Educational Leadership Commons^™

International School Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Climate And Culture, Richard Webster

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the phenomena of international school leadership and school climate and culture. It proposed to identify key leadership strategies and techniques that can be implemented to initiate change which will foster a positive school culture and climate. The theoretical framework that shaped this study was the Five Dimensions of School Climate as described by Thapa, Cohen, Guffey, and Higgins-D’ Alessandro (2013). This study used a Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology to explore the lived experiences of leaders of international schools in south-east Asia in relation to school culture and climate. Through …

The Tesol 6 Principles Of Exemplary Teaching Of English Learners: Perceived Effectiveness In The Community College Esl Classroom, Stephanie N. Marcotte

All Theses And Dissertations

Community college English as a second language (ESL) programs provide targeted English language support to diverse student populations. Limited research exists pertaining to the instruction taking place within community college ESL programs. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore community college ESL faculty-perceived effectiveness in their use of the TESOL 6 principles for exemplary teaching of English learners. The study asked, What is the community college ESL faculty’s perspective of their effectiveness in their application of the TESOL 6 Principles? Participants in this study included full-time, adjunct, and retired professors from community colleges across Massachusetts. They were invited …

Students’ Perceptions And Experiences: African American Students In Band And Orchestra Programs, Sharese Pearson-Bush

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The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore how African American students in a South Carolina metropolitan area perceived their experiences in band and orchestra at their middle school. Fifty-one sixth through eighth grade students responded to an inventory that measured students’ predisposition to music, pedagogical preferences, and cultural awareness. Furthermore, seven of the fifty-one students engaged in individual, semistructured interviews that measured students’ personal connection to musical experiences within their culture and communities. This study examined the minimal rate at which African American students participated in music programs through the conceptual lens of African-Centered Pedagogy and Culturally Responsive …

Occupational Therapy Student Preparedness For Clinical Fieldwork, Jean A. Mccaffery

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Topic, Problem and Purpose: Experiential learning and occupational therapy student preparedness. Occupational therapy education programs must prepare occupational therapy students for practice. Traditional observational Level I Fieldwork presents challenges to achieve student-learning objectives and often places the burden of supervision on practicing therapist. The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy students’ perceptions of preparedness for Level II Fieldwork following participation in a skill-based experiential learning opportunity as an alternative to traditional observational Level I Fieldwork.

Research Question and Sub-Questions: What is the graduate occupational therapy student’s perception of preparedness for intensive Level II Fieldwork following a skill-based, …

Clinical Preparedness Amongst Recent Dental Hygiene Graduates: A Phenomenological Study, Daniela M. Taranto

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The focus of this phenomenological study is to evaluate the lived experiences of recent dental hygiene graduates’ as they relate to their curriculum preparation as clinicians. Individual interviews of ten newly graduated hygienists were conducted, consisting of seventeen open-ended questions related to their experience with feeling prepared to enter the workforce specific to their clinical skills, professionalism skills, and critical thinking skills. This study documented the experiences these participants had as they transitioned from master student, to novice clinician specific to their newly acquired skills. A positive perception of preparedness was found directly to their instrumentation, professionalism, and critical thinking …

Physical Therapists’ Perceptions Of Leadership Orientations: An Exploratory Case Study, Theresa O'Neil

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The study addresses the problem of the limited understanding of physical therapists' perspectives on leadership orientations. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to expand on the understanding of physical therapists’ perceptions of leadership orientations. The methods used were the Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations Inquiry (Self) survey and phone interviews describing a leadership experience. The research questions were: To what degree do physical therapists exhibit multi-frame leadership as defined by Bolman and Deal? To what degree do physical therapists use each of the four frames as defined by Bolman and Deal, Structural, Human Resources, Political and Symbolic? What …

Exploring The Sport Identity Of Female Ncaa Division I Assistant Women’S Soccer Coaches, Kristin M. Cannon

All Theses And Dissertations

In this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological analysis, the researcher explored the role of sport identity among a select sample of female NCAA Division I assistant women’s soccer coaches. Understanding the female assistant coaches’ experiences provided a richer exploration of the role of sport identity, which can guide other and emerging female assistant coaches as they persist in the profession. Since the introduction of Title IX in 1972, the number of opportunities to coach women’s sports has increased. There is more sport sponsorship and participation for women in NCAA Division I sports than ever before, which has created more coaching positions. However, …

The Effectiveness Of Read 180 At A Cooperative High School In New England (Chsne), Michael E. Daboul

All Theses And Dissertations

Over the last decade, schools have employed a variety of intervention plans to assist below grade-level achieving students to quickly gain missing skills with the ultimate goal of allowing these students access to proper grade level curriculum. These intervention plans have been directly aligned with educational laws in the US such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Achieves Act with very little success. There has been a great deal of research conducted on the most effective and efficient ways to properly diagnose, address, and implement these intervention plans; however there is a lack of literature …

Brain-Targeted Teaching As A Tool To Facilitate Implementing Mind Brain And Education Science Into Community College Pedagogy, Adrienne Seegers

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Applying findings from mind, brain, and education science (MBES) could improve teaching and learning yet, MBES is not consistently applied in higher education pedagogy. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of community college faculty of the Brain-Targeted Teaching (BTT) framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES into pedagogy. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How did community college faculty describe changes to their pedagogy after participating in professional development that presented and modeled the BTT framework? and (2) What was the perception of participants of the value of the BTT framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES …

Assessment Of Working Relationships Between Athletic Training Program Faculty And Clinical Preceptors, Kathleen Williams

All Theses And Dissertations

Athletic training degree programs require both clinical and classroom educational content. The educational content of the 2020 Standards, adopted in 2018 by athletic training’s accrediting body, included a requirement for additional skills and a minimum level degree. However, clinical preceptors educated prior to 2018 working in athletic training programs are often not proficient or trained in the new techniques. The change in athletic training educational knowledge has led to a theory–practice gap between athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors working in the field. Athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors need good communication and interpersonal working relationships to bridge the gap …

Admissions Directors’ Understanding Of The Enrollment Crisis At New England Catholic Colleges, Karen H. Schedin

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis study was to learn and describe college admissions directors’ understanding of declining high school graduate numbers through 2030 and the implications for new student recruitment. The eight study participants represented eight New England Catholic colleges or universities with a full-time undergraduate enrollment under 3,600 and an acceptance rate of 60% or higher. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews, providing answers to open-ended questions that addressed the study’s two research questions: What is admission directors’ level of understanding about the impending 2020–2030 enrollment crisis at small, less-selective, private Catholic colleges and universities in New …

Avoiding Cultural Calamities: Exploring The Influence Of Culture In Intercultural Plcs At An International School, Eric K. Johnson

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative instrumental case study explored the influence of national culture within the context of professional learning communities (PLCs) at an international school. This study utilized Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory as the theoretical framework and drew from DuFour and Eaker’s characteristics of effective PLCs. This instrumental case study focused on one international school located in the European Union. The purpose was to engage international teachers who take part in weekly PLC meetings through a demographic questionnaire, one-on-one interviews and direct observation, in order to develop a better understanding of the influence of culture within those meetings. The study addressed two …

Educator Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning Embedded In Academic Instruction To Improve Student Outcomes, Christopher T. Basta

All Theses And Dissertations

Society, parenting, and public education have changed drastically over the past several decades. As a result, public schools recognize the need to address student social and emotional learning (SEL) in addition to their academic growth. Although there is abundant research into the benefits of SEL and various methods for delivering SEL instruction, there is a dearth of research studying teacher perceptions and understandings of SEL embedded in academic instruction. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of social-emotional learning (SEL) during academic instruction. This phenomenological study’s research questions were (a) How do teachers’ past experiences and training …

The Influence Of Fraternity Membership On The Leadership Identity Development Of Latino Men Attending Primarily White Institutions (Pwis), Francisco M. Lugo

All Theses And Dissertations

With the projected increase in the number of Hispanic/Latino students enrolling in postsecondary institutions, there has been an increase in studies on student success that have focused more on Hispanic/Latino students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). One of the key factors that emerged as an under-examined but important aspect for the success of Hispanic/Latino students has been leadership development (Lozano, 2015, p. 3). Little is known about the “leadership development, capacity, and experiences while in college” of Hispanic/Latino males (Garcia, Huerta, Ramirez, & Patrón, 2017, p. 1). Garcia et al. (2017) pointed out that “scholars have examined the leadership development …

The Value Of Food: A Small Rural School Cafeteria Budget Case Study, Rosie Rochelle Slentz

All Theses And Dissertations

This mixed-methods case study was used to examine a small school district in a rural setting that operates a child nutrition program without encroaching on the general fund, while still serving organic, made-from-scratch meals. Current research confirms that school districts are challenged to balance the requirements of the National School Lunch Program while maintaining quality. School lunch programs, particularly small rural ones, are operating at a deficit. This researcher addressed an important gap by providing a comprehensive account of a fiscally sound cafeteria budget in a rural area for a small school, serving 150 lunches per day. In this study, …

Cultivating Leaders: Professional Development Needs Of Community College Chairs, Heidi Kirkman

All Theses And Dissertations

Higher education is currently experiencing industry changes that make good leadership even more crucial. However, most academic leaders arrive at their first leadership position with no leadership training and find the transition challenging. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine the lived experiences of community college chairs in relation to leadership development practices. The research questions that drive this study are (a) What competencies/skills are needed for performing the department chair role? (b) What are the professional development needs of community college department chairs? (c) What types of professional development do department chairs find most valuable? (d) What …

Latinx Student Development At An Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution In The Midwest, Gilberto Pérez Jr.

All Theses And Dissertations

As Latinx students continue to enroll at emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in the Midwest, it is imperative that college administrators understand the ways students develop while living in the residence halls. Although much research has been conducted about Latinx college students, little is known about their first-year experience in residential life settings and how that experience might contribute to their development. Seven second-year participants were identified and participated in this phenomenological study. Arthur Chickering’s (1969) student development theory guided the study to better understand how the seven vectors of identity contributed to student development in the following areas: competence, …

Barriers And Opportunities For Provision Of Specialized Programming For Rural, Low-Incidence Students, Eric Mcgough

All Theses And Dissertations

The dichotomy between increasing accountability mandates and access to appropriate service provision is particularly evident in consideration of mandates pertaining to students represented in special education, Section 504, students who are English learners, migrant students, and homeless students. For the purposes of this study, these students are represented as the low-incidence student population. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that enhance or facilitate those factors that hinder efficient delivery of services to the low-incidence student populations in a very rural region in New England. Participants in this study were three district administrators, three school social workers, and …

Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Stress And Disruptive Student Behavior, Sidney Crudup Ii

All Theses And Dissertations

This phenomenological research study was conducted at one inner-city elementary school in a Central Florida district. The intent of this research was to examine the lived experiences of certified elementary-level inner-city teachers who had experienced stress and burnout while dealing with continuing disruptive student behavior in their classroom. The study addressed three research questions: (a) What perceptions do inner-city, elementary-level teachers have regarding the role of student behavior and teacher stress and burnout? (b) How do inner-city, elementary-level teachers perceive the ways in which student behavior contributes to teacher stress and burnout? (c) How do inner-city, elementary-level teachers perceive the …

Stop-Out Factors For Nontraditional Students In Online Competency-Based Education Programs, Henry T. James

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the phenomenon of nontraditional students in online competency-based education (CBE) degree programs taking enrollment breaks known as “stop-outs” between college semesters or terms. Online programs and CBE programs have grown at a pace commensurate with the increased enrollment of working adults or other nontraditional college students. At the same time, stop-out and attrition rates for online programs and nontraditional students have been significantly higher than for traditional postsecondary education models. A review of existing literature exposed a gap in understanding the factors related to stop-outs for nontraditional students in online CBE …

The Connection Of Academic Advising To College Student Identity Development, Kaela Urquhart

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Academic advising has become increasingly connected to student success and student retention. This study explores the role advising plays beyond student success, satisfaction, and retention efforts and focuses on student identity development. Specifically, it addresses the connection between academic advising and college student identity development through an exploratory case study utilizing a conceptual framework of transformational learning theories and literature. The study centers on the perspectives of upper-level students at a large public Midwestern university with the purpose of furthering the field’s knowledge of the student perception and voice in relation to the advisor-advisee effect on identity development. Data was …

Wellness Programming For Adults With Disabilities: A Qualitative Inquiry Of Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Courtney Roca

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There is a well-established need for a wellness program for adults with disabilities in the regional community. In alignment with best practice guidelines, and as a first step in the development of a program in the regional community, qualitative methodology was utilized to explore the views of key community stakeholders to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of wellness programming needs for adults with disabilities in the regional community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews which specifically explored barriers and facilitators to wellness programming for this population in the regional community to inform future steps of program development. Three …

A Brain-Based Approach To Educational Pedagogy, Troy M. Kennett

All Theses And Dissertations

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are underperforming their peers on state assessments. The purpose of this practical action research study is to explore how professional development, focused on brain-based research, informs educators’ pedagogical design for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). By combining brain-based teaching components, background in the neurology of the brain, and various learning theories, educators were provided filters for making educational decisions. Research was conducted at a rural elementary school in New Hampshire that serves 258 students in grades 3–5, with 51 students served through special education services. The researcher provided teachers and paraprofessionals with preintervention …

Promoting A Successful Transition To A Professional Career For Vocal Studies Graduates, David C. Strobbe

All Theses And Dissertations

A successful opera singer must complement their artistic talent with entrepreneurial and business skills (Daniel & Daniel, 2015; Storen, 2014). Therefore, educational institutions must teach their graduate vocal studies students to expand their talent and learn how to market themselves as a product. Little research has been conducted from the perspective of opera singers’ academic experiences in higher educational institutions and how well their institutions prepared them for the transition to the professional world. The purpose of the study was to determine if current core curricula are sufficient or should curriculum development focus on the entrepreneurial and business aspects in …

Motivation, Practice, And Self-Efficacy And Their Impact On The Development Of Musical Abilities, Eli Marcus

All Theses And Dissertations

This study aimed to examine what students find meaningful and why students value certain aspects of their participation in a musical ensemble. The understanding of experiences and aspects of participation that students’ value or prize for themselves are vital in maintaining consistent progress and developing a relatable curriculum that is progressive and creatively stimulating. Interviews and portions of rehearsal and concert recordings were transcribed into written format and coded. I then analyzed the data by first examining the contextual dimensions of each ensemble and then examining expressions of value in an attempt to illustrate the people, place, and processes that …

Student Perceptions Of Mathematical Mindset Influences, Jaclyn S. Vitale

All Theses And Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the factors and experiences junior level (e.g., 11th grade) public high school students enrolled in a college-prep mathematics course perceived as influencing the development of their mindset associated with mathematics. Current research defines mindset as the set of attitudes and beliefs held by an individual (Dweck, 2008b) and a determining factor in student success (Mosley, 2017). With educators at the study site noticing an increase of fixed mathematical mindsets among students and a lack of student perspective contained within current literature, further investigation and understanding was needed. This study addressed research questions related to student …

Student Leadership Development: Accreditation Considerations For Pharmd Programs, Cyndi Porter Fraser

All Theses And Dissertations

Doctor of Pharmacy professional associations such as the American Association of Pharmacy made a call to increase early leadership development of future generations of pharmacists to better prepare them for future leadership positions. This request for change was based on information related to a shift in demographics, an aging baby boom population, retirement of current leaders, changes in pharmacy practice, and an increase of specialty areas in pharmacy. The Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recognized this need for improving student leadership development (SLD) by incorporating it into their guidance documentation, …

First-Generation College Students: Examining The Perceived Impact Of Roommate Pairings, Jodie Ruth Hurley Gay

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the perceived impact of roommate pairings within university housing, specifically the first-generation college students’ residential experience and its influence on their first-year experience. Conducted at a faith-based, liberal arts university in the southeast, this study captured and shared the stories of its participants and their lived experiences as first-generation college students living with randomly assigned continuing-generation roommates. The research question for the study addressed what effect first-generation college students perceive being paired with continuing-generation students in university housing has on their overall first-year experience.

The conceptual framework for this study was guided …

Relationship Of Procedural Justice And Public Satisfaction In A Sub-Urban Maine Community, Kevin J. Chabot

All Theses And Dissertations

Crime statistics, while meaningful, do not provide adequate data in determining the effectiveness of police. Public satisfaction with the police is the operative measurement to determine the legitimacy and effectiveness for police agencies. While there is little data for communities with a population of less than 50,000, no data existed for the sub-urban southern Maine community under study. The purpose of this study was to inform stakeholders of the quality of police services in the community and additionally, to determine if the constructs of procedural justice (honesty, empathy, fairness, and transparency) had an effect on public satisfaction with police services. …

Competency-Based Education In A Postsecondary Setting: An Analysis Of Leadership Perception, Thomas D. Lescarbeau

All Theses And Dissertations

Competency-based education (CBE) is an initiative that is popular across higher education but has been used with varying results. Much of the literature illustrates efficacy of certain CBE programs and leadership styles during implementation. However, existing research typically includes data from administrators, students, and faculty. This case study of a southern two-year college sought to determine perceptions of leadership during implementation of a large-scale initiative like CBE. Based on previous research and recommendations, business specialists, information technology representatives, and student support service representatives were included for a more holistic understanding. Organizational culture, communication, stakeholder support, and bystander roles were themes …