Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons^™

Exploring Students’ Motivation In Mother Tongue Language Through Experiential Learning: A Systematic Review, Betsy Ng, Kimberly Hannah Siacor, Nur Shafizah Binte Johan

Journal of Research Initiatives

There has been a decrease in the motivation levels of primary school students towards learning their native language. In Singapore, the native language is also known as the Mother Tongue Language (MTL). There is also a need for more research on Experiential Learning in primary schools worldwide and MTL classrooms in Singapore. Using the basic psychological needs of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), namely autonomy, competence, and relatedness, this research explores the potential of experiential learning as an effective pedagogical tool to foster motivation and learning. Using specific study selection and systematic review methods, 11 empirical papers were selected to study the …

Cultural Advocacy And Teachers Of Color, Torine Champion, Linda Wilson-Jones

Journal of Research Initiatives

Teachers of color face marginalization and microaggressions that their White counterparts do not have to face. African American teachers experience microaggressions pathologizing their cultural values and communication styles, cultural/ethnic insensitivity, an ascription of their intelligence, and being treated as second-class citizens) that are hurtful, undermining, and disparaging (Brown, 2019). Asian American teachers face gendered, racial, and sexualized expectations on their campuses (Endo, 2015). A study of Latina bilingual teachers revealed that they felt alienated from their colleagues, had larger workloads, and did not have access to support (Amos, 2016). Teachers of color experience inequalities, microaggressions, and marginalization that impact their …

The Disconnect Between Student And Educator Perspectives On Effective Technology Usage In Higher Education, Matt Marino

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article explores the disconnect between student and educator perspectives regarding practical technology usage in higher education. As technology continues to play an increasingly prominent role in the educational landscape, understanding the differing viewpoints of students and educators is crucial for designing impactful technology integration strategies. Through a comprehensive literature review, this article examines the factors contributing to the disconnect and its implications for teaching and learning in higher education. Additionally, recommendations are provided to bridge this gap and promote a more aligned understanding of effective technology usage between students and educators.

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Tackling Infrastructural Deficit In Mission Schools: Stakeholder Perspectives, Daniel Ayembilla, Musa Adekunle Ayanwale

Journal of Research Initiatives

The research adopted a qualitative case study research design and engaged stakeholders from Senior High Schools (SHS) across Ghana. Fifty-six participants from five selected schools were purposefully sampled to represent diverse perspectives, including administrators, teachers, parents, and community members. The data collection methods involved semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to elicit comprehensive insights. Thematic analysis was employed to discern recurring patterns and themes within the data, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of infrastructural deficits in mission schools. Moreover, stringent measures were implemented to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings, including inter-coder reliability checks, member validation, …

Understanding The Experiences Of Secondary Students Identified As In-School Truant And Their Perceived Contributing Factors To Truancy: When And What Caused The Disconnection, Joshua Donald Andres

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

A strong correlation exists between school attendance and positive school outcomes such as increased graduation rates, stronger sense of belonging, and a higher grade-point average (Churchill et al., 2021; Daily et al., 2020; Allensworth & Easton, 2007). Therefore, school administrators implement strategies that foster positive attendance behavior for students. Attendance data is quantitative in nature and, while quantitative data is needed for decisions related to policy and best practices, qualitative data may better identify root causes of truancy behavior. This study’s purpose was to identify perceived contributing factors that resulted in participants having high rates of in-school truancy, or going …

Supporting Principals As Instructional Leaders: Exploring A Supervisory Model That Empowers And Removes Barriers, Dale Uselman

Doctorate in Education

In recent years, an increasing amount of pressure has been placed on K-12 school principals to engage as instructional leaders to increase student achievement. Historically, however, principals were expected to operate as school managers instead of instructional leaders, and therefore, often felt unprepared as instructional leaders. Many principals also faced barriers, such as time constraints, that impeded their ability to be effective instructional leaders. To remedy this problem of practice, school districts repurposed the principal supervisor role to provide both supervision and coaching for principals. Existing research on this principal supervisor-coach model identified practices that supervisor-coaches used to support principals …

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: …

Co-Teaching In The Classroom: Perceptions Of The Student Teacher, Classroom Teacher, And Students, Allison Nicole Dale

Journal of Practitioner Research

Co-teaching, where the clinical teacher and classroom teacher teach using different models, has become widely used in clinical teaching placements. This action research study, conducted in a second-grade classroom, had two purposes: to learn teachers’ and students’ perceptions towards co-teaching, and how different co-teaching models were used in different content areas. Through collecting surveys, interviewing students and the classroom teacher, and composing journal entries, qualitative data was analyzed to find common themes that emerged, while quantitative data from the surveys was calculated to find the mean and mode. The study found that co-teaching enriched the learning experience and provided more …

Um Autoestudo Do Uso De Inteligência Artificial Generativa Para Apoiar As Tarefas Dos Líderes Escolares, Henrick Oprea

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

O uso de ferramentas como o ChatGPT e outros Large Language Models (LLM) tem se mostrado um desafio no mundo da educação. Enquanto os professores estavam inicialmente preocupados com a possibilidade de trapaça e como impedir que os alunos usassem as ferramentas, que ocupavam a maior parte do tempo gasto nas escolas ao discutir essas questões, agora está claro que a Inteligência Artificial Generativa (IA) faz parte do mundo em muitas áreas diferentes. Muito se discutiu nos 2 anos em que essa ferramenta se tornou disponível para educadores, mas muito pouco se discutiu sobre como essas ferramentas podem auxiliar o …

Fighting For The Right To Learn: Exploring The Impact Of Discipline Policies On Black Female Students, Amyre E. Smith

Masters Projects

This study investigates the systemic biases and stereotypes that disproportionately affect Black female students in K-12 educational settings. The research aims to analyze how implicit biases and societal norms contribute to the unfair policing and mistreatment of Black girls in schools. Utilizing a combination of literature review, case studies, and interviews, the study explores the intersectionality of race and gender and its impact on disciplinary actions. Findings reveal that Black girls are often disciplined for subjective offenses, such as defiance and disrespect, rooted in implicit biases held by school personnel. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of restorative practices and …

Can You Hear Me Now? An Improvement Science Study On Policy Change In Public Schools, William G. Rhoden Jr.

All Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what the perceptions of music teachers, specifically high school band directors in upstate South Carolina (S.C.), on their ability to affect meaningful policy change in SC public schools and what roadblocks exist or remain in the way of affecting policy change. Using improvement science as the methodology, this study employed the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle to discover the effectiveness of this study, make recommendations for future research, and plan for future PDSA cycles. This study used interviews to collect initial data on the participants’ perceptions on their abilities to affect …

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 …

Navigating Crises In Education: A Study Of Communication Strategies In Pk-12 Public School Districts, Darian Byrd

All Dissertations

This study explores the crisis communication strategies utilized by superintendents and communication leaders in PK-12 public school districts, focusing on their structural, human resource, political, and symbolic dimensions. Employing a qualitative, multi-site, multi-case study approach, this research delves into the communication frameworks, practices, and decision-making processes during crises, providing a comprehensive understanding of effective crisis management in educational settings.

The research is anchored in Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model, which offers a multidimensional perspective on organizational analysis. By integrating this theoretical framework, the study examines how different communication strategies align with structural, human resource, political, and symbolic aspects …

Using Improvement Science To Reduce Student Retention In High School Through School-Based Mentoring, Ellen B. Borland

All Dissertations

The disproportionate demographics among retained students must be addressed. School-based mentoring has been recognized as an effective tool for motivating and supporting students at-risk of not graduating on time. This research aimed to explore the impact of a school-based mentoring program on positive student outcomes, specifically academic achievement, among high school students at-risk of not graduating on time. This study followed twenty-three students and mentors throughout the school year, and examined the association between school-based mentoring and grade level retention or promotion. The results were compared to the same group of students and their performance during the previous school year, …

Impacts Of Cellphone Usage On Adolescent Social And Emotional Development, Chelsea N. Hammer

Masters Projects

Adolescent cellphone use has a negative impact on the school environment. This project explores how cellphones effect youth social and emotional development. The literature is reviewed as it relates to cellphone usage and emotional well-being, mental health, intrapersonal skill development and interpersonal growth. Cellphone addiction amongst teenagers is discussed as well protective factors to mitigate the damage cellphone use inflicts on student social and emotional development. This project advocates for making school stakeholders aware of these harmful effects so as to consider a re-examination of school cellphone policy. Incorporating periods of unplugging during the school day as well as using …

Longitudinal Investigation Of Early Mathematical Achievement And Classroom Strategic Diversity: A Replication And Extension Study, Douglas H. Clements, Yixiao Dong, Crystal A. Day-Hess, Julie Sarama

Early Childhood Special Education: Faculty Scholarship

Developing solution strategies, effortful procedures that students employ to solve a specific problem, is an important mathematical goal. Studies have documented intraindividual strategy variability and its significance for learning, but only some have addressed the interindividual strategic diversity across students within a classroom. This study analyzed classroom strategy diversity using assessments of 527 kindergartens to 2nd-grade students. Latent growth modeling analysis revealed that the best fit was a spline model featuring two phases of linear growth with different growth rates (i.e., one in Kindergarten, the other from Kindergarten spring to second grade). A growth mixture modeling analysis demonstrated that only …

How Poverty Measures Account For Differences Between “In-Town” And “Out-Of-Town” Students, Robin Clausen

The Rural Educator

Rurality in education research is a function of the size of the school, the distance of a school in relation to urban areas, and factors within each school that may differentiate the school community based on geography. Distance matters. This study finds variation between rural communities at different distances from an urban center and differences based on analysis of student groups and student outcomes within a locale. By taking a granulated geographic approach to rurality we can better compare differences within locales. This analysis of the distance a student lives from school highlights socioeconomic differences between student groups. One related …

Improving Cohesion Between General Education And Special Education Departments, Jacob Haugmo

Graduate Teacher Education

Cohesion between general education and special education departments is the idea of blending and aligning instructional methods and approaches regardless of educational discipline. This paper was written to examine how this cohesion can be improved. Educational leaders must improve cohesion between general education and special education departments to support the academic achievement and success of all students in schools. Through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies, methods to improve this cohesion were researched. The research provided insight on how general education and special education teachers feel about collaboration and how collaborative efforts can be utilized to improve cohesion. These collaborative …

The Impact Of Texas High School Teachers' Perceptions Of Culture On Their Intent To Stay Or Leave From Their Position, Abigail Crawford, Lesley F. Leach, Ron Rhone, Juanita Reyes

School Leadership Review

ABSTRACT

Teacher attrition has been an issue in education for decades, however, post-pandemic, the problem has grown exponentially. Teachers at the high school campus are often particularly difficult to replace because of their specialized areas. Yearly faculty surveys often ask teachers to share their perceptions of their campus, including but not limited to, faculty relationships, administrative decisions, student discipline, and learning and assessment. While teachers’ perceptions of these areas of campus life might be positive or negative, do any of these areas motivate a teacher to leave or to stay? The purpose of this research is to investigate high school …

How Do Teachers Make Sense Of New Learning About Culturally Responsive And Sustaining Education?, Kristine Mustillo

Student Theses

The education of Black citizens has historically been unequal and plagued with deficit based approaches that result in the under-education and over-disciplining of Black youth in schools, with dire implications. Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE)aims to change the narrative by honoring the racial, ethnic, linguistic and cultural differences of students of color who are marginalized in a school curriculum, featuring a pedagogy that empowers students (Ladson-Billings, 2021). Educators often report that they understand CRSE in theory but there is confusion when putting the theory into action and there are other challenges faced when working in current social and political …

"It Hurts Me To Say": Preservice Teachers' Use And Disapproval Of Deficit Discourse In Urban Schools, Sherridon Sweeney, Brian Flores

Journal of Research Initiatives

Extensive research examines the development and impact of deficit discourse in schools. However, more research needs to be needed to explore how preservice teachers use this language during their preparation. Therefore, our qualitative study explored how deficit discourse became part of five preservice teachers' vernacular when speaking about children and teaching. Findings suggest participants (a) Relied on reductive labels to describe children, (b) attributed their use of these labels to their exposure to them during their practicum, and (c) demonstrated both cognitive dissonance and silent resistance toward deficit language. Implications are for teacher educators and school leaders.

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Use Of Serious Games For Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Latoyia R. Stewart

Journal of Research Initiatives

Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurodevelopment disorder, and severe digital game use has recently shown significant promise in this psychotherapeutic area. Digital serious games have also been used as an innovative teaching and learning approach. This study aimed to explore middle school teachers' perceptions of the use of digital severe games for students with ADHD. The conceptual framework for this study was Sherry's model of game engagement. The two research questions for this basic qualitative study focused on middle school teacher perceptions regarding the benefits and challenges related to the use of digital serious games …

استراتيجيّات الرّيادة التعليمية وأثرها في التّعليم المدمج: استراتيجيّات الّتدريس كمتغير وسيط في المدارس الحكومية من وجهة نظر معلمي المرحلة الثّانويّة, Nisreen Khalid Saleem Alkailani

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال إلى بيان دور استراتيجيّات الرّيادة التعليمية في التّعليم المدمج: استراتيجيات التّدريس كمتغير وسيط، من وجهة نظر معلمي المرحلة الثّانوية، واستخدمت الدّراسة المنهج الوصفيّ التّحليليّ، وتكوّنت عيّنة الدراسة من جميع المعلّمين والمعلّمات في المدارس الحكوميّة في العاصمة الأردنية عمّان، وبلغ حجم المجتمع (25000) معلم، وتمّ سحب عينة بلغ حجمها (290) معلمًا، وتمّ حساب حجم العيّنة اعتمادًا على معادلة تحديد حجم العينة الإحصائية على طريقة نموذج مورغان، وتمّ اختبار الفرضيّات باستخدام الأساليب الإحصائيّة المناسبة من الحزمة الإحصائيّة للعلوم الاجتماعيّة (SPSS). وتوصّلت الّدراسة إلى وجود ارتفاع في التّكلفة الماديّة للبنية التحتيّة للتّعليم المدمج في المدارس، ومع ذلك يسعى المعلمون إلى مواكبة …

Black Superintendents’ Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of Diversity And Equity Professional Development In New Jersey Schools, Tanisha Hinton

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Providing an accessible and equitable education for all students has been an ongoing process mandated by the Managing for Equality and Equity initiative to close the achievement and opportunity gaps among students. This qualitative study examined Black superintendents' perspectives about the effectiveness and impact of diversity, equity, and inclusive initiatives in majority White staffed school districts in New Jersey. Furthermore, the study explored the perceptions of Black superintendents across different regions of New Jersey to understand if there were significant differences in how DEI initiative was perceived. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 Black superintendents and the data was analyzed …

Professional Learning Communities: Structures And Implementation For Small Middle Schools And Singleton Teachers, Gerrie Aulisa

Dissertations

Professional Learning Communities are essential to building interdependent collaborative teacher teams to elevate teaching and learning for students. One struggle with implementing PLCs comes about when you have singleton teachers who do not have a colleague who teaches the same grade and content as them. This study reviewed the research-based PLC implementation strategies used at one small middle school. The main research question was: How can PLCs work effectively for small middle schools and singleton teachers? Other related questions were:

● How can PLCs feel relevant to our elective area teachers?

● What determines a successful PLC?

● Should middle …

Principals As Instructional Leaders: Supporting New Middle School Principals To Implement Systems Allowing For Instructional Leadership, Jason Kaiz

Dissertations

This study is a collection, interpretation, and, eventually, recommendations based on data collected through interviews with current middle school principals. The research questions examine how middle school principals can increase their effectiveness as an instructional leader within the building. The research begins by examining the factors contributing to the principal being an instructional leader and what systems can be implemented to support this goal. These systems should include the ability for principals to facilitate learning for staff, just as staff facilitate learning within their classroom. Policy implications and recommendations highlight the need to look at resources available for principals as …

Why Not Community College As A Pathway To A Degree, Gretchen Jorndt Reyes

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand if Gen X parents are motivating their Gen Z students' college choice not to attend community college. The few studies that focused on parent involvement in choosing a community college did not focus on the generational differences between parents and their children when it came to college choice, they also did not focus on whether parents influenced their children to attend community college or not (Bers, 2005; Bers & Galowich, 2002).

The study explored Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and how his theory and the college choice process are intertwined during the college …

Who’S Next: Elementary Principals’ Process For Identifying Future School Leaders In Washtenaw County, Michigan, Jennifer Bookout

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative study investigated how six experienced elementary school principals in Washtenaw County identify internal candidates for future principal positions, aiming to enhance understanding of educational leadership and succession planning. The research addresses two primary questions: (1) How do principals identify prospective internal candidates for school leadership? and (2) What competencies or characteristics do principals use to determine candidates' suitability for school leadership? Three themes emerged for the first question: informal recognition of leadership potential through daily interactions; providing leadership opportunities such as leading committees or mentoring teachers; and engaging in direct conversations about career goals. For the second question, …

Advancing Leadership: Key Experiences To Support The Development Of The Assistant Principal, Hollyann Schlicher

Dissertations

The assistant principal role often serves as a stepping stone to the principalship, though there is little research about how to best prepare the assistant principal for success in this leadership transition. The focus in this study was to examine the key leadership experiences that best prepare assistant principals for success in their positions and to advance into a principalship. This mixed-methods study took place in a large suburban school district in Illinois that encompasses 28 schools. The participants were assistant principals and principals. Data collection occurred through an assistant principal survey and principal focus group interviews. The findings revealed …

Black School Leader Truth: How Black School Leader Epistemology Influences Liberatory Mindset Development In Their Staff, Orpheus Williams

Dissertations

Black students in the United States have consistently been denied access to empowering, culturally affirming, and responsive learning experiences in the traditional public system. The epistemological and pedagogical beliefs embedded in a liberatory mindset can subvert this pattern of disempowerment (Shujaa, 1998). Black school leaders (BSLs) who understand the systemic and institutional pressures Black children may face and have to overcome, having undergone similarly racialized experiences in school, are uniquely placed to create liberatory spaces for Black students by recruiting and developing these liberatory mindsets in their staff. This instrumental case study used qualitative research methods of front-porch pedagogy (McTighe …