Working On The Work Framework For Engagement: Impacting Students' Perceived Learning, Attitudes Toward School, And Achievement, Michael Forehand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test nonequivalent control group study was utilized to determine the difference in students' perceived learning, attitudes toward school, and achievement when participating in classes utilizing engagement design qualities as compared to students in classes not utilizing engagement design qualities. To inform the relationship between student engagement, perceived learning, attitudes toward school, and achievement, Csikszentmihalyi's Theory of Flow was utilized as a theoretical framework along with the implementation of Schelchty's Working on the Work (WOW) Framework with 178 third grade students in a Metro-Atlanta school system. A perceived learning questionnaire, the Elementary Form of the Battle Student Attitude …

The Student Experience: The Effects Of Three College Retention Strategies On First-Generation Student Success Outcomes, Erica Woods-Warrior

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the growing importance of post-secondary degree attainment, existing research indicates that first-generation students (FGS) at 4-year colleges and universities are twice as likely as their peers to drop-out of school before their second year of study, and a great proportion of these students never return to complete their undergraduate degree. The present study collected and analyzed institutional data to determine the impact of three programmatic strategies on student retention and academic outcomes for FGS. The strategies are: lower/upper-level student integration, faculty mentorship, peer mentorship, and Communities of Learning (CoL). Each was investigated in the context of a student retention …

Return On Investment: A Multisite Case Study Of Cost-Effective, High Achieving South Carolina School Districts, Timothy Nelson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multisite case study was to understand and explain how a school district can be cost-efficient and sustain high student academic achievement. Based on a 2011 study, three school districts were selected because they had high ratios of student academic achievement to per pupil expenditures. The school districts differed in size, geographic location, student body demographics, and district organizational structure. Using a postpositivist perspective and a transformational leadership theoretical framework, 15 in-depth interviews with district leaders and school principals were conducted along with evaluation of district archives and South Carolina school report card data. A flexible, qualitative …

A Comparative Study Of Academic Achievement And Participation In A High School Freshman Academy, Mark Seng

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The transition to high school can be problematic for many ninth graders. Researchers and administrators have sought ways to improve academic performance and promotion rates while reducing dropout rates. A quantitative causal-comparative (ex post facto) and correlation study using a two-group design compared two freshman classes at separate comprehensive high schools in suburban Georgia. The treatment group, the freshman class implementing the freshman academy model, was compared to the control group, a traditional high school freshman class with no freshman academy. This study provides new research findings on the relationship and possible cause and effect a freshman academy may have …

The Development And Transferring Process Of Transformational Leadership In Home Schooling Students In Central Texas, Johnnie Seago

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic, qualitative, grounded theory study is to describe the process of leadership development by describing conscious, subconscious, and intrinsic behaviors in second-generational home schooling students as transferred from first- generation home school parents in the Central Texas area. Through interviews, observations, and survey results of second-generational home schooled students, their parents, and others in authority over the second-generational students, this research explores how these children demonstrate transformational leadership skills. Taking responsibility for their own education, pursuing part-time jobs, caring for siblings, attending political and social events represent a few of the activities that provided leadership development. …

The Story As A Cultural Transmitter: Applications For Business Education, Carol Blaszczynski, Ph.D.

International Journal for Business Education

Stories assist in transmitting cultural wisdom, including wisdom about the business community. The role of stories in various contexts such as education (including international management), management, and marketing, as well as the job search is explained. The article concludes by presenting instructional activities for business education that develop cultural competence through stories.

A Phenomenological Study Into How Students Experience And Understand The University Presidency, Kahler B. Schuemann

Dissertations

Little is known about how college students experience and understand the university presidency. Students are important consumers of the academic experience and by affiliation are constituents of organizational leadership. The social distance between students and university presidents continues to narrow. To address the void in scholarly literature, my study explored how students experience and understand the university presidency.

My investigation utilized phenomenological methodology to form descriptive themes. I interviewed 10 college students who self-identified as being involved with extracurricular activities and having, at minimum, occasional interaction with their president. Participants were selected from two small, public, Midwestern universities where their …

The Influence Of Teacher Leadership And Professional Learning On Teachers’ Knowledge And Change Of Instructional Practices In Low Performing Schools, Christen Conklin Topolinski

Dissertations

A cross-sectional survey was utilized in this study to explore the perceptions of teacher in low performing schools. These perceptions concerned the influence of teacher leadership and professional learning on their changes in knowledge and instructional practices. Research advises that in order to help students grow, teachers must engage in professional learning activities which help them to develop and master new instructional strategies (Bredeson & Scribner, 2000; DuFour & Marzano, 2012; Harrison & Killion, 2007). Research also suggests that distributed leadership can have a positive influence on the professional culture in a building, creating a positive learning environment for both …

Vietnamese International Student Repatriates: An Exploratory Study, Anh Le

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences of Vietnamese international students who returned to Vietnam after graduation from a U.S. higher education institution (henceforth, the repatriates). Areas to be explored include the transitional period, perceptions of the relevance of the U.S. education to their current life, reflections on their experience in the U.S., and their future plans. The knowledge drawn from this study can serve as useful reference information for current and future recruitment efforts, support services, and courses geared toward Vietnamese international students.

The current study aimed to explore the experiences of the mostly unheard …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Retirement Transition Of K–12 Educational Administrators In The State Of Alabama, Lee A. Hicks

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This phenomenological research study explored the experiences of educational administrators in the transition from their administrative responsibilities into retirement. The study was guided by a grand tour question addressed by three sub-questions. Data collected during the individual interviews with 10 retired educational administrators provided the basic understanding of the issues and lived experiences as they transition into retirement from fulltime employment as educational administrators to retirees from the State of Alabama educational system. An analysis of interview data revealed four themes regarding the perceptions and lived experiences of recently retired K-12 educational administrators from the State of Alabama. These four …

2014 Ijbe Front Matter, Tamra Connor

International Journal for Business Education

1. Editorial Board
2. President's Letter
3. SIEC-ISBE International

Role Ambiguity Of Counseling Supervisors, Aaron Gabriel Shames

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Supervisors often find themselves in the midst of ambiguity seeking clarity of their role and professional identity within the counseling field. Supervisors wear many hats, the most prominent ones being educator, counselor, and gatekeeper for the profession. Counseling supervisors are expected to establish and maintain a complex blend of professional, educational, and therapeutic relationships with their supervisees. This process involving multiple roles often presents conflicts. One such conflict experienced by supervisors has been termed role ambiguity. The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry was to explore what experiences counseling supervisors have with role ambiguity and how they experience role ambiguity. Themes …

Fearless Friday: Kirsten Crear, Kirsten Crear

SURGE

Even in her last semester here at Gettysburg, Kirsten Crear ’14 is fearlessly working to make changes for the future of the campus community. This semester, Kirsten introduced a STEMinists club on campus that will give female students who are STEM (an acronym for Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) majors the opportunity to come together and create a community, share and discuss the difficulties they face as women in their fields of study, and support and mentor each other as they prepare to enter their fields.

Kirsten is passionate, driven, and determined, taking the initiative to bring this group of women together on campus …

The Nature And The Degree Of The Relationship Between Chronic Absenteeism And Student Achievement In A Large Metropolitan School District And A Small School District In Florida, Nancy C. Kline

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The Bring It 180 study provides insight and awareness into the importance of student attendance and its influence on student achievement. This study examines the nature and degree of the relationship between chronic absenteeism and academic proficiencies. The research findings identify meaningful correlations between attendance and student achievement in two Florida school districts.

Role Of Superintendent In District Turnaround, James Evans Jr.

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by James Evans, Jr. on March 17, 2014.

Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda And Minutes, March 17, 2014

Faculty Senate Minutes and Agendas

Agenda and minutes from the Wright State University Faculty Senate Meeting held on, March 17, 2014.

What Leadership Development Institutes Can Never Teach College Presidents About Leadership, Livingston Alexander

International Journal of Leadership and Change

While most new presidents of colleges and universities advance to the presidency through a traditional academic pathway, an increasing number of new presidents are now coming from positions outside of higher education. Yet, regardless of how they come to the position, many new presidents are unprepared for the complex challenges they will encounter when they take on their new assignments. A large number assume that participation in professional development seminars, often promoted as institutes for new presidents, will provide the essential algorithm for a successful presidency. Operating on such an assumption may well turn out to be a fatal mistake. …

An Investigation Of Teacher Candidate Perceptions: Using 21st Century Tools And Clinical Medical Model Practices To Teach Classroom Management Skills, Helen Rader, James Rader, David R. Riel

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Helen J. Rader James P. Rader David R. Riel on March 13, 2014.

Development Of Trust And Collaboration Between Teachers In Plc Teams: The Roles Of Teachers, Principals And Different Facets Of Trust, Henry Hank Ryan Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are being recognized as a leading strategy to improve student achievement. Trust is critical in effectively implementing the PLC model, and the school principal is best positioned to influence school trust levels. Using Hoy and Tschannen-Moran's (1999) five facets of trust, this research sought to clarify the impact of trust among PLC teachers on their team's collaborative practices. Focus group data were collected from 12 collaborative teams in 4 schools. Six of the teams were from one school that was struggling to implement the PLC model; the other six teams were from three schools that were …

From The Co-Editors

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Approach To Tracing “Career Pathways” Policy In Virginia: How School Counselors And Student Demographics Influence Implementation Fidelity, Michael Ormsmith

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-methods policy analysis describes how school counselors' thoughts and attitudes contribute to the implementation fidelity of the Academic and Career Plan (ACP) policy in a suburban Virginia school division. A quantitative survey investigated counselor thoughts about the policy, implementation behaviors, and counselor ideas about equity issues related to providing college and career planning services to at risk students. Counselor interviews were conducted to provide deeper insight about the street level implementation practices and beliefs of counselors. Findings reveal that counselors place substantial value in the ACP policy and think the process is useful for connecting student interests and …

Traumatic Brain Injury: The Efficacy Of A Half-Day Training For School Psychologists, Susan C. Davies, Ashlyn M. Ray

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

The incidence rates of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are increasing, yet educators continue to be inadequately trained in assessing and serving students with TBIs. This study examined the efficacy of a half-day TBI training program for school psychologists designed to improve their knowledge and skills. Results of quantitative and qualitative survey analysis indicated there was little increase in knowledge and skills from pre-training to one-year follow-up, although participants did increase in confidence related to their decision-making abilities in working with students with TBI. The data indicate a need for future study of more effective training models.

The Development Process For A Self-Sustainable School-Based Health Center For A School District In Western Arkansas, Jared A. Cleveland

College of Education Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined the development and implementation process of a school-based health center (SBHC) in a school district in Western Arkansas. Researchers and health professionals agree that children who are in good health are in a better position to learn (Allensworth & Kolbe, 1987). Little (2009) noted student health, being an underlying factor in educational achievement, is garnering educator focus to improve academic success.

SBHCs are developing across the country as potential solutions to improve children’s access to quality health care (Allison et al., 2007). SBHCs provide opportunities to remove barriers like geography, transportation, and cost for impoverished …

A Primer On Charter Schools And The Law, Charles J. Russo

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The charter school movement began in 1991, when Minnesota enacted the first law authorizing their creation. To date, 41 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico permit the creation of charter schools, according to the National Charter School Resource Center (n.d.).

Charter schools, public schools of choice, are usually operated as not-for-profit institutions independently or occasionally in conjunction with public organizations, such as colleges and universities. As such, they have generally survived challenges to their constitutionality.

This column provides a primer for education leaders on the legal basics associated with the operations of charter schools. It does not …

Addressing Articulation And Common Language Between 11th And 12th Grade 'English Language Arts And College-Level English In The California Community College, Janet A. Long

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

For several years, college-level remediation in English and mathematics has been of great concern for California community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. The cost of remediation has skyrocketed into the billions of dollars for postsecondary institutions. Placement tests are required for most students before they are permitted to enroll in any college courses. These placement tests determine in what English and/or math class students will begin their college experience. At issue is that many students who successfully complete high English in the 11th & 12 grades (earn an A or B) are placing into a remedial English class. …

The Community College As Entrepreneur: Developing And Sustaining Effective Noncredit Workforce Training Partnerships, Kristine Michele Condon

Dissertations

In an era of increasingly tight community college budgets, noncredit workforce training partnerships with local business and industry are becoming critical sources of revenue. These partnerships can underwrite otherwise unaffordable projects and build effective bridges from non-credit to credit-bearing coursework for students. However, little research exists on the nature of community college noncredit workforce training partnerships or how those partnerships are built and maintained.

The purpose of this study is to identify how and in what ways Illinois single-campus community colleges develop and sustain effective noncredit workforce training partnerships. This qualitative case study of Illinois’ single-campus community colleges and their …

The Relationship Between Principal Leadership And Teacher Morale In The Elementary Schools In A Northwest Georgia School District, Daniel Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the difference between 2012 CRCT math sores based on principal leadership styles and teacher morale, as well as the relationship between teacher morale and 2012 CRCT math scores at each of the 12 elementary schools within a Northwest Georgia county school district. There is a gap in current research regarding the importance of teacher morale and principal leadership at the elementary level, and another gap exists in research that compares teacher morale and student success. Teacher morale was quantified through the use of the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire (PTO), principal leadership practices were quantified through the use of …

The Leadership Practices Of Non-Traditional Students Pursuing A Bachelor's Degree: A Predictive Study, Michael Ammons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental, regression study examined the relationship between leadership practices and academic achievement for a non-traditional student population. The study was conducted at a small, four-year private college in Eastern North Carolina. The sample consisted of N=146 (73 male, 73 female) non-traditional students enrolled in an accelerated bachelor's degree program. Volunteer participants completed the survey which consisted of the Leadership Practice Inventory-Self (LPI) (Kouzes & Posner, 1998) assessment and a demographic questionnaire. Kouzes and Posner's (2007) model of Transformational Leadership Theory is used to explain the leadership practices of non-traditional students. The results of the survey were analyzed using hierarchal …

Effective Principal Leadership Behavior: The Student Perspective, Derek Adrian Pinto

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

As Gentilucci and Muto (2007) proposed, Principals need to find strategies and tactics to have direct, positive effects on Students. Little research has been done which takes the key stakeholder perspective, the Student, into account. Students’ perspectives may be critical as they are the focus educational services delivered, and may have insights into how they might best be served.

The primary focus of this exploratory research was to examine Students’ perspectives on effective Principal leadership behavior. This subjectivist research paradigm, or “insider perspective” (Gentilucci, 2004; Gentilucci & Muto, 2007) was important in determining the effectiveness of Principal leadership. The …

Full Steam Ahead: Creativity In Excellent Stem Teaching Practices, Danah Henriksen

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This article emphasizes the value of creativity and arts-based learning in the sciences (STEAM education), using one example from a recent research study of creative and effective classroom teachers. The future of innovative thinking in STEM disciplines relies on breaking down the distinction between disciplines traditionally seen as “creative” like the arts or music, and STEM disciplines traditionally seen as more rigid or logical-mathematical (Catterall, 2002). The most exceptional thinkers in fields like science or math are also highly creative individuals who are deeply influenced by an interest in, and knowledge of, music, the arts and similar areas (Caper, 1996; …