Educational Leadership Commons^™

Community College Faculty Use Of Universal Design For Learning (Udl): A Participatory Action Research Dissertation Study, Marjorie Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This participatory action research (PAR) dissertation study investigates the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles by community college faculty in first-year writing courses to support students with learning disabilities at a New Jersey community college. Through a collaborative approach involving faculty as active participants, the study explores how UDL guidelines are integrated into writing assignments for ENG 101 and ENG 102. Through iterative cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection, the research explores how faculty implement UDL guidelines to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in their writing assignments. Data collection methods include focus group interviews, document analysis, and the …

Perceptions Of Communication And Collaboration Between Special Education And Career And Technical Education Teachers, Alexander Novickoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the communication and collaboration between Local Education Agency’s (LEA) special education staff and Career and Technical Center (CTC) staff in supporting students with disabilities (SWD). Given the critical role of effective interagency communication in providing comprehensive support to SWD, this study seeks to identify the perceptions, methods, and frequencies of communication between these entities. The research is set within the context of non-comprehensive CTCs in Pennsylvania, where students split their time between their home schools and regional CTCs. Through a quantitative approach, consisting of a detailed survey distributed to both LEA and CTC staff, this study examines …

School System And Student Performance: Examining Science And Mathematics Achievement In Pakistan, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Public and private school systems are the two largest providers of formal school education in Pakistan, differing significantly in their governance, resources, and practices. While previous studies showed differences in Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), often favouring private schools, these comparisons remained largely descriptive. This paper compares elementary grade students’ performance in mathematics and science between public and private schools in Pakistan, accounting for factors such as grade level and geographical region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 15,391 students from grades 5, 6, and 8, selected through a multistage sampling technique from a total of­­ 153 public and private schools …

Symposium On Leadership Competencies For Peace Leadership: An Overview And Invitation, Whitney Mcintyre Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"This Symposium proposes eight leadership competencies, presented by experts in each area, as examples of ways in which leadership can be aligned with peace in order to bring about sustainable, positive change. This Symposium does not argue for just another list of leadership skills and practices, but rather, illustrates that when leadership competencies are intentionally combined with peace practices, we can engage in the work of peace leadership: leading our communities, organizations, and societies toward peace and equitable justice. Therefore, this Symposium utilizes these competencies as a “jumping off point” to nudge the field of leadership studies to begin to …

Predicting The Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (Ocbs) Of Junior High School Teachers, Alfonso B. Astudillo Iii

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) plays a crucial role in enhancing organizational effectiveness. This study examines the predictors of OCB among junior high school teachers in the local educational context. Utilizing a quantitative approach, stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify situational and dispositional variables that predict OCB. Seventeen predictors, including situational variables (type of school, organizational climate, and organizational justice) and dispositional attributes (sex, job satisfaction, work motivation, and personality traits), were analyzed. The findings reveal that while the initial hypothesis was not fully supported, specific variables significantly predicted OCB. Teacher job satisfaction emerged as a significant predictor of …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Student Social Interaction, Matthew D. Burch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand why students and families were disengaged from school activities and did not feel connected to the overall school culture. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s theory on sociocultural cognitive development, as it identified links between culture and learning. As the data was collected, Moustakas’ design helped to comprehend the feelings, emotions, and meanings of the people involved. A phenomenological research design was used to help understand and define new and emerging issues as they pertained to why students and families withdrew from school. With a fluid approach, the design …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study: The School Principal's Experiences With Education Law, Vanessa Calderon Donahue

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand the school principal’s experiences with education while managing their school sites. The study applies Knowles' theory of adult learning to create relevant and practical learning and to produce continuous professional development programs on education law for school principals. The central research question guiding this study is: How prepared are principals when addressing legal issues while managing their schools? This hermeneutic phenomenology research study utilizes a constructivist approach to build an understanding of school principals' experiences with education law based on the insights of study participants. The participants comprised ten elementary, …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Female First-Generation College Students As They Matriculate Through College: A Phenomenological Study, Rosa Denise Mcallister-Mcrae

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of African American female first-generation college students’ (FGCS) academic, social, emotional, and low economic challenges while attending either a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) or a Predominately White Institution (PWI) located in the southeastern area of the United States. First-generation college students are students whose parents never attended college. Tinto’s retention theory was the framework that guided the research, particularly, the challenges faced by first-generation students. The central research question was, how do African American female FGCSs describe their lived experiences matriculating through an HBCU or …

Exploring The Significance Of Emotional Intelligence In Organizational Effectiveness: A Case Study Of Created To Serve Ministries, Leslie Mcneill Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation addressed the critical imperative of enhancing emotional intelligence within Created 2 Serve Ministries, recognizing its pivotal role in fostering organizational health and effective leadership. The project aimed to comprehensively investigate current emotional intelligence levels within Created 2 Serve Ministries, develop tailored interventions, and implement strategies to improve emotional intelligence among members and leaders. Recognizing that emotional intelligence is essential for cultivating empathetic relationships, resolving conflicts, and navigating the complexities of pastoral care, the rationale for this endeavor was based on identified challenges within the ministry, including interpersonal conflicts, communication breakdowns, and the potential for burnout among leaders. Through …

Leadership Professional Development On Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Yolanda Michelle Gilyard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference in self-efficacy between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. This study is significant because it aims to determine if self-efficacy is different between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. The school district is a Title 1 school with an 87.9% poverty rate. Due …

Reputation Management: Branding A Higher Education Graduate Program To Increase Visibility, Vanderbilt Artaxerxes Brabson Iv

Student Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project offers a comprehensive training tool for non-communication professionals working in higher education programs. Its main goals are to give users (1) a summary of valuable research on higher education reputation management, branding, and strategic communication, and (2) an online toolkit for non-communication professionals to boost the visibility and impact of their educational initiatives. By providing practical, actionable resources, these tools help higher education professionals effectively handle the challenges of strategic communication management. The toolkit is especially useful because it delivers evidence-based strategies and methods that can be directly applied to improve communication efforts in higher education. It …

Book Review Of Becoming A Student-Ready College By Tia Brown Mcnair, Susan Albertine, Nicole Mcdonald, Thomas Major Jr., And Michelle Asha Cooper, Emily Bikowski

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

Book review of McNair, T. B., Albertine, S., McDonald, N., Major, T., & Cooper, M. A. (2022). Becoming a Student-Ready College. Jossey-Bass. This article discusses the book from the perspective of a student-services practitioner who understands the importance of fostering a campus culture that values equity and inclusivity to ensure fairness for all students.

Factors Associated With First-Year Student Retention In Higher Education: A Quantitative Analysis Of Student Confidence And Use Of Support Services On Persistence And Success, Starr Wentzel

Online Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated factors influencing first-year student retention at a midsized regional comprehensive university. Using archival data from the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, the research examined the retention rates of Standard Admit students and conditionally admitted Success First students. The study explored student retention based on use of available support services, namely visits to the campus Student Success Center (SSC), as well as measures of cognitive and non-cognitive skills and confidence as assessed through a standardized nationally normed assessment tool. Additionally, it identified key demographic variables such as gender, race, Pell Grant eligibility, and first-generation status that impact …

Reputation Management: Branding A Higher Education Graduate Program To Increase Visibility, Vanderbilt Artaxerxes Brabson Iv

Student Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project provides a comprehensive training tool for non-communication professionals working within higher education programs. Its primary objectives are to provide users (1) a summary of valuable research on higher education reputation management, branding, and strategic communication, as well as (2) an online toolkit for non-communication professionals to enhance the visibility and impact of their educational initiatives. By providing practical, actionable deliverables, these resources can enable higher education professionals to effectively navigate the complexities of strategic communication management. The toolkit is particularly valuable as it offers evidence-based strategies and methodologies that can be directly applied to improve the communication …

Innovations In Educational Research: Developing An Original Questionnaire To Measure New Mexico’S Teacher Practices And Beliefs Related To Project-Based Learning And Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Teaching, Zachary R. Ramsey

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This dissertation investigates teacher practices and beliefs related to project-based learning (PBL) and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching (CLRT), central to New Mexico’s educational reform efforts following Martinez & Yazzie v. New Mexico (2018). The study also explored teachers’ professional learning needs and their awareness of the state’s reform initiatives. I collected responses from 37 participants using an original questionnaire instrument. While the findings are not generalizable, they reveal that teachers practiced elements of PBL and CLRT with moderate frequency and generally believed in their efficacy for improving educational outcomes for diverse student groups. The results also highlighted varying levels …

Pueblo Women's Leadership Experiences, Monika A. Whitmore

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This dissertation explored Pueblo women and their perspectives on pathways to leadership and examined ways to provide networking and professional development for Pueblo women. This study identified a number of important themes that offer a better understanding of the particular dynamics Pueblo women encounter as leaders. Four findings emerged from the study: a) bridging traditions; balancing cultural values, b) mediation of conflict through cultural lenses, c) wisdom of generations on mentorship and role models, and d) empowering emerging leaders. In addition to personal accounts, these lived experiences offer important insights into the larger framework of community empowerment, cultural sustainability, and …

A Quantitative Study Of The Factors Leading To Veteran Teacher Retention In Central Virginia Public Schools, Timothy J. Crawford

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Teacher retention and attrition are constant concerns for administrators in public schools. Having quality teachers can be a major factor in determining a student’s level of success. Following a tumultuous time in education throughout the COVID pandemic, it is ever important to public school administrators to retain quality veteran teachers who have the best ability to assist students with their educational needs. With the existence of virtual teaching options and higher pay in other sectors, it is becoming increasingly hard to retain teachers and to fill teaching vacancies. This study aims to identify reasons teachers chose to stay in the …

Implementing Evidence-Based Curricula And Professional Development To Improve Student Reading, Madeline Lukan

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined research on equitable reading curricula and reading professional development to improve students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade reading scores and levels taken from NAEP. The research analyzed were qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods. These research studies shared school interventions, reading data points, curricula being analyzed, phonemic awareness importance, and The Science of Reading implementation. The curricula, professional development, and evidence-based instruction work together to increase student phonemic awareness and reading abilities for all students on an equitable level. The three themes within the paper are phonemic awareness, professional development, curriculum and standards. The research suggested the importance …

The Broken System Of Child Care: A Workforce In Crisis, Lynn M. Ouellette

M.S. in Leadership

Child care is a business system that does not work to support its sustainability. The biggest issue facing the industry is the lack of ability to pay its workforce competitively. Literature suggests that child care has always faced workforce challenges and suffered from low wages and benefits. This project looks at the history of child care and the issues that have plagued the industry since the beginning. Reasons for these problems include inability to charge the true cost of care, lack of business and state federal leaders understanding and support, and the lack of societal change in how early education …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Knowledge Sharing On Intention To Use Gamification In Teaching, Truong M. Vu

Dissertations, 2020-current

This paper investigates the impact of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing on university professors' intentions to use gamification in teaching, employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. Gamification, defined as the integration of game-based mechanics to promote learning and engagement, has shown significant potential in enhancing educational experiences but remains underutilized in higher education. This study suggests that knowledge sharing is a critical antecedent influencing the perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption of gamification by educators. Using a quantitative methodology, data are collected from 204 university professors in Vietnam, analyzing their perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors, …

Leadership Lessons For Aspiring College Presidents: Essential Tools, Skills, And Strategies For Success, Quincy Martin Iii

Journal of Research on the College President

College and university presidents today face an increasingly complex set of challenges, demanding not only traditional leadership skills but also a nuanced understanding of the unique dynamics in higher education. With heightened financial pressures, technological advances, and evolving student expectations, college presidents must be equipped with the right tools, skills, and strategies to navigate their roles successfully. This article explores leadership lessons for aspiring college presidents, providing a comprehensive overview of the essential competencies required to lead effectively. Drawing from recent leadership theory, case studies, and trends in higher education, this article offers practical guidance for current and future higher …

Editor's Comments, Michael T. Miller

Journal of Research on the College President

Welcome to Volume 8 of the Journal of Research on the College President. In this volume, you will find three exceptional studies that help provide an even stronger understanding of what has been described as one of the hardest jobs in not only in higher education, but in the country. These three articles were accepted through our peer review process, and this year we had 11 submissions, resulting in a 27% acceptance rate.

Black Like Me: Black College Student Perceptions Of Racially Similar College Presidents, David V. Tolliver Iii, Michael T. Miller, Jennifer M. Miles

Journal of Research on the College President

There is a strong interest in higher education to enroll a diverse student body, including groups from historically underrepresented populations. This is particularly true within the Black American community, where Black women have increased their presence in higher education yet Black men continue to account for only a small fraction of all college enrollment. To help increase the enrollment of Black men, some institutions have explored and put into place mentoring programs and have looked to symbolically demonstrate that higher education is a welcoming place by spotlighting college presidents who share similar demographic characteristics. The current study was designed to …

Leading Through Language: Understanding How Presidential Leaders At Faith-Based Institutions Issue Sensegiving Statements Within A Social Justice Context, Benjamin Gibbs

Journal of Research on the College President

The landscape of leadership in higher education is becoming increasingly complex (Gagliardi et al., 2017; Jaschik & Lederman, 2016; Wesley et al., 2021). Significant instances of racial violence and geopolitical unrest have instigated conversations and ongoing movements towards greater social justice in American society and on university campuses. With these movements, higher education leaders at faith-based institutions have been called on to communicate and lead within a social justice context, through the act of sensegiving. This qualitative study investigated the perspectives and roles of presidential leaders who have provided communication regarding social justice topics. The purpose of the study was …

Beyond The Classroom: Leveraging P-12 Education Brand Equity To Cultivate Community Capitals And Drive Economic Growth In Rural Mississippi, Patrick Braden Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the relationship between education brand equity and community-economic development in rural Mississippi as a result of a consumer-oriented approach to education and manifested through the modern school choice movement. A survey of public school superintendents (n=28) found a statistically positive correlation, suggesting that a strong school brand leads to increased community-economic development. The Community Capitals Framework suggests this connection is due to interconnected capitals like human and social capital but helps other capitals rise as well. Additionally, superintendents overwhelmingly agreed collaboration between education and community-economic development is essential. The research also examined perceptions of school choice. Superintendents’responses …

The Effect Of Teacher Efficacy On Career Technical Education Program Participation In Select Mississippi Schools, Lori Parkman Nail

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine to what degree school staff understood the benefits and outcomes of Career Technical Education programs and how this level of understanding impacted Career Technical Education program enrollment in five selected schools in Mississippi. The levels of understanding keyed in on three pivotal factors. First, perceptions of the availability and accessibility of Career Technical Education programs to students in the participating schools were measured. Second, the perceptions of the benefits students reap from being involved in Career Technical Education programs were examined. Next, the perceptions of the benefits Career Technical Education programs …

"We Don't Say That, Margaret!" : Narratives Of White Women Admissions Officers And Their Exploration Of Whiteness And White Racial Identity, Kelsey Aline Walker

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry study examined the narratives and experiences of White women admissions officers at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and explored how they engaged with the development of their white racial identity throughout their professional careers. Using Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) and Helms’ (1990) white racial identity development model, the research questions were: What are White women admissions officers’ narratives of their experiences with whiteness at predominately white institutions? How do White women's admission officers make meaning of their racial identity? Data was collected from seven White women admissions officers through a demographic survey and two 45-60-minute interviews. The …

Ready, Set, Woes: A Narrative Inquiry Into Special Education Teacher Attrition By Transfer To General Education, Brent G. Collom

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Despite the prevalence of unfilled special education teaching positions nationwide, it is fair to ask whether there is truly a shortage of special education teachers (SETs). While SETs leave education at high rates, they are almost twice as likely to transfer to general education positions. Many former SETs are employed in schools yet outside of special education.

This narrative inquiry examined the stories of 10 former SETs who transferred to general education. This study found that former SETs continue to identify as teaching special education. Former SETs want general education teachers (GETs) and administrators to have training in special education …

Enhancing Communication And Reducing Near Misses Through Comprehensive Handoff Tools At A Residential Nursing Facility, Sabrina Guralnik, Sophia Nguyen, Gabriela Benelyahu, Giselle Peyus

Master's Projects and Capstones

Our quality improvement project at Regina House addresses communication gaps during patient handoffs, which have led to missed or delayed care. The research underscores the critical role of effective communication in patient safety, particularly for vulnerable populations in nursing homes. Current handoff practices at Regina House are inconsistent, especially among Certified Nursing Assistants, resulting in frequent reporting errors and communication disparities.

To enhance patient safety and care continuity, this project introduces a standardized handoff tool and an incident reporting system, aligning with Regina House’s goal of improving care quality. Over three months, CNAs will receive training on the tool, with …

The Impact Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Trainings And Study/Work Abroad Experiences On The Ability Of Staff And Faculty To Build Systems Of Support For International Students, Alina Fasirovna Nigmatullina

Theses and Dissertations

The issue of effective communication with the international students and their comfortable adaptation play an important role in developing the U.S. higher educational system in the field of competition of educational services. The international student population benefits from higher education just as much as higher education benefits from them. If universities are willing to recruit and retain more international students, they must be sensitive to the perceptions, needs, and concerns of prospective and enrolled international students. In order to sustain this, staff and faculty have to be exposed to certain trainings and experiences that will allow them to gain basic …