Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

School Reform: The Impact On Teaching Practices, Carol J. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of school reform on teaching practices at the Middle School of Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

The overall approach of this study was to use a survey to investigate the effects of school reform on teaching practices. Thirty teachers of grades 5-8, representing a variety of subject areas, completed a survey. The survey was used to determine if professional development provided teachers with effective support throughout the change …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Crisis Management For The Staff Of The Uptown School Complex, Michele Tourigian-Mcgettigan

Theses and Dissertations

The Uptown School Complex has a crisis management plan that needs to be reviewed, updated, and practiced by staff members. In the past year, our country has gone through radical changes with security and crisis management that also need to be addressed in our schools. The focus of this study is to ensure that all staff members are aware of the current crisis management plan and to revise and update the plan.

The purpose of this study is to provide a highly effective organizational unit for dealing with a variety of crises by evaluating the effectiveness of the current crisis …

Implementation Of A Peer Mediation Program, Darin B. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to examine and describe the implementation of the peer mediation program at Ulysses S. Wiggins Elementary School. In the past few decades, with the rise of school campus violence, models of conflict resolution programs including peer mediation have rapidly increased in popularity in which students assist their peers in resolving disputes. Peer mediation at Wiggins Elementary School offered training and counseling to students who would become peer mediators to help other students manage their conflict without the use of violence. Significantly, the study was action based in its design to find out what components would be …

Bully-Proofing, Kevin M. Mcgloin

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if the existing Bully-Proofing Program at the Reeds Road Elementary School is working effectively. Utilizing an action research design, fifth and sixth graders completed a bully-proofing survey during the 2002-2003 academic year. This survey elicited student observations and actions of bullying within the school. Forty surveys were randomly chosen for analysis with the final research population being twenty fifth graders and twenty sixth graders (20 female/20 male). In analyzing the results, verbal bullying was responded to the most, outweighing all other forms. Another statistic is that boys were identified as bullies, more so than …

A Study Of Arkansas Public School Alternative Language Program Coordinators' Knowledge Of The Legal And Evaluation Requirements For The Alternative Language Program, Karen E. Broadnax

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine public school Alternative Language Program coordinators' knowledge of the legal and evaluation requirements for Alternative Language Programs in the state of Arkansas. Their current knowledge was investigated in this study. A non-experimental research design was used for this causal-comparative study. The survey instrument used was developed by the researcher and it included all of the 138 Alternative Language Program coordinators in Arkansas, except the researcher. A non-probability sample of 90 coordinators completed and returned the survey at a return rate of 65.7 percent. Part I of the survey was used to collect …

Evaluation Policies And Procedures For Building Administrators In Academically Advanced And Below Basic Schools In Arkansas, Cindy Viala

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the written policies and procedures of 10 advanced and 10 below basic school districts in Arkansas with a student population of 1,500 or more, and the opinions of building administrators within those districts concerning the evaluation of building administrators. Building administrators have the responsibility to meet public school accountability mandates from the 'No Child Left Behind' law. Data used includes written policies and procedures from each of the school districts and surveys collected from participating building administrators. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square statistic were used. Conclusions show that some school districts have written policies, but are not …

Non-Certificated Staff Evaluation Instruments That Are Meaningful And Promote Improved Job Performance, Doris J. Isaacs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine development of an evaluation instrument for non-certificated staff. This instrument would clearly recognize the valuable contributions of this important and often overlooked group of employees and provide a tool to promote improved job performance.

Individuals participating in the study were the School Business Administrator, 86 non-certificated staff, three head custodians and three principals. Non-certificated employees were surveyed using a written questionnaire to determine their opinions of evaluations and job performance motivators. The head custodians and principals participated in informal interviews regarding existing practices. Five non-certificated staff participated in personal interviews about employee …

Inclusion, The Forced Game Plan For Levelling The Playing Field: One High School's First Attempt, Rebecca Tribbett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the co-teaching as an inclusionary technique in a high school setting. Co-teaching in this study consisted of a general and special education teacher collaborating in the instruction of a group of general and special needs students.

The participants included 140 students, the general education and special education teacher. The teachers completed an Inclusion Survey that contained a twenty-item, four points, forced-choice Likert Scale. The survey measured the teachers' beliefs in four domains: Teacher training, Academic Content/Teacher Effectiveness, Social Atmosphere (students) and Academic Climate.

Interviews of the teaching staff and …

The Effects Of A Social And Emotional Learning Curriculum On The Academic Achievement Of High School Students, Lyn J. Langford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum on students' academic achievement, classroom behavior and SEL skills. An SEL curriculum was administered to 105 randomly selected college preparatory United States History 10th grade students. Students received a pretest and a posttest measuring their perception of SEL skills. This was administered before the 10 lesson unit was facilitated and after the action research was completed. The curriculum combined SEL and American Government. Various forms of assessment were used to measure academic achievement.

Survey results were analyzed and comparison percentages tabulated to …

Kindergarten To Fourth Grade Student Code Of Conduct, Carrieann L. Molnar

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to develop a kindergarten through fourth grade code of conduct for the Charles L. Spragg School. The parents and faculty completed a Likert style survey about the present discipline code. The study also reviewed the number of discipline referrals before and after the implementation of the new code of conduct.

The student population was comprised of approximately 353 pre-k through fourth grade students and 44 staff members. The surveys completed by the parents and staff were compiled and used to develop the new code of conduct. The number of discipline referrals for October, November, December and …

Research A Formative Method And Instrument For Staff Evaluations, Mary Benatti

Theses and Dissertations

Through the creation of a formative method and instrument of staff evaluations an ongoing cycle of evaluation and professional development will be encouraged for all middle school teachers. All data collection was conducted through individual interviews at Salem Middle School in Salem City School District. Team leaders from grades 4 through 8 and the team leader from the special education department participated in the interview process. The data was analyzed by the intern at the conclusion of all interviews. Analysis was conducted through coding which led to categories, themes and patterns.

Recognizing their own areas of improvement and assessing input …

Restructuring The District's High School Guidance Department, Margaret L. Corcoran

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and obtain the resources to create a comprehensive guidance department that would meet the needs of our school population in preparing them for the 21st century. Survey questionnaires provided quantitative data for needs analysis. The questionnaire utilized a Likert Scale. All high school students were given the student survey, approximately one-third responded. The purpose was to have an in-depth understanding of which students' needs were being met and which were not. The students were asked to only identify their grade. A stratification by grade of the high school population allowed for a …

Has The Adoption Of Whole School Reform Benefitted Eighth Grade Students At Cantrell Middle School?, Derrick L. Carrington

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of Whole School Reform on the delivery of instructional services to eighth graders using a community-based action research design. The study will result in a feasibility report to inform parents, teachers, students, administrators, and board members. The use of Whole School Reform for eighth graders is a means of providing them with creative learning processes while learning in an efficient manner.

This particular study was directed towards a small cluster of eighth grade students who attended the Cantrell Middle School as fifth graders. There was also a focus …

The Relationship Between Thematic Teacher Teaming And Its Effects Upon Student Achievement And Cross-Curricula Cohesiveness, Lakecia C. Hyman

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between thematic teacher teaming and its effects upon student achievement and cross-curricula cohesiveness. The data were collected from a teacher questionnaire, student group discussions, school attendance and test scores, student assessments, and field notes. These various methods produced information about the development, understanding, enforcement, and collaboration regarding team teaching and its effects upon student achievement. A review of literature attributed initial positive teacher and student responses and later decreased lack of participation with inconsistent enforcement and support from administration. The findings of this study showed that this school did not develop a …

Discipline Problems: Ways Of Improvement, Teresa Mcganey-Guy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover new ways of assisting students that have behavioral problems and the teachers of those students.

The subjects in this study were four teachers and their first and second grade students. The teachers were three females and one male. Two of the female teachers teach first grade and the others teach second grade.

The research tool used in this study was a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed to gain knowledge about the effectiveness of the discipline strategies. The questions were used to collect general information about the respondent and the discipline strategies.

The …

A Descriptive History Of The Discipline Of Athletic Training Education, Scott M. Lisher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to trace the history of athletic training education as an athletic discipline. Through careful study and research, the author presents how formal education has evolved for professionals in the field of athletic training. The roots of athletic training education can be traced to the mid-1950's. From that period, athletic training education has changed immensely and is still changing today. This research explores the relationship between the development of higher education and the way athletic training evolved as a discipline within higher education. Much of the focus is on change, not only including changes made …

The Perceptions Of Tenure And Alternatives To Tenure Among Faculty At A Mid-Sized Regional University In A Large Northeastern State, Patricia Mcgrath

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to gauge the perceptions of both tenured faculty and tenure-track faculty regarding academic freedom and tenure. With this information, professors will be able to engage in discussions about tenure and its future. In this study, professors across all colleges and professorial ranks were asked to rate the degree to which they either agreed or disagreed with statements pertaining to academic freedom, tenure, and possible alternatives to tenure. In addition to this, there was a space given for comments or concerns.

The overall format of this study was an anonymous survey questionnaire. Most importantly, the survey attempted to …

Community Service Plan, Joseph Depalma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to see if a school-wide discipline program with positive rewards and consequences is a need for the Happy Dale Elementary School. The study will consist of a case study design that would include all staff members, certified and non-certified to take part. The group will meet as a study team to develop a Community Service Plan in which students who do not follow school rules will have to give back to the school community by participating in school community service.

Students in grades three through five will participate in the program. The student body …

New Egypt High School's Single Lunch: "It's Common Sense", Joseph Dipietro

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine if hosting an open campus single lunch at New Egypt High School would positively affect the cultural climate of the entire school. The single lunch project involved the entire school community. As the administrative intern I served as the project coordinator, as well as a lunch monitor.

To determine the project's effectiveness, students and staff members were randomly selected to provide feedback on separate questionnaires. The intern also held informal interviews with cafeteria workers and the school custodian to better understand their perceptions of the project.

Staff members perceived the single lunch policies and …

The Behavioral Effects Of Placing Emotionally Disturbed Students In An Alternative School Day Setting, Allen Randall Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the effects on student behaviors, of taking emotionally disturbed students out of the regular high school and placing them in an alternative afternoon (1PM - 5PM) program. The researcher attempted to determine whether removing the students from the regular population and placing them in a self-contained setting would improve their behaviors. The subjects of the study were all high school aged students attending a regional high school in southern New Jersey. Each of the students was classified as either emotionally disturbed or multiply handicapped. Prior to being placed in this program, the students had …

The Effects Of Authentic Assessment In Elementary School Science, Timothy L. Trow

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of authentic assessments on Bells Elementary School students' understanding of science concepts. In this study the Washington Township Public Schools' Elementary School Science Committee created open-ended authentic assessments to enhance the district's science curriculum. The subjects of the study were of various ethnic and economic backgrounds. They were heterogeneously grouped members of self-contained fourth grade classrooms. Surveys of the classroom teachers at Bells Elementary School found that the teachers believed their instruction had changed as a result of the new assessments. They also felt that students were better able to …

Implementing A Bully Prevention Program At The Sixth Grade Level, Janis E. Gansert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine bully-victim behaviors and intervention strategies using case study research design in order to develop and implement a bully prevention program. Participants in this study were limited to students, parents, and teachers on one of three sixth grade teams. A program was presented including a survey for students to determine the level of bullying, questionnaires for students and teachers to evaluate program effectiveness, and interviews with teachers, the guidance counselor, and the assistant principal. Survey data was analyzed by tabulating responses and determining percentages of students experiencing bullying. Student questionnaire data was analyzed …

Implementing A Teacher Mentor Program, Nan L. Holland

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to develop a mentor program for novice teachers that will ease the inevitable anxiety that occurs during the first year and increase the retention rate of new teachers to the profession and at Camden High School. The intern monitored this program as its coordinator and conducted mentor training through regular workshops.

Management decisions related to mentoring influenced the quality of instruction and learning of both mentors and novices. Camden High School transmitted the school culture to novice teachers in a well-developed program. Through interviews, surveys, classroom visitations, reflective journals, and personal contact with a …

Factors Influencing Academic Achievement And Graduation Rates Of Transfer Student Athletes At National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Ii Institutions, Michael E. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed in two parts: (1) to discover the graduation rates of transfer student athletes at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II institutions in Arkansas from 1994-1997 and (2) to determine which cognitive and noncognitive variables might predict academic achievement for first semester transfer student athletes. The graduation rates were determined and analyzed by ethnicity, gender, and sports teams. Cognitive and noncognitive data were collected from a sample of 57 fall 2001 transfer student athletes. The information collected from the study group was analyzed using multiple regression and logistic regression techniques. There were five major findings of this …

Exploring Aspects Of Effectiveness Of The Department Chair In Metropolitan Universities, Kathy Cooper Trawick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the roles and competencies of the effective department chair based on the perceptions of faculty, chairs, and deans at three selected metropolitan universities. A brief look at 54 competencies and tasks taken from eight basic categories were rank-ordered by the participants. Data were obtained via electronic survey and an Internet web site at the researcher's home institution. Results were analyzed using Kendall's W Coefficient of Concordance to determine agreement among the groups in prioritizing the eight basic categories of department chair competencies. Results from the study of 130 total participants indicated there …

Program To Program Articulation: Progress, Perceptions, And Procedures For Articulation From Two-Year Programs To Four-Year Programs, Brenda L. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of two-year and four-year students, faculty, and chief academic officers related to articulation practices in existence. Additionally, this study was designed to determine the desired components for a successful articulation and transfer system and identify any significant differences that exist between current and ideal articulation practices. Furthermore, this study investigated the feasibility for an articulation officer to oversee transfer procedures and a statewide course numbering system. To accomplish the goals of this study, after review of literature on articulation and transfer practices, six research questions were developed. Survey instruments, …

Responding To District Systemic Change: A Case Study Of Campus Leadership Team Member Responses Regarding School-Based Management, Mona Rae Davidson Briggs

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to explore to what extent school-based management (SBM) was being implemented in one urban middle school and to specifically analyze attitudes and perceptions of participants' beliefs and opinions around issues of power, information, knowledge, and rewards. A qualitative case study approach was used that included interviews with the Campus Leadership Team (CLT) members, observations, and review of relevant school and district documents. Study findings revealed that SBM was intended to be a strategy for ensuring that fundamental changes would take place to support improved student performance. While student academic achievement was the primary focus, …

School Internet Grading Programs, Michael Grossman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of implementing a software program that would allow classroom teachers to post student grades and assignments on the Internet. This study measured the improvement in the grades of the students who used this Internet program. The research was limited to four physical science classes at Camden County Technical Schools (CCTS). Ninety-four students participated in this study. Fifty students were given access to their grades and assignments on the Internet and forty-four students were not given access to their grades and assignments on the Internet. The research data was generated by …

The Impact Extended Day Instruction Has On The Academic Achievement Of At-Risk Low Socioeconomic Students, Diane L. Worthy

Theses and Dissertations

This study determines whether students from low socio-economic backgrounds, who function poorly on tests and report cards, improved academically after increasing time for instruction, and time for working on school related tasks. Research indicates that there is a relationship between time and learning. When distinctions have been made with time allocated for instruction, time engaged in instructional activities and time spent successfully completing instructional activities, the latter of these has been found to have a direct correlation with achievement. Participants worked after school on homework with certified teachers. Factors affecting student achievement in language arts have been identified. The academic …

Professional Development Workshop: "Infusing Technology Into The Language Arts Curriculum" – Gateway To The 21st Century, Joy D. Carey

Theses and Dissertations

This technology action research project provided teachers with the opportunity to learn how to navigate the Internet and to enhance the Language Arts curriculum. This project was conducted in a Camden, NJ elementary, urban, Abbott school setting. This sample population was chosen from responses to a cross-sectional self-report pre-workshop interest questionnaire. Thirty-six staff members agreed to participate in the training sessions. The intern scored the results of the Likert surveys using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint computer software. Seventy percent of the respondents to the pre-workshop interest questionnaire indicated they had inadequate knowledge of the Internet.

The post-workshop Likert questionnaire results …