Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Women Leaders In Mathematics Education: An Analysis Of Gender In Leadership Roles In Professional Organizations, Brianna Kurtz, Farshid Safi

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Professional organizations within mathematics education have been a source of development, connection, pedagogical direction, and policy for decades. With gender and equity discussions reaching the forefront of the mathematics education conversation, one must consider the gender representation of those leading the organizations upon which we rely. The authors analyzed historical presidential data from four major mathematics education professional organizations in the United States. Women were found to be in presidential roles at a statistically significantly less proportion (p<0.001) in three of the four organizations. When the organizations were considered aggregately since the enactment of Title IX, a trend to a plateau at 40% female leadership was seen. Future analysis beyond the presidential role and breakdowns by other factors are advisable.

Improving Practice In Special Education: The Evaluation Process As A Development Tool, Allison Gilmour, Amanda Sheaffer, Caitlyn E. Majeika

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Throughout the country, schools are using new teacher evaluation systems as a tool for professional development with the goal of improving teaching quality and students’ outcomes. However, not all teacher evaluation rubrics specifically address or encourage evidence-based practices for special education teachers, and many principals report that they are unsure how to evaluate special education teachers. This article provides an overview of teacher evaluation and special education teacher evaluation, and presents a strategy, based on existing research on effective teacher coaching and performance feedback, goal setting, and self-monitoring, to assist special educators in leveraging the evaluation process as a professional …

The Quest To Increase Student Academic Outcomes: Actions Of Two Charter High Schools, Laura Schaffer Metcalfe

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This study examined how two charter high schools located in the Phoenix area with a large population of low-socioeconomic students were able to assist students with academic success as measured through accomplishment on standardized achievement tests. Analysis of two Title 1 Reward high schools with grades 9 – 12 during the 2014 school year to determine what actions were implemented to attain high levels of student success on standardized achievement tests. Results were gathered through qualitative means from teacher, administrator, and other staff interviews and classroom observations. Findings from the study revealed how students were successful on standardized tests, how …

Understanding How Edd Students View Educational Research: A Qualitative Study Using Domain, Taxonomic, Componential And Text Mining Analysis, Chen Zong, Courtney Donovan, Dara Marin Prais

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how EdD students initially view educational research and themselves as researchers before taking their first required research course. This study used four types of qualitative data analysis methods: domain, taxonomic, componential, and text mining. The findings suggest that the EdD students are able to identity several attributes of research, but there is a dissonance on the attributes aligned with upper academic research. The students understand the importance of research to educational practices, but do not have sufficient understanding about research methods and methodologies. Their views of what research is are formal …

A Study To Investigate The Relationship Between Teacher Self-Efficacy, School Climate, And Student Behavior, Gegimara Fluelen-Ra-El

Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the relationship between teacher self-efficacy, student behavior, and school climate at a high school in Southern Illinois. The teaching staff, which consisted of 59 teachers, were invited to participate. The researcher utilized a teacher self-efficacy survey, school climate survey, and student behavior survey to collect data on a sample population of teachers. Participants completed the surveys in intervals. The surveys allowed the researcher to collect attitudinal data from participants for dissemination and analysis to develop statistical inferences and generalizations about the sample related to the hypotheses statements and based on the results. The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation …

Exploring The Leadership Preparation Needs Of Middle Leaders In International Schools: Case Studies From Vietnam, Mark Atkinson

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This research aims to explore the perceived leadership preparation needs of middle leaders in international schools in Vietnam. Research and scholarship into the many dispositions and articulations of educational leadership in an international context has developed rapidly due to the expansion of international organizations worldwide. Nevertheless, research surrounding the leadership preparation needs of middle leaders continues to be relatively scarce.

Data was obtained using a two part data collection process. Firstly, an open-ended survey questionnaire was used as a preliminary method; followed by semi-structured focus groups, allowing for deeper exploration into the experiences of participants. Findings explored teacher perceptions that …

A Descriptive Multicultural Phenomenology For Culturally Responsive Leadership, Christopher J. Kazanjian, David Rutledge, Sandra M. Gandarilla

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

As public schools in the United States continue to diversify in culture, educational leaders committed to multicultural education seek qualitative research methodologies for understanding phenomena in order to build culturally responsive leadership initiatives and interventions. This paper argues that a phenomenological research methodology is appropriate and relevant to understand cultural phenomena in the 21st century school. To serve this, the authors elaborate on a descriptive multicultural phenomenological research methodology for educational leaders. A phenomenological framework positions educational leaders to understand the nature and essence of personal experience. This approach will help educational leaders better understand the experiences of the diverse …

The Perceived Advantages Of Centralized And Decentralized Approaches To University Fundraising Programs, Michael T. Miller, G. David Gearhart

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Fundraising in higher education has continued to grow in importance, providing critical resources to the operation of colleges and universities. With such importance, college leaders must work to identify the most effective and efficient ways to organize their fundraising efforts. Sustained dialogue among these college leaders has been whether it is more effective and efficient to centralize fundraising efforts on a campus with a singular reporting line, or whether a decentralized approach provides better connection with potential benefactors. The purpose for conducting the current study was to identify the agreement of senior development officers regarding the benefits of centralized and …

How They See It: Employer Perceptions Of Online Versus Traditional Learning At The Graduate Level, Cessna Winslow, Logan Allen

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This study is part of a larger dissertation study that explored perceptions of Public Relations (PR) among graduate higher education publics regarding distance learning as contrasted with face-to-face learning contexts. Today, online degrees are seen as inferior to traditional, face-to-face classroom degrees, and because one primary goal of obtaining a higher education degree is to receive gainful employment, this portion of the dissertation study assessed employer perceptions of online versus traditional education at the graduate level. Human resource administrators from educational establishments who had experience hiring people with graduate education degrees were interviewed. The findings of this study indicate that …

A Mixed-Method Investigation Comparing Perceptions Of First-Generation And Non- First- Generation College Sophomores, Joshua Steven Hanke

Dissertations

The researcher focused on two groups of students, the First-Generation College Student (FGCS) and the sophomore student. First-Generation College Students completed degrees within six years at a rate of 34%, compared to 66% of non-FGCS (Engle & Tinto, 2008, p. 2). Researchers concluded that reducing support services after the first year led to a feeling of disconnection from institution and dropouts (Sanchez- Leguelinel, 2008). Researchers concluded the sophomore FGCS as the most susceptible group for attrition during a student’s second year (Ishitani, 2006). The purpose of the mixed methods study was to compare perceptions of the sophomore students from both …

Exploring Student And Faculty Perceptions Regarding The Availability Of On-Campus Counseling Services, Stephen Wade Baker

Dissertations

This study sought to explore undergraduate and faculty perceptions about oncampus counseling services. On-campus counseling services for clarification purposes, could be understood as a behavioral health service used by undergraduate students to discuss and address identified personal issues during a semester-based academic school year. The data was collected via a written response survey and it was administered at a private Midwestern university throughout the spring, summer, and fall traditional undergraduate semesters of 2018. The study looked to understand students’ perceptions on the overall need and functionality of the current counseling services promoted at their university. Furthermore, faculty interviews were conducted …

A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports In A Midwest Middle School, Thomas Dittrich Jr.

Dissertations

The researcher investigated the difference between the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and student achievement scores and the number of failing grades in a Midwest United States suburban public middle school through a mixed methods research study. The collected and analyzed secondary data to complete quantitative research included numbers of office discipline referrals and failing grades, average daily attendance percentages, and percentages of students scoring proficient or advanced on the Missouri Assessment Program tests. Staff members, during the specified timeframe of the study, completed a Google Form survey and provided qualitative data. The z-test for difference in …

The Four-Day School Week: Teacher Retention And Recruitment, Perceptions, And Achievement, Peter Damian Fay

Dissertations

In order to explore various issues with the four-day school week in rural, Missouri school districts, the researcher conducted a mixed-methods study which utilized both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. The researcher was primarily interested in the ability of the four-day model to attract and retain teaching staff, although he was also interested in the impact on student achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of the four-day school week model on teacher attraction and retention in a rural school district in Missouri. The researcher conducted interviews with seven principals of schools that had adopted …

Educators’ Perceptions Concerning The Leading Factors Of Mathematics Achievement In Top-Ranking Nations Around The World, Kendra Snow

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of post-secondary mathematics educators from countries considered to be highly successful in the area of mathematics based upon results of international assessments. Four instructors were randomly selected from a homogenous sample within the nations of Canada, China, Japan, and Singapore to contribute information about the phenomenon of mathematical achievement. Frameworks from SRI International (2009), Matthews (2013), and Schoenfeld (2014) were integrated to design this study focused on curriculum, pedagogy and instructional approach, teacher knowledge and expectations, and organizational and social climate as possible factors that support student mathematical proficiency. Interviews …

A Comparative Analysis Of Student Achievement Of First Grade Students Using Fundations Vs. Heggerty And Words Their Way, Stephen Schwartz

Dissertations

The Orton Gillingham (OG) teaching method is commonly used in schools (Ritchey & Goeke, 2006, p. 172). However, there is little evidence to support the use of OG based reading programs to help students learn more effectively in tier 1, 2 and 3 settings (Ring, Avrit, & Black, 2017, p. 384). The researcher sought to shed light on the effectiveness of an OG based reading program in comparison to the use of Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness Program and Words Their Way. The Investigator completed a study to shed light on the Fundations program. Fundations is an OG based reading program that …

A Comparative Study Analyzing Undergraduate Internship Participation And The Impact On Retention And Timely Degree Completion At A Four-Year, Private, Midwest Institution, Stefani Schuette

Dissertations

Declining enrollments, rising costs and increasing student debt have caused college administrators, potential students, and outside stakeholders to focus on certain student outcomes, including retention and timely degree completion. Colleges and universities are not only collecting data in these two areas, they are searching for strategies, which might have a positive effect. Research has provided a variety of factors, which contribute to retention and timely degree completion. High-impact practices, such as service learning, student faculty research and internships featured several characteristics that may contribute to retention and timely degree completion. Internships offer several advantages, such as preparation for future careers …

Retention Relationships: Connecting Higher Education Employees To Students Through Student Organizations, Michelle Sanford

Dissertations

This mixed methods study investigated higher education employee involvement with student organizations to determine if a connection existed between an employee’s engagement with a student organization and the employee’s retention at the university. Research shows that student involvement in campus life and with student organizations increases student retention (Astin, 1984); however, few research studies have focused on the impact this type of involvement has on employee retention. In this study, the researcher explored the following research questions: How does employee engagement with student organizations impact employee retention? Why do employees choose to support student organizations? The researcher examined these questions …

Developing Moral Education To Combat Human Trafficking, Shima Rostami

Dissertations

Leaders are challenged daily to improve their organization's products and outcomes. “When the character of leaders is low, so are their standards” (Maxwell, 2010, p. 41), and accordingly the products and programs. No field or profession was exempt from this challenge at the leadership level. On this note, human trafficking as a humanitarian crisis was of particular interest for activists, but one that may still suffer from this same weakness at the leadership level. Consequently, having a concern for how to improve the character and standards of the leaders in the anti-human trafficking movement, the Investigator of this study questioned …

A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Student Achievement And Satisfaction In Traditional Versus Online Learning Environments, Jessica L. Manion

Dissertations

To evaluate student achievement and satisfaction in different course delivery modes the researcher investigated both traditional and online undergraduate accounting courses at a private Midwestern university. By comparing student achievement and satisfaction in traditional versus online undergraduate accounting courses, the study aimed to highlight what works best in education and provide guidance to administrators and instructors alike. This investigation included students enrolled in undergraduate accounting courses during the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. The mixed-methods framework allowed the researcher to examine this educational issue from the quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Quantitatively, the researcher examined secondary data from both student …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Perceptions Of Down Syndrome And Student Disabilities In A Suburban Midwest High School, Gregory Wagener

Dissertations

The researcher explored the perceptions of typically-developing students, teachers, and parents of students with Down syndrome and students with disabilities at a suburban Midwestern High School. In exploring these perceptions of students with Down syndrome and students with disabilities, this study intended to explore how to increase effective inclusion of students with Down syndrome and students with disabilities in the general education setting, but more so, to explore the stigmas surrounding students with Down syndrome and students with disabilities in order to better understand the character of typically-developing students, teachers, and parents regarding students with Down syndrome and students with …

A Mixed-Methods Study Of Applying Andragogical Practices To An Online Tesol Teacher Training Course At A Midwestern University, Daisy Anne Mary Skelly

Dissertations

Preservice teachers needed to be prepared to teach culturally and linguistically diverse learners, because English learners continued to enroll in new geographic areas. In response to the reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, requirements for teaching culturally and linguistically diverse students were added to teacher certification programs at the state level. Universities offering teacher certification programs addressed new program requirements in different ways, including adding competencies to existing courses or creating new courses. The purpose of this mixedmethods study was to investigate the knowledge, pedagogical skill, and self-efficacy levels of preservice teachers and their perceptions of English …

Beyond Curriculum: Information Literacy, Librarianship, And The Role Of The Faculty At A Rural Community College In Missouri, Michelle A. Lane

Dissertations

This case study was designed to evaluate faculty perceptions of teaching information literacy within the general education curriculum, the level of collaboration between faculty and library staff, and challenges regarding instruction of information literacy at a community college in Missouri. Using an adapted survey from a 2014 study by Dr. Sharon Weiner of Purdue University, faculty were asked to provide their current views regarding instruction of information literacy at the Missouri institution. Additionally, archival data provided by the institution were analyzed using triangulation to establish a baseline regarding the best path forward to improving instruction, assessment, and student learning. While …

Adult Learning Principles Used With Nontraditional Students In Higher Education To Enhance Learner Satisfaction And Retention, Brenda M. Smith

Dissertations

As enrollment of adult learners increases in higher education, addressing their different needs and providing resources to aid their success and retention is important. The purpose of this study was to garner quantitative data regarding adult learning principles used in higher education with nontraditional students, as reported by faculty and students, and identify if any differences exist. The theoretical framework included adult learning theories of andragogy, self-directed learning, and transformative learning. Adult learning principles and learning strategies were explored utilizing the survey instrument, Principles of Adult Learning Scale, by Gary Conti (2004). Descriptive statistics and two sample independent t-tests were …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The School Resource Officer’S Role In Two K-12 School Districts, Christopher T. Muench

Dissertations

The researcher conducted a qualitative exploration on the role of the School Resource Officer (SRO) specifically on safety/security, law enforcement duties, and interaction with students. The idea of an SRO was present in school systems since the 1950s and over the decades showed considerable expansion. On the surface, the SRO position seemed to need little definition but attempting to clarify the role led to conflicts, vagueness, and confusion among organizations served, the community, and the SROs themselves. The research was diverse concerning the roles and responsibilities of the SRO whether it be from a legal, educational, or tactical standpoint. This …

Addressing The Theory-Practice Gap Relative To Teacher-Perceived Knowledge Of Effective Instructional Strategies, Laura Danielle O’Quinn

Dissertations

In the field of education, a theory-practice gap occurs when research is not applied with fidelity by practicing teachers in the classroom (Ford, 2018). Student achievement is negatively impacted when teachers do not implement research-based practices consistently (Stronge, 2018). This study involved an investigation into teacher perceptions of research-based instructional strategies as a possible cause of the theorypractice gap in education. Data were collected through a mixed-methods study involving an online survey and teacher focus group interviews. The online survey was used to measure teachers’ accuracy identifying the impact level of selected research-based instructional strategies from Hattie’s (2009) meta-analysis. Survey …

A Teacher’S Perspective: Valued Leadership Behaviors As Related To Preferences In School Culture And Professional Motivation, Jeremy R. Philips

Dissertations

Schools need effective leaders to embrace the many challenges of today’s school systems and to adequately prepare students for the 21st century (Bayar, 2016; Coggins & Diffenbaugh, 2013). Bartoletti and Connelly (2013) asserted, “Great schools do not exist apart from great leaders” (p. 1). The last few years have provided volumes of highquality research confirming leadership matters (Bartoletti & Connelly, 2013). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among the following variables: teachers’ perceptions of what they value in leadership behaviors (consideration and initiating structure), what they value in a school’s culture, and what they find professionally …

Exploring Restorative Justice, Suspensions, And Expulsions With African American Males, Dorothy L. Mosby

Dissertations

Zero tolerance programs led to unequal consequences for African American males because the programs targeted behaviors African American students were more likely to receive discipline for, which resulted in an increase of disciplinary situations for the students. With the disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of African American male students in public schools, Illinois Senate Bill 100 addressed the discipline issues to reduce the number of long-term suspensions and expulsions. In the 2016–2017 school year, the state of Illinois implemented Senate Bill 100. The bill reconstructed the procedures on how school administrators suspended and expelled students; Restorative Justice was a technique used …

The Intersection Of Andragogy And Courtroom Practice, Grant Shostak

Dissertations

Learning takes place not only in a traditional classroom setting, but in a plethora of avenues outside of the lecture hall. Learning paradigms like life-long learning and Andragogy, the teaching of adults, have been used by adult educators for fields such as education, finance, accounting, law enforcement, nursing, technology, and many others. A review of the existing literature has revealed an absence of the application of andragogy to the courtroom setting. This paper investigates and discusses the andragogical orientation of successful trial lawyers in Missouri. This study has shown that successful trial lawyers have adapted and share particular principles of …

Teaching English Learners: A Study Of Procedures And Perceptions Of Missouri Program Directors And Mainstream Classroom Teachers, Merica Schoen Clinkenbeard

Dissertations

Professional development for mainstream classroom teachers to meet the influx of diverse learners is not adequately met by most school districts (Quintero & Hanson, 2017). The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to gain information from English learner program directors about English learner program practices and professional development specific to the needs of English learners in Missouri school districts. Mainstream classroom teachers from different-sized schools with high- and lowincidence of English learner students were interviewed to gather the perceived level of understanding of best practices for the implementation of research-based strategies. The Missouri Professional Learning Guidelines for Student Success guided …

An Examination Of The Attitudinal And Structural Barriers To Successful Implementation Of Personalized Learning, Jeremy Sullivan

Dissertations

Personalized learning has become a common term in the education lexicon; however, there is not an industry-accepted and universally adopted definition or model. While personalized learning is mentioned in 39 states’ Every Student Succeeds Act plan, the models vary greatly because personalized learning requires a full paradigm shift from teacher-centered to student-centered instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine the current barriers K-12 classroom teachers experience when implementing personalized learning. The four core strategies of flexible learning environments, personal learning paths, learner profiles, and competency-based progression identified by Pane et al. (2017a) were utilized to frame personalized learning. …