Educational Leadership Commons^™

Building A Culture Of Hope For At-Risk Students, Emily Louise Gibson, Robert D. Barr

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Presenters will share research on the school culture differences found between high-performing and low-performing high-poverty schools. Participants will learn about A Culture of Hope and the four Seeds of Hope. After learning explicit steps and strategies for collecting and using survey data, participants will practice using surveys to assess components of school culture, and develop additional survey questions relevant to individual circumstances.

When All Hope Is Gone, Trust Then Believe: “At Risk” Or “At Potential"?, Erica C. Pooler, Barbara Kirby-Bentley Dr.

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

The Cards of Life, when all hope is gone; trust then believe forces educators to view students differently. The notion that we can’t teach students until we truly begin to know them and they begin to trust us is challenged. The fact that our actions have to align with our words and meaningful conversations and relationships must be established in the classroom. At Risk or At Potential? Every school across the nation have students that struggle, academically, socially or behaviorally. There are a variety of reasons as to why? We can no longer ignore these students and pad the numbers …

Transformational Leadership For Access, Engagement, And Empowerment, Chris Colgren

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Closing achievement gaps requires schools to provide all students with equitable opportunities to learn. It is necessary to increase students’ access to rigorous curricula and quality instruction, engage all learners both cognitively and affectively, and acknowledge the unique talents and cultural knowledge that all children possess. This session is designed to help educators address the challenge of eliminating achievement gaps.

Grief And At-Risk Behavior: A Look At The Effectiveness Of Grief Counseling Groups For Adolescents In Public Schools, Kiana Battle

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Brief Description: This presentation will explore the affects that grief has on adolescents, including at–risk behaviors, identity confusion, issues of self-worth, and many more. The presentation will illustrate the positive impact that grief counseling groups have among adolescents (with a special focus in the public school environment). Barriers that hinder the effective delivery of group counseling within the public school arena will also be addressed (such barriers are amount of time in the school day, student caseload, and administrative support). This presentation will also address the critical role that school social workers play, in effectively providing group counseling interventions to …

Count Yourself In:Encouraging Students To Take The 180-Day Challenge, Takeysha Ray, Curlandra Lightfoot-Smith

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

In this presentation, participants will focus on the importance of a holistic approach addressing chronic absenteeism in schools. Participants are provided with tools to take to their district and community helping bring awareness to regular, punctual school attendance. We will provide exciting, hands-on, interactive experiences on initiatives and creative strategies addressing truancy.

Supporting The Needs Of At-Risk Beginning Teachers, Adam Myers Dr.

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This session is designed to provide teachers, teacher leaders, principals, and support staff relevant research and best practices for incorporating induction support to novice teachers who have been placed in low-performing schools. This interactive session will include participant discussion on the characteristics of beginning teachers, and how mentoring and coaching can significantly impact their retention and effectiveness.

Construct Measurement Using Factor Analysis: Creating & Validating Survey Protocols, Richard E. Cleveland

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Presentations

This presentation was given during the Georgia Southern University College of Education Research Committee Brown Bag Series.

The Road Less Traveled: Alumni Perceptions Of The Georgia Early College High School Experience, Tequila Tranise Morgan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Despite the efforts of traditional high schools to educate all students, at-risk populations tend to lag behind their White and more affluent counterparts in educational achievement, high school graduation rates, and college attendance rates. Early College High Schools (ECHSs) were designed to attract and retain at-risk students through rigorous academic practices, strong support systems, and by providing free access to college credits while students are still in high school.

With the case study approach as a guide, this research used an open-ended interview protocol to collect data from a sample of 16 students who attended one ECHS in Georgia between …

Principal Instructional Leadership In Ga High Poverty Elementary Schools, Ginger W. Spires

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of principal instructional leadership practices in Georgia Reward Highest Performing and Georgia Reward Highest Progress elementary schools. As such, this causal-comparative study identified the frequency of principal instructional leadership practices and attempted to determine if these practices can be related to school effectiveness in high poverty schools. The sample of this study consisted of Georgia classroom teachers in high poverty elementary schools, specifically in the categories of Georgia Reward Highest Performing and Georgia Reward Highest Progress elementary schools. Hallinger’s (1983) Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) was utilized to …

African-American Males, African-American Female Principals, & The Opportunity Gap, Jennifer N. Dunbar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past decade, research has been devoted to bridging the gap in academics and opportunity among African-American males. Missing from the dialogue however, are the voices of African-American female leaders. This voice will not only play an instrumental part in mediating cultural misunderstandings that occur in the classroom, but it will also facilitate a much needed conversation in understanding gender and race by displaying different views on educational leadership. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of the opportunity gap among African-American female principals in Title I schools to raise the presence of their voice …

Fighting On The Frontline: An Examination Of Teacher Retention Practices In Urban Elementary Schools, Kelley J. Young

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

For many teachers employed in schools in metro Atlanta, meeting the demands of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top is complicated by social realities characterized by the urban environment. Teachers’ beliefs about learning, operationalized at either the individual or the collective level, are influenced by the context of the schools in which they teach, and when teaching in the urban context, it is critical that teachers believe students can learn despite their circumstances (Halvorsen, Lee, & Andrade, 2009). The purpose of schools is to ensure academic achievement for children despite age, creed, color, race, or religion; however, …

Using The School Improvement Plan For Program Advocacy, Richard E. Cleveland

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Presentations

This session will provide brief background and introductory information about school improvement plans (SIPs). It will also provide alignment between site/district SIPs and comprehensive school counseling programs such as the ASCA National Model. This program will outline how SIP involvement can create program advocacy. Participants will have working time to engage in brainstorming ideas for connecting with their site/district SIP and SIP goals.

The Flipped Classroom: Flop, Fiction, Fabulous Or Frightening?, Jennifer Banas, Dennis Beck, H. Lee Daniels, Bronne Dytoc, Lucy Santos Green, Ross Perkins, Drew Polly, Charles M. Reigeluth, Monica Sulecio De Alvarez

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Identification Of Variables And Factors Related To Preservice Teacher Candidates’ Passing A State Teacher Certification Examination At An Hbcu, Melanie Frizzell, Noran L. Moffett

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

This study sought to examine the outcome of teacher education candidates’ performance on a state content exam. Seventeen participants from the class of 2012 were identified for the study of which 12 participants fully participated in the study. This study utilized data collected from the participants through the Teacher Quality Enhancement Subcontract Grant Summer/Fall/Spring 2011-2012 Workshop Series held at the private HBCU. The research design used a QUAN- QUAL-QUAN to triangulate the data through three methods of data collection: GACE early childhood education (ECE) data, GACE ECE survey questionnaire and class of 2012 member interviews. The findings from the survey …

Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference Program 2014, Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference

Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference (2006-2019) (Archived)

Conference Program

Happiness In Us Schools: Students’ Subjective Well-Being As A Part Of School Improvement Planning, Richard E. Cleveland

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Presentations

This paper presentation will begin with a brief overview of United States’ public education school improvement policy, the School Improvement Plan (SIP), and the focus on school climate. Next, the presentation will provide participants with an understanding of subjective well-being and a review of the literature addressing subjective well-being (SWB). Results from a psychometric investigation of two instruments measuring subjective well-being (SWB) with elementary-aged children will then be presented. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for application within the educational environment and future research.

Transition To Online Assessments: A Personal Perspective Of Meeting Common Core State Standards In An Elementary School In Georgia, August Ogletree, Susan Ogletree, Bridgette Allen

Georgia Educational Researcher

This article provides a brief background on the evolution of the two testing consortia and the perspective of one principal with the transition to online testing in an elementary school.

Identification Of Specific Learning Disabilities: Georgia School Psychologists' Perceptions, Marie T. Underwood

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

An on-line survey was conducted to investigate the assessment practices and perceptions of 366 practicing school psychologist in the state of Georgia concerning various operational components, and the use of RTI when determining SLD eligibility. Results were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression to determine if psychologists’ perceptions could be predicted based on various explanatory variables. Results revealed that a little over half of the respondents preferred assessment of cognitive processing deficits evidenced through patterns of strengths and weaknesses for establishing SLD classification; while well over two-thirds continue to also value analysis of cognitive ability (IQ) scores. Psychologists’ assessment practices were …

Leading Through Laughter: Humor And Perceived Effectiveness Of P-12 Principals, Laurie B. Mascolo

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The field of leadership has yielded boundless research studies across disciplines, with a plethora in the business and political realms. The medical field and other social science have also joined the ranks, with education now entering the landscape. Educational leadership is a burgeoning field of research, but very little has been studied regarding the impact of humor and educational leadership. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the humor style and the perceived effectiveness of school principals, the leadership style and the perceived effectiveness of school principal, as well as possible relationships between and …

Embracing A Diverse Curriculum In University Teacher Preparation Programs, Stascia R. Hardy

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Student diversity in public schools has escalated dramatically, and it is a reality that must be accepted by university teacher preparation programs. Teacher candidates need to be taught the necessary skills to successfully teach diverse student populations. Children come from many different cultures and backgrounds and pre-service teachers must be equipped to effectively teach them all. Culturally relevant teacher preparation programs are crucial to preparing teachers to teach across diverse boundaries and have culturally responsive classrooms. Teacher education programs must recognize the necessity to provide learning experiences for pre-service teachers to receive different perspectives of diversity. Demographic differences between teachers …

The Role Of The School Psychologist In K-12 Online And Blended Learning Environments, P. Dawn Tysinger, Jeffrey A. Tysinger, Terry D. Diamanduros

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

With the appropriate preparation and training, school psychologists are uniquely suited to provide support within the K-12 online learning environment for students, teachers, administrators, and families. The preparation and training needs at the level of graduate training and professional development are highlighted. Specific emphasis is placed on the adaptation of the school psychologist’s functions in the areas of consultation, intervention, assessment, and counseling. Additionally, the development of better credentialing models for interstate service delivery and the need for empirical research related to school safety are discussed.

Innovative Partnerships: Exploring School Librarianship Through A Global Lens, Melissa P. Johnston, Lucy Santos Green

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

Institutional ethnography uncovers how institutional factors shape practice in sometimes unrecognized ways. This IE study on Brazilian school librarianship, conducted in the summer of 2013 in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, uncovers similar challenges experienced by school library professionals the world over, as well as unique approaches informed by Brazilian culture.

Project Reconnect Program: Engaging Truant Adolescents Through Pre-Court Diversion, Trevis C. Killen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The current literature on truancy diversion court programs has failed to examine middle and high school truants’ perceptions regarding how well truancy diversion court programs improve school attendance and performance. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine participants’ perceptions regarding how well the Project Reconnect Diversion Program empowered their improved school attendance, compliance with school rules, and completion of classroom assignments. The researcher used a case study design to investigate the participants’ perceptions of the Project Reconnect Diversion Program. Purposive sampling was employed to select the participants who completed the Project Reconnect Diversionary Program during the …

An Examination Of The Correlation Between The Seven Critical Leadership Functions And Middle School African-American And Hispanic Student Achievement, Shannon A. Flounnory

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This quantitative study examined possible correlations between each of the seven critical leadership functions and achievement in the areas of mathematics for eighth grade African-American and Hispanic students. The 117 participants included school leaders and students from 12 of the 19 middle schools in a metropolitan school district in the southeastern region of the United States. Principals from the middle schools in the district distributed the Critical Leadership Functions Questionnaire to members of their leadership team (e.g., assistant principals, school counselors, department chairs, etc.). CRCT scores measured student achievement. The researcher conducted a correlation study, using Pearson’s multivariable correlation data …

Faculty Motivation & Intent To Teach Online, Michael S. Casdorph

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The unified theory of user acceptance of technology, Motivation Orientation Scale – Faculty Version, and Individual Innovativeness Scale were used to predict faculty intent to teach online, to better understand what motivates faculty to teach online, and the relationship between faculty innovativeness and their intent to teach online. A sample of 348 self-selected full-time faculty at a large, public, comprehensive research university with integrated academic health center in the Southeast United States responded to an online survey. Results demonstrated that slightly more faculty than not reported a behavioral intent to teach online. Multiple regression analysis indicated that performance expectancy, effort …

Effects Of Using Online Forum For Problem-Solving Skills And Collaborative Construction Of Knowledge In Student Teaching, Jackie Hee-Young Kim

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

The purpose of the study was to seek a way to strengthen student teachers’ understanding of the complex nature of teaching and increase their competence in solving problems. To accomplish our goal, we embarked upon a study to explore on a computer-mediated conferencing group model enriched with constructivist principles and features of a community of learners. The study is guided by two major models: Problem Solving Approach Model and Interaction Analysis Model (IAM) for Computer-Mediated Communication rooted in social constructivist theory. This study also is aimed at assessing the quality of interaction by means of IAM for examining social construction …

Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference Program 2013, Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference

Southern Collegiate Leadership Conference (2006-2019) (Archived)

Conference Program

Georgia Council Of Graduate Schools - Articles Of Incorporation, Charles Patterson

Armstrong Office of the Registrar: Georgia Council of Graduate Schools Publications (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Georgia Council Of Graduate Schools - Bylaws, Charles Patterson

Armstrong Office of the Registrar: Georgia Council of Graduate Schools Publications (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Suggestions For The Design Of E-Learning Environments To Enhance Learner Self-Efficacy, Charles B. Hodges

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.