Educational Leadership Commons^™

The Implementation And Impact Of The Teacher Evaluation Process On Special Educator Professional Growth In A Public Middle School, Michael L. Lefko

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation examined teacher and administrator perceptions regarding fidelity of implementation of components of the teacher evaluation program with middle school special education teachers. These components include pre-conferences, observations, and post-conferences; summary evaluations; and professional development plans. Incorporating evidence from qualitative interviews with school-based administrators, qualitative focus groups with special education teachers, and a quantitative survey with special education teachers, this study found that fidelity of implementation of the components of teacher evaluation is impacted by evaluator capacity. Capacity is defined as both, time to engage in the components of teacher evaluation and professional knowledge of special …

Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Students: Evaluating Public High School Principal Preparedness And Perceptions, Brian C. Johnson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was threefold: first, to measure high school principal preparedness to meet the increased mental health needs of students; second, to determine principal perceptions of mental health frameworks and needs; and third, to assist with creating a better understanding of what high school principals may need to meet the mental health concerns of their students. The study was completed using a survey titled Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Students: High School Principal Survey. The survey was designed from the Project Cal-Well Statewide Principals Survey Template utilized in California. Additional survey questions were created to …

Parental Engagement And Equitable Family Partnerships: Perspectives From Internal And External Stakeholders, Alexine Thomas-Brown

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This research study explored the critical topic of parental engagement and equitable family partnerships. The study aimed to provide holistic insight by uncovering internal and external stakeholders' combined perceptions regarding equitable parental engagement to establish a protocol for individualized support. Purposeful sampling was used to select the study’s participants. Participants were categorized into two groups: internal stakeholders, who included teachers, social workers, and administrators; and external stakeholders, who included parents and guardians. Open-ended surveys and interviews were used to collect insight from internal and external stakeholders. The data were analyzed thematically and interpreted against Epstein et al.’s (2019) and Darling-Hammond’s …

A Contextual Analysis Of The Self-Care Practices Of School Principals In A Rural District, Jennifer R. Croymans

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate current self-care practices used by school principals and the correlation between school principal self-care practices and their alignment with the seven pillars of self-care. This study sought to bring awareness as to the barriers and motivations of current school principals and the impact of those barriers and motivations on effective implementation of principal self-care. In addition, this study provides the district of study and other rural school districts with potential recommendations in order to support current school principals in the proper implementation of self-care practices. A mixed methods approach was used to …

The Essentials For Leaders To Motivate Volunteers And Workers, Angelique Burris

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Most organizations were created because there was a need for a service, product, or mission that would assist others in need. When considering what compels volunteers and workers to be consistent in organizations, motivation is imperative. The behavior of leadership, especially the ability to influence, has affected the volunteers and workers of the company in a positive or negative way. Leaders have played a chief role in drawing and retaining workers and volunteers. The purpose of this study was to show that our motivations are already inside of us, and this was key for leaders to realize the importance of …

Perspectives Of African American Male School Administrators On The Recruitment And Retention Of African American Male Teachers, Maurice Thomas

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study utilized one-on-one interviews to examine the lived experience of Black males who have successfully joined the teaching profession and moved into school administration. Their experiences shed light on factors that help attract African American males to the profession and continue to be educators. This study's research is based on Herzberg et al.'s (1959) motivation-hygiene theory. This theory addresses which factors impact job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Participants in the study expressed that they are motivated by their desire to impact students and make a difference. They emphasized the importance of representation and shared that relationships with school and …

Preparing For The Future: A Collaborative Design For High-Quality Career And Technical Education Programming, Shannon Rodriguez

Education Theses and Dissertations

Educators in public education as faced with preparing students for college and career after high school graduation. The collaborative efforts of Career and Technical Education programming allows for the development of a high-quality program through exploring non-traditional teacher use goal setting and pedagogy provide a foundation of success for students.

Insider Tips For Applying To Graduate Programs, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

As I approach my 20th year as a school psychology faculty member (12 as a program coordinator), I have reviewed thousands of applications and interviewed hundreds of prospective students. It is truly a joy to meet people at interviews who will go on to excel as school psychologists. I also have met my fair share of applicants who were clearly unprepared. This piece provides some insider information on how prospective students can strengthen their applications and interviews.

Crisis Leadership: Voices From The Field, Corinne Brion

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Care Coordination For Youth With Tbi: Moving Forward To Provide Better Care, Jennifer P. Lundine, Erika Hagen, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Care coordination aligns services and optimizes outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet numerous obstacles can impede effective care coordination following a TBI.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is to identify barriers and facilitators to care coordination from the perspective of individuals who care for young people impacted by TBI.

METHODS: Twenty-one care providers participated in semi-structured interviews to gather their perspectives on systems of care coordination for youth with TBI and potential areas for improvement. Using reflexive thematic analysis, researchers identified key themes across interviews.

RESULTS: Three themes were identified: 1) gaps in knowledge; 2) …

Leadership Efficacy: A Study Of The Relationship Between Leadership Efficacy, Teacher Perception And Teacher Retention, Rachel Hazel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Leadership self-efficacy is an important quality for school principals. In his work, Hattie has stated, "How we think about the impact of what we do is more important than focusing on what we do (Hattie, 2020)." Leadership efficacy, theories of action, and how leaders ensure their actions are aligned with their goals is more important than ever as educators face challenges with teacher shortages and leading in a tumultuous time. Teacher recruitment and retention is a worldwide problem. Teachers are leaving the field. While teachers do not have to validate the beliefs of their leaders, they must carry out the …

Dismantling The Master's House: A Decolonial Blueprint For Internationalization Of Higher Education, Bhavika Sicka, Minghui Hou

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

While critical scholars have attempted to decenter internationalization, limited research has aimed to understand internationalization efforts in the context of the socio-historical particularities of the postcolonial condition. This paper takes a decolonial perspective in the study of internationalization, in light of the Eurocentric tendencies of modernity, whose major manifestation in higher education is neoliberal globalization. We unpack internationalization in the U.S. and examine how it is embedded in and reproduces neoliberalism, racism, and colonialism. Since decolonization is not merely deconstructive but also regenerative, we reconceive what it means to be international and recommend how internationalization can be deployed as a …

[Review Of The Book Neo-Nationalism And Universities: Populists, Autocrats, And The Future Of Higher Education, By J.A. Douglas], Bhavika Sicka

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Neo-nationalism and Universities, a collection of essays edited by John Aubrey Douglass, explores the effects of the global phenomenon of neo-nationalism on the behaviors, roles, and values of major universities. The book's contributing authors, diverse and seasoned voices in higher education, illustrate how nationalisms of the past have taken on new configurations, ranging from nascent populism to autocratic regimes, across contexts such as the U.S., UK., Hungary, Poland, Turkey, China, Russia, and Brazil. Through grounded national and pan-national examinations, the chapters shed light on how neo-nationalist parties and leaders have domesticated universities, weaponized science, and curtailed dissent to service …

"We Collect Tons Of Data... We Report What We Think Our Community Cares The Most About... We Learn So Much From It:" School Librarians' Evidence Collection And Sharing Practices, Jennifer Moore, Maria Cahill, Jeffrey Discala, Wanyi Wang

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Evidence-based practice (EBP) offers school librarians a systematic process for developing, assessing, and revising their school library programs. Two of the seven steps in this process involve collecting and sharing meaningful evidence with appropriate stakeholders, often for advocacy purposes, strategically selecting communication channels and methods aligned with target audiences. Through a survey collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, 161 school librarians in Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas shared their experiences with evidence-based practice. The study reported here focuses on school librarians’ evidence collection and sharing practices. Findings indicate school librarians collect easily obtainable data and share evidence of practice widely; however, …

Exploring The College Enrollment Of Students From Rural Areas: Considerations For Scholarly Practitioners, Elise J. Cain, Samantha Class

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

Rural students graduate high school at a rate comparable to their urban and suburban peers; however, people from rural areas attend college at the lowest rate. Due to this discrepancy and the ever-growing importance of postsecondary education, this article summarizes and synthesizes works on the college enrollment of students from rural areas. The article begins with background information on the benefits of postsecondary education, definitions of rurality, the educational attainment of rural people, as well as institutional type and attendance patterns of rural students. Next, using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development as a guiding framework, literature about the individual, …

A Statewide Network’S Impact On School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy For Transformational School Change, Karen Perry

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

Changing educational practice is widely understood to be a challenging endeavor, even for experienced school leaders. Much of the research on school networks focuses on building teacher capacity for improving student performance, but less evidence exists relating to increasing school leaders’ self-efficacy, specifically for the purpose of transformational school change. Building on the body of research of school networks and leaders’ self-efficacy, this mixed methods participatory action research study investigates how a network, facilitated by university faculty, impacts the leadership self-efficacy of high school principals for the purpose of leading transformational school change. Self- efficacy is both malleable and essential …

Addressing A Cohort Discrepancy Among Ninth-Grade Students At A Rural/Suburban High School, Bryley Keaton Murphy

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Ninth grade is a critical period where some children experience academic and social growth, while others struggle to navigate their new context, leading to reduced outcomes at school and worsened physical/mental health (Benner & Graham, 2007; Rice, 2001). This mixed-methods action research (MMAR) study addressed how professional practice changes could better support students during this foundational period. Quantitative data was collected from school databases to compare the rate of student success and identify demographic discrepancies, while qualitative data was used to identify possible causes. These data were then integrated to create insightful meta-inferences into the problem of practice. From these …

Principals As Instructional Leaders: Building Knowledge Of Applied Learning To Confidently Lead Implementation, Janell Lynn Mcclure

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Principals need to understand best practices and research-based strategies that foster student success and that align to their instructional expectations and professional goals. Some of those practices include applied learning strategies such as integrated learning, student-driven learning, and authentic applications. Unfortunately, little professional learning, specifically for principals, is made available on the topic of instructional leadership, current strategies, or applied learning in general. As a result, school leaders continue to follow a traditional instructional model that includes teacher-directed instruction, student recall of information, and standardized tests as measures of content mastery.

This dissertation was a mixed-methods action research study. The …

Investigating The Relationship Between Empowerment And Secondary Science Teachers’ Technology Integration Knowledge, Jane Elizabeth Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Empowered teachers believe they can improve their work conditions and positively impact student outcomes. Likewise, teachers with technology integration knowledge can effectively use technology to enhance lessons and improve student learning. This quantitative correlational study investigated teachers’ empowerment, teachers’ technology integration knowledge, and associations between empowerment and technology integration knowledge. Two hundred fourteen randomly selected high school science teachers from across the United States responded to a survey intended to measure empowerment and technology integration knowledge. The teachers' average responses indicate that teachers generally agree with statements surrounding empowerment (M = 3.93, SD = 0.54) and technology integration knowledge …

An Exploration Of Effective District Practices For Enculturating And Retaining Kentucky's Newest Teachers In The Profession, Cari Lea Boyd

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The teaching profession within P-12 education has more beginners in the field than ever before, growing the profession by 48%, which outpaces the 19% growth in student enrollment. The most common teacher among all practicing in America’s schools is someone in her or his first year of teaching. The decreasing levels of experience in the profession has led to increased rates of attrition because beginners have the highest attrition rates with up to 50% leaving the field within the first five years. Research conducted on teacher retention has focused on why teachers leave the field; hence, a major gap in …

Development And Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Teacher Self-Efficacy For Meeting The Needs Of Military-Connected Children, Amy M. O'Neill

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The average military child changes schools six to nine times before graduating high school. With those moves come significant educational challenges, but there is currently no known instrument designed to measure whether teachers believe they are capable of meeting the needs of this population. The purpose of this study was to develop, pilot, and provide initial psychometric evidence for a scale, the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale for Military Kids (TSES for MilKids), that measures teacher self-efficacy for meeting the needs of military-connected children. A 19-item instrument was created and distributed to regular education teachers in Grades 1-5 in civilian school districts …

Internationalizing The Teacher Education Curriculum Toward Global Competency: Academic Leaders’ Perceptions, Ellie F. G. Holliday

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

To prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world, P-12 teachers must be trained to infuse intercultural and global perspectives into their teaching practice. However, teacher education programs (TEPs) have been criticized for their lack of global perspectives in the curriculum and have been found to be the least internationalized programs at United States (U.S.) universities. Though university senior international officers (SIOs) play a large role in developing a strategic approach toward curriculum internationalization, there is a paucity of research on their perspectives on this process.

In this explanatory sequential mixed methods study, TEP leaders and SIOs at universities in the …

The Protection Of Student Data Privacy In Wisconsin School Board Policies, Curtis Clyde Rees

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

American schools have increasingly adopted technology resources to fulfill their educational obligations. These tools are for instruction, communication, and storing and analyzing student information. Student data can be directory information, enrollment records, achievement data, and student-created products. This increased utilization began with the passage of No Child Left Behind in 2001, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to more educational technology use of student data. Districts turned to third-party vendors for assistance with data systems and virtual learning resources. Before, during, and after the pandemic, stakeholders were concerned about information security and the students' privacy. School leaders looked to federal regulations …

Principal Leadership Practices At Kentucky High Schools Administering The Pisa For Schools: Leading For Global Competitiveness, Marjorie L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Since launching Sputnik in 1957, the United States education system has been trying to climb to the top of the international education rankings. The Organisation for Economic and Co-operative Development (OECD) began analyzing how well school systems prepared students to compete in the global economy in 2000. The OECD uses the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). U.S. students rank at or near the OECD averages in reading and science but consistently perform below the OECD average in mathematics. In addition to the PISA, the OECD released the PISA for Schools, which provides PISA data at the school level.

In …

A Quantcrit Investigation Of The Discriminatory Practices In Texas Education Funding, Stuart Andrew Keogh

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The Texas constitution guarantees citizens a "general diffusion of knowledge" and an "efficient system of public free schools." However, the state has often failed to provide sufficient funding to meet this constitutional mandate. Many school districts, especially those serving low-income or minority communities, have been chronically underfunded. This has led to unequal access to quality education. As a result, there have been numerous lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Texas's school funding system. Plaintiffs argue that the state has violated the education clause of the constitution by failing to adequately and equitably fund public schools. Despite several legislative attempts at reform, …

An Examination Of Faculty And Staff Collaboration And Relationships In Higher Education, Jennifer Syno, Juliann S. Mcbrayer, Daniel W. Calhoun, Cordelia Zinskie, Katherine Fallon

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Collaboration between academic and student affairs professionals is an important means of increasing student success; however, historical divides between these units have made implementation of these efforts challenging. This quantitative study sought to evaluate the perceptions of faculty and student affairs staff towards collaborative efforts and toward one another within a single campus of a comprehensive regional university within the southeast. Findings show that while both faculty and staff value collaborations and believe they positively impact student success, these units do not experience equitable voice and responsibility within collaborative efforts when conducted. Additionally, differences were found in enjoyment of collaborative …

Undergraduate Students’ Perception Of Leadership Development Programs And Leadership Self-Efficacy, Benjamin Phillips, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Brandon Hunt, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume, Katherine Fallon

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Colleges and universities across the United States face continual pressure to meet enrollment and retention goals, as budgets in this performance-based environment continue to become more important. On-campus student involvement, such as in undergraduate leadership development programs, has been shown to have a positive influence on both student retention and success. A survey was utilized to examine leadership self-efficacy and engagement of undergraduate students that participated in campus-based leadership development programs and explore some motivators (contributing factors) and barriers (detracting factors) to involvement in those programs. One emergent theme within contributing factors to participation was alignment with personal goals (74.7%), …

Leadership Strategies For Building High-Performing Faculty Teams In Technology-Focused Higher Education Departments, Liz Hollerman

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the leadership strategies academic leaders of technology departments in higher education may use to build high-performing faculty teams. The objective of the study was to discover the most effective ways for fostering faculty ingenuity in curriculum reform for a technology-focused program. In addition, the literature review presents The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership by Kouzes and Posner (2019) as the theoretical basis for this study. Literature uncovered thirteen effective leadership elements for building high-performing teams (Friedman, 2021; Katzenbach & Smith, 2005). The research subquestions for this qualitative study were organized around Kouzes and Posner's model of leadership. …

What Did Y’All Do?: Using Counter-Storytelling To Recall Student Affairs Professionals’ Response To Anti-Black Racist Incidents At One Predominantly White Institution In The Midwest, Darquillius J. Mayweather

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study paints a picture of student affairs professionals’ work after a string of anti-Black racist incidents at a predominantly White Midwestern university. In this study, student affairs professionals were asked to recount their responses to three anti-Black racist incidents at the university during the fall semester of 2016:
• September, 20, 2016, “KKK Leave N*****s” at Sing Hall;
• September 21, 2016, “Fuck U N*****s” at Mise Hall; and
• October 31, 2016, “leave n*****s” at Cord Hall.

This study used critical race theory (CRT) counter-storytelling methods to uncover frontline student affairs professionals’ responses to anti-Black racist incidents at …

Technology And Its Impact On Parental Involvement In K-12 Education, Kenyuano Jones

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact technology, specifically the Student Information System’s (SIS) parent portal has on parent involvement in K-12 education. Parents who participated in the study were asked questions in the fields of special education; social economic status; parent workshops; use of technology, including the parent portal; parent beliefs; parent–teacher relationships; and their involvement in schools. The data were collected from parents of K-12 students through a survey and was analyzed to determine if there were relationships between variables as well as to show two-way relationships and path analysis. Based on the findings, it …