Educational Leadership Commons^™

Voices Of Emerging Leaders: Communication In The 21st Century, Alaina Carlson, Brock Voigt, Flora Njodzeka, Jack Krueger, John Schmidt, Jordan Haddad, Leah Mach, Natalie Dicke, Sarah Bobrowski, Katie Wilson, Barbara Holmes

Leadership Education Books

Voices of Emerging Leaders: Communication in the 21st Century provides an in-depth exploration of leadership communication in the 21st century. This anthology is a compilation of diverse papers written by graduate students, each delving into various aspects of leadership communication in today's world. These papers use thorough research and analysis to uncover the complexities of effective leadership communication strategies.

As you read these scholarly works, you will gain valuable insights crucial for navigating the complexities of leadership in our rapidly changing global landscape. Whether you are an experienced leader or aspiring to become one, this collection serves as a scholarly …

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Investigation Of Teacher Perspectives, Shanda Salvant Theriot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the self-efficacy of middle school teachers as they address cyberbullying in the classroom. A phenomenological research design using a purposive sampling method was used. To understand the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives on cyberbullying, open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventh-grade teachers from two parochial schools and three charter schools. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, which was used to gather additional information regarding the teachers’ background and experience. Seven themes emerged from coding the data collected from the teacher interviews and focus group session: 1) collaboration and communication, 2) professional development and training, 3) support and …

Representations Of State-Recognized Tribes: A Content Analysis Of Social Studies Standards, August Joseph Darbonne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study analyzes social studies standards across the 11 states that recognize Native American tribes on the state level. The researcher seeks to determine the explicit and implicit representations of state-recognized tribes in the social studies standards required by 11 states. Research on educational issues that impact state-recognized tribes is limited and creates a gap in the literature for these communities. This study is significant because it promotes awareness of the lack of representation of state-recognized tribes in the social studies standards and sub-standards of the 11 states that recognize tribes on the state level. Tribal Critical Race Theory …

Here To Stay: Why Black Male Teachers Choose To Remain In The Classroom, Christopher J. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences, perceptions, and motivations of Black male high school teachers who have chosen to remain in the high school classrooms. By focusing on factors that drove their commitment to the teaching profession, this study aimed to identify key elements that influenced their longevity in the classroom. The study employed a purposive sampling method and collected data through semi-structures interviews using Zoom, a focus group, and survey results from participants across the southern region of the United States. Six major themes emerged from the individual interviews: (1) impact, (2) representation, (3) relationship building, (4) recruitment, (5) …

A Phenomenological Study Of Latina Poets As Leaders At Higher Education Institutions, Rodney Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This interpretive phenomenological study addresses the underrepresentation of Latinas in higher education leadership roles by focusing on the lived experiences of Latina poets who have served as higher education leaders. Data, collected through semi-structured participant interviews and participant writing samples, was analyzed through a standard method of thematic analysis. Latin American and U.S. theories of decoloniality and Yosso’s community cultural capital guided interpretation of participant experiences. Five themes emerged from the analysis: border negation, foundational values, othered leadership, importance of community, and writing as necessity. Discussion of participation experiences suggests that ways that poetry and creative writing can be used …

At Risk, Punished, And Pushed Out Of School: Leadership Practices Utilized By School Administrators For Discipline Consequences In South Texas Schools, Beulah San Juanita Rangel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine leadership practices utilized by school administrators for discretionary discipline consequences that feed the school-to-prison pipeline. The researcher utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to investigate factors that influence campus administrators’ decision to use of exclusionary discipline through a series of semi-structured interviews. Through data analysis, three themes emerged: (1) Principals’ Impact on Student Discipline (2) Principals’ Considerations Before Using Exclusionary Discipline (3) Principals Lack of Training.

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Principals’ Leadership Attributes In A Lower Rio Grande Valley (Rgv) School District And The Influence On Their Leaders’ Attributes To Their Self-Efficacy, Arely Rios Tamez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study is to obtain middle school teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ leadership attributes and analyze how their perceptions of those leadership attributes relate to their sense of self-efficacy. Teacher participants from five middle schools in a lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV) school district in South Texas will be asked to complete two surveys: one survey based on their perceptions of their principals’ leadership attributes (TPPAQ) and another survey measuring teacher efficacy (TEBS-Self). Data analysis using multiple regression will examine if there is a relationship between teacher perceived school leadership attributes of their principals and …

Persistence And Lived Experiences Of Doctoral Students At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Jacob Michael Camacho

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the completion of PhD degrees and identify obstacles to completion at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Low completion rates are a national and global problem predicted to generate a critical shortage of professionals needed by society. The researcher utilized a phenomenological qualitative study to research the phenomenon through the interpretation of an individual's experiences in various situations (Stake, 2010). This research is important as it aims to analyze programs with high completion rates to find the factors that contribute to or impede dissertation completion. This project will focus on …

Sensemaking Of The Unexpected: A Qualitative Study In Understanding The Actions Of South Texas School Board Members To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angel Magallanes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to gather knowledge of how school board presidents make sense of unexpected situations and what influences, informs, or impacts their decision-making during situations void of information and filled with uncertainty for decision-making in the midst of an imminent crisis. The research was focused on the lived experiences of three school board presidents in South Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenological analysis, I analyzed interviews and observations of recorded school board meetings as data sources that I could triangulate about the COVID-19 phenomenon for understanding how …

Navigating New Frontiers: A Narrative Of Cte Administrators Leading Rural Innovation, Claire Bass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public school districts play a pivotal role in the well-being of rural communities. To help mitigate the impact of labor market trends, societal shifts, and the skilled labor shortage, rural schools are in the initial stages of expanding innovative career pathways. As such, career and technical education (CTE) administrators serve their rural communities by facilitating robust career pathways to support local labor markets. Due to a skilled labor shortage, a declining labor force participation rate, and a rapidly evolving labor market, there is a lack of qualified and certified personnel to fill industry jobs (Davis et al., 2022). School districts …

Providing Safe Spaces: An Examination Of Trio Sss Students’ Personal And Academic Self-Efficacy During Covid-19., Matthew Mcclendon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to examine the impact of the TRIO SSS Program in increasing the academic preparedness, graduation rates, and personal development of first-generation college students. Specifically, the study examined how TRIO SSS affected students’ self-efficacy through academic performance and personal development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical lens for this study was the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) in which Lent et al. (1994) presented the SCCT as a particularly appropriate framework for those in the early stages of exploring and preparing for careers. A case study methodology, specifically an intrinsic case study, was utilized to investigate the …

“We Take Crises And We Make Them Work”: Platicas And Testimonios Of Undocumented Latina/O/X College Students To Engage In Critical Race Feminista Praxis, Fernando Villalpando

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Undocumented Latinx college students have experienced and continue to experience challenges to earn their American dream (Pentón, Herrera & Obregón, 2018). Their aspirations and resiliency are facing one of the biggest challenges yet with the rhetoric and actions of the Trump Administration. These actions may have major implications on their journey through higher education and society. In California alone there are approximately 38,000 undocumented college students who could be in jeopardy of their future, and the implications of the current presidency’s actions could have enormous impacts on their lives (Gonzáles, 2009). By wanting to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Undergraduate Students Who Participated In The Ronald E. Mcnair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, Alexandria C. Craft

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of former McNair Program participants at a regional postsecondary institution in northeast Tennessee. More specifically, the study examined how past participants of a McNair Program perceived their program experiences related to their post-undergraduate educational endeavors and career pursuits. Although research has been conducted on McNair Programs, no research has been conducted on the lived experiences of individuals who participated in a McNair Program in northeast Tennessee within the last two decades, and little to no research has been conducted to identify the program components that former participants believe …

An Examination Of Early Childhood Leadership In Public Elementary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Wesam Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As state-funded Pre-K programs in elementary schools continue to grow, elementary principals are increasingly responsible for supporting, supervising, and leading these programs. Therefore, examining elementary principals' early childhood leadership competencies and the factors influencing them may help understand and improve their experiences as early childhood education (ECE) leaders. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examined the ECE leadership of Tennessee public elementary school principals in two phases.

In the quantitative phase, statewide surveys were used to collect data from 67 principals. The survey comprised 51 items assessing nine ECE leadership competencies, synthesized from statements of leading ECE and elementary education …

Internship Experiences For Aspiring Educational Leaders: Student Understanding And Effectiveness, Adam Douglas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate East Tennessee State University alumni's perceptions of the effectiveness of internship experiences as students learned the PSEL and TILS standards and the role of mentor support as they prepared for principalship. The participants obtained their administrative license and worked currently with an administrative license that is current in the state they reside. This research focused on the perception of the PESL and TILS standards, the effectiveness of the 540-hour internship experience, and the value of the site based and university mentor as the participants completed their activities in multiple settings.

Findings supported …

No Tolerance For Zero Tolerance: Teacher Perceptions Of Restorative Practices, Meghann Ramsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The original design of zero-tolerance policies was meant to support school safety through an anti-drug and violence campaign but in the years following their implementation, school districts have employed them repeatedly without merit. Exclusionary practices have become controversial, leading to high rates of recidivism, imbalanced implementation toward minority groups, and the loss of learning while suspended or expelled. Just as effective educators respond and intervene to instructional practices that are not proving successful, an overhaul of disciplinary practices was necessary for academic and emotional health. Restorative practices have emerged in recent years as an alternative process to the antiquated system …

The Race To Survive On A Non-Tenure Track Faculty Salary How Do Contingent Faculty Meet Their Basic Needs?, Rachael Laureen Goldberg

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated contingent or non-tenure track faculty in Community College and California State Universities throughout the Northern, Central and Southern areas of California and the ability for contingent or non-tenure track faculty members to meet their basic needs. This study explored the understanding of how likely contingent or non-tenure track faculty members salaries meet the self-sufficiency standard for the region in which they are located. Finally, this study explored the role contingent or non-tenure track faculty salaries impact their interaction with students inside the classroom. This is a mixed methods study that employed the use of a basic needs …

Still I Rise: A Critical Utopian Action Research Study On Black Femme-Identifying And Gender Expansive Emerging Adults In Technology Leadership., Alisia Mcclain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Critical Utopian Action Research (CUAR) study delves into the intersection of authentic leadership, Black Feminist Thought (BFT), and technology leadership development, focusing on the perspectives of emerging adult Black femme-identifying or gender-expansive individuals. Addressing two primary research questions, the study investigates their idealized visions for technology leadership programs and discerns key factors differentiating authentic leadership from models incorporating BFT. Through qualitative analysis of Future-Creating Workshop outputs and participant narratives, the study unveils multifaceted themes. Participants articulate a vision of technology leadership development rooted in authenticity, intersectionality, and inclusivity. Their ideal programs prioritize celebrating complex identities, engaging through technology, and …

The Impact Of Cognitive Coaching On Educator Identity And Teamwork Through Classroom Observation As Perceived By Teachers And Administrators., Carrie Elizabeth Wade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Classroom observations are meant to help teachers improve their instructional practice and improve learning outcomes for students. But for many educators, traditional, in-person classroom observations can not only be difficult to arrange but difficult to truly gain valuable feedback from when teachers can’t see what was happening in the moment (Drago-Severson & Blum-Stefano, 2017). Teaching and leading in an environment characterized by a constant state of change is more likely to cause stress and negative feelings when the employees care deeply about the outcome (Wisse & Sleebos, 2016). Cognitive Coaching methods, applied to classroom observations, aim to reduce focus on …

Teacher Perceptions Of Principal Impact On School Culture And Teacher Retention In Title 1 Schools., Erika Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School districts across the United States are grappling to fill, and to keep, their classrooms operating with qualified teachers, especially in Title 1 certified schools. To ensure a quality education for the millions of students in the nation in the coming years, educational leaders and government officials need to evaluate what can be done to increase the number of teachers staying in their positions. Schools must be better equipped to understand teachers’ sense of belonging and teacher retain and how principal impact contributes to high turnover rates. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine teachers’ perception on …

A Mixed Methods Study Of South Carolina Reading Policy On Teacher Knowledge, Matthew Ferguson

All Dissertations

This sequential explanatory mixed methods study examines the impact of the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning intervention on teacher knowledge within the context of South Carolina's reading policy.

Quantitative analyses of pre- and post-assessment data indicate significant improvements in teacher content knowledge of foundational literacy skills following LETRS training. Descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests demonstrate substantial gains in knowledge, particularly in Volume 1 of the LETRS curriculum. The study reveals notable increases in pre- and post-assessment scores, suggesting the effectiveness of LETRS in enhancing teacher expertise.

Qualitative findings from focus groups highlight the positive …

Experiences Of Vertical Transfer Students In The Department Of Biological Sciences With The Transfer Credit Process: A Phenomenological Study, Laura Love

All Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to highlight the experiences of undergraduate STEM vertical transfer students. Through the lens of Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, this study sought to better understand how students make sense of the transfer credit process and which support structures facilitated their understanding. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using qualitative methods with eight biological sciences and vertical transfer students currently enrolled at a large public four-year land-grant research institution in the Southeast United States. All participants had successfully transferred from one of 16 technical colleges within the state. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, three themes were identified. This …

Professional Development For Culturally Responsive Teaching: Examining The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Implementation In Teaching Practice, Chrystal Mckeever

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study sought to investigate the link between professional development and the implementation of professional learning to improve student performance. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, this study explored whether the professional development of culturally responsive teaching influenced classroom implementation. Second, this study examined the relationships between teachers’ implementation of culturally responsive strategies, teacher self-efficacy, and student performance. This approach (which contextualized academic knowledge and skills within a real-world setting) has been shown to lead to more meaningful experiences and increased interest in academic content (Gay, 2010; Ladson-Billings, 1995). The overarching questions that led this …

Understanding Community College Student Perceptions Of Academic Advising, Benjamin Umbarger, Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate community college student perceptions of academic advising for 12 first-time first-generation (FTFG) General Studies students attending a rural southeastern community college. The phenomenological research approach was utilized to better understand participant experiences by exploring participants' perceptions through their lived experiences. Applying purposeful sampling techniques, five females and seven males were identified, with 11 classified as full-time students and one classified as part-time. One-on-one interviews and focus group were conducted in-person or virtually, using Zoom and Microsoft Teams, with each participant to better understand student perceptions of their initial academic advising …

Navigating School Restructuring In The Post-Covid Era: A Principal’S Perspective In Sustaining Organizational Health While Bridging The Academic Achievement Gap, Alma Alicia Perez-Campos

Theses and Dissertations

In 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic led to nationwide school closures, followed by a mandate for schools to reopen in 2020, posing challenges for ensuring both educational continuity and student safety. This paper presents findings from a mixed-method study involving ten campus principals in District A, South Texas, post-pandemic. Qualitatively, the study explored the principals' perspectives on restructuring their campuses to address achievement gaps while maintaining organizational health. Quantitatively, it examined the relationship between achievement and organizational health scores and any differences in organizational health pre- and post-COVID-19. The study aimed to offer insights for future …

Breaking The Glass Ceiling: Lived Experiences And Career Paths Of Women Administrators In Hispanic-Serving Institutions In The U.S. Southwest Border States, Carlos Adalberto Rios

Theses and Dissertations

This research study focuses on female executives at two-year and four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the U.S. Southwest Border States by examining their lived experiences and career paths that helped them become successful senior administrators. Although most college students are female, women in leadership positions in academia are severely underrepresented at institutions nationwide. This research will be a qualitative study using a phenomenological research methodology. It will explore the lived experiences of six female executives in higher education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the U.S. Southwest Border States. This study will also investigate the career paths and challenges that these women …

The Perceptions Of Black Teachers Regarding The Work Environment In Predominately White Schools P-12, Rhonda Lankford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of Black teachers in predominately White P-12 schools, and focused on examining the external and internal challenges that Black teachers face who work in predominately White schools. Voices are sometimes ignored or muted in a society dominated by the majority White culture. This study will allow readers to experience the narratives of Black educators who work in these environments. The educators selected for this study were purposefully chosen from predominately White school districts. The researcher interviewed each subject in a semi-structured interview environment to gather data. Results of interviews lead to the emergence of …

Dismantling Digital Inequalities: Urban High School Students' Perspectives Of Smartphones Use In Education, Artis Carneal Street

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the use of and the attitude towards smartphone technology for in school and remote learning by urban high school students to reduce digital inequalities. High school students use smartphone technology in today’s society as an integral part of their lives. Yet the majority of the large school districts in the United States ban the use of students’ mobile phones in schools. Furthermore, while policy makers, school district personnel, and school administrators each year negotiate the school’s technology budget, technology use agreements, network maintenance, and which Internet application tools to adopt, almost all …

College And Career Readiness Effects On Minority Male College Retention, Naquiyah Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The continuously low college retention and low degree attainment of African American and Hispanic men is a generational and decades-long hindrance to the elevation of these marginalized communities in the United States and the state of Texas. In Texas, the last 3 years’ worth of data has proven college-readiness rates of African American and Hispanic college students were significantly lower by large margins than White students in English language arts, math, and both subjects by large margins. Consistent low college retention rates of minority men produce a need to conduct further research of how this phenomenon affects minority men …

Does My Voice Matter? Understanding The Lived Experiences And Turnover Intentions Of Professional Academic Advisors, Keith Kanard Douglas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic advising has been a vital aspect of the higher education setting for at least a century. Academic advising has evolved from the vocational development of young men to a full-time profession, especially after the creation of the National Academic Advising Association in 1979. Although the academic profession has developed through research, master’s programs, and courses designed to expand the field of academic advising, researchers still question whether full-time academic advising is a profession. Questions regarding the legitimacy of the work of academic advisors have led to miscommunication between upper administrators within the university. Universities have experienced a trend of …