this study focused on college-going self-efficacy, which is one of the constructs included in the Social Cognitive Career Theory. Rural seventh grade students answered fourteen questions from a College-Going Self-Efficacy scale pre-intervention and then completed the same questions post-intervention. The intervention consisted of lessons that addressed common barriers students see as prohibiting them from going to college, including …

Elementary School Teachers’ Perspectives And Practices Of Multicultural Education In Indonesia, Robby Anggriawan

Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of the study was to investigate multiculturalism and multicultural education perspectives and practices of elementary school teachers in Indonesia. The research was designed as a qualitative case study which focused on seven elementary school teachers as study participants. In this study, semi-structured interviews are used to evaluate teachers’ understanding of culture as defined by Creshaw (1989, 2008) and multiculturalism concept by using four levels of understanding multiculturalism as defined by Nieto (1994, 2017). As well as elementary school teachers’ practices of multicultural education implementation as outlined by Banks (1999, 2019). The results of the study showed that …

New Jersey Community College And High School Concurrent Enrollment Program (Cep) Partnerships Case Study, Darlene Mary Schapley

Theses and Dissertations

Students who are not college ready enter New Jersey Community Colleges placing in developmental education delaying entry into their degree program and possibly ending their aspiration for college completion. Students not completing a college degree cannot compete for livable wage jobs in America. My qualitative multiple case study contributed to the gap in knowledge about New Jersey partnerships offering comprehensive CEP programs including math and English from the participant perspectives. CEP partnerships engaged students in college coursework at New Jersey high schools in collaboration with New Jersey community colleges. These collaborations are great opportunities for community colleges to provide access …

Small Places, Big Outcomes: An Ethnographic Case Study On Social Emotional Learning Skills And Development, Organizational Culture, And Place-Making In Small, Rural Schools In Southern New Jersey, Christina Marie Didonato Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, ethnographic case study was to describe the ways in which three school leaders from small, rural PreK-8 districts (less than 1,000 students) in Southern New Jersey used similar methods for fostering partnerships with families and bonds between individuals, families and schools to address social emotional learning skills and development in the early childhood setting (grades pre-kindergarten through third grade). In addition, this study examined how the organizational culture of the educational organizations reinforced or undermined the relationship between school and family partnerships and bonds. This study investigated the linkage between school leaders' experiences and social …

An Analysis Of School Climate Surveys As A Measure Of Student Voice, Deanna L. Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

Student voice may seem like a new concept; however, it has a long history of being engrained in public schools in the United States. The trend towards incorporating and expanding student voice opportunities in high school is based on the tenets of democracy. Educators seek to provide an opportunity for students to practice democracy in their school environment. Students are commonly disregarded as viable stakeholders in their schools. The Illinois State Board of Education offers students in grades 4 through 12 the opportunity to provide input on their schools using the Illinois 5Essentials Survey.

This research sought the input from …

The School Leader Paradigm: Field Testing For The Development Of Principals Along A Continuum Of Improvement, Todd John Vilardo

Theses and Dissertations

Aligned with contemporary research on developing effective school leaders, a consortium of state principals’ associations established the School Leader Collaborative and developed the School Leader Paradigm (School Leader Collaborative, 2016) to help school leaders be intentional about their professional growth. This study used descriptive analysis to compare the School Leader Paradigm’s competencies and attributes with the development of school principals’ leadership at each of four phases of their careers: Aspiring, Launching, Building, and Mastering. A descriptive analysis of the full range of this study’s data, identifying the attributes, competencies, and intelligences that school leaders at each phase of their development …

Program Evaluation Of A Middle School Stem/Steam Program, Warren Richard Wintrode

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning with the Obama administration’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign in 2009, integrated science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs have flourished in our nation’s schools. Designed to increase the number of STEM professionals in the workforce and contribute to the United States’ continued viability in the global economy, these programs promote inquiry-based, technology-driven learning in collaborative, cross-curricular projects. Some schools have added art, and liberal arts, to the curriculum, making them STEAM programs. Middle schools are a popular home for STEM and STEAM programs, serving as the connective tissue in the K-12 STEM/STEAM “pipeline.” To date, there have been relatively …

Silent Sam And Saunders Hall: Protests And Reactions At The University Of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Brienne Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Universities across the country have been forced to confront how they remember and memorialize the past on their campuses as students and community members protest building names and statues. This qualitative case study used Bolman and Deal’s four-frame theory as a framework to understand the response to protests at one school, the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. The fourframes provided insight into the complexities surrounding the changing of the name of Saunders Hall to Carolina Hall and the controversy surrounding the Confederate Monument known as Silent Sam. The symbolic frame was most evident in the conflicting meaning of symbols. …

Experiences Of College Students In Addiction Recovery: A Critical Case Study, Dory E. Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the lived experiences of college students in addiction recovery. Critical ethnographic case study was used to challenge existing paradigms and educational practices regarding students in recovery. The lived experiences of this population are described to share their stories and work towards better policy solutions to the U.S. college drug epidemic.

Pathways To Degree Completion Of Female Nontraditional Students: The Role Of Institutional Intervention At A Public Four-Year Research Institution, Mary Hutto Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

Female nontraditional students are returning to undergraduate studies in increasing numbers. Limited research has been conducted about how female nontraditional undergraduate students enrolled in public four-year research institutions perceive their educational experience. This qualitative interview study describes the lived experiences of female nontraditional students enrolled in undergraduate studies at one four-year public research institution located in the southeastern United States. The phenomenological design captures the distinct personal experiences of the study’s participants within the study site and helps to answer to the study’s overarching research focus: How do female nontraditional undergraduate students perceive their experiences at a public four-year research …

Bridging The Transition To School: An Action Research Study, Susan Bates Hill

Theses and Dissertations

For over 50 years, school readiness has been a concern of educators and policymakers. In 1965, the Head Start program was “conceived as part of the ‘war on poverty’ to provide children from less affluent backgrounds with the kinds of experiences that other children were more likely to receive in the home” (Coley, 2002, p.8). Federal and state legislation continues to be enacted with the hope the inequities will be addressed. Ladson-Billings (2007) asserts the rigor of the standards is intended to appease the middle class. Exploring unique ways to transition a child from home to school should be of …

Orientation And Mobility Service Decisions: What Is Guiding Them If It Is Not Assessment?, Lauralyn Kay Randles

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: In this study, I sought to determine what tools are used during assessment and service delivery decisions. Also, the study worked to explore O&M specialist’s perceptions of factors impacting assessment results and service delivery decisions. Methods: A survey was employed to gather this information from O&M specialists spread throughout Midwest region of the United States. Seventy six O&M specialists completed the survey sharing about their experiences with O&M assessments and service delivery decisions. Analysis was completed using Microsoft Excel and a researcher establish codebook. Results: The participant’s caseloads and employment details varied greatly from one to another. The results …

Small-Town Living: Do Illinois Universities Understand The Rural College Student?, Erik Andrew Dalmasso

Theses and Dissertations

Rural students are confronted with unique challenges when considering postsecondary choices. According to McShane and Smarick (2018), scholarship on this overarching issue is limited, as it is “often shunted to specialized journals that have not been able to integrate findings into the broader education policy conversation” (p. 1). Rural students, and to a broader extent, rural education have little voice in the postsecondary pathways that have been created within higher education (Goldman, 2019). Recruitment of rural students, financial aid policy, remediation/developmental programming, state and federal postsecondary legislation have largely treated rural students in tandem with their urban and suburban peers, …

Creating Inclusive Classrooms Through Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Tracy R. Norman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to infuse culturally responsive teaching practices into the traditional curriculum to meet the needs of all students. Through this action research study, a professional learning community analyzed the current curriculum in the third and fourth grades at Lanier Elementary School, and they revised the curriculum to include culturally responsive practices. The use of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) allowed the principal and 3rd & 4th grade teachers to reflect on current practices in a nonthreatening environment. It also allowed the PLC to analyze current pedagogy, study new practices, and make immediate changes to participants' …

The Battlefield Of The Academy: The Resilience And Resistance Of Black Women Faculty, Jacqueline Hester

Theses and Dissertations

This research study explored the resilience of 8 Black women faculty teaching at historically white institutions (HWIs). Crenshaw's (1991) intersectionality, Ladson-Billings and Tate, (1995) critical race theory, and resilience theory are the three theoretical frameworks used in this study to examine the experience of Black women faculty in HWIs. The purpose of this study was to address these experiences to advance the conceptual understanding of resilience as a form of resistance. The research methodology selected involved a qualitative study that used narrative inquiry as a platform for Black women faculty to share their personal narratives and examined the strategies that …

An Analysis Of Campus Services For International Students At Institutions In The Midwest, Sylvia Miriyam Findlay

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education campuses are becoming ethnoculturally diverse with the influx of international students from various parts of the world and must modify their international student recruitment and enrollment strategies in response to this trend. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of student affairs personnel to campus services for international students by comparing what should be provided to what is being offered. The study also attempts to identify the gap in their perceptions. Services identified in the literature were examined using the Briggs and Ammigan (2017) collaborative programming and outreach model, which combined concepts of student engagement …

The ‘ Dialogic’ Of Pedagogical Design: Elementary Teachers Who Consistently Integrate Digital Technologies, Aaron R. Gierhart

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the pervasiveness of digital technologies in society and educational settings, gaps in digital participation for elementary learners and means-end views of the benefits and effectiveness of digital innovations for teaching and learning persist. The focus on digital technologies at the elementary level must shift to critical pedagogy in order to promote effective teaching and learning and equitable student participation in an increasingly digital society. A teacher’s pedagogy continually evolves across their entire life journey and is never fully mastered; therefore, in order to better understand the development of pedagogical design with digital technologies by elementary teachers, it was vital …

Fostering Teacher Self-Efficacy For K-12 Classroom Technology Integration: The Role Of Professional Development And Growth Mindset, Audra Lisa Beberman

Theses and Dissertations

Professional development, in some form, is a critical part of a teachers’ evolution and how they learn and develop new skills to integrate into their teaching practice. This quantitative study was conducted to describe the extent to which self-efficacy is fostered by the type of technology integration professional development (one-to-one coaching or traditional professional development) in which a teacher participates when they later try to incorporate technology into their lessons. The sample will be currently working teachers from suburban Long Island school districts who voluntarily responded to a 3-part, 39 question survey distributed via a listserv. The survey collected teacher …

Teacher Trust In The Principal: Does It Impact Achievement For Students With Disabilities And English Language Learners?, William Fahey

Theses and Dissertations

School improvement continues to remain a focus across the nation as evidenced in the U.S. Department of Education Performance Plan (2017) and the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA). Achievement gaps continue to exist for certain populations, specifically Students with Disabilities (SWDs) and English Language Learners (ELLs). Building on the school improvement research of Bryk, Bende-Sebring, Allensworth and Luppescu (2010) and the relational trust research of Hoy and Tschannen-Moran (1998, 1999, 2003), this research study examined the relationship between teacher-principal trust items on the NYC School Survey and student achievement on state assessments over a four-year period for four student sub-groups: …

Diversity In School Leadership: Re-Conceptualizing The Narrative Of Black Male School Principals And Assistant Principals For Recruitment And Retention, James Avery

Theses and Dissertations

Educational leadership is one of the most vastly explored topics in education. School principals and assistant principals make up a substantial portion of those in leadership positions. Experiences in educational leadership have been chronicled for a number of years; however, the diversity in the recorded lived experiences is lacking. To that end, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the literature by developing an understanding of and recording the essence of Black males’ experiences working in K-12 school leadership positions.

The intersection of race and gender has been proven to create dynamics which impact the enactment of leadership …

Cyberbullying: School Administrators' Perceptions Of Law And Prevalence, And Their Roles In Prevention, Intervention And Discipline, Suzan Gragg Denby

Theses and Dissertations

This study was aimed at investigating secondary school administrators’ experiences with and their perceptions of cyberbullying, as well as their intervention and prevention procedures. As technology has become ubiquitous in our society, students’ use has increased and impacted the school environment. Given the potential for cyberbullying and the negative effects of such, schools harbor the responsibility to prevent and intervene in such occurrences. This can be a tricky process.

This study included 12 administrators of secondary schools across eight school divisions in Virginia. Through an interview process, administrators spoke of their experiences with technology and cyberbullying incidents, and how they …

An Exploration Of Barriers And Supports Of High School Equivalency Diploma (Hsed) Graduates Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Chanell Butler Morello

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore the perceived barriers and supports of High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) graduates upon their consideration of attaining a higher education degree at a community college in North Carolina. Other areas explored in this qualitative study included the way completing the HSED program changes a student’s perception of learning and/or increases his or her motivation to continue their studies.

A primary objective of the Basic Skills programs, also known as College and Career Readiness programs, is to transition as many students as possible to postsecondary education and employment. In spite of such goals, North …

An Investigation Of Elementary School Teachers’ Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices In Two Cultures: A Comparative Study In China And The United States, Alicia R. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Effective teaching is one of the most important factors in student achievement. Throughout the world, there are high expectations for teacher and student performance. Teachers and students need to navigate the demographic and cultural shifts occurring around the world. Teachers’ cultural awareness and knowledge base of culturally relevant teaching practices is critical to their effectiveness. Based on the need to better understand the cultural responsiveness of teachers, this comparative study investigated elementary school teachers’ culturally relevant teaching practices in China and the U.S. through the use of video-cued ethnography. The following findings were revealed from the study: (a) differences in …

The Relationship Between Elementary School Administrators' And Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Male Teachers And Schools' Male Student Achievement Growth In English Language Arts, Kathleen Elizabeth Kaump Truitt

Theses and Dissertations

There is a national achievement gap between male and female students in the United States. A common recommendation to reduce this achievement gap has been to hire more male teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions that elementary administrators and teachers have of male teachers’ influence on male student growth in English Language Arts. In order to measure perceptions, a five-point Likert scale survey was adapted from an existing qualitative questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted, an Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed, and the survey was found valid and reliable to measure four constructs …

Superintendent And Public Board Of Education Members Overcoming Controversial Policy, Donna Ambrosius

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive multiple case study was to explore the actions of educational leaders when implementing policy that may be deemed controversial, through the lenses of sensemaking theory. Findings provide insight on how districts leaders are able to operate efficiently and effectively, and shows that it is essential for board members and the superintendent to adapt to the given situations, to reflect on the current setting, and to be committed to moving forward. The organization looks to the superintendent to be the educational leader, but also to be the one to provide the guidance and means to create …

High School Students Activities And Learning Experiences: Students’ Views Of An Ipad Initiative, Susan E. Hess

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase of technology in classrooms today, school districts are using devices to prepare students to be literate in the digital world. Besides using computers, schools are introducing iPads as a way to give their students experiences with digital learning. One district embarked on a district-issued one-to-one iPad initiative in which every student was given an iPad to use for their academic and personal use. Despite iPads infiltrating high school classrooms, little research exists on the students’ perspectives of the use of the iPad for personal and academic use and the impact they have on student learning. In this …

Public Policy And The Sustainability Of Tanzanian Private Universities, Simon Lucas Taabu

Theses and Dissertations

There has been a surge of universities in general and private universities in particular in the last three decades throughout the world. This expansion has been unanticipated in some countries, but in others especilly in SSA expansion came as a result of public policy change. The current globalization movement can be attributed to most of the reforms taking place in higher education institutions although unique features have been observed in different contries and regions. This expansion has not been paired with resource increase and hence putting quality of education, accessibility, equality and quality issues into question. Scholars have expressed doubts …

Exploring The Relationship Between Members Of Lifelong Learning Institutes And Host Institutions, Jon Charles Neidy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between an individual’s involvement in Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLIs) and his or her propensity for philanthropic giving to the institute or its hosting college or university. The dataset was acquired through a survey administered to eleven Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLIs) in the United States. Data analysis was conducted on seven research questions which explored how the length, type, and frequency of participation, as well as the level satisfaction, commitment, and feelings of community may relate to an LLI participant’s inclination to donate. The findings of this study reveal these …

Effects Of Federal And State Bullying Laws On Religiously Affiliated Schools, Dawn W. Hiller

Theses and Dissertations

This is a qualitative multiple case study of two religious-affiliated, independent schools in Trippler, South Carolina. The topic of this study is Effects of Federal and State Bullying Laws on Religiously Affiliated Schools. The research was comprised of open-ended questions posed to individuals involved in the disciplinary actions of the students at the two schools.

This study shows that the religious-affiliated, independent schools consult many different entities to develop and formulate their policies. As both schools stated, their handbook of policies is a living document that can and will change as society changes, necessitating the evolution of their policies. They …