Educational Leadership Commons^™

Connect, Coach, And Cultivate: The Importance Of Mentoring Students Of Color In Graduate Online Programs, Traci Ramsey, Courtney Brazile, Lashae Grottis, Patrice Hall, Tina Patterson

Tapestry: Journal of Research in Education

Online graduate programs have steadily increased since 2016 (Curry, 2022). As more students of color enroll in these programs, research shows that faculty-student mentoring improves student academic performance, psychological health, and social environment (Curry, 2022). Mentoring within an online format presents unique challenges and requires specific adaptive strategies. Understanding best practices in mentoring must be a priority to ensure successful mentoring programs and students’ completion as higher education institutions expand their level of support for online students of color (Brown et al., 1999). Several studies have identified best practices in mentoring. Booker and Brevard (2017) categorized themes of graduate student …

The Sanctity Of Human Life: An Examination Of The Effects Of Education And Training Of Less-Lethal Force Option Devices In The Royal Thai Police, Trak Silapaduriyang

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Under Article III of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. It is the duty of law enforcement to protect and respect these rights. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) patrol officers carry firearms as lethal weapons on their duty belts, similar to police officers in the United States (US). However, firearms are the only force option available to the RTP in stark contrast to the options police officers in the US have when they encounter resistance from suspects. For the RTP, conducted energy devices (CED) and oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays are …

Understanding Athletics Academic Advisors’ Experience With Job Burnout And Antecedents That Shape Job Burnout, Felicia O'Rourke

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Chronic stress and burnout associated with Division I athletics is common and specifically the profession of athletics academic advising at the Division I level has reputed to be, as Meyer (2005) states, “one of the most challenging jobs in higher education.” Yet, the topic is under-explored. While roughly one thousand articles are being published each year on job burnout in general, there are very few that examine job burnout and workplace stress among Division I athletics academic advisors. Drawing on aspects of an interpretive phenomenological approach, this qualitative research study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of …

Interorganizational Practices That Foster Reciprocal Trust Between Central Office Administrators And Principals, Andrea M. Derdenger

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Reciprocal trust among leaders in education improves the learning outcomes for students, which is the primary goal for educators. Researchers studying administrative teams have found the degree and level of reciprocal trust that exists in a learning organization between district-level leaders and principals can aid or impede the implementation of policies and initiatives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the practices that develop reciprocal trust between principals and district-level school administrators. This study was informed by semi-structured interviews with five principals who serve in K-8 schools. Participants identified communication, decision-making structures, relationships, and leadership styles as elements …

A Spotlight On Teachers’ Culturally Sustaining Beliefs And Responsive Practices For Students Of Color In Mathematics, Susan Ejma

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

School leaders and educators across the country are striving to improve instruction for ethnically, culturally, and socio-economically diverse students for long term learning and growth. For years, researchers and scholars praised the tenets of culturally responsive instruction as the solution to meeting the needs of this growing diversity in schools. Unfortunately, many students from ethnically and culturally diverse communities do not have schooling experiences that validate and affirm their knowledge. Culturally responsive teaching is still an area that is under researched, specifically in mathematics. Drawing on the theoretical lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this mixed methods case study aimed to …

Black, Male, Juvenile: A Multi-System Perspective On Hope, Dehumanization, And Redemption In Recidivism & Education, Alexandra M. Brandt

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Across the United States millions of juveniles enter the criminal justice system each year. The foundational theories that are being used for this study are Hirschi’s Social learning theory and Shaw & McKay’s theory of Social Disorganization. The intention of this study is to explore the outcome of exposure factors on recidivism among male black juveniles from the perspectives of Juvenile Justice Professionals and Educators within the City of Chicago. Data will be collected from in-depth interviews with 10 minority participant's including Chicago Police Department Officers, Juvenile Detectives, a Cook County Juvenile Judge, Cook County Juvenile Correctional Officers, Educators, and …

Northeastern Illinois University: Identifying Characteristics Associated With Low African American Student Retention And Persistence, Laural E. Johnson

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Although a recent study found that college student retention and persistence rates are on the rise, there continues to be significant differences between African American and White students at predominately white institutions (PWIs). Institutional factors such as unwelcoming campus climates, racial stereotypes, and faculty relationships have been found to be viable factors as to why the disparities between African American and other students continue to exist. This Case Study explored some of the key issues/factors/questions related to the retention and persistence of African American students at a Midwest PWI. This study found that university resources and financial support, inclusion, comfortability …

Infographic: School Leader Attraction And Retention, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The Australian School Education Leaders Sentiment Index, by Slade Group, explores the priorities and drivers for school leaders when considering a new role. It draws on findings from interviews and a survey with 60 principals, from which 5 key themes emerged. Find out more in our latest infographic.

An Examination Of Faculty And Staff Collaboration And Relationships In Higher Education, Jennifer Syno, Juliann S. Mcbrayer, Daniel W. Calhoun, Cordelia D. Zinskie, Katherine Fallon

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

Collaboration between academic and student affairs professionals is an important means of increasing student success; however, historical divides between these units have made implementation of these efforts challenging. This quantitative study sought to evaluate the perceptions of faculty and student affairs staff towards collaborative efforts and toward one another within a single campus of a comprehensive regional university within the southeast. Findings show that while both faculty and staff value collaborations and believe they positively impact student success, these units do not experience equitable voice and responsibility within collaborative efforts when conducted. Additionally, differences were found in enjoyment of collaborative …

Self-Efficacy Of Early Childhood Majors At Community Colleges, Public Universities, And Private Institutions, Carlton Lemar Cain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a general assumption that students’ competency levels in community colleges differ from that of public and private university students as the academic goals of these educational institutions are different. However, studies have not been exhaustingly conducted to establish a significant difference in students' self-efficacy or confidence in these educational institutions. The purpose of this quantitative casual-comparative study was to examine whether differences exist in perceived self-efficacy of early childhood majors attending community college, public university, and private university. The long-form Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale developed by Tschannen-Moran and Hoy (2001) was used to collect data for this …

Teaching Students With Autism In An Inclusive Environment: A Case Study, Corey Antione Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the perspectives and experiences of general education teachers who teach high school students with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive education with respect to challenges teachers face, strategies and interventions they use to manage the classroom, and relationships they build to create an environment where students with autism spectrum disorder can learn and grow. Participants were identified via purposeful criterion sampling procedures, based on general education teachers in inclusive education. The setting for this study was an inclusive classroom in a public senior high school in North Carolina, referred to herein as …

Feeling The Burn: A Phenomenological Study On Burnout Among Adjunct Professors At Higher Education Institutions, Janette B. Whitmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of burnout among adjunct professors at higher education institutions. The central research question guiding this study was what are the lived experiences of burnout among adjunct professors at higher education institutions? This study found that adjunct professors burned-out due to their higher education institutions’ unreasonable work expectations, tight deadlines, and lack of resources. Using the guiding theory of job demands and resources (JD-R) developed by Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, and Schaufeli, the phenomenon’s essence was discovered as it highlighted how excessive work demands and a lack of resources …

School Leaders’ Supports Of Dual Language Science Teachers, Monica E. Manning, Casey Graham Brown

School Leadership Review

English learners account for 21.7% of the Texas public school system (Texas Education Agency, 2022). This qualitative study was conducted to examine how teachers of English learners in a dual language program perceived the educational supports they received affected student achievement in science. Teacher participants were asked about their experiences with administrative supports and how those supports affected their teaching and student performance. Two administrators were also interviewed for the study.

The teacher participants identified administrative supports they perceived to be beneficial to student learning and to the functioning of the EL program and science classroom. The administrative supports identified …

External Factors Affecting The Governance And Strategic Directions Of Higher Education Institutions In The United Arab Emirates, Ghassan A. Al-Qaimari

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

Since its inception in 1971, the UAE has worked to establish a modern and diverse system of higher education. In a short period of time, the UAE overcame many obstacles to emerge as an important educational center in the region, attracting foreign students, academics, and higher education institutions wishing to be present in this region of the world. In this research, we describe higher education in the United Arab Emirates: we describe the types of higher education institutions in the country, and the official bodies regulating higher education (Regulators), and we talk about the vision of the country's leadership for …

Special Education Teachers Leading Paraprofessionals: A Phenomenological Study Of How Special Education Teachers Develop Leadership Skills, Ellen Elizabeth Langley

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of special education teachers as they relate to teacher preparation programs and how they prepared teachers to work with and lead paraprofessionals. Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership approach and Adult Leadership Theory are the theoretical basis for this study. Qualitative data was collected through twelve semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that special education teachers do perceive that college preparation programs do not adequately prepare them to lead paraprofessionals. Data also supported the claim that a lack of adult leadership training did have a negative affect on workplace relationships …

Perspectives From African American Male Rural School Leaders Regarding Targeted Recruitment Strategies For Future African American Male Rural School Leaders, Chameeka N. Smith, Portia Gibbs-Roseboro

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

African American male educators are becoming extinct in our current United States School system. Representing less than 2% of the teaching force, our recruitment efforts will need adjustments to increase this population of educators in schools (Bristol & Mentor, 2018; Goings & Bianco, 2016; Wallace & Gagen, 2019). To address this concern, our study explores the perspective of African American male rural school leaders on the need to recruit more African American males into educational professions. Through three semi-structured interviews, 60-90 minutes, we identified the lack of opportunities and targeted recruitment strategies for this population into the field of education. …

Changing Teacher Perceptions And Actions Through Trauma-Responsive Professional Development, Jason A. Smith, Marilynn Quick

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Most teachers are not trained on how to support students who struggle with trauma. Childhood trauma not only impacts a teacher’s ability to teach, but also threatens their students’ futures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions and actions when they participated in trauma professional development. Interviews were conducted with 5 teachers and 10 students in a Midwestern urban intermediate/middle school. By the end of the study, teachers stated that they had begun responding to disruptions in more child-centered approaches, and students noticed that their teachers began treating all students more equitably in trauma-informed manners. The …

The Theory Of Educational Attachment, Marie Lawrence

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Educational attachment bonding helps students to progress academically and to develop strong positive emotional ties with members of the educational community. This educational bond serves as a stabilizing factor and may serve to compensate for deficiencies in early attachment bonds and thus help students develop sound psychological health. Educational attachment bonds can be formed with teachers, school administrators and staff, academic club sponsors, athletic coaches, and staff or any member of the school community. The significance of Educational Attachment Theory demonstrates the need to train educational professionals on the necessity of developing secure attachment bonds with students and to reflectively …

Understanding How High School African American Males Articulate Their Experiences Of Mattering And Marginality At School To Teachers And Administrators, Tiffany Leshunda Gipson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Mattering to others is important in society; therefore, knowing how individuals perceive their mattering is essential. The problem addressed in this study is the gap in research of experiences regarding mattering and marginality of high school African American males. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine how African American males perceived their experiences of mattering and marginality in high school to teachers and administrators. A qualitative phenomenological approach and design were used to conduct one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with eight upcoming 11th and 12th graders to gather their experiences. Schlossberg’s Theory of Marginality and Mattering and Critical Race …

Perceptions Of Tattoos And Piercings In Higher Education, Diane Elizabeth Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to examine the perceptions of faculty and staff at Rowan University towards professionals with visible body modifications (VBM), specifically tattoos and piercings, in higher education. Five main research questions were addressed: (i) What are the attitudes towards professionals with VBM at Rowan University? (ii) How might the display of VBM affect Rowan University’s values and objectives? (iii) How are professionals with VBM perceived by hiring managers at Rowan? (iv) In what ways do perceptions differ across campus units at Rowan University regarding professionals with VBM? (v) What kind of environment does staff and faculty at Rowan University …

The Influence Of Math Fact Automaticity On The Algebra I End-Of-Course, Daniel Shane Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

The concentration in K-12 education on higher-order thinking has diminished the importance of math fact automaticity, which is the ability to deliver a correct answer immediately from long-term memory without impeding the working memory. This quantitative study investigated the influence of automaticity of high school students on their Missouri standardized high school math assessment, controlling for student socioeconomic status and gender. The research design utilized two timed math fact assessments to evaluate the relationship between students’ automaticity and their performance in math fact assessments. Timed tests with a rate of 80 or more correct digits with less than two mistakes …

Effectiveness Of One-To-One Device Programs On Academic Achievement For Students From Lower Socioeconomic Backgrounds, Nathaniel D. Craig

Student Theses and Dissertations

With the increased use of technology in the world today, the realm of education has not been immune. Schools around the country have implemented expensive one-to-one device programs with little research-based evidence that they are beneficial for student achievement. With an increased focus on student achievement for federal and state accountability, it is critical that school districts and stakeholders make decisions, especially financial ones, that benefit student academic performance. Critical Discourse Analysis provided a guiding framework to analyze the conflicting language that surrounded the use of devices in education. Studies argued that the use of technology and devices in education …

Classroom Management Efficacy: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Sources Of Efficacy, Melony M. Smith-Wellington

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teachers' classroom management has serious implications for teachers' well-being, job satisfaction (Gale et al., 2021), burnout (Aloe Amo & Shanaha, 2014), and student outcomes (Gage, 2019). Understanding how teachers build self-efficacy for classroom management offers insights into how to provide better classroom environments for students, increase teacher retention, and sustain teacher longevity in the profession. Teachers' classroom management self-efficacy references their beliefs in their capacity to manage the classroom environment and create spaces where students learn and flourish. This correlational survey study investigated the relationship between novice teachers' perceived classroom management efficacy and the sources of their classroom management efficacy. …

A Phenomenological Study On Job Stress And Its Perceived Effect On Elementary Teachers In Arkansas Returning To The Classroom At The Height Of The Covid-19, Cherie N. Sims

Student Theses and Dissertations

As the world experienced a worldwide pandemic, certified Arkansas elementary school teachers went back to the classroom to support students. The experience was unique and challenging because of the unexpected changes that occurred. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of the stress of Arkansas teachers as they experienced an increase in workload and changes to their sense of self-efficacy. The conceptual framework chosen for this study is the job demand-control-support model. This framework made it possible to understand the teacher’s view of the changes, such as COVID-related increased procedures and isolation due to social …

How Are Senior Citizens Capable To Cope With The World Of Digital Natives?, Hely Westerholm, Pirjo Takanen-Körperich

International Journal for Business Education

This study discusses the continuously growing threat to the senior citizens*), later called seniors, who can be isolated from the society if their digital competences and experiences are too poor in today’s digital world. It has been noted that to cope with one’s pursuits seniors need to actively construct and maintain their capabilities in ways that are flexible in the world of the digital devices, in response to the changing vicissitudes of life. Thus, the claim above illuminates the issue that the ability to learn from experiences is highly valued in the digital world.

The seniors are obliged to closely …

Analyzing The Influence Of Perceived Administrative Support On Teachers’ Affective Organizational Commitment And Job Satisfaction, Caroline R. Gilbert

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the relationships between perceived administrative support, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment as experienced by elementary teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 elementary school teachers to gain insight through their perspectives of the lived experiences of administrator support and how it influences job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Social exchange theory was selected as the guiding theory for the study, which is best applied to understand the nature of the relationships between perceived administrative support and organizational commitment. The study’s findings indicated that teachers’ perceptions of support are directly affected by their relationship with their administrators. The themes …

Examining Strategic Supports For Students With Executive Dysfunction Transitioning To Postsecondary Education: A Qualitative Study, Desiree Rutter

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to provide a voice and perspective of the lived experiences of participants with executive function deficits and develop an understanding of its effect on their transition to a four-year university. The following research question guided the study: What support do students with executive function deficits transitioning to post-secondary education need to be successful? The problem addressed in the study was determining what support students with executive function deficits need for a successful transition to postsecondary education. The phenomenological qualitative study utilized a retrospective lens to interview students who were 18 years or …

Examining The Effects Of Best Practice Designs And Professional Training Of Personalized Learning Programs On Closing Achievement Gaps, Nancy Renee Lively

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative grounded theory study explored how best practice designs for personalized learning plans could support the learning needs of students in closing achievement gaps. The traditional educational system has been found inadequate in addressing the individual educational needs of students. The Personalized Learning Continuum Framework was utilized to investigate the various design elements and effects that personalized learning programs could have in helping address student educational needs. Data was gathered via Zoom meetings and interviews with eight participants: an assistant superintendent, four principals, a program director, a teacher, and an educational consultant. The results highlighted several design elements for …

The Perceived Preparedness Of Elementary General Education Teachers Serving Students With Special Needs, Rachel Lauren Schmidt

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study was to explore the preparedness of K-5 general education teachers through their lived experiences of teaching and working alongside special education teachers in the inclusive classroom. Data were gathered from thirteen teachers across Louisiana who participated in a semi-structured interview that focused on the following three research questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of elementary general education teachers regarding preparedness in teaching students with special needs under IDEA in the general education setting? (2) How do elementary general education teachers describe their preparedness to collaborate with special education teachers through their lived …

Influence Of Organizational Constraints, Principals' Authentic Leadership, And Teachers' Coping Strategies On Teachers' Psychological Well-Being, Jennifer Renee Watkins

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortage and teacher attrition has been one of the most sustaining educational issues for policymakers and educational leaders. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of current organizational constraints and principals’ authentic leadership on teachers’ psychological well-being. Carol Ryff’s (1989) Psychological Well-Being Theory guided the current study. Ryff emphasized that optimal psychological functioning is required for the development and self-realization of an individual. The theory of psychological well-being is multidimensional and has six distinct dimensions of psychological wellness. The study examined the influence of organizational stressors and principals’ authentic leadership. It hypothesized that while organizational stressors …