Educational Leadership Commons^™

Brain-Targeted Teaching As A Tool To Facilitate Implementing Mind Brain And Education Science Into Community College Pedagogy, Adrienne Seegers

All Theses And Dissertations

Applying findings from mind, brain, and education science (MBES) could improve teaching and learning yet, MBES is not consistently applied in higher education pedagogy. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of community college faculty of the Brain-Targeted Teaching (BTT) framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES into pedagogy. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How did community college faculty describe changes to their pedagogy after participating in professional development that presented and modeled the BTT framework? and (2) What was the perception of participants of the value of the BTT framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES …

Assessment Of Working Relationships Between Athletic Training Program Faculty And Clinical Preceptors, Kathleen Williams

All Theses And Dissertations

Athletic training degree programs require both clinical and classroom educational content. The educational content of the 2020 Standards, adopted in 2018 by athletic training’s accrediting body, included a requirement for additional skills and a minimum level degree. However, clinical preceptors educated prior to 2018 working in athletic training programs are often not proficient or trained in the new techniques. The change in athletic training educational knowledge has led to a theory–practice gap between athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors working in the field. Athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors need good communication and interpersonal working relationships to bridge the gap …

Admissions Directors’ Understanding Of The Enrollment Crisis At New England Catholic Colleges, Karen H. Schedin

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis study was to learn and describe college admissions directors’ understanding of declining high school graduate numbers through 2030 and the implications for new student recruitment. The eight study participants represented eight New England Catholic colleges or universities with a full-time undergraduate enrollment under 3,600 and an acceptance rate of 60% or higher. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews, providing answers to open-ended questions that addressed the study’s two research questions: What is admission directors’ level of understanding about the impending 2020–2030 enrollment crisis at small, less-selective, private Catholic colleges and universities in New …

Avoiding Cultural Calamities: Exploring The Influence Of Culture In Intercultural Plcs At An International School, Eric K. Johnson

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative instrumental case study explored the influence of national culture within the context of professional learning communities (PLCs) at an international school. This study utilized Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory as the theoretical framework and drew from DuFour and Eaker’s characteristics of effective PLCs. This instrumental case study focused on one international school located in the European Union. The purpose was to engage international teachers who take part in weekly PLC meetings through a demographic questionnaire, one-on-one interviews and direct observation, in order to develop a better understanding of the influence of culture within those meetings. The study addressed two …

Educator Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning Embedded In Academic Instruction To Improve Student Outcomes, Christopher T. Basta

All Theses And Dissertations

Society, parenting, and public education have changed drastically over the past several decades. As a result, public schools recognize the need to address student social and emotional learning (SEL) in addition to their academic growth. Although there is abundant research into the benefits of SEL and various methods for delivering SEL instruction, there is a dearth of research studying teacher perceptions and understandings of SEL embedded in academic instruction. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of social-emotional learning (SEL) during academic instruction. This phenomenological study’s research questions were (a) How do teachers’ past experiences and training …

The Influence Of Fraternity Membership On The Leadership Identity Development Of Latino Men Attending Primarily White Institutions (Pwis), Francisco M. Lugo

All Theses And Dissertations

With the projected increase in the number of Hispanic/Latino students enrolling in postsecondary institutions, there has been an increase in studies on student success that have focused more on Hispanic/Latino students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). One of the key factors that emerged as an under-examined but important aspect for the success of Hispanic/Latino students has been leadership development (Lozano, 2015, p. 3). Little is known about the “leadership development, capacity, and experiences while in college” of Hispanic/Latino males (Garcia, Huerta, Ramirez, & Patrón, 2017, p. 1). Garcia et al. (2017) pointed out that “scholars have examined the leadership development …

The Value Of Food: A Small Rural School Cafeteria Budget Case Study, Rosie Rochelle Slentz

All Theses And Dissertations

This mixed-methods case study was used to examine a small school district in a rural setting that operates a child nutrition program without encroaching on the general fund, while still serving organic, made-from-scratch meals. Current research confirms that school districts are challenged to balance the requirements of the National School Lunch Program while maintaining quality. School lunch programs, particularly small rural ones, are operating at a deficit. This researcher addressed an important gap by providing a comprehensive account of a fiscally sound cafeteria budget in a rural area for a small school, serving 150 lunches per day. In this study, …

Cultivating Leaders: Professional Development Needs Of Community College Chairs, Heidi Kirkman

All Theses And Dissertations

Higher education is currently experiencing industry changes that make good leadership even more crucial. However, most academic leaders arrive at their first leadership position with no leadership training and find the transition challenging. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine the lived experiences of community college chairs in relation to leadership development practices. The research questions that drive this study are (a) What competencies/skills are needed for performing the department chair role? (b) What are the professional development needs of community college department chairs? (c) What types of professional development do department chairs find most valuable? (d) What …

Latinx Student Development At An Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution In The Midwest, Gilberto Pérez Jr.

All Theses And Dissertations

As Latinx students continue to enroll at emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in the Midwest, it is imperative that college administrators understand the ways students develop while living in the residence halls. Although much research has been conducted about Latinx college students, little is known about their first-year experience in residential life settings and how that experience might contribute to their development. Seven second-year participants were identified and participated in this phenomenological study. Arthur Chickering’s (1969) student development theory guided the study to better understand how the seven vectors of identity contributed to student development in the following areas: competence, …

Investigating The Role Of School Principals In Promoting Inclusive Schools: A Teachers’ Perspective, Nid’A Saleem Khaleel

Foundations of Education Theses

After the implementation of inclusion in the education field in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and worldwide, a group of challenges have accompanied this system. Some studies in the literature were conducted concerning inclusion to indicate such challenges and the central role players in schools who apply this system (i.e. inclusive schools.) This study focuses on the role of school principals in promoting inclusion in their inclusive schools. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of school principals in promoting inclusive schools in the city of Al Ain in the UAE. The factors which affect the SODs’ (Students of …

Sense Of Belonging Among Foreign-Born And U.S.-Born Latinx Subgroups At A Community College, Raquel Cotuno

Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored sense of belonging among 15 U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinx students at a community college designated as a Hispanic serving institution. To further explore sense of belonging among these students, semi-structured interviews were conducted with both groups of students. The results indicated that U.S.-born Latinx students contributed sense of belonging to instructors who displayed characteristics of equal treatment, genuineness, and support in and outside of the classroom. Instructors who displayed these characteristics made students feel more connected to the instructor and to the college as a whole. Results also indicated that foreign-born Latinx students credited their …

The Dual Enrollment Challenges Of First-Generation Appalachian College Students: A Holistic Single-Case Study, Cecil Todd Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this holistic single-case study was to describe the dual enrollment experiences of first-generation Appalachian college students in Southwest Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s theory of college student retention as it related to first-generation Appalachian college students who have taken dual enrollment courses. To further understand the challenges faced by these students the following research question was posed: What are student, teacher, and administrator descriptions of the challenges faced by first-generation college students taking dual enrollment courses in Southwest Virginia? Subquestions served to investigate the role of dual enrollment courses on the college involvement, college …

The Relationships Between Online Adult Student Clep Transfer Credit Subject Types And Six-Year Graduation, Clifford James Stumme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

College Level Examination Program exams are accepted at thousands of schools, but the question remains as to whether College Level Examination Program students are prepared to graduate and whether accepting College Level Examination Program students benefits higher education institutions. While research has been done on College Level Examination Program student success, further research is needed to know whether increased College Level Examination Program exams and College Level Examination Program credits in specific disciplines correlate to an increased likelihood in online adult student graduation. College Level Examination Program exams’ relation to graduation and online adult learners’ use of College Level Examination …

The Self-Efficacy Of Rural Middle School Teachers Working With Families In Relation To Student Achievement, Sarah Skudin Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental involvement in the education process is known to increase student achievement. Many barriers to parental involvement exist including the self-efficacy of teachers’ working with families. The purpose of this correlational study is to determine if a relationship exists between the self-efficacy of rural middle school math and English teachers working with families and student achievement in their classroom. Working with Families Self-Efficacy Scales (WFSES) will be used to determine the self-efficacy of teachers working with families. Participants will be middle school teachers from five different middle schools in one rural school district on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The …

A Causal-Comparative Study On The Efficacy Of Intelligent Tutoring Systems On Middle-Grade Math Achievement, Kevin Lamar Rholetter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is a quantitative examination of intelligent tutoring systems in two similar suburban middle schools (grades 6-8) in the Southeastern United States. More specifically, it is a causal-comparative study purposed with examining the efficacy of intelligent tutoring systems as they relate to math achievement for students at two similar middle schools in the Midlands of South Carolina. The independent variable, use of an intelligent tutoring system in math instruction, is defined as the supplementary use of two intelligent tutoring systems, Pearson’s Math Digits and IXL, for math instruction. The dependent variable is math achievement as determined by the Measures …

Predicting Academic Achievement Based On Sense Of Community Among Online Public High School Students, Randy Boydie Maraj

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Limited research has investigated the relationship between sense of community and academic achievement, as determined by students’ self-reported Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) scores. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the extent by which sense of community can predict academic achievement among online public high school students. The predictor variables were social community and learning community. The criterion variable was academic achievement using student’s PSAT/NMSQT scores. The school form of the Classroom and School Community Inventory was given to 98 online high school students to complete. They represented a major suburban public …

A Collective Case Study Understanding The Barriers To College Access Facing Low-Income African American Male High School Graduates, Emmanuel Schuller Cherilien

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the barriers to college access facing low-income African American males in the northeastern region of the United States. This study employed a qualitative methodology approach involving 10 low-income African American high school graduates from two states. The theoretical framework that guided this study was critical race theory. The central research question was: What are the barriers to college enrollment for low-income African American male high school graduates? The data collection methods consisted of semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and a focus group. The data analysis process involved open coding, axial coding, …

Teacher Perception Of Administrators' Leadership Qualities Based On The Administrator's Biological Sex, Jennifer Derickson Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Determining the criteria necessary for an educational leader or principal to be effective by including employees, such as teachers in evaluating their principals, may aid in strengthening educational leadership overall. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a difference between teacher perception of their administrator’s leadership qualities of inspiring a shared vision, modeling the way, and enabling others to act based on the biological sex of their administrator. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Observer form was used to measure the leadership quality of educational administrators as perceived by their teachers. The population for the …

Class Standing And Student Perceptions Of Safety In Christian Higher Education: A Causal-Comparative Study, Bradley Carlton Bowen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Campus safety has become a significant topic in higher education. A dynamic environment including regulatory changes and notable criminal incidents has resulted in rapid changes in campus policy in the United States. Limited research has been conducted regarding stakeholder perceptions of campus safety, though research is lacking regarding campus safety in Christian higher education. Research is especially lacking among Christian institutions in the southeastern United States and in comparing student perceptions based on class standing. This causal-comparative study examined the results of a survey presented to undergraduate students at a Christian university to answer the question as to whether there …

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Environment On Middle School Teachers' Self-Efficacy Towards Students With Disruptive Behaviors: A Causal-Comparative Study, Daniel Wayne Mcgraw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine whether there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy (TSE) for educators who participate in, receive training for, and work in a trauma-informed environment (TIC) versus teachers who do not. Trauma-informed education is a growing trend in K-12 academic settings. But, no known study has shown whether working in a trauma-informed environment has an impact on teacher behaviors and attitudes. The results of this study did not find any statistically significant difference in survey responses from middle school teachers. The researcher used the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) to collect data …

A Comparison On The Effects Of Two Curriculum Approaches For Elementary Early Literacy, Christopher Alan Pennington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this ex post facto quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine whether the use of a teacher-modified literacy curriculum approach was effective in significantly reducing the achievement gap between demographic subgroups, when compared to a curriculum approach of rote teaching. Using gender, race, and lunch status as nominal variables, this study examined differences in pre- to post-test increases in phonemic/phonic skills between groups. Samples were comprised of first-grade students from two school systems in Alabama. School system one consisted of a treatment public elementary school in northwest Alabama (n = 56) that utilized the teacher-modified curriculum approach. School …

National Board Certified Teachers’ Perceptions Of Developing Teacher-Student Relationships: A Case Study In A Title 1 Suburban Middle School In The Southeastern United States, Tara T. Bensinger

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to explore how National Board Certified teachers build relationships and cultivate empathy with middle school students in a Title 1 suburban school in the Southeastern United States. This qualitative case study was founded on the relational cultural theory, which focuses on the importance of authentic relationships. The research participants were two male and five female National Board Certified teachers of various subjects and grade levels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants to gather the data. Themes that emerged were that the NBCTs were authentic, attentive, accepting, relational, and socially and emotionally supportive in relationship …

A Study Of Spiritual Growth And Housing Choices Among First–Year College Students, Darred K. Williams

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to study how spiritual growth and housing choices for first-year college students correlate with one another. This qualitative case study is founded on the conceptual frameworks of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and Fowler’s stages of faith development The research participants were a criterion-based sample consisting of six Christian college students entering their first semester of college who all attended the same Christian high school prior to beginning their college career. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants to gather rich, detailed information about their experiences in their spiritual and educational lives. Data collected …

A Correlational Study Of The Relationships Between Individual Entrepreneurial Orientations Of Community College Leaders And College Students’ Success, Michael Mcpherson

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to examine the mathematical relationships between the individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) of academic leaders in the Florida College System and their institutions’ student success rates. Some leaders in academia have suggested that academic leaders of postsecondary institutions adopt entrepreneurial behaviors and traits in an effort to adapt to rapidly changing environments. In this descriptive study, academic leaders in the Florida College system were surveyed to determine their IEO. The researcher obtained student success rates for each institution in the Florida College System. Data were analyzed using Pearson r correlations between IEO scores of academic …

The Role Of Search Consultants In Interpreting And Communicating Organizational Identity During Presidential Searches At Small, Private Colleges, Dawn M. Markell

Dissertations

Search consultants’ perceived expertise in reaching a target audience and generating a pool of qualified candidates has led to their widespread use across higher education, including small, private colleges (Atwell, 2009; CIC, 2018; Johnson & Ferrare, 2013). As small, private colleges confront an unprecedented level of existential stress, they are faced with competing pressures to differentiate themselves through their historical organizational identity while still pursuing change (Baker & Baldwin, 2015; Jaquette, 2013; Stensaker, 2015; Weerts, Freed, & Morphew, 2014). Matters of identity become especially significant during times of leadership transition (MacDonald, 2013). Despite the convergence of these factors, there is …

Dominican Public-School Novice Principals’ Description Of Their Early Career Experiences And Needs Entering The Principalship, Mary Francis Benzo Hernandez

Dissertations

Research on principal leadership is extensive; however, studies suggest such research cannot be generalized across all contexts, as educational leaders’ needs are a result of the specific context in which they work. Since there is limited research on principal leadership in the Dominican Republic (DR), the country can benefit from current and contextualized research on principal leadership within primary and secondary education. The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study is to explore Dominican public-school novice principals’ early career experiences and how they identified their needs entering the principalship. Through portraiture, this study aims to document principals’ life stories, background, …

Saudi Arabian Women’S Lived Experiences Attaining Higher Education Deanships: Paths, Supports, And Challenges, Sarah Abdullah Allhoian

Dissertations

Saudi Arabian women are underrepresented in higher education leadership positions. To take advantage of opportunities and have lasting effects on future generations of women, women must learn to attain leadership positions such as academic deanships. Deans are in a uniquely influential position as they engage in many significant aspects of educational leadership, such as academics, operations, and administrative aspects of colleges and universities.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the lived experiences of female deans to understand the specific supports and challenges they faced in attaining their leadership positions. These challenges and supports are embedded in the …

Penilaian Keberkesanan Program Kelayakan Profesional Pemimpin Pendidikan Kebangsaan Dalam Kalangan Pemimpin Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Di Selangor, Raman Nirmala

Student Works (2020-2029)

Pada tahun 2008, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia telah memperkenalkan program latihan iaitu Program Kelayakan Profesional Pemimpin Pendidikan Kebangsaan (NPQEL) bagi meningkatkan pengetahuan dalam kalangan pemimpin sekolah untuk menerajui sekolah. Sehubungan itu, untuk mengenal pasti keberkesanan prpogram ini maka kajian penilaian ini dijalankan di sekolah seluruh negeri sekolah. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah gabungan Kualitatif dan Kuantitatif. Analisis keperluan yang melibatkan kualitatif dengan menemu bual enam orang pemimpin pendidikan sekolah di daerah Klang. Soalan-soalan terbuka-tertutup digunakan dalam analisis tersebut. Ia adalah berdasarkan Konteks, Input, Proses, Produk dan Teori Perma. Kualitatif juga dilakukan dengan mencari nilai persetujuan antara pakar kualitatif tentang unit-unit analisis sesuatu …

Creating An Inclusive Climate For Students On The Autism Spectrum, Stephanie Christine Holmes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem that drove this study was the increasing number of students with autism entering the school system, and the barriers often encountered for both academic and social inclusion for students on the autism spectrum. Autism Spectrum Disorder, as defined by diagnostic criteria, includes deficits in social-relational communication; social-communication deficits can lead to educational impacts and limit opportunities upon transitioning from the public-school system. The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers to inclusion, which often includes the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) eligibility process itself, from the perspectives of key stakeholders to include Local Education Agency (LEA) representatives, …

Exploring The Impact Of A Professional Identity On Teacher Retention: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth A. Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although there is a great deal of research literature available on the causes for and the impact of teacher attrition and research on professionalism, there is little research to prove what connection, if any, exists between the two. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to determine whether the development of a strong professional identity could positively impact teacher retention in a specific school. The research was conducted by first gathering baseline data from teachers who took 2 established surveys, the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and the Professional Self-Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ). Focus group interviews with volunteer teachers followed. Survey …