Educational Leadership Commons^™

University Update - 2012 End Of Year Message, Academic Affairs

University Updates & Communications from the University President

Describes the University's accomplishments in 2012 and its' goals for 2013.

An Inquiry Into The Political Correctness In Swahili And Mashami Traditions, Benedictor Phanuel Lema

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Political correctness evidences naturally evolving socio-political and economic dynamics that are constantly in force. This paper shows that political correctness, viewed from the perspective of the seemingly socio-cultural readjustments, needs to be understood from the underlying socio-cultural and political forces that are strongly embedded in the social structures. Borrowing from Swahili and Mashami cultures, this paper shows differences in the way they neutralize unfriendly terms, particularly in events where the labelling is a result of the work of God and naturally imposed calamities. It establishes that whereas Swahili culture seems to be rude in the eyes of the activists in …

Organizational Issues Related To Governance And Management Of Off-Campus Centers, Cedric Dewayne Macklin

Student Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research has been conducted on students pursuing degrees off-campus; however, limited studies have been directed to explain the growing practice of students enrolling in courses and degrees at off-campus degree centers. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the organizational issues related to governance and management of off-campus centers throughout the United States. Data collection was conducted using recorded telephone interviews that were transcribed, analyzed, and summarized.This dissertation used one introductory question and ten research questions to examine the organizational issues related to governance and management of off-campus centers. The introductory question was: What are the issues and …

Closing The Church University In 1894: Embracing Or Accommodating Secularized Education, Brian William Ricks

Theses and Dissertations

The late 1800s have been noted as a major transitional period for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the beleaguered pioneers first arrived in Utah they were isolated from the influence and expectations of the United States. During that time, leaders of the Church became influential in every aspect of life in Utah. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the period of isolation had come to an end. Nationally, the social norms had changed and religion was expected to stay in the churches and out of politics. Church leaders were faced with serious questions regarding …

Viewpoints: Liberatory Ensemble And Character, Christopher Layton Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation, submitted in article format, explores how the physical movement theories of Anne Bogart's Viewpoints may lead to a liberatory setting, one which echoes the theories of Paolo Freire, for college theatre students. It examines whether Viewpoints is effective in creating a studio classroom culture and whether the Viewpoints exercises can lead to a heightened clarity in individual performance, with a much more satisfying and involved learning experience for students of the theatrical arts. In addition, this dissertation applies the theory of Mead's symbolic interactionism to the discoveries that students make while using Viewpoints exercises. Research methods include autoethnography, …

Wsu Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, December 13-14, 2012

Board of Trustees Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Board of Trustees Meeting held on December 13-14, 2012.

2012-12-06 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes for December 6, 2012.

Undergraduate Curriculum And Academic Policy Committee Minutes, December 5, 2012

Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee meeting held on December 5, 2012.

2012-12-04 Executive Council Meeting With The President And Provost Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Executive Council Meeting with the President and Provost Minutes for December 4, 2012.

2012-12-04 Executive Council Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Executive Council Meeting Minutes for December 4, 2012.

Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda And Minutes, December 3, 2012

Faculty Senate Minutes and Agendas

Agenda and minutes from the Wright State University Faculty Senate Meeting held on, December 3, 2012.

Describing High School Readiness; Implementing School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports, Emily Snead

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to measure the current status and priorities of high school staff around effective behavior supports. The school district studied includes nine comprehensive high schools and one alternative education site. The use of effective behavior supports in the areas of school-wide supports, classroom supports, non-instructional supports, and individual student supports are the foundations for school-wide positive behavior supports, SWPBS, a tiered system of interventions designed to address the behavioral needs of all students within a school building. The study was designed as a mixed methods investigation. An online survey was created from the Effective Behavior Supports, Self-Assessment Scale, …

Leadership And Human Development, Dennis Bunch, Jennifer Fillingim, Joe Blackbourn

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

This article describes Graves’ theory of sociological development and its applicability to leadership. The interrelationship of the most common levels of functioning, appropriate management techniques, and methods for facilitating the growth of organization members is examined.

An Analysis Of The Factors That Influence Global Mindedness In First-Year College Students, Kristie Broadbent Guffey

Dissertations

This non-experimental, quantitative descriptive study was designed to determine what factors influence a first-year college students’ global mindedness and if any of those factors were predictors of the five subscales of global mindedness. Surveys were used to measure students’ global mindedness and their type of personality (N=424). Demographic questions were administered that included gender, county population, Pell grant eligibility, and first generation college student. Results indicated that first-year college students at a four-year public Master’s Large institution were moderately global minded. To predict global mindedness and its subscales, a regression model was developed using the Myers Briggs scores for extravert, …

Educational Leadership Program Newsletter December 2012, Educational Leadership Program, University Of Southern Maine

Educational Leadership Newsletters

Inside the issue:

• Letter from the Department Chair
• Alumni Spotlight: Rachelle Tome
• Featured Faculty: Arts Educators: Maine Arts Assessment Initiative
• Thinking About Internship?
• Spring 2013 Schedule
• Notes of Interest
• Faculty & Staff Program Directory

What Professional And Personal Strategies Do Successful Principals Possess To Cultivate A School Culture That Promotes Academic Success In A Blue Ribbon School, Carlos Lateetha Mckinney

Dissertations

Principals who are presiding over schools that have received a blue ribbon certification have evidently used specific professional and personal strategies, as well as behaviors, to enhance the academic and social culture of their schools. The current study examined Mississippi Gulf Coast Schools that received blue ribbon status in the last six years. A survey of administrators, teachers, and staff members was conducted.

The research confirmed that a correlation exists between personal and professional behaviors of the principals who have presided over Blue Ribbon Certified Schools and teacher morale. These principal behaviors are deemed instrumental in the building of a …

Administrators And Teachers' Perceptions Of Key Components Of The School Improvement Grant, Willis Anthony Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to assess administrators and teachers’ perceptions of key components of the School Improvement Grant (SIG). This study explores whether or not administrators and teachers believe the SIG’s key components have a positive impact on school improvement.

The participants for this study were drawn exclusively from five of the eighteen SIG schools that received the School Improvement Grant in Mississippi. All of the teachers and administrators at each school were invited to participate in the study. A total of 97 educators participated in the study, 22 administrators and 75 teachers.

The findings from this research …

Impact Of Victimization Of Bullying On Attitudes Of Middle School Students In Ncsa Schools In Arkansas, Bradley D. Gist

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the limited research with regard to bullying in private schools in general and specifically to member schools of the National Christian School Association (NCSA). Middle school students in grades 6, 7, and 6 were given a survey concerning bullying and bullying behavior in their schools. The effects by grade level of students in rural school settings versus urban school settings were determined with regard to the responses of the survey in four areas: prevalence of bullying, willingness to seek help, aggressive attitudes about bullying, and the overall results of the survey. …

Barrier To Parental Involvement In Kindergarten Activities From Perspective Of Kindergarten' School Administration And Teachers In Aj Ain, Shamsa Sultan Obaid Ai Dhaheri

Theses

The Current study at analyzing parental involvement barriers in kindergarten (KG) activities from the perception of school administration and teachers in Al-Ain Kindergartens. It identified, examined and analyzed the school administration and teacher perception on barriers that hinder parental involvement in kindergarten activities. A special focus had been paid to obstacles that prevent parents participating in kindergarten Activities based on four categories that included factors related to regulations, administration, teachers and parents. This study used a survey questionnaire to gain its data targeting a sample population 0f 329 respondents that includes all the teachers and administrators of Al-Ain KG Schools. …

Effects Of Computer Assisted Tier Ii Interventions By Gender On Math And Reading Achievement For Remediated Students, Kathi (Lutz) Sweere

College of Education Dissertations

Response to Intervention (RtI) is a current reform initiative being examined by educators, politicians, and proponents of differentiated education. RtI has tiers of intervention designed to meet the various academic needs of all students. RtI has been developed as an educational methodology to increase student achievement through various problem-solving techniques, through the implementation of specific interventions based on each student’s individual needs, and through data-based decision making regarding the interventions used. The implementation of RtI requires schools to shift current educational paradigms of how services are delivered to students.

This quantitative causal comparative study compared the effectiveness of PLATO alone, …

Influence Of Teacher Qualifications, Experience, Instructional Methods, And Professional Development On Student Achievement On The Mississippi Writing Assessment In Grades Four And Seven, Stacy Kihneman Garcia

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if teacher qualifications, experience, instructional methods, and professional development influenced student achievement on the Mississippi Writing Assessment in grades four and seven. The study was conducted in the three coastal counties of southern Mississippi. Participants were fourth or seventh grade teachers who taught in one of the eight school districts that were included in the study.

Participants were asked to provide information regarding their qualifications, amount of classroom experience, preferred instructional methods, and feelings on professional development. Also requested from each teacher was his/her classroom average on the Mississippi Writing Assessment from …

The Effectiveness Of A District-Wide Training Initiative On Determining Preparedness Of Educational Leaders In A Large, Southeastern Louisiana School System, Jeanne Bordelon Wagner

Dissertations

A nationwide shortage of qualified, experienced applicants to fill the roles of educational leaders has led to a hiring crisis among school districts across America. The diminishing pool of applicants, accompanied by a high turnover rate of practicing administrators and increasing accountability demands, has revealed the importance of recruitment and retention of educational leaders. As the roles of school administrators are constantly evolving and increasing in complexity, recruiting skillfully trained personnel proficient in all dimensions of school leadership is a catalyst for increasing student achievement and for reducing principal attrition rates. The purpose of this research was to reveal perceived …

An Examination Of Mississippi Public School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Their Professional Development Experiences In Raising Student Achievement, Daniel Martin Rushing

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the elements needed to produce a high quality professional development program for teachers. The researcher sought to determine possible factors that had a significant relationship to Mississippi public school teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of their professional development experiences in raising student achievement. Furthermore, the researcher wanted to identify possible inequities with professional development opportunities for teachers in Mississippi. It is the hope of the researcher to highlight the characteristics of effective professional learning defined by research that would kindle a desire in classroom teachers to advance their skill levels …

Intersecting Identities Of Female College Student Intramural Sports Officials: A Grounded Theory, April Flint

All Dissertations

Intramural activities are conducted on virtually every college campus throughout the United States, but there is a debate as to the role of intramurals in the overall development of the student (Rothwell & Theodore, 2006). Specifically for females, not every sport is offered for participation at youth or higher levels, but intramural sports is one arena where they have the chance to learn the sport rules and referee the game. This study aims to create a base of knowledge on the experiences of female college students who work on campus as intramural sports officials. The purpose of the study is …

Ready Child, Ready School : Educator Perceptions Of Child And School Success Indicators And Ready School Practices., Annette W. Bridges 1953-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the researcher considered educator perceptions of child readiness for school and school readiness for children conceptualized within the central constructs of the ready child and the ready school. The skills and abilities that children bring to the school are equally as important as the services and supports that the school brings to the child. The researcher’s intention in conducting this study was to investigate whether the differences existed in perceptions about ready child and ready school indicators and the implementation of ready school practices between educators working in successful schools and educators working in less successful schools. …

Perceptions Of A Middle School Reconfiguration: A Descriptive Case Study, Karen Billingsley Lasker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to follow 1 principal's journey to assist the district in its reconfiguration goals, and help the school change through deep examination of district personnel's and parents' perceptions of the change process. This was done by acknowledging distinctions and differences between junior high schools, the current middle school, and the new middle school, delineated by current middle school-reform research. This study explored issues regarding the policies, personnel, decision-making strategies, timelines, and organizational structures of the new middle school.

The reconfiguration resulted in rezoning attendance zones, reconstructing the new high school, raising the new …

The Relationship Between Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Schools That Use Jostens' Renaissance Programs, Amy Yarborough Coyne

Dissertations

Each school has unique attributes and a personality that gives the school a distinct climate. Psychological qualities that schools possess might include trust, collaboration, cooperation, teaching attributes, expectations, community involvement, and engagement (Rhodes, Camic, Milburn, & Lowe, 2009). Given information regarding school climate, relationship needs, and motivation, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of teachers involved in change and improvement processes and to determine whether academic change was related to the use of programs such as Jostens’ Renaissance.

The participants of this study consisted of 242 faculty and staff from five public schools from three separate …

Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of In-School Suspension Programs On Changing Student Behavior And Academic Success In Schools, John Scott Rimes

Dissertations

This study was performed to examine the perception of teachers, in-school suspension (ISS) staff, and administrators on the effectiveness of the in-school suspension program in changing students’ behavior and academic success at various schools with different performance levels according the current Mississippi Accountability Model. The 32 schools included in this study were located in the central region of Mississippi. The survey was administered during the spring semester of 2012. Data from the ISS survey determined that there was no relationship between the school performance level and the perceptions of ISS.

Overall, the researcher found that there was no evidence supporting …

The Relationship Between Teacher Classroom Practices And 21st Century Students' Academic Dishonesty At The Secondary Level, Marguerite Beth Bellipanni

Dissertations

With the rise in the number of high schools students admitting to academic dishonesty on national surveys, educators must examine what is happening in the classroom to determine a cause for this increase. Past research has shown that students cheat for a variety of reasons. Much of it has shown that students are able to neutralize their cheating to external reasons such blaming the teacher, competition for good grades, or not understanding the task at hand. The literature has also revealed that students cheat because they feel that there is no enforcement of consequences for academic dishonesty.

The purpose of …

Selected Factors Related To The Mathematics Academic Achievement Of Eighth Grade English Language Learners, Anthony Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to examine selected factors related to the 8th grade mathematics achievement levels of English Language Learner (ELL) students in selected South Texas middle schools. The dependent variable, ELL mathematics achievement, was measured by the ELL student’s raw score on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) or the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness linguistically accommodated test (STAAR L). The factors examined in this study were 1) parent’s educational background, 2) socioeconomic status, 3) parental involvement status at school, 4) number of people in the household, 5) family structure, 6) primary …