Educational Leadership Commons^™

Universal Design For Learning: Is Training Making A Difference In Teacher Pedagogy, Michelle D. Sizemore

Theses and Dissertations

David H. Rose and his colleagues at the Center for Applied Specialized Technology (CAST), a non-profit organization specializing in educational research and development, worked for over one quarter of a century to improve learning opportunities for all individuals (Rose, 2012). In the late 1990s this work led to a set of principles known as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a research-based instructional framework grounded in neuroscience and educational research that allowed teachers to proactively identify barriers that might exist between students and learning and account for those barriers during lesson development and implementation (CAST, 2015). One school district in southwest …

Personalization And Increased Engagement Through Extended Learning Opportunities, Jennifer L. Crawford

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative intrinsic case study of a bounded system examined student perceptions of their experiences with the Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) program at Hillsboro-Deering High School. The study data derived from interviews with nine individuals who had participated in the ELO program. The study participants were both current students and alumni. The study explored the ELO program as a means of personalization and engaging students in their learning. Five main themes emerged from the data: Personal Interest, Relationships, Motivation, Self-directed and Self-paced, and Program Awareness. The study shows that students valued their experiences in the ELO program and felt that …

Offering Preceptor Incentives In Nurse Practitioner Education, Pamela Smith

All Theses And Dissertations

Recruitment and retention of clinical preceptors for Nurse Practitioner (NP) students is a challenge for coordinators of NP academic programs. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore what incentives and benefits are offered to clinical preceptors of NP students in accredited NP academic programs across the United States. An online questionnaire was emailed one time to a convenience sample of program coordinators of 333 universities and colleges in the U.S. that offer NP programs. Fifty-four individuals responded (16% response rate) to the survey, and the data were reported quantitatively. Text from additional comments was analyzed and interpreted using …

A Father's Dream: "Mi Hija Va Ser Maestra" An Autoethnographic Study Of The Cultural, Familial And Community Experiences That Informed An Instructional Leader, Eva T. Torres

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an autoethnography which will identify major ethnographic influences that I, as a female Mexican American educational leader, feel have been significant in the course of my career in education. The study will focus on culture, family and community as factors which developed and engendered characteristics, behaviors and experiences that contributed to my development as an educator. These will be relayed through narratives, memoirs, organic artifacts and documents, lived experiences, pláticas, and other forms of text presented here as story, an acceptable autoethnographic method of data collection. I place myself in the center of these narratives in autoethnographic …

Examining Online Delivered Orientation To Online Learning Association With Community College Student Success, Kelly White

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to discover if there is an association between student completion of an online delivered orientation (OLO) to online learning and the student success factors of end of course grades and course completion. This study was conducted because course completion rates in online courses are unacceptably low. Educational institution administration, state and federal agencies have all taken an interest in student completion and retention rates. Discovering ways to improve the situation is gaining support. There are many factors which may influence student grades and completion rates. This study focused on the factor of an online …

Impact Of Teacher Perceptions On Instructional Practices In Alternative Public High Schools, Stacy A. Miller

All Theses And Dissertations

Alternative schools are perceived by some as low performing schools with ineffective faculty and delinquent students. This perception affects the perceptions of some alternative school teachers about their students and influences the instructional practices they employ. By being aware of their perceptions and resulting practices, these educators can make a positive impact on the education of at-risk students in alternative settings. The purpose of this study was to understand how alternative school teachers’ perceptions of their students’ abilities influenced their instructional practices and how they perceived those practices support at-risk student academic success in public alternative high schools. To fulfill …

Student Voice To Improve Instruction: Leading Transformation Of A School System, Suzanne K. Barker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For educators to improve instruction, they should listen to and learn from students, who are the central focus of education. While there is a growing body of research demonstrating the value of educators partnering with students to improve learning, there is little research on how to implement, diffuse, and sustain the use of student voice at the district level. There was a need for a model of district-wide implementation of student voice that educational leaders could model to implement a student voice initiative in their schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a historical narrative of the …

The Relationship Between Teacher Pedagogy Skills, As Reported By The Network For Educator Effectiveness Teacher Evaluation System, And Eighth Grade Science Achievement Scores In Missouri, Grant Stock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every year in thousands of schools across the United States high stake decisions are made regarding the retention, promotion, professional development, and training of staff using teacher evaluation instruments. Therefore, it is vital to determine if these evaluation instruments as well as the teaching strategies they measure are effective in improving student achievement. The purpose of this study was to see if there is a correlation between the scores eighth grade science teachers receive on the Network for Educator Effectiveness observation instrument for the teaching practices of cognitive engagement, problem solving and critical thinking, and formative assessment and how well …

A Narrative Study On High School Transition Programs And Student Attendance In Rural North Carolina, Terrie Bethea-Hampton, Linda Wilson-Jones

Journal of Research Initiatives

The move from eighth to ninth grade can be an emotional time. Students experience feelings of isolation and the fear of the unknown. In the transition, grade nine students experience a number of first times that challenge their abilities to manage their time wisely and stay focus. These first times include: (a) taking a class that counts towards graduation, (b) choosing their own classes, (c) less parental supervision, (d) increased peer influence, and (e) other freedoms that high school students enjoy (McCallumore & Sparapani, 2010).

To combat the “freshman problem” districts across the United States work in an effort to …

Transforming Inclusive Education: Nine Tips To Enhance School Leaders’ Ability To Effectively Lead Inclusive Special Education Programs, Cammy Romanuck Murphy

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Principals and assistant principals, collectively referred to as school leaders, play instrumental roles in ensuring the success of inclusive special education in the schools they oversee. However, school leaders continually report they lack the knowledge and skills to effectively oversee quality inclusive special education programs. There are very few training programs available to school leaders that focus on leading inclusive special education programs. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide school leaders with nine tips, along with 11 immediately implementable practical strategies, to improve upon the inclusive special education programs in their schools. Topics include pertinent definitions, …

Experiences Explored Through The Prism: Out Gay And Lesbian Pathways To University Presidency, Patrick Englert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The profile of university presidents has changed very little in the past twenty-five years, with the majority being white males (Kim & Cook, 2013). The presence of the ‘lavender ceiling’ (Friskopp & Silverstein, 1995) in higher education is evidenced in there being less than one percent of university presidents who openly identify as lesbian and gay (L&G) (Rivard, 2014). Colleges and universities continue to be largely heteronormative and struggle to create safe, supportive, and just campuses; mirroring instead the bias and microaggressions that occur outside the insulated walls of academia (Bazarsky, Morrow, & Javier, 2015; Vaccaro, 2012).

This multi-case qualitative …

Educating Educative Mentors: Video As Instructional Tool, Melissa Meetze-Hall

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

New teachers rarely come to their first years of teaching with the expertise of a veteran teacher. Because teachers need to deliver impactful instruction, the education community has expanded induction initiatives that support new teachers. Understanding how induction mentors develop expertise in feedback and reflection can guide efforts to foster the development of mentor practice. This qualitative case study focused on the use of video and self-reflection to support mentor development practices within a regional induction program in Southern California. The study explored the experience of induction mentors who used both video-aided self-reflection and video-aided peer feedback during the 2017-2018 …

The Educational Emphases Of Science Teachers In Us Evangelical Protestant High Schools, Albert Cheng

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

I examine the educational emphases of science teachers in Evangelical Protestant (EP) schools, including (1) teaching basic content knowledge, (2) improving scientific reasoning skills, and (3) presenting real-world applications of science. Using a nationally representative sample of US ninth-graders, I find differences in these educational emphases between science teachers in EP schools and science teachers in secular private, Catholic, and public schools. I also find suggestive evidence that differences in STEM-related student outcomes across school sectors, which have been demonstrated in prior research, are associated with cross-sector differences in the emphases of science teachers.

Leading School-Based Coaching To Evaluate Open Education Resources, Kathryn Moyle

Digital learning research

This presentation was a people's choice session at the 2018 ISTE conference and engaged participants in conversations about coaching approaches that when coupled with strategies to evaluate Open Educational Resources (OER) can build the capacity of teachers and improve the learning by students. The session provided participants with opportunities to discuss leadership approaches to the evaluation of OER resources that are consistent with education policies, build the capacity of educators and improve the quality of learning by students; and coaching methods for school leaders that enables the identification, analysis, curation and incorporation of OER resources into classroom practices.

Correlation Between Instructional School Culture And Student Achievement In An Urban District, Wayman Graham

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The Teachers Talent Toolbox needed a tool that could compile usable information on any given learning institution through data collection and analysis and provide usable qualitative and quantitative data that could be used to identify the causes of low achievement and provide necessary interventions within the school to improve student outcomes. To answer this need, the Instructional Culture Index/Insight Survey was developed by the New Teacher Project in 2016 and has been widely used and implemented in many schools and districts. This survey instrument was validated and deemed reliable by the RAND Corporation also in 2016. The purpose of this …

2018-06-19 Faculty Regent's Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty regent's report submitted on June 19, 2018.

A Million Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Transition Experiences Of Foster Youth Accessing Higher Education Through Community College, Karen A. Sullivan-Vance

Dissertations and Theses

A college education offers people social and economic benefits, yet youth from foster care backgrounds are less likely than their peers to attain a college education, which places this already vulnerable population at higher risk for a lifetime of living on the margins of society. Foster alumni face multiple obstacles to accessing and persisting in higher education. To facilitate and support the success of this frequently overlooked population, professionals in higher education need to understand these obstacles. Little is known about the experiences of youth with foster care backgrounds as they transition into and through higher education. Although existing research …

The Association Of Principal Leadership Styles With Student Achievement In Traditional New Jersey Public Schools, Thomas J. Gallahue Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As the achievement gap widens, it is even more critical than ever to examine factors that may influence the closing of that chasm. Principal leadership is one such component that needs further study.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine which leadership styles principals employ in traditional public schools in the State of New Jersey, and to determine whether principal leadership styles are associated with student achievement.

Furthermore, and more specifically, this study examined the principal leadership styles utilized in the highest academic achieving schools and the least academically successful schools. Additionally, this study also analyzed the principal …

Campus Sexual Assault And (In)Justice: An Inquiry Into Campus Grievance Professionals' Roles, Responsibilities, And Perspectives Of Justice, Liane Kehaulani O'Banion

Dissertations and Theses

Approximately one in four women experience sexual violence in college. Public institutions of higher education identify professionals specifically responsible for Title IX compliance, campus grievance processes, and survivor advocacy. Success in these roles depends upon a variety of institutional, legal, and procedural factors, and the ability to balance compliance, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, and care for students in pursuit of institutional justice. However, the literature has failed to acknowledge the complexities and individual cost of serving in these contentious roles. Moreover, facets of organizational culture can hinder grievance professionals' efficacy in fulfilling their duties, facilitating consistent and fair resolutions, and ensuring …

Dual Immersion Leadership: A Case Study Of Three K-5 Principals Who Show Success With Emergent Bilinguals, Ivonne Karina Dibblee

Dissertations and Theses

In the past decade the number of dual language immersion programs in US public schools has grown to more than 2000. The benefits of dual language immersion for emergent bilinguals (EBs) have been confirmed by numerous studies. However, lacking from this literature is research which focuses on leadership within dual immersion schools. Despite an upsurge in the number of immersion schools, few studies examine the characteristics of effective immersion leaders. The aim of this study is to examine the leadership characteristics of principals leading K-5 dual language immersion programs who have increased student achievement among EBs.

The purpose of this …

Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, June 8, 2018

Board of Trustees Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Board of Trustees Meeting held on June 8, 2018.

Stakeholder Expectations Of Islamic Education, Julia Marie Ahmed

Dissertations and Theses

Teachers and parents make considerable sacrifices to affiliate themselves with Islamic schools. As they commit to Islamic education, they acquire certain expectations that they want their school to fulfill. The purpose of this study was to explore the academic, social, and cultural expectations of five teachers and five parents in an Islamic School on the West Coast in order understand how these expectations could be fulfilled in other Islamic schools across the United States. The main research questions of this study were: What are the academic, social, and cultural expectations that parents and teachers have of their Islamic schools? To …

Book Review: Courtrooms And Classrooms: A Legal History Of College Access, 1860-1960, Mark A. Addison

Journal of College Access

Issues of college access are increasingly met with resolutions within social and economic contexts. Models such as cost of production output, and race and socioeconomic-conscious strategies form the basis of such analyses (Jenkins & Rodriguez, 2013; Henriksen, 1995; Treager Huber, 2010; Schmidt, 2012). We can expect retooling and reinventing of such models with increasing college costs and changes in student demographics.

Introductory Pages, Christopher W. Tremblay, Patrick O'Connor

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue, Christopher W. Tremblay, Patrick O'Connor

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Does Avid Higher Education (Avid He) Increase Student Term-To-Term Progression, Persistence Toward Credited Classes And Social Capital For First-Generation College Students Placing Into Developmental Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Christie M. Plinski

Dissertations and Theses

Often considered the gateway to the middle class in the United States, community colleges are struggling to find ways to support all students in career planning and preparation. Unfortunately, increasing numbers of first generation students who enter community colleges through the door of open access, place into developmental education (remedial) courses and must satisfactorily complete this often-rigid sequence before beginning college level classes. For many first-generation, under-prepared, underresourced students, this is a frustrating and often insurmountable barrier, causing many students to abort their postsecondary training.

Creating intentional conditions and instructional strategies that support student learning is essential in increasing the …

The Impact Of Online Professional Development On The Assessment Efficacy Of Novice Itinerant Teachers Of Students With Multiple Disabilities Including Visual Impairments, Jacqulyn Anne Donnenwirth Daniels

Dissertations and Theses

The primary question for this dissertation was: Does online professional development increase novice itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual impairments' (TVI) efficacy for assessing learning and literacy media for students with multiple disabilities including visual impairments? The literature suggested novice TVIs might experience low efficacy when implementing strategies unique to their job after leaving teacher-training programs. Working in an itinerant position can intensify perceptions of low efficacy. One area of low efficacy was conducting and reporting on the assessment of learning and literacy media (ALLM).

Using a quasi-experimental pre/post-design, data were collected from pre/postintervention knowledge questionnaires about the assessment process …

Examining Messenger And Mode: Strategic Communication In Higher Education Recruitment, Valerie Breashears

Theses and Dissertations

The marketing mantra “know your audience” can be applied when examining higher education student recruitment. With endless avenues for communication and a rise in national data on this topic, exploring what works best for individual institutions is crucial. Disparaging data exists concerning how admissions administrators believe students prefer to hear from institutions and the realities of student preferences. When new recruitment communication strategies were implemented at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in fall 2015 it required an assessment of effectiveness. The posttest-only two-group randomized experimental design will be employed for this proposed quantitative study analyzing recruitment cycle progression …

Agriculture Ambassador State Conference, James Andrew Broaddus, Quincie A. Gourley

Agricultural Education and Communication

The Agriculture Ambassador organization at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo focuses on promotion of higher education, agriculture, and professional development among its members and community contacts. In 2018, the organization hosted the Agriculture Ambassador State Conference to bring together Californian Agriculture Ambassadors and industry professionals for workshops and advocacy planning. “Exposure to the different forms of leadership through out-of-classroom involvement offers concrete experiences and background knowledge upon which students can draw as they integrate leadership theories and skills,” (Fritz, S., 1998, p.58). Industry professionals have cited the need to emphasize soft skill development through college level education (Robles, …

To Our Readers, Joseph Cangemi, Tony Norman

International Journal of Leadership and Change

No abstract provided.