Educational Leadership Commons^™

An Investigation: How Long-Term Meditation Practices Serve As Change Agents For Positive Parenting, Diana Serras

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This research study investigated, analyzed, and compared stress, depression, and anxiety levels between parents who are long-term meditation practitioners and those who are not. By exploring questions related to the impact of mindfulness on parental stress levels, parent-child interactions, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and nonjudgmental acceptance, the research sheds light on the transformative potential of long-term meditation practices for mindful parenting. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The research included quantitative data from three self-report instruments and qualitative data from five case studies to explore …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Minnesota's Pseo Students: A Qualitative Exploration, Joel Edward Olson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In my dissertation, Understanding the Lived Experiences of Minnesota's PSEO Students: A Qualitative Exploration, I explored students’ experiences of the transition from high school to college via Minnesota’s PSEO program. As a Bethel University faculty member with 19 years of prior experience as a high school English teacher, I have watched the number of PSEO students increase year after year from both sides of the secondary/post-secondary divide. This subtle undoing of the traditional high school to college progression significantly impacts not only the economic outlook for public high schools and colleges, but it also significantly impacts the educational experiences and …

Opening The Door, But Not Entering: Adult College Students Who Apply, But Do Not Enroll, Juliette Punchello

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study used a mixed method research design and employed an explanatory sequential design, which collected, analyzed, and combined both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore why adult, non-traditional students would apply to a college, but not enroll. This disconnect affects not only the applicant, but also the institution, as multiple resources for both parties will be utilized and not recovered. The quantitative component of the study included data from an established segment of applicants who did not enroll at Thomas Edison State University (TESU). The qualitative component utilized a phenomenological approach and included the data gathered through interviews with …

A Localized Strategy To Boost Public Opinion And Increase Community Support For Rural Public Education By Understanding Parental Motivations For School Choice, Stephanie Marie Lambrecht

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Families and educators understand school choice as a broad concept, however its implications for rural public education in Virginia are less frequently considered. In rural areas, school choice has a disproportionate impact due to funding formulas and the effects of average daily membership (ADM) on school budgets. While there is a great deal of research on school choice, the rationale behind families’ decisions varies depending on the cultural and material resources of their community. It is vital to consider the regional and cultural context when developing strategies to support rural public schools. By analyzing motivations and factors which influence school …

Phenomenological Study Of Lived Experiences: The Educational Journey Of An Effective Community And Technical College Board Member, Lori Ann Midkiff

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This dissertation is a phenomenological study exploring the educational lived experiences of institutional community and technical college Board of Governors members in relation to their preparation and training to serve. Board of Governors members carry a great deal of responsibilities serving in this role. The researcher will investigate the educational backgrounds of institutional board members who serve in this capacity. This dissertation will cover the history and background of board members, the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, the legislation that requires members to receive education and training while serving on the board, and whether the board members themselves …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Online Business Faculty During The Transition To Offering Online Programs, Joseph Andrew Bakker

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of online business faculty at private nonprofit postsecondary institutions as their online programs were launched. The experiences of how business faculty encounter teaching online in new online business degree programs are essential for institutional leaders and faculty seeking to start new online programs at their institutions. The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to gather the experiences of 10 business faculty at private nonprofit institutions who taught online and experienced their departments implementing a new online degree program. The participants' experiences were analyzed using Kotter’s (2012) theory for leading change. …

The Impact Of Administrator-Led Walkthroughs On Teacher Self-Efficacy, Kerri Templeton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how administrator-led instructional walkthroughs influence teacher self-efficacy in one public school district located in West Virginia. Guided by Bandura’s (1977) framework of self-efficacy, the research examined the lived experiences of teachers and administrators who participated in regularly scheduled walkthroughs as part of a district-wide instructional leadership initiative. Data were collected through open-ended surveys with PK–12 teachers and administrators and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to the perceived impact of the walkthrough process.

Findings revealed that when walkthroughs were conducted with clear purpose, relational trust, and consistent, meaningful feedback, they …

Design And Implementation Of In-Prison Restorative Justice Programs: Insights On Leadership Challenges, Jonathan Paul Branch

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this case study is to provide direct insight into effective strategies for designing and implementing an in-prison restorative justice program. Mass incarceration remains a deeply entrenched characteristic of the U.S. criminal justice system, and prisons pose unique challenges to restorative practices, which literature on the subject often describe in general terms. By focusing on one organization successfully implementing in-prison restorative justice, the study aims at specifically illustrating how the prison system impedes attempts at providing restorative services and what practitioners might do to circumvent or otherwise mitigate those challenges. The study is guided by the following primary …

Student Affairs Professionals' Perspectives As First-Generation College Students, Tiffany Lynn Hartman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The qualitative study aimed to investigate the perceptions of student affairs professionals (SAPs) who identify as first-generation college students (FGCSs). SAPs are essential in supporting institutional missions, yet the field faces high attrition rates, particularly among earlycareer professionals. By examining these SAPs' perceptions regarding their professional experiences, along with the support received and influences on their career paths, we may better understand the barriers to workplace inclusion and career readiness. Although much research explores the factors driving attrition among SAPs, limited attention is paid to the SAPs whose identities as FGCS impact their professional experiences and influence their decisions to …

Covid-19 Taking Aim At The Heart Of Public Education, Jeremy James Pyle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic, distinguished by both its duration and widespread impact, stands apart from other crises typically faced by schools, such as natural disasters, school violence, or isolated traumatic incidents. Unlike these shorter-term events, the pandemic fundamentally altered the educational landscape, reshaping both school climate and instructional practices. This non-experimental, descriptive study employed a phenomenological research approach to examine the lived experiences of teachers during and after the pandemic. The central aim was to explore how pandemic-related stressors influenced teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave the profession, as well as to identify the supports educators perceived as necessary for …

Invisible Barriers: Investigating The Impact Of Teacher Bias On Black Students’ Opportunities In Science, Mary Redden

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This study investigates the role of implicit racial bias in limiting Black students’ access to advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities in secondary public schools across Long Island (LI), New York. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study triangulates data from Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT), a custom-designed Likert-style self-perception survey, and open-ended participant reflections. A custom-coded, anonymous online platform was used to assess all instruments. After completing the survey and IAT, participants reviewed both sets of results and responded to reflection prompts about the alignment or misalignment between the two. Although 78% of participants rated themselves as highly …

School Mental Health Partnerships: A Case Study, Rebecca Bilski

Theses and Dissertations

Education in the United States continues to evolve in response to technological advancements, such as the widespread use of the iPhone, and societal changes in a post-COVID-19 world. Youth mental health challenges are at an all-time high, impacting students’ ability to succeed academically and socially (CDC, 2023). Schools are in a unique position to address these challenges, yet untreated or unidentified mental health issues can hinder students’ progress (Sanchez et al., 2018). This study examines the potential of school mental health partnerships to provide educators with the tools, training, and resources necessary to support students with diverse and complex mental …

A Teacher Like Me: Perspectives Of Hispanic English As A New Language (Enl) Teachers On The Impact Of Cultural Representation In Schools, Stephany Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

As the cultural and ethnic makeup of the United States rapidly evolves, the disproportion of diversity in education is becoming a common phenomenon. This gap is particularly evident on Long Island, New York, where staff demographics are inconsistent with the diversifying student population. This phenomenological study explored how Hispanic English as a New Language (ENL) teachers use their language, customs, traditions, beliefs, and culture to positively impact their Hispanic students. It also examined the benefits of teacher-student cultural and ethnic matching and the challenges Hispanic ENL teachers face in predominantly White-staffed schools. Guided by culturally relevant pedagogy and the concept …

First-Semester College Students’ Perceptions Of Their Postsecondary Experiences With Learning Soft Skills, Malcolm M. Ebanks

Theses and Dissertations

Underprepared low-income students in the first semester of college may benefit from using soft skills to help them successfully negotiate college expectations. The importance of social, emotional, and affective skills is gaining momentum to increase student engagement and achievement (Randolph, 2014). This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore underprepared low-income first-semester college students’ perceptions of their experiences of learning and using soft skills. The research methodology embraced a qualitative approach aligned with the study’s theoretical framework rooted in attribute theory (Heider, 1958). The study’s significance lies in its focus on students rarely studied in areas of research related to …

The Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning: The Role Of Leadership And Administrative Support In Producing Change, Joann M. Luisa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the administrative implementation and organizational change required for effective social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in K-12 schools. Through interviews with school educators, psychologists, social worker, deans, administrators and assistant superintendents along with analysis of implementation documents from multiple district buildings, this research examines the key factors, challenges, and best practices in implementing comprehensive SEL practices. The findings of this study imply that successful SEL implementation requires several collaborative alignments to be successful. District-wide commitment, planning for individual schools, and ongoing support and professional development for staff are vital to the success of this implementation. Strong leadership from …

Exploring The Shared Lived Experiences Of Elementary Principal Leadership As A Result Of The Pandemic: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Jeremy Garritano

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study, the researcher explored the shared lived experiences of elementary building principals as they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aimed to extrapolate themes and common threads of the impact on elementary building-level principal leadership in the areas of leadership challenges, leadership adaptations, and leadership changes. The timeframes for these shifts in these areas were before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The following research questions guided the study: 1. What were the perceived difficulties/challenges of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of elementary principals? 2. How did elementary principals’ leadership change, adjust, …

Perspectives From Mentees And Mentors: A Study Of How Mentor Programs Influence Teacher Self-Efficacy, Patricia Sihksnel

Theses and Dissertations

School districts often implement teacher mentor programs to support educators new to teaching. The components of mentor program frameworks require further research to determine their effectiveness in supporting new teachers. This non-experimental correlational study used Kram’s Mentor Theory and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy theory to determine if there is a significant influence of mentor programs on new teacher self-efficacy, classroom environment, instruction, and preparation and planning. The participants were teachers who have served as a mentor or mentee from suburban school districts in the northeastern United States. This study used a survey to collect participants’ demographic data and mentor program characteristics. Data …

A Comparative Case Study Of Learners Experiencing Interdependent Empowered Care In Marginalizing Contexts, Elizabeth Gil

GSE Faculty Publications

This comparative case study’s purpose is to explore how multi-age learn-
ers, both adults and children, from immigrant backgrounds experienced
care in two educational settings in the United States and Ireland. Using
data from two separate qualitative studies, this paper draws on the
authors’ conceptualization of interdependent empowered care (IEC) to
argue that the settings exemplified three separate, but interrelated, care
elements: 1) identity-affirming counterspaces; 2) interdependency and
reciprocity; and 3) a means to achieve greater empowerment and agency.
This cross-national study illuminates the role of care in educational set-
tings to understand how it helps multi-age learners from immigrant …

Access For Schools: The Challenge For Success, James H. Hill

Institute for Educational Leadership Monograph Series

In the book Power Shift, Alvin Toffler stated, "Those who can access information and use it to their advantage will succeed in the 21st Century ... those who cannot will be condemned to a permanent underclass" (cited in O'Conner & Kempster, 1993). If Toffler is correct, we need to ensure everyone has full access to the Internet and additional telecommunications of the future. To underscore Toffler's statement, O'Conner and Kempster (1993) suggested:

The challenge of teaching and learning in the next century will be to know how to seek out information, how to ask the relevant questions, how to use …

Interpreting Technology Proficiency In Stem Education: A Qualitative Study Of Teachers In The New York Region, Zachary Rosch

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the technology integration divide perceived by high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers within a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting a community of STEM educators across the New York region. The study examined educators' integration of technology in their classrooms, their challenges, professional development needs, and the impact of teaching experience on technology integration. Semi-structured interviews captured teachers' lived experiences regarding subject-specific technology integration, pedagogical strategies, and technological proficiency. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework guided the study, providing a lens to analyze how educators navigated the intersection of content knowledge, pedagogy, …

Mental Health Education Literacy In Schools: An Exploratory Analysis Through A Qualitative Multi Case Study And Phenomenological Approach, Joanne Pisani

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the significant rise in student mental health concerns, schools are now challenged to find better ways to support students’ overall well-being. The critical importance for schools to include mental health education into their curricula is due to the substantial behavioral changes in students. Educational systems are seeing an increase in student school refusal, suspensions, and cyberbullying, as well as mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety which result in elevated crisis response and emergency room visits due to suicide ideation. The purpose of this study was to understand existing mental health education literacy programs in schools and …

Undergraduate Student Decision-Making: Pursuing Graduate Studies At The Same Institution That Granted The Undergraduate Degree, Anthony C. Marziliano

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities are under pressure to increase enrollment and avoid attrition. It is clear that institutions need to increase efforts to work against decreasing graduate enrollment trends and focusing on students already in-place on campus may be an avenue to do so. Research is lacking concerning factors that may be related to the decision by undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies at the same institution that granted the undergraduate degree. Understanding key characteristics of the group that remains at the institution allows us to identify a student profile to focus on to increase graduate enrollment, especially in light of …

Promoting Student Racial/Ethnic Diversity: An Explanatory Sequential Study Among Higher Education Administrators, Seabelo Chabo John

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods explanatory sequential study explored how administrators can promote student racial/ethnic diversity in higher education. Phase 1 determined quantitatively if schools with diverse full-time faculty have diverse students. Participants were 1,464 four-year degree-granting Carnegie-classified undergraduate institutions from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). These schools employed 557,858 full-time faculty and admitted 12,007,388 students. Phase 2 explored administrators’ perspectives on racial/ethnic diversity in higher education through narrative interviews. Participants were 10 full-time administrators responsible for hiring faculty, recruiting students, and managing campus climate. Quantitative results revealed that schools with diverse faculty have diverse students. Qualitative results indicated that ongoing, …

African American Executive Leaders And Positive Psychology: Exploring The Nexus Of Executive Leadership And African American Literature, Van Havercome

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative study was to explore the experiences that African Americans have in executive leadership positions within higher education. The participants in this study identified as African Americans, with a doctorate, who held an executive leadership position in higher education. The colleges and universities where the participants were employed were predominantly White institutions on the East and West Coast regions of the United States. A narrative research model was utilized to collect stories of the participants’ lived experiences as executive leaders who used positive psychology to overcome barriers within their positions. In addition, the executive leaders made …

Perceptions Of Fidelity, Urgency, And Challenges In Dei Implementation: Insights From Long Island Teacher Union Presidents, Shirley M. Pincay

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This study examines the fidelity, urgency, and challenges of implementing the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-SE) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Framework as the NYSED DEI policy in Long Island public school districts. The New York State Board of Regents developed the CR-SE and DEI Framework to promote inclusivity and cultural awareness in educational settings, encouraging districts to adopt practices that affirm and support students from diverse backgrounds. Using a qualitative approach, incorporating a survey and a virtual semi-structured interview, data was collected from Teacher Union Presidents across various Long Island school districts. Key variables included levels of urgency and fidelity …

Analyzing Micrometeoroid And Orbital Debris Shield Performance For Sample Return Spacecraft, William P. Schonberg, Michael Squire

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sample-return missions typically seek to collect and return samples from extraterrestrial locations to Earth for analysis. The return of samples from certain locations in the solar system represents a potential hazard to Earth's biosphere from foreign microorganisms. One way this could occur would be a break-up of the returning capsule during entry (which would disperse the samples through the air) due to undetected damage to the capsule thermal protection system (TPS). As a result, missions that plan to return payloads from some destinations are likely to have certain design requirements for the TPS surrounding their returning capsules, which may include …

"This College Is Run By Women": The Narratives Of Overburdened And Burnt-Out Community College Women Faculty, Lindsay Spence Carson

Dissertations of Practice

At community colleges, a noticeable gender divide exists among faculty who participate in college operations, such as committee and service work, department chair and other leadership positions, as well as unpaid labor. This narrative inquiry explored how tenured community college women faculty experience the gendered division of labor and privilege. I was particularly interested in the ways in which their experiences influence burnout and how community college structures, policies, practices, and social norms perpetuate gender differences in labor distribution. Ten participants who represent three midwestern community colleges, a variety of academic divisions and departments, and who are in different stages …

Why Do Teachers Stay Or Leave?: The Relationship Of Administrative Support, Peer Perceptions, Satisfaction Of Salary And Student Behavior On The Big Career Decision, Thomas Kanwischer

Dissertations of Practice

This study explores the impact of teacher retention on the education system and possible reasons that teachers decide to leave. Exploring working conditions of salary satisfaction, student behavior, administrative support and peer perceptions, this study draws correlations between these conditions to see the impact on a teacher's decision to stay or leave. The results of this study help build a picture of the complex decision-making process that a teacher may go through in their career to stay or leave the profession. This information can be used to inform districts, boards, administrators and unions to build policy and practice that is …

Quality Control: How School Districts Define, Recruit, And Retain High-Quality Teachers, A Qualitative Case Study, Tandalaya White

Dissertations of Practice

This research investigates how school administrators define, recruit, and retain highquality teachers and examines the implications of these efforts on student outcomes. Emphasizing the distinction between teacher quality: skills, abilities, and dispositions and teacher qualifications: certificates, degrees, and credentials, the study explores their overlap and importance in meeting the unique needs of districts, particularly in high-needs areas such as English as a second language (ESL) and special education. The presence or absence of such teachers critically impacts academic performance and social-emotional development, disproportionately affecting students of color and those in impoverished areas. Inadequate practices may contribute to the misidentification of …

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …