Educational Leadership Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Introverted Teachers, Bambi A. Hamel

All NMU Master's Theses

Behavior management has long been a challenge for teachers in general, but there has been a lack of research on behavior management through the lens of personality type, such as introversion. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the strengths and skills of introverted teachers to facilitate positive behaviors in their classrooms, as well as challenges they encountered. In a semi-structured interview, five teachers from a school district in the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan were presented with a specific set of questions (See Appendix C) targeting their experiences in behavior management as introverted teachers. The results highlighted the teachers’ unique traits …

Behavioral Manifestations Of Childhood Abandonment: African-American Men's Reflections And Strategies To Support Teenage Boys In K-12 Education, Jarmel Bell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the behavioral manifestations of childhood abandonment as reflected in the lived experiences of African-American men and to identify strategies that may support African-American boys in K–12 educational settings. Although there has been limited documentation regarding the direct connection between childhood abandonment and behavioral challenges in school environments, this study seeks to address that gap by capturing the reflections of African-American men who experienced abandonment during their formative years. These reflections provide insight into how abandonment may shape behavior in educational spaces and what types of interventions or supports might have made a …

Educator Perceptions Of Mindfulness Education In Rural Elementary Schools In Tennessee, Mary C. Shepherd-Mcgown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine educator perceptions of mindfulness instruction and the alignment of school policies in rural elementary schools in Tennessee. Despite growing interest in mindfulness in education, few studies have investigated how these practices are experienced and implemented within under-resourced, rural contexts.

Guided by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) and framed conceptually by the Whole-School Mindfulness (WSM) model, the study explored how social, organizational, and policy factors influence the adoption of mindfulness practices. SLT provided a theoretical lens for understanding how educator behaviors are shaped through observation, modeling, and reinforcement, while the WSM framework …

Enhancing Student Success Prediction With Multimodal Machine Learning Models, Senay Berhe

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

This project explores how multimodal, fairness-aware machine learning models can enhance early prediction of student success while promoting equity in higher education. Traditional prediction models often rely on static academic or demographic data, which can unintentionally reinforce bias and overlook the complex, behavioral aspects of learning. Our approach integrates engagement metrics from learning management systems, academic performance data, and motivational survey responses to capture a more holistic view of student learning. The predictive framework emphasizes behavioral and psychological features that are both actionable and ethically sound, supporting real-time intervention through the iTOOLS platform. By focusing on engagement consistency and motivational …

9th Gsep Research Symposium - 2025

GSEP Research Symposium

The Ninth Annual GSEP Research Symposium, themed "Building Bridges to Elevate Humanity: Innovations and Insights in Education and Psychology", was hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) on June 19–20, 2025, at the historic Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom.

This hybrid symposium convened a vibrant global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to share research that addresses real-world challenges, advances scholarly inquiry, and builds pathways for inclusive collaboration and leadership. Spanning a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence and mental health to trauma-informed practices, educational equity, social justice, and cross-cultural leadership—the …

Your Consolation Brings Joy: How Private School Employees Support Students Experiencing Trauma, Virginia L. Rose

PhD in Education

Trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences is a growing and pervasive issue. Researchers have found trauma may have physical, emotional, behavioral, academic, and spiritual effects on children. School employees are in a unique position to teach students about resiliency and can mitigate the effects of traumatic stress. Although multiple studies have examined teachers’ definition, perspective, and experiences of trauma, few studies have taken place in faith-based schools. The following qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to discover the lived experiences of faith-based school employees in identifying and supporting students who have experienced trauma. Eleven faith-based school employees participated in a …

The Fear Factor: Exploring The Experiences Of Fear Of Secondary School Teachers, Kelly J. Raines

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Fear can be a powerful catalyst for cognitive potential, or a potent agent of havoc. This descriptive (transcendental) phenomenological study aimed to understand the phenomenon of fear experienced by teachers in public and private secondary schools in Central Florida. Semi-structured interviews collected data from the purposive sample, and the data were thoroughly analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) model. The emergent essence of the lived experience of teachers identified the phenomenon of fear as the inducement of a debilitating sense of powerlessness that diminishes self-confidence and self-efficacy, resulting in emotional, cognitive, and/or physical impairments that directly affect the metacognitive potential of teachers. …

Teachers' Competence In Teaching Twice- Exceptional Students In The Sultanate Of Oman, Ahmad “Mohammad Jalal” Al-Fawair

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The current study aimed to determine the level of teachers’ competence in teaching twice-exceptional students in the Sultanate of Oman. To achieve this aim, a Teachers’ Competence Scale for Teaching Twice-Exceptional Students was developed. The study sample included (150) teachers who teach twice-exceptional students. Results revealed that the overall level of teachers’ competence in teaching twice-exceptional students in Sultanate of Oman was moderate, as well as in the dimensions of collaboration and teaching strategies, while it was low in the dimensions of interaction and classroom management. Results also indicated that gender had no significant effect on teachers’ competence levels neither …

The Degree Of Digital Fluency Availability Among Middle School English Teachers In Bisha City, Sharifah Al-Shahrani, Ahmad Al- Daleel

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The aim of this study was to assess the dimensions of digital fluency (technical, cognitive, social, and security/privacy) among middle school English teachers in Bisha Governorate, Saudi Arabia. The study included 157 teachers selected using a simple random sampling method. The researchers employed a descriptive survey approach and used a questionnaire as the research instrument. The study results showed that the level of availability of the dimensions of digital fluency among middle school English teachers in Bisha Governorate varied: the social dimension ranked first with a mean score of 4.35, indicating a very high level of availability; followed by the …

The Relative Contribution Of Career Sustainability To The Psychological Well-Being Of Teachers In Syrian Refugee Camps In Light Of Some Variables, Ahmad Mohammad Sulieman Bani Khalid, Omar Atallah Ali Al-Adamat

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to identify the level of both Career Sustainability and psychological well-being among teachers in Syrian refugee camps, and the relative contribution of Career Sustainability to psychological well-being. The study sample consisted of 282 teachers (138 males, 144 females) from the Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, selected by convenience sampling. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers used (Chin et al., 2022) scale of Career Sustainability and (Anyamesem-Poku & Parmar., 2024) scale of teachers’ psychological well-being after ensuring reliability and validity. The results of the study indicated that the overall level of Career Sustainability was (high) …

The Role Of Scientific, Critical, And Creative Thinking Skills In Equipping Students With Problem-Solving Skills: A Field Study Among A Sample Of Sultan Qaboos University Students, Noureddine Chebbi, Wafa Al Mamaria, Suleiman Zakaria

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The ability to think scientifically, critically, and creatively is essential for students to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The current study sought to assess the sources and level of acquisition of scientific, critical, and creative thinking skills by Sultan Qaboos University students, and to determine the impact of these skills on their problem- solving abilities. The study random sample consisted of 384 male and female students selected from all colleges of Sultan Qaboos University. Study data was collected automatically via an electronic platform specifically developed for the study. Descriptive and correlational analyses were used to assess skill …

Differences In Cognitive Distortions And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Between Cancer Patients And Healthy Individuals In Light Of Some Variables In The State Of Kuwait, Abdelmotaleb Abdelkader Abdelmotaleb Haggag, Dana Mubarak Al-Azmi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to examine the differences between cancer patients and healthy individuals in terms of cognitive distortions and chronic fatigue syndrome in light of certain variables in Kuwait. The study sample consisted of 250 participants, divided into two groups based on medical diagnosis: the first group included cancer patients, while the second group included healthy individuals. The study adopted a descriptive methodology. Data was collected using a questionnaire that included demographic information, as well as a cognitive distortion scale and a multidimensional fatigue scale. The results of the study showed statistically significant differences between cancer patients and healthy individuals …

Big Five Personality Traits: A Comparative Study Of University Students In Six Arab Countries, Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Khalek, Mayssah Ahmed El Nayal, Asma Abdulla Al-Attiyah, Adel Shukri Karim, Atef Masad Al-Sharbini, Shaikha Ahmed Al-Junaid, Slah Eddine Ben Fadheln, Gomaa Said Mohamed Abdelhamid, Kholoud Adeeb Al-Dababneh, Mona Ghazi Sayegh, Mahmoud Mohamed Emam

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This study aimed to compare the Big Five personality traits among university students of both genders across six Arab countries: Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Oman, and Bahrain (N = 1,729). Participants completed the Arabic version of the Big Five Personality Inventory, enabling a cross-national analysis of personality trait distributions. The results indicated distinct national patterns: Jordanian students scored the highest on Extraversion, Iraqi students on Neuroticism, Bahraini students on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, and Qatari students on Openness. In contrast, Tunisian students had the lowest mean scores for Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, while Bahraini students had the lowest mean for Neuroticism, …

Evaluating The Quality Of Support Services For Students With Learning Difficulties: Perspectives Of Resource Room Teachers In The Sultanate Of Oman, Laila Al Salmi, Ibrahim Al Qaryoti, Ali Tekin, Amur Al Aisari, Mariam Al Mamari, Saed Al Saidi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This study investigates the quality-of-service provision offered by the Learning Difficulties Programs (LDPs) in Oman from the perspective of resource room teachers. Employing a descriptive approach, a sample of 329 teachers responded to a researcher-designed 49-item questionnaire, assessing six key domains: administrative and technical support, diagnosis and assessment procedures, family-school partnerships, curriculum and intervention programs, educational and technological aids, and behavior modification strategies. Results revealed that teachers held neutral perceptions regarding the overall quality of LDPs across most domains, except for the appropriateness of curriculum content for students with learning difficulties, which was rated positively. The study identified a lack …

The Influence Of Academic Outcomes On Academic Achievement: A Quantitative Study In Grades 3-12, Kelli R. Helle

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this predictive study was to examine the relationship between social and emotional learning (SEL) subskills and academic performance among students in grades 3–12. Using the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework, the study sought to identify which specific subskills were most strongly associated with student grade point average (GPA). A quantitative predictive correlational design was employed with a sample of 737 students representing diverse grade levels and backgrounds. Data were collected through the Satchel Pulse SEL assessment platform, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive value of SEL subskills while …

A Tale Of Two Schools: A Comparative Case Study Demonstrating Organizational Pathways To Educator Collaborations, Michael W. Valenti Ph.D., Duhita Mahatmya, Elizabeth Levine-Brown, Karen Celedonia, Tracy Sweet

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Effective staff collaboration in schools maximizes educators’ collective capacity, improves educator and student outcomes, and facilitates school-wide improvement efforts. Yet, many school team members struggle to collaborate effectively. Previous studies have demonstrated individual and school-level factors that influence school-based collaborations. This study expands former research by comparing the varying administrative and environmental tools employed by two schools to shape relational networks and foster interpersonal capital. Specifically, this case study explores how school-level factors shape the development of school social networks and staff collaborative behavior. We use comparative case study analysis to explore how differences in individual-level and system-level factors influence …

Increasing Implementation Of The Comfortable Cafeteria Program To Promote School-Age Children’S Mental Health And Well-Being, Reinecka Mondesir, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Every Moment Counts (EMC) is a positive mental health promotion initiative that offers several initiatives to create inclusive environments that support student participation and emotional well-being throughout the school day. Comfortable Cafeteria, part of EMC, fosters positive mealtime experiences supporting peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Many SBOT practitioners lack the resources to implement Comfortable Cafeteria, despite its benefits. This capstone project addresses the need for practical tools to help school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practitioners integrate the Comfortable Cafeteria program into daily practice. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the project developed and disseminated an interactive, evidence-based video …

Investigating Relationships Between Education Professionals' Trauma Histories And Causal Attributions For Students' Disruptive Behaviors, Christina D. Rodefeld

Theses and Dissertations

Using attribution theory as a theoretical framework, this mixed methods study investigated how education professionals reported and perceived the relationship between their histories of trauma and their attributions for disruptive student behavior. Participants completed four surveys to measure Adverse Childhood Experiences, adulthood trauma, COVID-19-related trauma, and causal attributions for disruptive behavior. Bivariate correlations between each of the trauma history datasets and causal attributions datasets were conducted to investigate these relationships. Two semi-structured interviews with six participants were also conducted and analyzed using deductive and inductive coding processes. Quantitative analyses found a statistically significant relationship between participants’ reported adulthood trauma amounts …

Power Of Us: Listening To Families, Tara J. Vassallo

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This article, originating from the ‘Power of Us!’ conference held in June 2025, reflects on the session titled ‘Listening to families’ which offered an experienced parent panel, providing a forum for discussion. The session had a particular focus on the experiences of families and their children with neurodivergent and other individual educational needs and the families’ pursuit of genuine co-production with their children’s school. The article offers an insight into the session, sharing reflections from the discussions, and calls for action aimed at creating a truly inclusive educational system.

The Impact Of Using : Infographic Technique Based On Marzano’S Dimensions Of Learning Model On Developing Moral Self In Islamic Education In Relation To Academic Achievement, Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Ayasrah, Karima Abdullah Mohammed Al-Saadi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This study investigated the impact of using : infographic technique based on Marzano’s Dimensions of Learning Model on developing moral self in tenth-grade female students in Islamic education considering their academic achievement. The study used the quasi-experimental approach. The study population consisted of all tenth grade female students in North Al Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman, numbering (4781) students; while the number of study sample members was (273) female students from the tenth grade in North Al Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman for the academic year (2022/2023). The results showed that there was a statistically significant …

Social-Emotional Competence As A Mediating Variable In The Relationship Between Spiritual Coping And Occupational Hardiness Among Paramedics In The Emergency Centers Of The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Rihab Aref Alsadi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to investigate the effect of social-emotional competence as a mediating variable in the relationship between spiritual coping and occupational hardiness among paramedics in emergency centers of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. It also sought to determine the levels of social-emotional competence, spiritual coping, and occupational hardiness among them. The study was conducted on (120) paramedics, both male and female, in the northern governorates of Palestine, selected through a simple random sampling method. The study found that social-emotional competence as a mediating variable has an effect on the relationship between spiritual coping and occupational hardiness. The results also …

The Impact Of A Psychological Immunity-Based Program On Enhancing Emotional Competence And Gratitude Among Gifted Students With Learning Difficulties, Waleed Fathi Abdul Karim Abdulkader, Naglaa Ibrahim Abu Al-Wafa

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a training program based on the dimensions of the Psychological Immune System (PIS) model in enhancing emotional competence and gratitude among gifted female students with learning difficulties. The study adopted the experimental approach (quasi-experimental design) using two groups (experimental and control) with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements The sample consisted of 124 students, of whom 14 were divided into two equal groups (7 students in each group) based on specific criteria, including the mental abilities test, a list of creative activities, and a scale of characteristics of gifted students with learning difficulties. …

The Effectiveness Of University Administration In Performing The Function Of Community Service: Enhancing Lifelong Learning Opportunities As A Model In The Saudi Context, Abdullah Dhaifallah Alharthi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

we would like to inform you that the current study aimed to determine the degree of effectiveness of university administration in performing its function in serving the community in order to improve lifelong learning opportunities in the dimensions of availability and diversity. the thesis also aimed to determine effectiveness, access and dissemination, and the researcher used the descriptive approach, relying on the questionnaire as a tool to collect data that he collected according to the facilitated sample, which numbered (2048) individuals from the saudi community in the first semester of the academic year 2024. the study extracted a number of …

The Relative Contribution Of Psychological Capital In Predicting Compassionate Communication Skills Among A Sample Of Psychological Counselors, Mai Hassan Omar Atiya, Hosni Mohamed Awad

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This study aims to uncover the relative contribution of psychological capital in predicting compassionate communication skills among a sample of psychological counselors. It examines the levels of psychological capital and compassionate communication, explores the relationship between them, and employs a descriptive methodology. To achieve its objectives, two developed scales were applied: the Psychological Capital Scale and the Compassionate Communication Skill Scale. The sample consisted of 217 psychological counselors (male and female) from northern governorates in the West Bank and southern regions in Gaza, selected via snowball sampling. The results revealed that psychological capital among counselors was 81.2%, indicating a high …

The Effect Of Integrating Augmented Reality (Ar) Technology In Science Education Teaching On Improving The Biological Concepts Learning Among Kindergarten Children, Kawthar Habeeb

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This quasi-experimental study explored the impact of AR on acquiring biological concepts among kindergarteners. The sample comprised 30 second-level kindergarteners from a school in Farwaniya Educational Directorate, Kuwait. Participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15), taught using AR, and a control group (n = 15), taught traditionally. Results revealed statistically significant di erences in biological concept understanding, favoring the experimental group. Additionally, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvement from pre-test to post-test stages. These findings highlight the potential of AR to enhance learning outcomes in kindergarten biology education. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating AR …

The Effects Of Digitized Social Stories On Classroom Routine Completion: A Single-Case Study Of Students With Developmental Disabilities, Huda A. Almumen

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The current study examined the effects of a digitized Social Story, supported by embedded video prompts, on the classroom routine skills of fifth-grade Kuwaiti students with moderate intellectual disability, with or without co-occurring autism spectrum disorder. Using a single-subject, multiple baseline design across six participants, data were collected using an observational card with a checklist of the steps required to perform classroom routines. Participants significantly increased the percentage of correctly completed steps in daily classroom routines, indicating that digitized Social Stories, supported by video prompts, are effective tools for teaching classroom routines to students with developmental disabilities. Implications for future …

Innovative Partnerships To Expand School-Based Health Capacity In Rural Communities, Robyn Thomas Pitts, Amy K. Mcdiarmid

DU Rural Summit Conference Proceedings

Our nation's youth are in dire need of increased access to high-quality school-based mental health (SBMH) services. In Colorado’s rural areas, the school psychologist-to-student ratio is 1:2,128— over four times the recommended level. Our team secured $4M in federal and state funding to implement an innovative partnership strategy for strengthening rural SBMH capacity. We describe how innovative partnerships enabled us to overcome systemic barriers to training future school psychologists as they live, work, and learn in rural settings. Our culturally sustaining approach to program design, implementation, and evaluation leverages family-school-community partnerships to expand rural SBMH capacity.

The Squandering Of Critical Thinking In Our Schools And What We Can Do About It, Nick Pocius

Essays in Education

In the face of increasing disinformation, reduced student engagement, and rigid educational structures, this article critiques the current U.S. public school system’s failure to cultivate critical thinking in students. Drawing from over two decades of classroom experience, the author argues that the systemic emphasis on standardized testing, prescribed curricula, and diminished access to arts and physical education have contributed to a decline in curiosity and creative inquiry. Furthermore, the omnipresence of smartphones and social media has robbed students of the boredom that often sparks critical thought. The article proposes several pragmatic solutions, including banning phones during school hours, reintroducing recess …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Give Them Their Roses: Honoring Student Affairs Professionals Of Color Combatting Secondary Racial Battle Fatigue At A Historically White Institution, Julián X. Latshang, Julián X. Latshang

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of Secondary Racial Battle Fatigue (SRBF) and its impact on student affairs professionals of color in higher education. Grounded in critical qualitative inquiry and the lived experiences of participants, this study examines how emotional, behavioral, and physiological effects of SRBF manifest both through professionals’ direct racialized experiences and their roles supporting students enduring racial trauma. Framed by Racial Battle Fatigue (Smith, 2010) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (Figley, 1995), the research addresses three guiding questions: (a) How does SRBF manifest in professionals of color? (b) In what ways does it emerge when supporting racially traumatized students? …