Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Becoming: Adult Learners In Graduate Education And The Pursuit Of A Meaningful Life, Tara Shollenberger

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Adult learners in graduate education represent a population defined by deliberate, purposeful choice. Unlike traditional-age students, these individuals advance within higher education while managing careers, families, and complex life responsibilities. This conceptual paper explores the espoused and enacted vision for a meaningful life held by adult learners in graduate education, with particular attention to doctoral students in professional education programs. Evidence is drawn from national enrollment and attrition data, relevant scholarship, and nearly two decades of direct practitioner observation. The paper argues that adult graduate learners are animated by a vision of becoming: a generational, relational, and deeply purposeful understanding …

Framework Integration In Academia: Moving From Theory To Practice, Lori B. Doyle, Kara S. Bratton, Timothy Young, Catherine Webb, Cari A. Chittick, Heather L. Vezner, Rebecca A. Stanton, Tanya M. Tarbutton

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Character education has been a point of focus and research in K-12 education dating back to the 1990s. The work of integrating a character-forward framework in higher education is now considered a beneficial and impactful practice. One university has successfully completed the initial work of integrating a servant leadership framework in the School of Education using an approach in line with the community of practice model. The authors of this paper work together and have each played a key role in not only the early stages but the ongoing phases associated with maintaining and improving. This theory-to-practice article begins with …

Sustainability Leadership In Schools: A Success Case Method, Sohail M. Sukhera, Christopher R. Gordon, William L. Sterrett

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Environmental unpredictability has become a crisis for the 21st century. In response, organizations from the local to international level are addressing the issues by creating, supporting, and promoting initiatives. Schools and school leaders play an important role in this work. An example of a multi-scaled initiative is the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) which recognizes local academic institutions, upon state recommendation, that have implemented three pillars of sustainability: (a) reduce environmental impacts and costs; (b) improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and (c) provide effective environmental and sustainability education. This evaluation analyzed ED-GRS …

Afrofuturism–It's A Different World: Exploring Tools For Culturally Relevant Black Student Leadership Development, Richard D. Brown

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation explored culturally relevant strategies for Black student leadership development within university multicultural centers, focusing specifically on student leaders affiliated with Black identity-based organizations. Conducted in partnership with a large public land-grant university in the United States Midwest, this study recognizes that traditional student leadership development programs often fail to address the varied cultural realities of Black students. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design approach was used, combining survey data with qualitative interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological lens. Guided by the McKinsey 7S Framework, this study identified strengths and gaps in organizational strategy, structure, systems, style, staff, skills, …

A Mentoring Program's Impact On International Teachers In A Rural School District, Shannon M. Hullett

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation is a program evaluation of a mentoring program’s impact on international teachers in a rural school district. The study aimed to investigate international teachers' first-year mentoring experiences to determine if the program has an impact on helping international teachers transition to the community and school. Acculturation theory (Berry, 1980; Bunnell, 2020; Stasel, 2021) and culture shock (Oberg, 1960; McCluskey, 2020) were identified as theoretical frameworks for the program evaluation. Quantitative data were collected from surveys and mentor log rubric analysis, and qualitative data were collected from interview transcripts. According to data analysis, the program had a significant impact …

Candidates' Perceptions Of A University's Consultancy Requirements With For-Profit/Nonprofit Partnering Organizations, Candace S. Parson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation in practice is an action research study that investigated the perceptions of students within the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (DEOL) program under the University College of Education experiences in consultancy organizational partnerships in terms of key benefits, key factors, and barriers/limitations that existed in the partnership. This study provided feedback to the University College of Education that was used to understand candidates’ experiences, it identified continuous improvement and developmental opportunities that will be used to evaluate consultancy organizational partnerships. A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 10 DEOL students via one-on-one interviews. The …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Efficacy And Digital Learning Competencies For School Administrators In A Rural North Carolina District, Stephanie B. Harrell

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods research study was to determine the efficacy of digital learning competencies for school administrators in a rural eastern North Carolina district. The study had four research questions that were answered through a survey and a focus group. The survey had 44 quantitative items that participants chose from a 4-point Likert scale and two open-ended questions. A total of 20 administrators from District A completed the survey. A focus group with four participants was conducted following the closing of the survey to gain a better understanding of the results from the survey. Previous research in …

The Impact Of Sensory Integration Developmental Delays And How To Minimize Their Effects On Early Childhood Academic Development At The Kindergarten Level, Theresa A. Goebel

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Sensory processing difficulties are traditionally associated with children with autism; however, typically developing children are increasingly demonstrating symptoms of SPD. Research has shown that targeted sensory development, based on Ayres Sensory Integration Theory, demonstrates positive results for children with autism. This study sought to determine if comparable results can be shown with typically developing students to address the increase in SPD concerns in the classroom. Based on a literature review and targeted research on Ayres Sensory Integration Theory, an intervention consisting of nine sense-targeted exercises was implemented with 100 kindergarteners over 6 weeks. Results were examined with a mixed methods …

A Program Evaluation Case Study On The Impact Of Standards-Based Grading In A North Carolina School District, Ashley Mclain Westmoreland

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation case study on the impact of standards-based grading in a North Carolina school district. The implementation procedures and end products of grading reform were assessed using the CIPP model. Data from teacher questionnaires, principal implementation checklists, interviews, and end-of-grade (EOG) test results were used in this mixed methods study. The program evaluation examined the implementation's advantages and disadvantages and offered suggestions for improvement. The research questions examined teacher and principal perceptions of the impact of implementation. Themes of the district's implementation strengths and weaknesses were identified through the use …

A Program Evaluation Of The Mtss Framework In Grades 1-3 And The Perceived Impact On Tier 3 Reading Students, Amy Wilson Fonseca

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation evaluated the implementation of the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework in one North Carolina school district. It examined the perceived teacher impact of the program implementation for Tier 3 reading students in first through third grades. The vision for employing the MTSS framework in North Carolina is for all prekindergarten through 12^th-grade public education organizations to implement and sustain all areas of an MTSS to ensure students are college-, career-, and community-ready (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction [NCDPI], 2021). I used the study's results to determine how various stakeholders perceive program …

The Implementation And Impact Of The Teacher Evaluation Process On Special Educator Professional Growth In A Public Middle School, Michael L. Lefko

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation examined teacher and administrator perceptions regarding fidelity of implementation of components of the teacher evaluation program with middle school special education teachers. These components include pre-conferences, observations, and post-conferences; summary evaluations; and professional development plans. Incorporating evidence from qualitative interviews with school-based administrators, qualitative focus groups with special education teachers, and a quantitative survey with special education teachers, this study found that fidelity of implementation of the components of teacher evaluation is impacted by evaluator capacity. Capacity is defined as both, time to engage in the components of teacher evaluation and professional knowledge of special …

High-Stakes Testing: A Study Of The Relevance And Its Contribution To Career And College Readiness, Frank M. Cagle Jr

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Educators and policymakers have continued to search for the ideal medium for gauging learning and teacher accountability. After nearly 50 years since the inception of assessments to prove minimum competency, many attempts have been made to reform the process and the assessment tool. With the current focus in education being on career and college readiness and 21st century skills, the purpose of this study was to determine if high-stakes testing contributes to college and career readiness. College and career readiness and 21st century skills have been considered qualities needed to remain competitive in the global workplace. The most desirable qualities …

Making The Grade: An Exploration Of Secondary Teacher Grading Practices And Equity Implications For High School Students, Pamela Williams

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Much has been written in the grading literature regarding the continued use of traditional teacher grading practices that impede effective teaching and learning, yet teachers continue to assign grades using a mixture of factors. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore secondary teacher perceptions of their grading practices, the evolution of their grading behaviors, and the alignment of these grading practices with equitable grading principles. Using a teacher decision-making theoretical framework and a conceptual framework focused on pillars of grading equity, this study sought to investigate how teachers perceive their grading practices and how they develop their …

Efficacy, Attitudes, And Collaboration Of Co-Teaching For Middle School General And Special Educators, Ellenita Blanton

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate how general and special educators’ attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration promote co-teaching relationships that benefit exceptional students in urban middle schools. The impacts of co-teaching on the attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration of secondary teachers were explored. A questionnaire was distributed to general and special education teachers, and focus groups were held. The methodology included using a quantitative phase and a qualitative phase research design to collect the data. The quantitative measure used was surveys. Participants, who were qualified, were chosen for the interview and focus group portions of the study. In …

A Sense Of Belonging: An Examination Of The Impact Of Leadership Behaviors On Teacher Morale In Rural Middle Schools, Taquilla Barksdale

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to shed light on the importance of addressing low teacher morale and provide methods for improving teacher morale through leadership behaviors. This study was designed to determine the leadership behaviors that will best heighten morale as perceived by middle school teachers. Thirty-nine teachers who teach middle-level grades (Grades 6-8) in rural areas completed a survey. The survey had 18 leadership behaviors. The teachers ranked the leadership behaviors within five leadership responsibilities based on the behavior’s importance to them. The five leadership responsibilities categories were based on the Wallace Foundation’s (2013) research. Instructional leaders, …

An Exploratory Quantitative Study Of The Impact Of Stem-Focused Middle Schools On Student Persistence And Performance In Stem, Shandua Ellis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) continue to be a major challenge for the United States (U.S.), as the U.S. continues to lag behind other countries in this area due to ongoing lack of individuals who are entering STEM fields and many who are entering STEM fields but lack the skills necessary to perform adequately in these roles. The problem related to this study involved the ongoing need to identify how well STEM education programs are addressing this need and increasing the number of students, especially underrepresented minorities, in following STEM career pathways and developing the knowledge and skills needed …

Impoverished Schools That Are Performing Successfully In South Carolina: How Do They Differ From Impoverished Schools That Are Underperforming?, Sheka Houston

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This case study examined four impoverished middle schools in South Carolina to identify the factors prevalent in successfully performing impoverished middle schools which set them apart from underperforming impoverished middle schools. The study’s objective was to provide principals working in similar (impoverished) settings an understanding of the factors they might wish to replicate in improving school achievement. Data were collected from several sources. Qualitative data points were collected from the principal and teacher interviews as well as obtained from school report cards to assess student performance, school environment, student engagement, and teacher retention rates. A walkthrough was to be conducted …

The Avid Effect In High School: A Quantitative Study Of The Avid Effect In A Large Urban School District In The South, Darrell Potts

Doctor of Education Dissertations

According to the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) website, there are multiple studies comparing the academic achievement of AVID students to non-AVID students. This research study was uniquely designed to determine the effectiveness of the AVID program in large urban school districts in the south based on students’ junior year academic performance on state assessments such as the ACT, English III, Math III, and chemistry exams. This study also examined comparisons between graduation rates, suspensions, and attendance. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare means of three groups during this study including AVID elective students, non-AVID elective students attending non-AVID …

A Program Evaluation Of An Alternative Educational Program In A School District In North Carolina For High School Students At-Risk For Dropping Out, Janice Duffie

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation of an alternative educational program in North Carolina for high school students at-risk for dropping out. The CIPP model was used to evaluate to what extent the alternative educational program is achieving its stated mission. This mixed-method evaluation consisted of quantitative and qualitative data that included interviews with district- and school-level leaders, surveys from selected staff at six high schools and the alternative educational program, and historical data. The program evaluation explored the program’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for improvement. Based on the findings, the research questions examined …

A Study Of The Impact Of Career And Technical Education In Determining The Skills Gap In Selected Rural Communities In North Carolina, Chad Beasley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was an investigation of three rural high schools in western North Carolina to examine the perceptions of community employers, principals, and career and technical education (CTE) directors as to the skill levels of graduates from CTE programs. The study also determined if the skills being taught in secondary schools meet the needs of community employers. Qualitative data were collected from high school principals, CTE directors, and regional employers via open-ended questions and one-on-one interviews. Findings indicated participants perceived that CTE has a positive effect on student ability to be career and college ready. In addition, participants perceived CTE …

A Correlational Study Of School Report Card Grades And Degrees Of Poverty, Morgan V. Blanton

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

This study explores the ways in which public schools are evaluated and the results are reported in North Carolina. Currently using a formula that calculates a summative score based on academic achievement and academic growth, the impact of poverty and the complexity of school evaluation is investigated using demographic and testing data from schools across the state. Furthermore, recommendations to alter current practices of school evaluation and reporting as well as suggestions for future research are discussed based on this study’s findings.

Simulation Impact On Medication Administration Safety: A Simulation Quality Improvement Project, Stacy Simpson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Two medication simulations increasing in rigor, patient acuity, and distractions were implemented among undergraduate nursing students.

Objectives: To increase nursing student confidence, knowledge, and competence when administering medications.

Design: Two medication administration simulations were implemented and data was collected from students via a pre-simulation quiz, observation during the simulation via a Clinical Simulation Evaluation Tool, and student evaluation of the simulation with a modified version of the Simulation Evaluation Tool Likert scale.

Settings: Gaston Community College nursing simulation lab.

Participants: 53 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in NUR 101 and 42 students in NUR 102 …

Responsive Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study Of The Impact On Academic Achievement And Social Skills, Amy Hildenbrand

Doctor of Education Dissertations

In a single-year mixed methods explanatory study, the researcher sought to determine the impact the Responsive Classroom approach had on student achievement and social skills. The participating elementary school had 14 teachers and two administrators voluntarily participate in the 4-day Responsive Classroom training. The school used the train-the-trainer model, and the participating teachers and administrators brought the training to all other staff for the school-wide implementation of the Responsive Classroom approach. At the end of the year, the researcher analyzed student achievement data to look for any statistically significant changes as measured from the non-implementation year to the year with …

Analysis Of The Impact Of Professional Learning Teams On Teaching Practices And Student Achievement In Biology Using Dufour’S Model, Rowena K. Dawkins

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed-methods study addresses the perceived impact of working in Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) on teaching practices and student achievement in biology. The study replicates Roberts’s (2010) study. Success in biology is important to the nation because it aligns with national efforts to prepare students to compete in global markets. Educators use PLTs to support development of educators and address student educational needs. PLTs share basic functions. Basic functions were defined using DuFour’s (2004) three big ideas of PLCs: ensuring students learn at high levels, promoting a collaborative culture, and focusing on academic results. Biology teachers completed an anonymous online …

Impact Of Reflection: A Qualitative Study Measuring The Impact Reflection Has On Teacher Effectiveness, Samuel Jones

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This research study examined current reflective practices used by kindergarten through 12^th grade teachers in a single school district in North Carolina. The study sought to identify themes regarding the impact reflection has on teacher effectiveness, with effectiveness being measured by the five teaching standards of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. I identified participants as National Board certified teachers and Non-National Board certified teachers to study the similarities and differences in reflective practices between the two groups. A questionnaire, self-assessment, and interviews were utilized to collect participant data. This study’s data showed that teachers from both groups …

Collaborative Professional Learning In Early Literacy: The Impact On Teacher Knowledge, Actions, And Beliefs, Jaime Henderson Dawson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Literacy is the foundation for individual success and economic independence. Early literacy development is an area of importance; thus, professional learning in early literacy is critical and significant. This study examined the impact of a collaborative professional learning model in early literacy on teacher knowledge, actions, and efficacy and how learning transfer resulted in changes to instructional practices. The study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Data were collected from participants in a specific collaborative professional learning model, the Early Literacy Professional Development (ELPD) model. Quantitative data were collected through surveys to identify professional learning topics perceived as having …

The Impact Of Research-Based Professional Development On Teacher Self-Efficacy And Collective Efficacy Beliefs With Respect To Applying Techniques From Teach Like A Champion 2.0, Rhonda L. Partin-Dunn

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods research examined the impact of professional development on teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs with respect to applying techniques from Teach Like A Champion 2.0. Increasing research shows there is a positive correlation between student achievement and high levels of teacher self-efficacy. Studies on teacher preparation acknowledge the role professional development plays on both teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs. Additionally, research-based best practices like the techniques found in Teach Like A Champion 2.0 have been established as behaviors of highly efficacious teachers. The study assessed teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs, provided research-based professional development, …

Parent Magnet School Choice In A Large Urban School District, Catherine Diane Payne

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to understand the perspectives of parents who choose magnet schools. The study investigated sources of information parents use in their school search, factors influencing them to apply to a magnet school, features of charter and private schools that attract them, and reasons for choosing a magnet school. Through an analysis of 984 surveys from parents who applied to a magnet school for the 2018-2019 school year and data from focus groups, the researcher found that recommendations from others is the most important source of information in parent school searches. Parents also consulted online …

The Impact Of Graduation Coaches' Relationship Building Strategies On Student Dispositions And Self-Efficacy, Rick Strickland

Education Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological research was designed to explore the relationships established by graduation coaches and the students they serve. The research that was conducted in two upstate South Carolina schools explored the perceptions and experiences of both the graduation coaches and the students who participated in the study. The study was conducted using a phenomenological research design to capture the essence of each participant’s experiences and perceptions. Data were collected utilizing surveys, interviews, and field observations. The researcher did not participate in the interaction between the graduation coaches and their students. The results of the data collection revealed themes and …

Comparing Academic Performance Data Of Students In Single-Gender Classroom: Which Gender Benefits The Most, African-American Males Or African-American Females?, Daris F. Gore

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if single-gender settings have a statistically significant effect on African-American male and/or African-American female academic achievement on English assessment from sixth through eighth grade. Social science statistics were used to determine if a statistically significant difference occurred in the performance of African-American males and/or female students in single-gender classrooms compared to African-American male and female students in coed classrooms. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess if differences exist on a dependent variable (student achievement) by independent variables (instructional setting and gender). A statistically significant difference occurred among …