Educational Leadership Commons^™

The Effects Of The Arkansas Leadership Academy's Strategic Leadership Institute For Teams On The Creation Of Learning Communities, Paula Griffith Cummins

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of this comparative study was to determine whether school districts that participated in the Arkansas Leadership Academy Strategic Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited more characteristics of a learning community, as identified by Hord (1997), than they did prior to participation. A secondary problem was to determine if districts that had significant participation in the Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited greater growth in the learning community characteristics than districts with no participation. The sample was drawn from Arkansas public school districts that had participated in any Leadership Institute for Teams during the identified time, with an equal number of …

Initiating The New Jersey Middle School Peer Leadership Initiative Into Beck Middle School And Determining Its Effects On The Student Population, Alisa E. Whitcraft

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to enhance students' use of critical thinking skills and decision making abilities for the 6th grade at Beck Middle School. Using an action research plan, this intern measured the learning that derived from peer led presentations. By enhancing these skills through peer led groups, students at Beck Middle School have begun to realize that all actions have consequences and effect others.

Methodology

72 sixth grade students at Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill, NJ were surveyed with 13 questions that related to their exposure to the Student Leadership Corps. These sixth graders had …

Not More Important – Just Different: Concerns Of Middle School Female And Male Students, Marianne W. Gaffney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific needs of middle school females in order to develop a curriculum for an after school female program. This program would enhance the growth of female students ages eleven to fourteen.

After school meetings were held weekly for three months with female students in Orchard Valley Middle School. Attendance at these meetings ranged from eight to twenty girls. From these meetings, concerns pertinent to female students were identified. A survey was developed to determine the focus of middle school student concerns. The hypothesis being that males and females in middle school …

An Action Plan For Improving The Continuum Of Services That Are Offered To The Classified Student At The Lower Cape May Regional High School, Gene Sole

Theses and Dissertations

Though there are many success stories in the Lower Cape May Regional High School, for a myriad of reasons many of the classified students are not achieving their potential. In this thesis, the intern will evaluate the continuum of services offered to the classified student, with the overall intent of advancing the learning of those in special education. In his role as the acting Assistant Principal, the intern was able to get staff members to work towards the goal of improving the services that we offer our students. In addition, the intern's role as a member of the special education …

Will The Adoption Of A More Stringent Attendance Policy Improve The Attendance Of Students At Nehaunsey Middle School?, Suzanne F. Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research design was to discover whether, after implementing a more stringent attendance policy, would the attendance of students improve? A pattern of poor attendance was observed in an increasing number of students who were absent more than 10% of the school year, and this alarming trend prompted this study. The entire student body of 200 students was included in this study, in which attendance records were studied before and after the adoption of the new Attendance Policy. Although the intention was to compare data for the ten month school year period before and after the …

Helping The Slow Learner, Susan E. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to increase academic success through the formulation of additional learning experiences for those students we label "slow learners." The design of this study is one of action research. Through the observation of material culture and interviews of classroom teachers and Pupil Assistance Committee chairpersons, a list of eligible students will be formulated, with weak academic areas detailed. Additional learning situations will then be established for each subject and set into place through the regular classroom teacher and other certified personnel. Through the course of the school year, records will be kept through spreadsheet format …

The Influence Of A School's Schedule On Teaching Practices And Behaviors, Ann Moore

Theses and Dissertations

In 1999 the teaching staff at Washington Township High School and the teaching staff at Upper Darby High School were asked to participate in a study of the influence of a school's schedule on teaching practices and behaviors. This study investigates the classroom behaviors and practices of high school teachers both in a traditionally scheduled school and in a block scheduled school. This report presents the results of an analysis of a survey administered to a stratified random sample. The results of the survey were compiled manually and appear in tabular form. The analysis of the data reveals the frequency …

A Study To Determine That If By Establishing An Equity Awareness Baseline That Programs And Activities Can Be Identified To Reduce Levels Of Gender Bias At The Westampton Township Middle School, Michael Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a gender bias-free environment for students at the Westampton Township Middle School utilizing an action research survey model in order to establish a staff and student equity awareness baseline. Using this baseline, resources will be identified and committed to programs and activities to address and reduce levels of identified gender bias.

To establish the baseline, surveys were developed. One survey was developed for staff and another for students. Thirty-nine of forty-two teachers participated in the staff survey. Three hundred out of three hundred and six 6th, 7th and 8th grade students participated …

Should Triton High School Continue Its Study Hall Policies And Procedures?, Bill Westerby

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to determine if Triton High School should continue its current study hall policies and procedures. Conclusions are drawn based upon data collected using action research, which included observations, interviews, and surveys. All study hall periods were observed. Students, teachers, and varying administrative levels were interviewed.

The intern concluded that Triton High School should revise its current policies and procedures regarding study hall. A strong belief that study hall should be available to a student remains, but the perceptions of students, teachers, and administrators is negative. Recommendations to improve the perceptions are to empower the …

Multicultural Unit For Fourth Grade, Shannon M. Whalen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a multicultural, interdisciplinary unit on fourth grade students using an action research design. The unit included eight cultures that aligned with the Social Studies curriculum. Students learned to appreciate different cultures and experience the ideas and practices of those cultures.

This study took place at Mary Ethel Costello School with students in grade four. The population sample was limited due to the fact that the study was only conducted with fourth grade students. All students and each teacher received survey questionnaires. Categories were designed to organize the data. Observations …

The Analysis Of Air Conditioning An Existing School, Dennis M. Vespe

Theses and Dissertations

The intern wants to learn the cost and electrical feasibility of air conditioning an existing school, as well as to determine if students' learning is enhanced by the presence of air conditioning in an educational atmosphere. The intern will use the interview procedure along with the review of material culture data, and action research techniques. The intern will research case studies on the improvement of student achievement in a climate controlled atmosphere, as well as interview faculty members that have taught in climate control environments and non - climate controlled environments to develop an air conditioning plan for the Black …

Character Education, Patricia S. Friend

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this project was to develop and implement a character education program at the Upper Township Elementary School. This intern has endeavored to develop and implement a character education program at the Upper Township Elementary School in an attempt to improve interpersonal relations. This intern created a resource manual for teachers, assisted in the training necessary to implement this program, collected and analyzed data evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

During the duration of this research study, the intern developed and refined several leadership competencies in the area of school administration. This intern effectively applied human relations skills …

A Study And Intervention Of Excessive Absenteeism At Bridgeton High School, Sandra H. Myers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate reasons that students were absent and to study policies or programs that could help decrease absenteeism for students. The intern used an action research design by surveying students and interviewing teachers. The sample cluster in this study consisted of the students attending the Summer Credit Completion Program at Bridgeton High School. The population in which inferences were made was the student body at Bridgeton High School. The information, however, can be generalized to any special needs high school or one that is comparable in socioeconomic status.

The intern looked at three areas …

A Risky Business: A Study Of Retention, Sue H. Kinsey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program of remediation and academic mentoring on the academic success of students failing grade seven who were placed in grade eight. The study was conducted in the Clearview Regional Middle School during the summer preceding and including the 1998-99 academic year.

Data was gathered from test scores, mid-marking period progress reports, marking period grade reports, summer session teacher reports and interviews, and weekly and monthly classroom teacher reports. Information was also provided through parent, teacher, and student questionnaires. The data was analyzed using percentiles to …

Developing And Implementing A Daily Schedule Which Promotes Professional Collaboration And Meets The Needs Of The Students At The Lakeside Middle School In Millvile, New Jersey, Scott M. Sheppard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this report was to develop and plan a daily schedule which promotes professional collaboration and meets the needs of the students at the new Lakeside Middle School. A properly structured schedule contains the organizational elements for delivering the curriculum to meet the needs of the students.

This research program involved the students in grades 6, 7 and 8. The students and staff are housed in four different schools throughout the district. A commercial building has been converted into the first true middle school (grades 6-8) in the history of the district. The school opens in September of …

An Internship In Elementary School Administration At The Mary S. Shoemaker School, Woodstown, New Jersey, 1998-1999, Christine H. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine strengths and weaknesses in communication between teachers and the CST and to identify ways to improve that communication using action research.

Data was gathered by having 19 regular education teachers complete surveys regarding their feelings in respect to communication with the CST, guidance counselors, special education teachers, and other regular education teachers. Members of the CST, the guidance counselors and the special education teachers were interviewed regarding the communication process, and follow up interviews were also conducted with in-class support (ICS) teachers regarding the survey results. The survey and interview data was analyzed according …

Clinical Profile Of A Juvenile Delinquent, Arjan Graybill

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to explore the relationship that a juvenile delinquent has with three major influences: school, peers, and family. It was hypothesized that juvenile delinquents possess a poor relationship with these influences. Subjects were administered a survey which assesses the relationship with school, peers and family. 19 inmates in a juvenile detention center were administered the survey. There were 15 subjects in the control group who were administered the survey as well. Results from independent t-scores reveal a significant difference in the relationship with school, peers, and family for the two groups. Juvenile delinquents were found to have a …

A Study Of Teacher Burnout At Archway Programs, Scott D. Bates

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research the rate of burnout amongst special education teachers. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach 1981), the intern will give the survey to special education teachers over a period of time. This study will result in the intern having a better understanding of the factors that cause burnout and who is most susceptible to burnout.

The teaching staff of 64, representing a variety of classifications, will serve as the subjects of the research study. The researcher will determine the relationship between such educators and their degree of burnout, and the correlation between burnout …

Peer Observation: A Supplement To Formal Evaluation, William K. Hanley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the benefits of peer observation as it affected the teaching staff of Woodbury Junior/Senior High School (New Jersey).

A survey was administered to a group of 13 teachers in the Woodbury Public Schools after they had experienced peer observation. The original sample included 28 teachers who had been selected by the intern in an attempt to guarantee diversity in age, experience, gender, and teaching discipline. Participation was voluntary and those who volunteered were permitted to select their partner and choose their role in the process. Twenty-four teachers wished to participate but almost …

The Infusion Of Service-Learning Into The Curriculum Of Cinnaminson High School, Robert A. Krastek

Theses and Dissertations

This study was done to determine the effect of service-learning on the students of Cinnaminson High School. This was the first phase of a long-range project that would lead to every Cinnaminson High School student being introduced to service-learning, during his or her high school career.

The study was conducted with a limited student population that included students in the Advanced Placement United States History II classes. These were homogeneous classes of about fifty-one students who were given the option of creating a service-learning project. They were required to produce a portfolio on their experience.

Data was collected through the …

Junior High In-Class Support: A Program Evaluation, Louise Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a junior high school in-class support program in meeting the educational needs of students enrolled in that program by using a school-based case study method of inquiry. Additional purposes of this study include demonstration of this intern's leadership skills by using decision-making techniques, communication skills, evaluation techniques, and organizational management techniques. Methodology used in program evaluation was a stratified proportional 5% random sampling of students enrolled in Social Studies class for the years under study. Student grades and standardized group administered achievement test results were also analyzed, as were …

What Effect Will Increased Parental Involvement In Science/Biology At Woodrow Wilson High School Have On The Improvement Of Students Academically?, Lasandra Watkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover whether or not student achievement could be improved through the increased participation of parents/guardians for students enrolled in science classes.

High academic achievement in science courses has been rapidly declining for the past twenty or more years. With this decline in science has come a decline in the overall academic achievement of students.

To turn the tide of students failing to students excelling academically in the sciences, I believe that increasing the level and quality of parental involvement is "the solution" to this problem.

Students in my biology classes will participate in …

The Effects Of Positive Intervention Strategies On At-Risk Twelfth Grade Students, Barbara M. Castleberry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive intervention strategies on the attendance rate and academic progress of fifteen identified at-risk twelfth grade students using an action research design. Additional purposes of this study included demonstration of the intern's leadership skills in problem analysis, organizational ability, decision-making techniques and motivational ability. Mathematical analysis was used to determine if the attendance rate and grade point averages of the identified at-risk twelfth grade students increased or decreased over their attendance rate and grade point averages in the eleventh grade as a result of positive intervention strategies. Also analyzed …

A Title Ix Assessment For The Athletic Department At Salem High School, David W. Suiter

Theses and Dissertations

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides legislative relief for females who were being denied participation opportunities in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics.

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of Title IX lawsuits brought against secondary institutions.

The purpose of this study was to perform a Title IX "self-audit" of the Salem High School Athletic Department and its programs. It was designed to identify any problems and recommend solutions.

It also provides a method for continued self-examination for the Salem City School District and any other secondary institutions interested in determining their Title …

A Study Of Educator Health, Motivation, And Satisfaction At Middle Township High School, Karen Buesing

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to increase the effectiveness of communication between administration and faculty within a secondary educational organization. Forty-three educators within a total population of 73 participated in the study and completed a survey instrument that examined teacher health, motivation, and satisfaction. The survey yielded quantitative and qualitative data within the areas of demographics, orientation to teaching, areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, commitment to life goals, and health. Quantitative data was computer-generated, and narrative responses were categorized within general areas related to the teaching profession. All data was presented and discussed within the structure of specific framing …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Pyne Poynt Family School, Patricia A. Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

This study is intended to focus attention on the need for technological training for educators. Teachers do not have the necessary technological skills to effectively impact on student learning. Participants of the study were surveyed and interviewed. All those surveyed were teachers at the school where the intern was assigned. Teaching experience ranged from first year teacher to 30 year teacher. Of the 48 questionnaires distributed, 22 were returned. Results provided information for the intern to determine staff training needs relative to curriculum, past computer knowledge and Internet experience, attitude toward technology, and barriers hindering technology use.

Data collected supported …

Study In The Use Of Modifications With Students Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Disorder, Judith M. Thourot

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to survey the modifications made for students who had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder in two school districts and to compare the results with those recommendations made by experts. This was accomplished by comparing two school district programs: Waterford Township Public School and Edgewater Park School District.

A survey recorded the information on these recommendations. The results provided the documentation of individual student needs.

The conclusions indicated that there was a correlation between the modifications being used by the professionals in both school districts and the recommendations as proposed by experts.

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At The Camden County Technical Schools, Pennsauken Campus, Rosann Hofstrom Kasuba

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the program implemented at our school to prepare students to take the reading section of the HSPT11, the state graduation test of New Jersey. Evaluation of the program promoted enhanced instructional practices to improve student achievement.

The methodology for my research relied on the theoretical framework of educational policy analysis, the interpretive paradigm of teacher cognition, and the interview as a tool for inquiry. Extended interviews of four teachers who taught at each level were conducted to access teacher cognition. The classes of these four teachers were designed to prepare students for …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Sterling High School District, Cleve W. Bryan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of teacher attitudes on the integration of educational technologies into the curriculum at Sterling High School as a means to assess the effectiveness of the district's technology plan.

A descriptive research method was used in the study that included a school-wide technology survey of teachers and follow-up interviews with 20% of the teaching staff. The technology survey instrument and interview questions were developed by the researcher and reviewed by the technology committee of Sterling High School. Percentages of responses were used as the primary method of data analysis along with …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing, New Jersey, 1997-1998, Linda R. Brennan

Theses and Dissertations

Early identification of academically at-risk students combined with effective intervention has a significant impact on the academic performance of academically at-risk students. Students were identified as academically at-risk if they failed two classes in one report period or if they failed one class twice during their eighth grade year.

Faculty members volunteered to serve as mentors for these students. Through advising, referring to student resource personnel, reviewing work, or providing a quiet place to study, teachers were committed to providing additional time and assistance to their mentees' educational process.

The identified students were also given contact time and opportunities to …