Educational Leadership Commons^™

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 …

Examining Special Education Programming Through The Lens Of Upper Elementary And High School General Education Teachers In Select Black Rural Schools In Mississippi - Do They Feel Prepared To Serve?, Natasha Michelle Porter

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the perceptions of upper elementary and high school general education teachers towards special education programming and whether they felt prepared to meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Plans. The literature review provided a comprehensive synthesis of existing research on the topic researched, offering an in-depth exploration of key themes, trends, and findings in the relevant academic literature. It critically examined assorted studies, theories, and methodologies researchers employ, identifying gaps and areas of consensus. The purpose of this study was to build from the foundation set by existing bodies of related literature, to gain formal …

Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, December 12, 2024

Board of Trustees Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Board of Trustees Meeting held on December 12, 2024.

2024-12-12 First Day Complete, Morehead State University. Fiscal Services Office, Mary Fister-Tucker

Faculty Senate Records

An e-mail sent by the Chief Financial Officer, Mary Fister-Tucker, on December 12, 2024 to the president of the Faculty Senate in regard to the First Day Complete program to be implemented in fall of 2025.

The Correlation Between The Degree To Which Teachers Perceive Their Administrators As Exhibiting Collaborative Leadership Style Traits And Teacher Leader Job Satisfaction Levels, Megan M. Moffa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine the predictive relationship between administrators’ use of collaborative leadership factors as perceived by teacher leaders and teacher leaders’ job satisfaction levels. The study was framed by collaborative leadership theory and job satisfaction theory and adds to the empirical evidence by examining the connection between administrators’ use of collaborative leadership and teacher leader needs. The research question explored how accurately teacher leader job satisfaction levels can be predicted from perceived administrator use of collaborative leadership traits. The study consisted of 112 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher leaders in rural, suburban, …

Mentorship Among Early Career Senior Pastors: Examining Whether Mentored Leaders Are Better Equipped To Lead, Shayla Lenai Hilton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early career senior pastors are often expected to confidently step into senior leadership positions with minimal support, direction, guidance and/or training. The support of an experienced mentor could potentially lessen the challenges for early career leaders. The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to explore the effectiveness of mentorships for early career senior pastors who hold senior leadership positions in Christian churches in the United States. For the purposes of this study, a early career senior pastor is defined as an individual with 0-10 years of experience in a senior leadership position. The phenomenological study explored three questions: (1) …

The Impact Of 21st-Century Technology Teaching On Socio-Economically Challenged Students In Public High Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Duncan Kenneth Guishard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of 10 teachers who have used 21st-century technology teaching methods in three U.S. public high schools (PHS), North, South, and West in the Mid-Eastern United States. Schlossberg’s transition theory guided this study and was used to address the central research question: What essential elements of 21st-century technology teaching practices do you believe can improve students’ performance and academic success in U.S. public high schools? The three sub-questions helped uncover the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives using 21st-century technology teaching methods in public high schools. Purposeful sampling …

Administrators’ Counternarratives About Discipline: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Kylle Elizabeth Summers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the internalized beliefs held by school administrators about discipline by asking them to explore their enculturation as educators working in traditional public-school settings in the southeastern region of the United States. The study sought to answer the following central research question: How do school administrators understand their enculturation related to diversity and student discipline? Social constructivism was used as the overarching framework to guide the study. Administrators were asked to explore their enculturation exogenously using Scott and Mitchell’s institutional theory and dialectically using Bell’s critical race theory. These theories were …

The New “Female Hysteria”: A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Effects Of The Imposter Phenomena In African American Women In Educational Leadership: A Qualitative Study, Alexandria Nicole Purifoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the intersectionality of imposter phenomenon, misogyny, and racism and the impacts on African American women in educational leadership roles at secondary schools. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it applies to the importance of belongingness for Black women in these roles. The central research question for this study is: What perspectives have shaped the views of Black women in educational leadership roles? The proposed methodology utilizes a combination of journals, interviews, and focus groups to gather information from participants. This study used the transcendental phenomenological approach …

Examining The Relationship Of Simulation To Nursing Communication Competency: A Quantitative, Causal-Comparative, Retrospective Study, Patresha Pamella Pearson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative, retrospective study investigated the impact of simulation-based education on nurse communication competence by evaluating communication skills between two groups of recently graduated and licensed registered nurses while controlling for total experience hours. Though nursing communication competence significantly impacts patient care outcomes, few studies have addressed the impact of simulation on the communication competence of licensed nurses practicing in the clinical setting. The study was conducted in the clinical setting with 78 participants divided between two categorical groups of recently graduated and licensed registered nurses depending on the proportion of simulation-based education received during clinical experience requirements. The …

Administrators' Perception Of The Effectiveness Of Trauma-Informed Practices In Disciplinary Decisions, Rebecca Cahill

Dissertations

This research study examined administrators’ perceptions of the effectiveness of trauma-informed practices in disciplinary decision-making. Ten elementary school assistant principals were interviewed about their experiences with trauma-informed practices following a student referral. The participants also submitted behavioral expectation matrices and discipline flowcharts for analysis. The participants recognized and valued the underlying elements of trauma-informed practices (relationships, context, support, and cultural factors). However, they lack a clear understanding of and processes for full implementation of trauma-informed practices into disciplinary decision-making. Given the increase in negative student behavior and teacher requests for support, more research is needed to identify a process(es) for …

Comparing Student Outcomes Related To The Implementation Of The 3de Program, Amanda Burks

Dissertations

This study examines the impact of the 3DE program on ninth-grade student achievement in a Title I high school in Metro Atlanta. The 3DE program is a cohort-based model that utilizes interdisciplinary teaching paired with case study methodology; the program aims to support students as they make the difficult transition from middle to high school. This study focuses on two research questions, comparing the academic achievement of students in the 3DE program with those in the broader ninth grade population, measured by their scores on the Algebra I end of course (EOC) exam as well as the ninth-grade literature EOC. …

High School Principals’ Experiences Implementing The Whole-Child Approach To Education, Elise Heaton

Dissertations

The prevalence of the whole-child approach to education has grown significantly as schools recognize that students' needs extend beyond academics to include their social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. This approach emphasizes nurturing all aspects of a child's development to ensure they thrive in a diverse and ever-evolving world. This phenomenological qualitative case study explores the lived experiences of high school principals as they implement the whole-child approach to education. Through data collected via various methods, including interviews, document analysis, and site observations, this study provides an in-depth examination of how principals navigate the complex demands of addressing the multifaceted …

A Crisis In Confidence: A Collective Case Study Approach To School Security Through Teacher Experiences, Ryan J. Stevenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand and discover the set of hard and soft deterrents and how they work to increase the confidence for teachers at middle schools of various socioeconomic levels. The main theory was the risk theory by Sabine Roeser as it refers to how humans operate when faced with risk and uncertainty in their everyday lives. The study was a collective case study with teachers of various experience levels across three sites. The sites were three different middle schools across a northern Virginia suburban county; schools were one of low socioeconomic status, middle …

Societal Obstacles In Higher Education That Hinder Adulthood Development In Northern Myanmar: A Phenomenological Study, Sau Nam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of college graduates who faced societal obstacles in higher education in Kachin State, Myanmar. The theory guiding this study was the theory of emerging adulthood in higher education, as it looks at how the psychological environment in which they live influences their psychological characteristics development process. The theory helped to explore the central research question: What are the lived experiences of college graduates who faced societal obstacles in higher education in Kachin State, Myanmar? The study collected data through individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts, and the …

Evaluating The Perceived Benefits Of Education In Revenue Cycle Management And The Impact On Medical Claims Reimbursement, Jessica L. Miller

Student Dissertations

Efficient Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is essential for healthcare organizations to ensure timely and accurate reimbursement for medical claims. The research problem was the significant inadequacies in RCM process in medical billing that has resulted in financial burdens imposed on providers, patients, and the organizations that provide medical services. There are clearly identified educational gaps in RCM that contribute to claim denials, delays, and revenue loss, underscoring the need for robust training programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived impact of education in RCM on medical claim reimbursement outcomes within the U.S. healthcare system. The study …

Course Registration Practices At A Jesuit University: Practicing Critical Hope To Address Barriers To Access And Belonging, Corey Knadler, Laura Diaz Martinez, Annmarie Caño, Kirk R. Anders, Yolanda Gallardo, Nancy L. Staub

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Solidarity and critical hope support faculty and staff who wish to accompany students, read the current reality of their experience, and imagine new practices that can rectify injustices and promote access and belonging. Here, we describe an example of this praxis by responding to student concerns about injustices in a course registration process. With some exceptions, undergraduates at this institution register for classes according to their earned college credits. At first glance, this meritocratic system shows care to students by recognizing their hard work. However, our analysis shows that it also discriminates against underserved groups of students. Using 10 years …

Embracing Communal Discernment For Synodal Leadership In Jesuit Higher Education, Deogratias Fikiri Sj

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

This paper proposes a transformative shift in Jesuit higher education leadership by advocating for synodal leadership, a model grounded in Ignatian spirituality and Catholic tradition. In response to the limitations of traditional shared and collegial governance models, which often perpetuate elitism and hinder broad-based participation, this paper highlights the need for a more inclusive and adaptive leadership approach. Synodal leadership, revitalized by Pope Francis, emphasizes active participation, communal discernment, and mutual respect, diverging from hierarchical norms. It fosters a “walking together” ethos, allowing every member’s voice to contribute to a collective vision. By integrating synodal principles with Jesuit values, this …