Educational Leadership Commons^™

A Study Of The Influence Of Parent Advocacy, Media Coverage, And Social Events On State Legislation On Bully-Suicide Prevention, Christina Marie Benitez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to ascertain what, if any, were the commonalities and differences between and among bully-suicide victims between the ages of nine and eighteen. The focus of this study additionally was to determine to what extent, if any, was there a relationship between parent advocacy, media coverage, and/or a social event related to bully-suicide and the implementation or amending of state anti-bullying legislation. Bully-suicide victims (N = 92) from throughout the United States whose information was available through Internet search engines were included in this study. Further, state legislators (N = 50) who sponsored their states …

An Investigation Of Gender, Prior Access To Athletics, And Interest Levels In Intercollegiate Sports Of First-Time-In-College Freshmen, Michelle Ann White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was to investigate the effects of gender and level of prior access to athletic programs sponsored by school, community, church, student or civic groups, and informal programs on level of first-time-in-college (FTIC) freshmen’s interest in participating in intercollegiate athletics. To this end, 1,196 respondents (682 females and 514 males) who were admitted to the University of Central Florida and attended freshman orientation sessions in May and June of 2007 at the UCF-Orlando campus completed the face-to-face survey. Participants ranged in age from 18 years of age to 25 years of age, representing varied racial/ethnic backgrounds, …

Amenities Provided As Predictors Of Job Satisfaction Among Entry-Level, Live-On/Live-In Housing And Residence Life Professionals, Kristen Getka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Job satisfaction of entry-level student affairs professionals has been an issue of interest to researchers and practitioners alike since at least the 1980s. A high turnover of housing and residence life live-on and live-in (LO/LI) professionals has led to a curiosity for the reason. Investigation into job satisfaction of these professionals is an ideal way to determine ways to help retain LO/LI professionals and enhance their overall job satisfaction. In this study, the personal demographics, institutional demographics, and amenities provided to entry-level housing and residence life professionals holding LO/LI positions, and what impact, if any, they had on job satisfaction …

The Impact Of Homelessness And Remaining In School Of Origin On The Academic Achievement Of Fourth Through Eighth Grade Students In Brevard County Public Schools, Richard Dunkel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of homelessness and the ability of homeless students to remain in their school of origin on the academic achievement of fourth through eighth grade students in Brevard County, Florida. To determine effects of homelessness, homeless students were compared to non-homeless students who qualified for free lunch utilizing developmental scale scores and learning gains from 2011 FCAT Reading and Mathematics. To determine effects of remaining in school of origin, homeless students who changed schools were compared to homeless students who did not change schools utilizing the same assessment data. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests of association …

Central Florida Educational Leaders' Professional Opinions Of The Race To The Top Grant Components Concerning Teacher Evaluation And Compensation Prior To Implementation, Daniel Windish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study was conducted to explore the professional opinions of educational leaders regarding selected components in the Race to the Top (RTTT) grant concerning teacher evaluation and compensation and the potential impact on student achievement. A target university was selected that had students who were professionals in the field of education in either instructional or administrative jobs and were pursuing their doctorates in both Education and Educational Leadership. A researcher created survey and follow-up interview were utilized to gather both quantitative and qualitative data for analysis. Quantitative findings revealed that statistically significant differences in the opinions of educational leaders …

Second-Order Change Leadership Behaviors Of Principals Of Urban Elementary Schools And Student Achievement In 2010, Janet Kearney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus on specific principal leadership behaviors that positively impact student achievement has become more and more pronounced since the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Recently, researchers have begun to focus on a more dramatic type of change as a method for improving student achievement in schools. Marzano, Waters, and McNulty (2005) conducted a meta-analysis of more than 5,000 studies and identified seven leadership behaviors that related to improved student achievement and were viewed as second-order in nature. In many cases, second-order change was needed (a) to accomplish the student achievement improvements necessary to attain …

Impact Of The Education Level Of Voluntary Prekindergarten Teachers Upon Kindergarten Student Readiness Rates, Teresa Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the problem of insufficient information concerning the impact of variability in requirements and credentials for Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) teachers statewide on VPK program quality. This study examined the variance in the professional credentials of VPK lead instructors in Florida school districts and whether or not this variability makes a significant difference in program quality as measured by VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical tests were conducted, as appropriate, for each of four research questions. Research findings indicated there was no statistically significant difference in the mean VPK …

An Analysis Of Communication Anxiety And Reading Comprehension In Sixth, Seventh And Eighth Grade Students, Tami Mullens Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to determine whether communication apprehension impacted reading comprehension in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students and to examine the impact of family socio-economic status. Many studies have demonstrated the negative relationship between communication apprehension and academic achievement, however, studies of elementary and middle school students have been conspicuously missing from this research. Findings of this study indicated that the levels of communication apprehension rose slightly as grade level increased. Results showed that females in the study had higher levels of communication apprehension than males. The study also found that those students receiving free and …

Superintendent Second-Order Change Leadership To Achieve Equity And Access To Excellence In A Large Florida School District, Paul Wilhite

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of 244 school- and district-based administrators who were employed in a Florida school district from 2003- 2011 regarding superintendent second-order change leadership decisions and events to achieve equity and access to excellence for all students in the school district. Interviews were also conducted with 11 active and retired school-based and district-based administrators to specifically address any factors that led to equity and access to excellence as well as any challenges the school district faced when implementing those actions and decisions. Quantitative data were used for a historical comparison of the …

Understanding Faculty Donors: Giving At Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The Southern Region Of The United States, Curtis Proctor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the motivational factors that lead to faculty giving to their employing institutions. Giving practices in relation to the life experiences and independent influences of faculty members who were employed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were examined. In addition this study contributes to the limited amount of literature provided on HBCUs institutional advancement offices as well as the effectiveness of their solicitation efforts as perceived by faculty members employed at the colleges and universities. Three research questions were considered in this study. First, what life experiences contribute to the …

Impact Of Leadership Effectiveness And Organizational Climate On Academic Achievement In Memphis City Schools' Alternative High Schools, Billy J. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to conduct an investigation to determine the relationships between leadership effectiveness, organizational climate, and academic achievement in Memphis City Schools' alternative high schools. In this quantitative study, the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) was used to gather leadership effectiveness perceptions, and the Gallup Q12 was used to gather organizational climate surveys from the four regional alternative high schools in Memphis City Schools. The survey instruments were distributed to over 120 principals, teachers, and educational support staff with 103 (85.83%) responding. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), two-way analysis of variance (Two-Way ANOVA), and a Pearson's correlation …

Academic Engagement Through Experiential Learning: Building Transferable Skills Within Undergraduate Education, Shara Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presently, there is a national focus on the industry-benefitting skills developed through undergraduate education. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of an experiential learning course on building three ability-based transferable skills: communication, emotional intelligence, and professional qualities. These skills have been determined to be important components to the skill set of graduates intending to enter any career, including one within the hospitality industry. Results from an examination of three related instruments led to conclusions that an experiential learning course positively impacts self-perceived skill development among the three aforementioned skills as well as perception of overall performance. …

An Analysis Of The Legal Issues Of School Voucher Programs For Students With Disabilities And Its Impact On The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (Idea), Patricia Fontan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the current case law on school voucher programs for students with disabilities and legal protections under IDEA. The idea of school vouchers can be traced back to the 1950s but have taken a new form in the past 13 years. There have been several court challenges to the constitutionality of school voucher programs with mixed results which will lead to court challenges in the future on a state by state basis based on the state’s constitution. School vouchers have been developed to target specific populations of students including students with disabilities. But with very little accountability for …

Disrupting The Deficit Discourse On Historically Black Colleges And Universities: An Organizational Identity Case Study Of Philander Smith College, Shametrice Ledora Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines a historically Black institution of higher education as "any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principle mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans." Today, there are approximately 105 HBCUs, more than half private, the rest public, and a few two-year institutions (Allen, Jewell, Griffin, & Wolf, 2007). While currently only 14 percent of Black college students attend HBCUs, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists, 50 percent of all Black engineers and public school teachers, and 35 percent of all Black …

White Males In Black Fraternities: Life Experiences Leading White Males To Join A Historically Black Fraternity, Christopher C. Butts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to explore the phenomenon of White male membership in a historically Black fraternity. The researcher utilized a qualitative research methodology to investigate the pre-collegiate experiences of White males that influenced them to seek membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Due to the national pool of potential participants, interviews were conducted with White male members of this fraternity using video chat software. The researcher utilized social identity theory (SIT) as the framework for this study based on the premise that in-groups might prove to be significant. Examining the participants’ pre-collegiate in-groups, diversity of family and family …

Strengths Of Secondary School Principals In One Large Florida School District, And Achievement Of Adequate Yearly Progress In 2010-2011, Kelly Noel Paduano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increased accountability has led to increased pressure on administrators to meet AYP. By identifying strengths that are present in successful administrators, superintendents will be better equipped to make well-informed selections and administrators can target specific areas for professional growth. This study used a self-assessment created from the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment to analyze the strengths of principals and the commonalities in those strengths based on (a) percentage of adequate yearly progress (AYP) achieved, (b) grade levels served (middle school or high school) and (c) community served (urban or suburban). It is important to note that community served is not meant to …

Career Decision-Making Patterns Of Undecided African-American Male Transfer Students: A Qualitative Approach, Lavious Felix Daniels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The career development and career decision-making needs of African-American males have generated much inquiry. Two year colleges currently serve as the predominant point of entry for many African-American male students seeking baccalaureate degrees. However, the transition to and eventual success at the four-year institution is often met with challenges. The inability to choose a major that may lead to a desired career has the potential to serve as a barrier for some students. From the lens of social cognitive career theory, this qualitative study was conducted to examine the experiences of undecided, African-American male transfer students at a large, four-year …

The Relationship Among Student Demographic Variables And Reported Discipline Referral Categories, Timothy A. Bair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate the disproportional distribution of subjective and objective discipline referrals to the different student groups’ gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity for the 6th through 12th grade students in a central Florida public school district for the school year 2009-2010. The relationship of the disproportional distribution of subjective and objective discipline referrals between gender and socioeconomic status was analyzed. In addition, the relationship of the disproportional distribution of subjective and objective discipline referrals between ethnicity and socioeconomic status was analyzed. Analysis of the discipline referral data from the central Florida public school district for the school …

An Analysis Of Teacher Tenure Legislation In The United States, Barbra Finegold Bruckmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the legal issues of teacher tenure in public K-12 schools in the United States. Included in this study is a review of the pertinent case law as it pertains to teacher tenure as well as a conclusive review, analysis, and summary of all relevant state statutes concerning teacher tenure in the United States. The federal statutes that influence state teacher tenure laws are also included in this study. Teacher tenure in public K-12 schools was originally derived from the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883, which provided job protections to federal civil service employees. The National Education …

The Relationship Among African American Students' Sat Reasoning Test Scores And Participation In Advanced Placement Courses In One Large Urban School District In A Southern State In 2010-2011, Donald E. Fennoy Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the relationship of Advanced Placement (AP) participation on closing the achievement gap between African American students and other ethnic/racial groups (White, Hispanic, and Asian) in a large urban school district in a southern state. Two major issues were considered: (a) the impact of high school student Advanced Placement participation on SAT Reasoning Test scores and (b) the correlation between increased high school student Advanced Placement participation and closing the academic achievement gap between African American and other ethnic/racial groups. A significant difference was found to exist in the mean SAT …

Levels Of Engagement Among Male, College Basketball Players, Mary Botts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the engagement of male, college basketball players within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The literature review shows a connection between engaging in educationally purposeful activities and student retention. Because some student athletes, male collegiate basketball players in particular, struggle to graduate at the same rate as their fellow student athletes, student engagement offers one lens to examine the educational experiences of basketball players. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) was used to collect levels of engagement along four identified variables. These four variables, part of Chickering and Gamson’s Seven Principles for Good Undergraduate Education, were …

The Relationship Between Incivility And Engagement In Nursing Students At A State College, Cheryl Cicotti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between engagement, as measured with the Community College Student Survey of Engagement Course Feedback Form, and incivility, as measured with the Incivility in Nursing Education Survey, in 268 nursing students at a state college. A significant relationship was identified between the composite variables representing engagement and incivility. Specifically, the composite engagement variables representing active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, student effort, and academic challenge were positively related to the composite incivility variable reflecting the consideration of disruptive student behavior. Data analysis determined that the most disruptive classroom behavior reported were students holding distracting conversations. The …

The Community College Baccalaureate And Adult Students: A Qualitative Analysis, Angela Kersenbrock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this qualitative research was to investigate the motivations, experiences, and constructs of non-traditional adult students who elected to enroll in community college baccalaureate programs. The participants in this investigation were a homogeneous sample of adult students who had priorities other than school, such as employment and families. The research questions which guided the study sought to explore the narratives adult students shared of their reasons for choosing to enroll in a community college baccalaureate degree program, how they described meaning to having access to these new degrees, and what impact the community college baccalaureate had on the …

Medical School Prerequisite Courses Completed At Two-Year Colleges By Medical School Matriculants: An Analysis At The University Of Central Florida, Erin Myszkowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many medical school admissions personnel and pre-health advisors advise premedical students not to take the medical school prerequisite courses at two-year colleges because they believe the courses are less academically rigorous than the same courses at four-year institutions (Losada, 2009; Marie, 2009; Thurlow, 2008, 2009a, 2009b). According to this belief, premedical students who complete the medical school prerequisite courses at a two-year college could be at a disadvantage in regard to medical school admission compared to those students who complete the medical school prerequisite courses at a four-year institution. In an effort to analyze these perceptions, this study examined factors …

The Correlation Between Professional Learning Communities & Collective Efficacy & The Resulting Impact On Student Growth Data, Joleta Gallozzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in 2007 conducted by the National Center of Education Statistics revealed that the students in United States are scoring lower than several other countries in the areas of science and mathematics. Students in other countries are able to compete globally for employment in professional occupations that were previously occupied by graduates from the United States. Therefore, there is a sense of urgency to increase student achievement throughout the United States. No Child Left Behind (2001) mandates that public schools develop accountability systems to ensure that all students achieve at the proficient or …

Career Pathway Experiences Of Three Female School Superintendents: A Phenomenology, Liann M. Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women represent 75 to 80 percent of the teachers across the U.S. (Glass, 1992), and the percentage of female superintendents is not in alignment with the female workforce. Research indicates that the career pathways of male and female superintendents differ. While male superintendents often have a sequential pathway to a superintendency, women tend to take more of a labyrinth type of pathway resulting in a longer, indirect path to the superintendent position (Eagly and Carli 2007). This study examined the career pathways of female superintendents, and the support needed to increase gender equity for the superintendency. This dissertation examines the …

Perceptions Of Bermudian Leaders About The Philosophies, Major Purposes, And Effectiveness Of The Public School System In Bermuda Since 1987, Vincent Sinclair Williams Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is a study of the perceptions, philosophies, purpose, and effectiveness of public education in Bermuda. It includes a purposeful sample of Bermuda leaders in education, government, business, and public life. I prepared a series of questions that I used as an interview guide to obtain the opinions of participants in the study. Most participants did not provide specific information about the official philosophy, major purposes, or specific educational outcomes of the public education system since its restructuring began in 1987. Many indicated their frustration about the lack of such basic data as enrollment, graduation, and dropout rates. Nearly all …

Identifying Quality Mentoring Based On New Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Development, Patti Secret Goldsmith Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the fact that new teacher mentoring had its inception in the late 1960's and is currently mandated in schools and districts across the country, there are still questions as to whether effectiveness has been obtained (Keay, 2007). Stewart (2004) arrived at a definition of "quality mentoring" based on five areas of support (i.e., Personal Support, Classroom Support, Professional Support, Evaluative Support, and Reflective Support), and her research provides definition to the kind of support that mentees desire and need.

The purpose of this study was to examine an existing survey that was designed for a large urban district's evaluation …

Realizing Sustained School Improvement, Jeanice Kerr Swift

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Developing effective methods for improving America's schools is dependent upon coordinated work of practitioners and researchers. School improvement proves a complicated, confusing and most often troubled process; one characterized by the unprecedented challenges of dramatic societal shift, increasing levels of student need, and ongoing involvement from political and governmental influences. The drive to discover better ways to consistently improve schools is fueled by urgency for dramatic results.

This research examines both the macro and the micro levels of the school improvement process and illuminates the need for an intentional new way of thinking and leading. At the macro level, the …

An Analysis Of Teacher Action Research Focused On Differentiated Instruction For Student Subgroups In One Florida School District In 2009-2010, Michelle Marie Madden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the action research reports written by teachers in one Florida school district after they had received professional development on differentiated instruction and the action research process in the 2009-2010 school year. The 69 reports that were completed by the teachers were assessed using the Action Research Rubric that was developed for this study. This rubric evaluated whether the reports contained the elements of action research along with the characteristics that the district emphasized as part of the professional development such as differentiation, student subgroups, and collaboration. The Action Research Rubric contained seven subscales: Purpose of the Study, …