Educational Leadership Commons^™

Experiences Of School Administrators And Teachers: Challenges And Promising Practices During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Helen Teresa Hyde Carter

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the lived experiences of teachers and administrators as reflected in their responses regarding instructional materials, instructional delivery, social and emotional well-being of students, and access to critical school services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared their experiences about how the instructional materials and delivery modes were selected as well as the guidance and support given by school administrators. Major challenges and concerns along with promising practices related to student engagement, social and emotional well-being of students, and access to critical school services were identified.

Percepción De Docentes En Integración De Herramientas Tecnológicas Utilizando El Modelo Picrat En Una Institución De Nivel Superior, Marangely Perez Montalvo

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio tuvo como propósito analizar la percepción de los profesores sobre el modelo de integración tecnológica PICRAT y cómo este evalúa los niveles de reemplazo, amplificación y transformación que se le realizan a las herramientas tecnológicas para lograr una interacción pasiva, interactiva y creativa con el estudiante durante el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño transeccional no experimental con un alcance descriptivo y correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 23 profesores universitarios que imparten al menos un curso de manera remota en el nivel académico de maestría con especialidades en Ciencias de …

Exploring New Jersey’S Middle And High School Health Educators’ Decision-Making On Sti Content And Instruction: A Qualitative Collective Case Study, Brianne Siderio

Theses and Dissertations

STIs in youth in New Jersey is a growing concern. According to New Jersey’ Public Health Data Resource (2020), the total number of STIs in youth from age 15-24 totals 19,698. The current STIs-related sex education programs vary widely in New Jersey in terms of scope, the accuracy of content, emphasis, and effectiveness (Thrive New Jersey Coalition, 2019). Therefore, students may have quite different levels of awareness on the prevention of STIs. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the Θ (theta) (Stake, 1995) of the “why” and “how” of health educators’ decisions in designing STI …

The Relationship Of Graduating Students (Alumni-To-Be)’S Sense Of Belonging And Their Intent To Give Back To Their Alma Mater At A Hispanic Serving Institution (Hsi) In South Texas, Lanlan Alvarado

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions are increasingly relying on funding from the private sector (Council for Aid to Education, 2013) as state funding to higher education has decreased in recent years. Bridging the gap between university financial needs and available funding has become a high priority. In the process, higher education institutions have enlisted their advancement offices towards such bridging efforts by systematically bringing in financial support from donors, alumni, corporations, and foundations.

Funding from private sources fluctuates with changes in the macro-economic environment, laws, and regulations, as well as shifts in philanthropic interests in the public. Alumni giving constitutes a substantial …

The Relationship Between South Texas Principals’ School Climate, Leadership Style And The Use Of Communication Through Social Media And Other Methods, Alberto R. Canales Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between principals’ school climate (supportive, directive, engaged, frustrated, and intimate behaviors), leadership style, and frequency of communication with teachers. In doing so, a test of significance was carried out using an F-distribution, an alpha level of .05, and a multiple linear regression analysis as the statistical method. School climate, the dependent variable, was tested to find which independent variables, leadership style and frequency of communication, were related and to what amount these variables contributed to the total variance in school climate.

The results revealed that supportive behavior in school climate …

Faculty Perceptions Of Online Instruction And Educational Technology In Higher Education, Raul Nick Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to obtain faculty perceptions of online instruction and educational technology in higher education. Data was collected from eight participants through interviews and open-ended questions at a higher education institution. Results showed that faculty consider that online instruction is only possible for certain programs and that it’s only for certain student populations. In addition, faculty perceive online learning environments as a repository for class information and serve as a communication medium between instructor and student. Furthermore, faculty believe that there is no substitution for traditional teaching methods regardless of the educational technology available. Theoretical and …

An Examination Of Factors Impacting Student Decisions To Engage In Physical Activity At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Glenn R. Gray

Theses and Dissertations

College students at a large south Texas university have proven consistently that they have a higher-than-average Body Mass Index (BMI), spend less time per week engaged in physical activity, and in general feel that they are less healthy than students in a national cross-sectional survey of college students by the American College Health Association (ACHA, 2021). This project investigates the barriers to activity and the motivators to engage in activity. In this cross-sectional study, the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 and the Barriers to Being Active instruments along with a demographic survey have identified motivators and barriers. The collection of basic demographic …

Coach Leadership Counts And Civic Mindedness Matters, Sarah L. Sharpe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this sequential exploratory study was to investigate how New Jersey public high school coaches who self-report transformational leadership traits may potentially influence the development of civic mindedness in their respective student-athletes. Three main research questions were posed regarding coaches’ transformational leadership practices, their roles in the development of students’ civic mindedness, and connections between the two. It was posited that the behavior of coaches can have a significant effect on the student-athletes that participate on their teams. The theoretical lens of transformational leadership permeates this research. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices Inventory …

Mapping Psychological Safety In The Nursing Classroom: A Situational Analysis, Lori Beth Beard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the qualitative situational analysis was to explore the interconnectedness of human and non-human elements that shape psychological safety in the associate degree nursing classroom learning environment. Using grounded theory methods together with situational analysis, specifically situational mapping, a theory of psychological safety in the nursing classroom emerged from the data. The data highlighted several theoretical categories that capture how faculty use various elements to construct psychological safety in the classroom. From the data emerged the theory that nurse faculty connect their nurse identities to the elements when building psychological safety into the classroom learning environment. Implications for …

Transition From Clinician To Academician: A Heuristic Inquiry Of Role Change, Work-Role Conflict And Identity Development In Occupational Therapy, Theresa Rhett-Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning can be a daunting experience for occupational therapists shifting to an academic job as new faculty with new roles, responsibilities, and expectations. As newcomers to academia, occupational therapists can become overwhelmed by meeting the demands of the academic roles of teaching, scholarship, and service. Through a heuristic approach, I explored the lived experiences of occupational therapists who transitioned to academia from the clinical setting to better understand role change, work-role conflict, and academic identity development during the transition process. The person-environment-occupation-performance model provided a framework to understand the findings and give meaning to the OT faculty transition experience. The …

The Effects Of Inservice Science Teachers’ Self-Efficacy On Science Achievement Using The 5e Model Of Instruction., O'Tessa Nicole Pelham

Theses and Dissertations

Science achievement has been a major focus in our educational system. While several learning models effectively increase science achievement, the nation is still not progressing adequately. A gap in the literature shows the need to find the effects of teachers’ self-efficacy, specifically with in-service science teachers. A pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental research design was used in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 to find the effects of in-service science teachers’ self-efficacy on science achievement, using the 5E Instructional Model. The study included 38 in-service science teachers who rated items on the pretest/posttest STEBI-A. Teachers in the experimental group consisted of …

Outliers To The Black Experience: Perceptions Of How Participation In Internships And Study Abroad Influences Black Students’ Development Of Career Readiness Competencies, Erica James Lake

Theses and Dissertations

Black students represent nearly 15% of the college student population, yet nationally only 6% of these students participate in internships and study abroad. Comparatively, White students represent approximately 52% of the college student population, and they represent over 70% of the students who participate in internships and study abroad. This is significant because internships and study abroad experiences can help students gain access to mentors and improve their retention and graduation rates. This study sought to determine if Black students believed they gained career readiness competencies during their experiences.

This qualitative study included interviews, observations and photos from Black seniors …

When They See Us: The Lived Experiences Of Tenured Black Male Faculty At Research 1 Institutions, Quintavis Marquel Cureton

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous research studies have been conducted on the experiences of Black faculty, faculty of color, and Black female faculty in the academy. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the lived experiences of Black male faculty, especially the lived experiences of tenured Black male faculty at Research 1 (R1) institutions. There remains a dearth of research that examines and amplifies voice to the experiences of tenured Black male faculty. It is essential to understand how Black male faculty have navigated their way through earning the rank of tenure at an R1 institution. This research provides a roadmap for …

Perceptions Of The Culinary Art Community On Their Higher Education Programs In Egypt: The Way Forward, Kadria Ali Abdel Motaal

Theses and Dissertations

Culinary art education used to have a narrow focus that forgoes its richness and ignores its infiltration into economic, political, and cultural aspects within society. Recently the world witnessed an evolution in this field of study as it reached tertiary education institutions. However, in Egypt, culinary art studies are integrated into hospitality education and are still confined to a shallow concept. This study aimed to explore the perception of the culinary art community in Egypt on their higher education programs from a sociocultural perspective. It also explored the possible new frameworks, and core competencies to improve culinary arts higher education …

What Styles Of Leadership Support The Process Of Philanthropy For Higher Education? A Qualitative Analysis, Joy Dedonato

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research examined how styles of leadership can impact the process of philanthropy for higher education. Effective leadership can aid in the successful transformation of organizations, influence donors, and implement change. In recent years, higher education has evolved from being an altruistic source of learning to becoming a source of income to advance an institution. Philanthropic funding for higher education can serve to assist researchers, labs, buildings, theaters, athletic stadiums, and endowments. The organizations included in this study were three community colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Research data were collected via interviews of the …

An Investigation Of The Secondary Principals’ Role In Developing And Implementing Successful Inclusion Programs, Gabrielle Marie Meier

Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing a phenomenological approach, this dissertation explores how principals perceive and use their roles in developing and maintaining inclusive special education programs. Specifically, this study has examined principals’ beliefs and ideals in decision-making to support inclusion in classrooms. Its goal is to provide insight into principals’ perspectives on engaging and interacting with the community and school stakeholders for the success of inclusion programs. This study was conducted at several suburban high schools in the northeastern United States. The subjects were selected through purposeful and convenient sampling. The participants currently work in schools identified as having successful inclusion programs within the …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Chronically Absent Students, Programs And Interventions: A Mixed Method Study, Claudia Lisi Laplante

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine the relationships between teachers' academic department, years of experience, tenure status, and their knowledge of chronically absent students and the existing programs and interventions to support absent students in their schools. The study utilized a district of five junior-senior high schools in a suburb of New York, which is ethnically and economically diverse. Participants of this study took a survey composed of questions from two different surveys from the organization Attendance Works (an organization dedicated to the improvement of school attendance nationwide). Interviews followed to better interpret and triangulate the …

Gender Stereotypes In Children’S Picture Books: A Study Of Authors, Illustrators, And Main Characters In A Classroom Library Collection, Mildred Sari Bernstein

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to evaluate the gender stereotyping in picture books from a classroom library collection that primary school students use for independent reading in the classroom. Using the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade fiction books from the classroom library collection from Booksource, this research included 151 books from an original total collection of 900 books of which 491 books were considered fiction. A revised coding sheet, originally from Hamilton et al. (2006), was used to code the books. Seven volunteers and the researcher coded each book with 17 books coded three times. Volunteers were …

What’S Your Intention? Examining Elementary School Leaders' Attitudes And Intentions Towards Lgbtq Inclusivity, Nekesha Bynum

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine New York based elementary school principals' attitudes towards transgenderism, gender nonconformity and the use of an LGBTQ inclusive curriculum with K-5 students. Grounded in the theory of Reasoned Action Approach, RAA, the study aimed to investigate the extent to which these attitudes influenced school leaders’ intentions to implement an LGBTQ inclusive curriculum. Utilizing a mixed methods design, principals were surveyed and invited to participate in semi structured interviews. Findings revealed perceived behavioral control, attitude towards transgenderism and attitude towards the use of an LGBTQ inclusive curriculum predicted intention to use an LGBTQ …

The Impact Of Changing English Language Arts Curriculum On The Reading Growth Of Fourth-Grade Students, Megan Votke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current research is to determine the effect of changing the English Language Art curriculum on the reading growth of fourth-grade students who attended a public school district located in a suburban community in the Northeastern part of the United States. This ex-post facto study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Teachers College, Units of Study for Teaching Reading curriculum (commonly referred to as Reading Workshop). The study was conducted, with quantitative data collected, to compare the reading growth of students in the year prior to the curriculum change (N = 405) to that of …

The Culturally Responsive Teacher, Tova Markowitz

Theses and Dissertations

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2060, the White population in the United States is projected to fall by more than 20 million people, while the Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Biracial populations are expected to increase (Vespa, 2020). There is a mismatch between the adopted curriculum and the student population. Are teachers prepared to teach the diverse students in their classrooms? To better understand the current status and to support the teachers, the study incorporated the work of Gay (2010, 2013, 2018), Ladson-Billings (1992, 1995, 2008, 2014), and Paris (2012) and examined the factors influencing culturally responsive teaching. Utilizing …

Reclaiming Power. Activating Black Middle-Class Mother Engagement In The Committee On Special Education, Kellie M. Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

From conversations in school hallways, to SEPTA meetings, to parking lots and church benches, Black middle-class parents have engaged in talk of disillusionment with the IEP development process for their special needs child. Previous literature has provided limited insight into the navigational capital of Black middle-class parents in the special education system. This author interviewed Black middle-class parents who felt overwhelmed by the IEP development process and came to utilize their cultural capital (Yosso, 2005) to overcome systemic barriers to their active engagement in the CSE (Ladson-Billings, 1995) and to explore opportunities they have had for positive interactions. Findings of …

A Phenomenological Multiple Case Study Of School District Leaders Supervising English Language Learner / Multilingual Services On Long Island, New York, Christine Ericka Seebach

Theses and Dissertations

This study was an inquiry into the ways in which the lived experiences of school district leaders (SDLs) of English language learner/multilingual learner (ELL/ML) services informed their leadership approaches, challenges, successes, and impact. The methodology involved collecting artifacts and Seidman’s (2019) Three Series Interview protocol with member checking. The three participants of this study were SDLs of ELL/ML services from a specific region of New York State (i.e., Long Island). The purpose of this study was to understand the essence of the meanings derived from participants’ comprehensive descriptions. I provided structural and textural reports and a synthesis of the universal …

The Lived Experiences Of Elementary School Teachers’ Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning: Transitions From In-Person And Remote Settings, Clyde A. Braswell

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined elementary school teachers' transitions from in-person to remote social-emotional learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in a northeastern US public school district. This study addressed the following central research question using Bandura's (1977) self-efficacy theory and CASEL's Framework (2021) for social and emotional learning: What were teachers’ lived experiences while teaching social-emotional learning (SEL) during both remote and in-person instruction in elementary school throughout the Covid-19 pandemic? Eight teachers from one suburban elementary school shared their experiences meeting students' social-emotional needs during the pandemic. This study examined teacher perspectives on social-emotional learning in in-person and remote settings …

An Analysis Of Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Response To Intervention (Rti) Program In One North East Suburban School, Ann Marie Kenny-Chapur

Theses and Dissertations

The response to intervention (RTI) program has been implemented throughout the United States as a response to the federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (IDEA), which requires struggling students to receive a series of intense instructional modifications that are monitored on a continuous basis (Cowan & Maxwell, 2015). (a) The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions teachers in one middle-sized suburban school have of RTI. This will expand our understanding of the perceived benefits, limitations, and changes needed to increase the fidelity and effectiveness of the program. A singular qualitative case study design …

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Its Influence/Impact On Teacher Self-Empowerment, Jean Marie D'Aversa

Theses and Dissertations

This study was an examination of the extent to which a relationship exists between teachers’ perceptions of self-empowerment and teachers’ perceptions of their administrators’ leadership effectiveness. The study focused on human relations theory to explore and describe the leadership styles of administrators through the perceptions of teachers’ self-empowerment. The participants in this study were general education teachers employed at two secondary schools (Grades 6–12) within a public school district located in the northeastern part of the United States, consisting of 150 teachers. A total of 73 general education teachers were part of the study with 12 study participants volunteering to …

Exploring Teachers’ And Administrators’ Perceptions Of Steam Education In K-12 Schools And Its Implications On The Development Of Steam: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method Design, Royce J. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed method design was to investigate, identify and document the similarities and differences in perceptions when implementing a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education between teachers and administrators at the K-12 level. Throughout this process, teachers’ and administrators’ beliefs and perceptions towards STEAM instruction were analyzed to determine how they perceived, interpreted, implemented and sustained this new initiative. The problem, however, is that studies have demonstrated that educators have a limited understanding of STEAM content knowledge (CK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), as well as low self-efficacy in teaching STEAM concepts, which results …

The Role Of Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Efficacy For Course-Taking And High School Graduation Of English Language Learners, Yazmin Torres

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education may improve English language learners' academic achievement and high school graduation. In particular, it highlights the plight faced by ELLs in high schools regarding quality education that allows them to graduate on time and attend college. The analysis for this study is grounded on the self-efficacy component of Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1977), which focuses on the hypothesis that students are motivated by positive experiences that contributes to their academic success (Hsieh & Kang, 2010). Using Albert Bandura's self-efficacy framework and nationally representative data from the High …

The Effects Of Mentoring On The Self-Efficacy Of School-Age Girls Of Color: A Mixed Methods Case Study, Nicole M. Lefferts Mohn

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory, sequential mixed-methods case study examined the extent to which participation in a mentoring program affects the sense of self-efficacy of school-age girls of color. The researcher conducted this study in a Title I suburban public elementary school implementing the New York State Mentoring Program (NYSMP) model. The NYSMP follows a research-based mentoring model where screened and trained volunteer mentors meet with youth mentees one-to-one in a supervised environment. Mentoring young girls of color increases opportunities for them to build their self-confidence through academic success, form relationships with positive role models, and develop their identities. This study added to …

Are Teachers Prepared To Employ Culturally Responsive Teaching Effectively With English Language Learners?, Karleen Adam-Comrie

Theses and Dissertations

All teachers, regardless of their backgrounds, require appropriate preparation to address the necessities of all students. A significant challenge in preparing teachers is ensuring they are familiar with the unique characteristics of the different group of students in their classrooms. According to New York State of Education (NYSED), the breakdown of ethnic groups’ enrollment is: 17% Black or African American, 27% Hispanic or Latino, 1% American Indian or Alaska native, 10% Asian or native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, 43% White and 2% multiracial (NYSED, 2019). As the number of diverse ethnicities continues to grow, it is left to educators to ensure …