Educational Leadership Commons^™

Practical Wisdom In The Office Of The School District Superintendent, Frieda Grace Brands

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if practical wisdom can be recognized as one factor that may be attributed to the success of individuals sitting in the position of superintendent in a school district. Practical wisdom is defined as something developed over time through experiences and knowledge. It guides decision making on moral and practical issues. The changing political climate coupled with increased accountability and the increased rate at which superintendents have been retiring, have created the necessity to identify some factors that contribute to a superintendent’s success. This study provides an assessment of practical wisdom in a …

Implementing A Flexible Approach To Teacher Assignments And Placement Of Students With Special Needs: A Policy Advocacy Document, Kim M. Morley

Dissertations

In February 2013, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) informed school districts that they were considering changing the rules related to special education class size and the percentage of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) who can be enrolled in regular education classrooms. As of January 17, 2014, the rules related to special education staffing and the percentage of regular and special education students in classrooms are still pending approval by ISBE (Special Education Today, 2014). The purposes of this project are as follows: to advocate for the maintenance of the current rule while building in some flexibility, to …

Incorporating An Assessment Of Mastery Motivation In Elementary School Students Within A School Psychological Evaluation, Lesley S. Roberts

Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to explore and determine a systematic way of measuring Mastery Motivation in students. Mastery Motivation is a dimension of intelligence that leads a student to master tasks for the intrinsic feeling of efficacy rather than for extrinsic reasons (MacTurk & Morgan, 1995). The inquiry process was an ongoing collaboration among a group of practicing elementary school psychologists. Conversations were recorded and analyzed. The result was the creation of an informal observational tool for measuring Mastery Motivation to be used a school psychological evaluation. This tool was made available for the participating school psychologists to …

Creating A Comprehensive Supportive Policy That Provides Equal Educational Access For The Mentally Ill Student: A Policy Advocacy Document, Lesley S. Roberts

Dissertations

The purpose of this policy advocacy document is to create a comprehensive policy supporting the education of students with mental illness disorders. Critical issues of school attendance, credit recovery, reintegration, and staff professional development formed the four parts of the policy statement. An examination of critical issues impacting students with mental illness, as well as an analysis of the educational, economic, social, political, moral, and ethical issues were used to inform the creation of this policy. Stafford High School in Stafford School District (psuedonym) is highlighted as an implementer of the proposed policy, as as a model for other districts …

The Illinois State Seal Of Biliteracy: A Policy Advocacy Document, John L. Finan

Dissertations

This report advocates for my district's participation in the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy Program, which became law in August, 2013. This program places value on developing bilingual or multilingual citizens. Through the demonstration of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages, students can earn the State Seal of Biliteracy, which is recognized on high school diplomas and transcripts. Due to the inherent educational value of language study and the importance of developing cross-cultural 21st century skills, this report analyzed the educational, economic, social and political contexts within which the decision to participate in this program was made. …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of The Special Education Referral Process For Black Males Based On Ace: Administration, Culture And Environment, Malik Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study is to contribute to the understanding of Critical Race Theory by using a parametric test to compare the independent variable of human characteristics to the dependent variables of Administrative, Cultural, and Environmental/ Hereditary (ACE) factors to develop a picture of parents'/guardians' and educators' attitudes about factors that may explain the overrepresentation of Black males in special education programs. A total of 162 participants completed a self-reporting demographic characteristic survey and the Gresham survey to provide information on the attitudes towards the administrative, cultural, and environmental/hereditary factors that may be correlated with the overrepresentation …

Examining Adjunct Instructor Characteristics, Perceived Fit, And Teaching Modality To Determine If They Predict Organizational Commitment And Job Satisfaction At A Mid-Western Career College, Randy Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, multiple regression study was to examine the relationship between 10 adjunct instructor characteristics and organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Part-time instructors who taught for the institution during the 2012-2013 academic year completed an electronic survey with questions from three valid and reliable instruments: perceived person-organization fit (Cable & DeRue, 2002), part-time faculty job satisfaction survey (Hoyt, Howell, & Eggett, 2007), and organizational commitment questionnaire (Fields, 2002). Data from the survey was analyzed using separate hierarchical regressions to answer the following research questions: (a) Do adjunct instructor characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, education level, teaching experience, teaching …

Principal-Teacher’S Decision-Making Power Relationship: A National Study Based On Sass 2003-04 Data, Jiangang Xia

Dissertations

There is a theoretical controversy in the literature of educational leadership over whether principal-teacher’s power relationship is a zero-sum game or a win-win situation. The zero-sum game theory implies that when teachers gain more power, principals have less, and when teachers have less power, principals gain more. In contrast, the win-win theory suggests that to share power with teachers potentially increases principal’s power as well.

There are two issues involved with this controversy: first, researchers debate whether principal-teacher’s power relationship is a win-win situation or zero-sum game, however, the power concept and power relationship were not clearly conceptualized; and, second, …

An Exploration Of A Blended Learning Cohort Through Social Network Analysis, Kelley Charlene Bliden

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies: Doctoral Research Projects

The following technical report is a social network analysis of online threaded discussions from three blending learning cohorts. The purpose of this social network analysis was to explore graduate level blended learning cohorts by investigating how the relationships and interactions among individuals shape and affect the overall cohort,to explore the evolution of each cohort overtime,and to investigate facilitator interactions within the blended learning program and how their contributions shaped and affected the network.

The threaded discussions were coded and analyzed based on literature about social network analysis, constructive-developmental theory, holding environments, and transformational learning theory. Eight selected weeks of discussions …

Does Increased Family Income Reduce Fade Out Of Preschool Gains?, Colin C. Rose

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The current study examines the connection between a change of family income and the retention of academic gains for children in low-income households who have attended a center-based preschool program. These children are often shown to lose the academic advantage they gain during preschool as they move through k-12 education in a phenomenon called fade out. A theoretical framework was constructed positing that material and psychological effects of poverty inhibit the ability of these families to support and maintain growth during this critical time when children are highly nested in the family unit.

Treating family income as a causal risk …

"True, She Has The Culture You Need": A White Teacher In An Urban School Critically Reflects On The Hidden, Social, And Academic Curriculum, Mathew Arlen Mclean

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is an auto|ethnography , meaning it places the author's experiences at the center of analysis. The thesis argues that educators from the dominant culture can share the burden of change placed on students of color by critically reflecting on their positionality--or the way they socially construct their understanding of who they are in the world and therefore their relationship to educational structures and school actors. The analysis focuses on the author's transition from suburban to urban teaching and how this experience, combined with a broadening of theoretical perspectives, increased his criticality and, therefore, ability to re-conceptualize his …

The Influence Of No Child Left Behind (2001) On The Leadership Of Elementary School Principals In Massachusetts: Highlighted Responses From Asian American Principals, Wesley P. S. Manaday

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the influence of the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB), one of the most influential educational reform acts in the U.S. and the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) upon the role of principals in elementary schools throughout Massachusetts. The thesis covered the leadership practices pre- and post- NCLB Federal Law of 2001, the leadership roles of principals, their decision making, and the types of practices they developed as a consequence of NCLB. In addition, principal's backgrounds and cultural influences on their leadership were specifically highlighted in the role of mainstream and non-mainstream principals of ethnic groups …

The Efficacy Of Charter Schools In The San Bernardino City Unified School District Meeting The Needs Of Students With Disabilities, Gregory A. Jones

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Abstract

The aim of charter schools is to provide equal learning opportunities for all children, particularly those with disabilities; the results, though, are mixed. Some charter school students fare better than traditional school students, while others do worse. The exception is students with disabilities, where they excel and outperform in the charter school environment. This is not the case with San Bernardino City Unified School District charter school students with disabilities. Not only do they not outperform their regular education peers, but actually regress in their academic performance.

Understanding The Lived Experience Of Late-Entry English Learners In The Vista Canyon Unified School District, Joseph W. Boffa

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Many researchers have attempted to identify best practices, habits, and conditions of English Language Learners (ELs, ELLs) pertaining to school success. It is clear EL students pose unique and significant challenges, yet unclear what strategies and program models educators can implement to motivate learning, improve educational experiences, and appropriately acknowledge and reward these learners’ accomplishments. Few studies have attempted to determine the difficulties and challenges associated with academic success and probability of graduation for Late-entry English Learners (LEELs), defined as those entering the school system as eighth-through-twelfth grade students. Their test scores weigh heavily on high-stakes standardized testing accountability measures. …

Making Youth Matter: Exclusion And Its Impact On The School Lives Of African-American Students, Celeste L. Hawkins

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation study explored how exclusion and marginalization in schools impact the lives of low-income African-American students. The study focused on the perspectives of youth attending both middle and high schools in Michigan, and investigated how students who have experienced forms of exclusion in their K–12 schooling viewed their educational experiences. In addition to the voices of youth, the perspectives of parents, social workers, and coaches were presented and analyzed. Key themes that emerged from the study were lack of care, lack of belonging, disrupted education, debilitating discipline, the need for language diversity, and persistence and resilience. These themes …

Bylaws Of The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska, Contains Amendments Through May 30, 2014, University Of Nebraska Board Of Regents

University of Nebraska Board of Regents: Policies, Acts, and Other Materials

Excerpt from 1.2 of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Bylaws (with amendments through May 30, 2014):

1.2 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, a body corporate created by the people of Nebraska through the Constitution, has constitutional and statutory power for general supervision over all elements of the University, control and direction of all expenditures, and for general operating policies of the University. The Board of Regents consists of eight elected members, who are elected for six-year terms, and four nonvoting Student Regents, as provided in …

Utilization Of Emotional Intelligence Traits By Public School Superintendents In The State Of Arkansas, Lisa Ann Adams

Theses and Dissertations

A leadership shortage has been documented across professions. Emotional intelligence skills, traits, and abilities have received much attention as a tool for business leaders in the past decade as a way to increase leadership skill, meet organizational goals, and enhance profits. The study sought to determine whether public school superintendents in the state of Arkansas who self-reported high levels of emotional intelligence traits on the Test of Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) managed school districts with higher student achievement and larger school district budgets as compared to superintendents who reported lower levels of emotional intelligence traits. If so, results might …

Why Do Undergraduate Women Persist As Stem Majors? A Study At Twotechnological Universities, Ronald Brandt

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields despite significant policy efforts to increase the number of qualified women. Prior research focused on access for women into advanced high school mathematics and science courses. Parity has been achieved in academic prerequisites for STEM studies in higher education, yet the number of women majoring in STEM has remained static. Recent research has focused on the socio-cultural obstacles that women face, including a lower self-confidence in their abilities, bias and gender stereotypes.

A survey was undertaken to examine the self-confidence, opinions and backgrounds of female students persisting as STEM majors at two …

Measure Of A Man: A Grounded Theory Approach To Understanding Gay/Queer College Men’S Self Identified Masculinity, Ryan Jasen Henne

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop an understanding of the role that masculinity has in identity development among self-identified Gay/Queer (GQ) collegiate men. The goal of this study was to develop a theory that explains how traditional college-age GQ men view masculinity within the context of their performance as men on a college campus. 16 college-aged GQ men attending a four-year, private liberal arts institution in the southeastern United States were the subjects in this study. The participants consisted of: two first year students, three sophomores, two juniors, eights seniors, and one individual that who had …

Leadership And Communication As Opportunities For Growth: Refining Discipline With Cross Cultural Relationships Beyond The Classroom, Sabrina D. Sanchez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Overt disciplinary tactics disproportionately affect scholars of color. This field project aims to shed light on discipline policies across a variety of learning environments and provide scholars of color with the opportunity to self-advocate. I utilize a culturally relevant pedagogy in my framework component to stress the need for reciprocal relationships based on dignity and mutual respect. I provide effective alternative strategies, framed by culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) and Gregory and Mosely’s theory of culturally relevant discipline (CRD), for addressing misconduct that emphasize stronger communication and greater leadership opportunities. My project consists of three parts: a modified communications policy in …

Development Of University Related Foundations In China, Li Guo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The major purpose of the study was to identify significant organizational changes that have taken place in foundations of national Chinese public universities from 1999 to 2012. The study also attempted to explore major forces behind these changes. A secondary purpose was to seek for ideas on promoting higher education philanthropy in China by explore successful experiences in other countries.

To achieve the goals, this study: (a) started by identifying challenges on financing higher education in China as well as pointing out that the Chinese government and higher education institutions have begun to generate diversifying revenue sources including recently adopted …

How Professors Infuse Critical Thinking Into College Courses, Nancy K. Lennon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to explore professors’ understandings about how they infuse critical thinking within Signature courses in one private Catholic university, where a strong commitment exists to develop students’ critical thinking skills through the Core Curriculum. This qualitative study investigated the views of 12 professors in 6 disciplines as to how they approach the teaching and assessment of critical thinking skills within three Signature courses of the Core Curriculum.

Data collection included documentation and one-on-one interviews with the professors, who taught Signature courses during the Spring 2011 semester. Through a cross analysis of the data,the …

Maine’S Charter School Law: Predicted Impacts On Waynflete School Enrollment, Kelsey Robinov

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The aim of this study is to predict the impacts of Maine’s recently enacted charter school law on the enrollment at Waynflete School, a private co-educational day school in Portland, Maine. National data on current public and private school enrollment trends were examined, as well as existing data on the effects of charter schools on enrollments at these schools. The intent at looking at this data will be to determine what, if any, factors can predict in what areas charter schools are likely to flourish and pull students from private schools in significant numbers and to compare the characteristics of …

Guiding The Work Of Professional Learning Communities: Perspectives For School Leaders, Daniel Paul Draper

Dissertations and Theses

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are groups of educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. PLCs operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for educators (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many, 2006). Researchers and practitioners agree that PLCs are critical to the overall success of schools. The problem is that implementing PLCs with fidelity to an inquiry process is a real challenge. Most school districts do not have a systematic or comprehensive approach to guide their PLC …

Preparing Librarians To Be Campus Leaders Through Mapping And Integrating Information Literacy Into Curriculum, Sharon A. Weiner, Li Wang

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Curriculum mapping is a process by which curricula are methodically examined to determine where information literacy (IL) capabilities are, or should be taught during formal coursework. Curriculum integration is the process of intentionally integrating IL capability at the points in coursework when students need to master those capabilities and competencies. During this session, librarians will develop an understanding of curriculum mapping and how to integrate IL in curricula. This knowledge prepares librarians for campus leadership, since the curriculum is the primary focus of teaching and learning and affects the entire campus.

The curriculum in higher education can be viewed as: …

2014-05-02 General Education Council Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., General Education Council.

Faculty Senate Records

General Education Council meeting minutes from May 2, 2014.

Leader-Follower Unity: A Grounded Theory Based On Perceptions Of Leadership And Followership Experts In The United States, Evgenia Prilipko

Theses & Dissertations

Leaders and followers are equally important for organizational success and development. While leadership training is widely available, very few training sessions and courses are offered on cultivating follower skills. It is essential to educate and transform individuals to become effective followers. This study identifies the most important characteristics to be exhibited by individuals in the follower role as perceived by followership and leadership experts in the United States. The theoretical framework used for this study is 12 follower attributes proposed by Antelo, Henderson, and St. Clair (2010). Seven scholars were interviewed: Ira Chaleff, Dr. Joanne Ciulla, Dr. Gene Dixon, Dr. …

Educational Leadership Newsletter May 2014, Educational Leadership Department, University Of Southern Maine

Educational Leadership Newsletters

Inside the issue:

• From the Chair: Classroom Assessment, the Arts, and Leadership
• Awards
• Southern Maine Partnership Update
• Thinking About Internship?
• Leadership Symposium
• Advising Questions?
• Fall 2014 Schedule

Catholic School Faculty Meetings: A Case Study Linking Catholic Identity, School Improvement, And Teacher Engagement, Daryl Craig Hagan

Dissertations

While research on faculty meetings is limited, existing literature suggests that meetings could be an arena where schools can address their common challenges (Brandenburg, 2008; Michel, 2011; Riehl, 1998). The purpose of this case study was to gain an understanding of the perceptions of Catholic school teachers on teachers in a high-performing Catholic school regarding their own faculty meetings and to explore how faculty meetings engage teachers in the work of promoting Catholic identity and school improvement. This dissertation builds on the work of Macey and Schneider’s (2008) Model of Employee Engagement, as well as McGrath’s Model of Group Effectiveness …

The Academic Library And High-Impact Practices For Student Retention: Perspectives Of Library Deans, Adam L. Murray

Dissertations

Dramatic declines in state appropriations for postsecondary education, the rise of performance-based funding models, and limitations on tuition increases have resulted in a focus on student retention as a matter of importance to institutions of higher education. Concomitantly, academic libraries face changes in service models brought about by technology and the rising costs of providing access to an ever-expanding field of literature required by academic programs and faculty. The value proposition of the academic library is reduced in the face of budget interests that impact recruitment and retention. Many researchers and university leaders have called on academic libraries to develop …