Educational Leadership Commons^™

A Statewide Study Of Secondary Cte Policies, Practices, And Procedures, Avery D. Anderson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of selected CTE directors regarding policies, practices, and procedures in West Virginia. Specific CTE components investigated included philosophy and rationale, structure, curricula, partnerships, evaluation, challenges, and future goals. Purposeful and snowball sampling were used to select study participants (N=20) who were active CTE directors in West Virginia. Participants had to possess at least one year of experience as a CTE administrator in their current position to be eligible for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the 20 directors to gather their perspective regarding CTE policies, practices, and procedures. …

The Impact Of Perceived Job Satisfaction, Motivational Attitudes, And Organizational Commitment: A Comparative Analysis Between Special Education Teachers Employed In Public Versus Private Schools, David Haimovich

Theses and Dissertations

During and after the Covid-19 pandemic, a high turnover rate of PreK-12 special education teachers continues to persist. To ensure all students with disabilities receive equitable access to a special education teacher, turnover intentions among private school teachers require further insight due to a long-standing gap in research. Using the theoretical frameworks of Herzberg’s (1959) Two-Factor Theory and Meyer & Allen’s (1997) Three-Component Model of Commitment, this non-experimental correlational study examined the influence of six demographic factors related to teachers’ perceptions of job satisfaction, motivational attitudes, and organizational commitment among special education teachers employed in PreK-12 suburban schools in the …

Leveling The Playing Field: Covid-19’S Impact On Interscholastic Athletic Participation In New York State Public Schools: An Ex Post Facto Analysis Of District Demographics And Sport, Justin T. Cobis

Theses and Dissertations

Each year in New York state, tens of thousands of student-athletes participate in interscholastic athletics on over 15,000 public school teams. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interscholastic athletic participation rates in New York state public schools and their relationship to school districts’ demographics, including percentage of non-White students, percentage of economically disadvantaged students, total enrollment, and graduation rates. The sample consisted of 218 public school districts located throughout New York state, with approximately 20 participant districts from each of the 11 New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s governing …

An Examination Of The Cultural Competencies And Practices Of Preservice Teachers Enrolled In Nonurban Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs, Terrie L. Gyles

Theses and Dissertations

The critical shortage of qualified teachers in hard to staff urban schools has been a persistent issue in the U.S. for decades. Teachers and researchers have pointed to the inadequacy of teacher preparation programs to prepare teacher candidates to address the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and special education students as the catalyst of the teacher shortage in urban schools. Urban school systems, like the New York City Department of Education, have had success in filling their teacher shortages through alternative teacher certification programs. Through these programs, teacher candidates are given a preservice teacher preparation that incorporates three …

The Experiences Of Formerly Incarcerated Black Male Students At A Northeast Community College, Ashtian C. Holmes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry is to understand the experiences of formerly incarcerated Black male students who attend a Northeast urban community college and the unique barriers they encounter while navigating the institution. The United States imprisons more people than any country in the world, and Black men are disproportionately overrepresented in the United States criminal legal system. At the same time, Black men, are severely underrepresented in higher education and lag behind their White and female counterparts in nearly all indicators of collegiate success, including enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Formerly incarcerated individuals face unique and substantial barriers …

The Impact Of Catholic Education On Non-Catholic Chinese Immigrant Students, Huifu Hou

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated teachers’ and parents’ perspectives on the impact of Catholic education on non-Catholic Chinese immigrant students. The research attempted to answer three questions: How did teachers and parents perceive the impact of Catholic education on non-Catholic Chinese immigrant students’ academic achievement? How did teachers and parents perceive the impact of Catholic education on non-Catholic Chinese immigrant students’ personal moral values? And what are non-Catholic immigrant parents’ perceptions of Catholic education? The study is framed by moral development (Kohlberg & Hersh, 1977) and sensemaking (Weick, 1995) two frameworks. The methodology chosen for the research was a single case study, …

Is Proximity Enough? A Case Study Examining A College Access Program On The Grounds Of Public Housing On The West Coast, Nicole S. Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The issue of college access for students from low-income communities has been a longstanding challenge in American higher education. Despite numerous efforts to address the gaps in college attendance and graduation rates between students from low-income and more affluent communities, the problem remains present. This has led to a need for an in-depth analysis of college access programming explicitly tailored to low-income communities, particularly those residing in public housing authorities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD, 2016) has recognized this need by funding and piloting college access programs in several public housing authorities around the United States. These …

The Journey Of Dominican Women As Administrative Leaders In U.S. Higher Education, Kelba M. Sosa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative study delved into the experiences and journeys of Dominican women ascending to administrative leadership positions within U.S. higher education institutions. The main purpose was to explore the challenges and successes encountered by these women, addressing the identified issue of their underrepresentation in such roles. Participants, comprising 13 Dominican women, held positions ranging from Directors and Faculty/Professors to Vice Presidents, Chiefs of Staff, and Presidents. Their ages spanned from 45 to 75, representing a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. The research methodology embraced a qualitative approach with a narrative design, aligning with the study's theoretical framework rooted …

The Personal Journey Of Individuals Self-Disclosing Their Disability Status Within An Urban Postsecondary Environment, Nelson Carrillo

Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative narrative study was conducted on the personal journey of individuals self-disclosing their disability status within an urban postsecondary environment. The study was intended to uncover the personal journey of students with disabilities self-disclosing their disability status within an urban postsecondary environment. Through semi-structured interviews and targeted journal responses, it explored the students’ lived experiences of seeking out and using accommodations and the students’ perceptions of faculty members’ use of universal design for instruction and universal design for learning. The findings demonstrated that a community-based institution that values diversity among professors, faculty members, and students is an environment that …

Hospitality In The Christian School Enrollment Process: How Theology And Theory Inform Professional Practice, Lane Rice

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hospitality is an ever-growing area of academic inquiry. While some studies relating hospitality theory to the education field exist, there is a gap in the literature at the intersection point of hospitality theory and private Christian school enrollment practices. This case study seeks to explore the relationship between three theories emerging in hospitality research - social exchange theory, social identity theory, and the commitment trust theory of relationship marketing - and the theological and pragmatic guidelines for private Christian school enrollment offices.

The study related the three hospitality theories to philosophical/theological and pragmatic considerations through the literature review. Data regarding …

Educators’ Beliefs About Using Academic Acceleration With Gifted Math Students And Others: Barriers And Opportunities, Jason Gorgia

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the perceptions of educators (i.e., math teachers, administrators, and others) for insight into the absence of acceleration as a common pedagogical strategy in mathematics, despite longstanding research supporting the practice for students gifted in math and the interest frequently articulated by policymakers and educators in boosting American K-12 students’ math achievement. Educators from 48 states responded to scale-based and open-ended questions about math acceleration through an online survey where 713 of 818 respondents were teachers, balanced almost evenly among elementary, middle, and high schools, and among urban, suburban, and rural settings. The responses of teachers and non-teaching …

Educator Perceptions Of Appropriate Social Media Practices, Amanda Hope Preece

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to investigate the perceptions of educators regarding appropriate social media practices. Specific elements of appropriate social media use by teachers investigated include understanding of acceptable use policies and freedom of speech, the relationship between social media and professional development, and best practices for educators concerning their social media usage. Purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling were used to select study participants. Study participants (N=24) were preservice teachers completing student teaching or mentor teachers for Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 teacher candidates and 12 mentor …

An Exploration Of Teacher Perception And Practices Of Using Assessment Data To Improve Achievement Of Equity Student Groups, Laurie Mazelin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

While utilizing assessment data has been a pervasive practice in educational reform for decades, and teachers are expected to use assessment data to improve instruction, little is known about how the practice of requiring teachers to review test data affects their perception of effectiveness in addressing the learning gaps of student groups. This qualitative phenomenological research study used open-ended, semi-structured interviews to help better understand how the expectations of teachers analyzing and integrating assessment data translates into teacher instructional practice and self-efficacy. This study aimed to explore the shared experience of teachers required to participate in collaborative planning centered on …

Elementary School Administrators’ Preparedness In The Area Of Special Education Leadership: Implications For School Administrative Preparation Programs, Jeanette E. Wojcik

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This study explores the perceived preparedness of elementary school building leaders in special education leadership and its implications for school administrative preparation programs. This study aimed to address this problem by examining two research questions. The first was to investigate course offerings in administrative preparation programs in New York State (NYS) to better understand how many special education-specific classes are included in such programs. The second research question was to explore the extent to which public elementary school building leaders in Long Island, New York perceive their preparedness for managing special education issues related to their professional duties, staff, and …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Special Education Teachers Tasked With Ensuring Parental Involvement In Special Education Processes, Dharmisha Tailor Narayanan

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) mandates parental participation in special education processes, yet families, especially culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families, often face obstacles in their active involvement as an equal team member in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Although there has been research on identifying the barriers families face in their active involvement in their child’s special education programming, little has been done to understand the impediments teachers face in alleviating this problem and adequately enforcing parents’ rights within special education processes. This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of special education teachers responsible for implementing …

The Experiences Of Hmong American Parents And Guardians Who Navigate The U.S. Public School System Through Hmong American Charter Schools, Lee Thao

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the experiences of Hmong American parents who navigate the U.S. public school system through Hmong American charter schools. The purpose of this study was to determine the successes and challenges, as defined and described by Hmong American parents, in the hope of creating a positive and effective educational experience for Hmong families. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was selected to gather the narrative and provide a comprehensive understanding of the parents’ experiences. Through purposive sampling and snowball sampling, 10 Hmong American parents were interviewed for this study. Through the process of verification and credibility and analytical coding, …

From Teacher Attrition To Teacher Retention: The Role Of School Principals, Karen Balmer

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study explored the role of school principals as an intervention to the teacher shortage crisis in the United States. The shortage of teachers is not a new topic in public policy and research; however, the strategies set forth in prior literature have not yielded substantive change to this stubborn problem. Using data from the 2020–2021 National Teacher and Principal Survey, this study analyzed the relationship between the perceptions of early career teachers (within the first 5 years of teaching) about behaviors of their school principals and these teachers’ intentions to remain in the teaching profession. Specifically, this study …

The Rise In Racial Tension: Metropolitan High School Administrators' Perceptions Of School Resource Officers, Joshua Stephen Mahan

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although heuristic models on safety for Black students have been proposed following the death of George Floyd (Edwards, 2021), little research to date has highlighted how Minnesota educational leaders perceive school resource officers (SROs) in schools. This phenomenological investigation explored the shared lived experiences of six Minnesota high school administrators from one school district that employed SROs. Five themes were determined in the course of data analysis, including qualified advocacy for SROs, SRO contributions to de-escalating for safer schools, SRO assistance in emergency situations, SRO caused escalation, and SRO caused racial harm. Findings from this study revealed support for SROs …

Teachers’ Attrition: Relationship Between Principals’ Communication And Teachers’ Job Satisfaction, Jason Robert Menth

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between teachers’ job satisfaction and teachers’ satisfaction with their salary, the number of years teaching, and the principals’ communication about the kind of school they want. Teacher attrition in the K–12 public school system is a well-documented problem citing many motives and causes. The recruitment of educators and retention of teachers in public schools has vastly decreased, creating a significant teacher shortage problem. Resulting complications are fewer applicants for open positions, applicants without the desired licensure, added stress on current teachers to fulfill duties, decreasing student academic progress, and dissatisfied teachers. This quantitative study used …

Organizational Factors And Teachers' Burnout And Attrition, Tony Alberts

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates factors influencing teacher retention and attrition, emphasizing the roles of demographic characteristics, salary, salary satisfaction, burnout, and working conditions. Utilizing data from the 2020–2021 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), which included approximately 76,000 teachers across 9,000 public schools, the research applies logistic regression to identify significant relationships between these variables. The findings reveal that salary satisfaction, irrespective of actual salary levels, significantly enhances teacher retention. High job satisfaction and support from administrators and parents further contribute to lower attrition rates, while overwhelming job demands and insufficient support are closely associated with burnout and increased departures. Drawing …

More Mirrors In Leadership For Latina Students: A Quantitative Study On The Retention And Attrition Of K–12 Latina Principals In The United States, Dominique I. Dynes

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the impact of job satisfaction and salary on Latina principals' decisions to remain in their current positions. The research utilized data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). A logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between independent variables, such as time spent with students and parents, salary, and job satisfaction, and the dependent variable of Latina principal retention. and data analysis utilizing DataLab. The results indicated that job satisfaction was positively associated with retention, while salary was not a significant predictor. The study aimed to contribute to strategies that support the advancement and …

The Kids Are Not Alright: Teachers’ Perspectives On Social And Emotional Learning In Diverse Populations, Siobhan Dalrymple

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This dissertation was inspired by the researcher’s own experiences as a K-8 teacher. Reflecting on her struggles with classroom management and meeting the social and emotional needs of students who had experienced trauma, the researcher chose to take a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to studying Illinois elementary school teachers’ self-efficacy and motivation with regard to social and emotional learning (SEL) as influenced by community, district, and school level factors as well as the teachers’ own beliefs and practices. Five teachers in four different Illinois school districts were interviewed for this paper; the researcher also includes data from a pilot study with …

Associations Amongst Basic Psychological Needs And Burnout Amongst Illinois Principals, Matthew Zediker

Dissertations of Practice

Associations Amongst Basic Psychological Needs and Burnout Amongst Illinois Principals

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between burnout and the basic psychological needs of Illinois principals. The objective of this research was to gather more information on Illinois principals on their level of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) and the association with the three basic needs psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) outlined within self-determination theory. The principal position is seeing attrition concerns and there are also training pipeline concerns for teachers to become principals. Because of this it is imperative to learn more …

Examining Onboarding Practices In School Settings: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Gabriel Medina

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation examines the onboarding practices implemented in several schools within a district and their impacts on teacher retention and the culture and climate of the schools. The theoretical lens of self-determination theory was used to determine areas of strength and growth of onboarding with respect to the three basic human psychological needs of autonomy, belonging, and competence. Drawing on this theory, the research aimed to reveal how onboarding practices support or hinder fulfillment of these basic psychological needs in a school setting. By examining how teachers perceive their onboarding experiences, the study sheds light on the relationship between the …

Understanding The Impacts Of Unified Administrative Service Delivery, Keith Van Inwegen, Megan Wood, Nick Fetzer, Garret Knudson, David Hunter Patrick, Lanee Prentice

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Team UNified is exploring how the current Finance, HR, and IT reporting structures function across the university. Currently, each unit independently manages how these services are delivered. Team UNified posits the current model may lead to issues such as inconsistent customer service, noncompliance with university policies and procedures, and fewer promotional opportunities within those job families. We plan to interview key stakeholders, review the current organizational structure, analyze internal turnover data, and benchmark against other institutions. Based on the results of our research, we will document the potential risks related to the current model and offer recommendations for where it …

Unlocking Undeniable Talent At Vcu, Kenda Boone, Tabatha Dunlap, Aaron Jones, Nicole Porter, Khaleliah Williams

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

To unlock the undeniable talent within the VCU community, our team aims to enhance the student internship experience at the university. We plan to equip students with tailored internship guidance, consolidating resources for comprehensive career preparation. By providing insights into relevant opportunities and effective strategies, we empower students to unleash their full potential. Our vision is to enable meaningful professional experiences, fostering success beyond graduation.

Wayfinding For All, Yosssera Bouchtia, Serra De Arment, Mahesh Jonnalagadda, Jada Wright, Julie Arendt, Cynthia Myron

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Quest 2028 challenges us to nurture an institutional culture of care. Team Affirmation supports robust digital wayfinding to ensure accurate information for all members of the VCU community, including those with disabilities. This project collects data about accessible facilities on campus and includes a survey on wayfinding needs, such as accessibility beyond wheelchair accessibility, gender-inclusive facilities, wellness resources, and map iconography to ensure comprehensive data collection and meaningful engagement that informs wayfinding at VCU.

Place Matters: The Role Of Public Libraries As Change Agents In Central Appalachia, Jasmyne R. Lewis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The role of public libraries is changing in response to a multitude of influences and trends. The exponential growth of technology as the primary method of information access, funding challenges, changing demographics, and other mitigating factors have forced public libraries to become more than book repositories. Community library leaders and governing board members are faced with challenges such as decreased funding, community division regarding library services, and soaring costs for library materials and services, as they develop and adopt policies and practices to navigate this ever-changing environment.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to collect data from the public …

Setting The Field: A Framework For Leadership Success On And Off The Sports Field...And Why It Matters, Mary Semler

Teaching and Learning (MA) Theses

ABSTRACT

Navigating the difficulties of adolescence and young adulthood has been an age-old subject studied in fields like psychology, sociology, biology, and education, to name a few, as well as significantly addressed in literature and other aspects of culture. But, there is an important and often-overlooked area where much can be done to help this age group thrive and go on to become productive and successful adults, good citizens and quality stewards of the world in which they live. It is the participation in athletic-team sports at school.

Because of the hyper-pace of life today resulting from ever-advancing technology, our …

Driving On Empty: Exploring Principal Burnout And Intent To Turnover, Colleen Cook

Dissertations of Practice

This study used a quantitative design analyzing extant data from the NTPS distributed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This is a national survey distributed to principals to gather information about the principalship, individual factors, and organizational factors for the school they lead. Using extant data, analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among individual factors, situational factors, and overall levels of burnout.

Overall, 17.5% to 19% of the public school principals across the nation reported experiencing feelings of burnout. While there was a moderate level of burnout reported, principals were generally satisfied with their role, reporting an …