Educational Leadership Commons^™

The Purpose Of And Factors In Interim Assessments In Grades 3-8, Joseph J. Mastracci

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study specifically sought to examine district test coordinators' perspectives on the purpose(s) of interim assessments within a district's assessment agenda and to identify factors the district test coordinators consider when selecting district-required interim assessments. Interim assessments are part of many local school districts' strategies to monitor and measure student academic performance before the end-of-year summative assessment. The research method for this case study incorporated a non-experimental, descriptive, mixed-methods design to identify the degree to which West Virginia's school district test coordinators perceive interim assessments to function as effective instructional, evaluative, and/or predictive tools. The study additionally investigated potential factors …

Post-Integration Effects Of Behavioral Interview Techniques In The Resident Assistant Selection Process, Karen Sommers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Resident Assistant (RA) position is the foundational role in the student affairs staffing structure. RA job description has expanded exponentially since the earliest iterations (Boone et al., 2016). The selection of RAs presents unique challenges because it is costly, requires a lot of staff, typically draws a large candidate pool, and candidates are usually professionally immature. This combination of challenges and the extensive job description requires thoughtful consideration when an institution develops their selection process. Successful RAs have strong interpersonal skills, commonly referred to as soft skills. Soft skills are commonly assessed during interviews via the use of behavioral …

Getting To The Heart Of Leading As A Cognitive Coach, Kimberly Coupe Pavlock

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

While the expectations and challenges facing K–12 educational leaders are considerable and significantly increasing, the support they receive in training, leadership development, and ongoing support has been limited in range and relevance. Although Cognitive Coaching is not a leadership development program, per se, Cognitive Coaching is a model of coaching that has been highly regarded and frequently requested by administrators, teachers, consultants, and literacy coaches in K–12 education, and the components of this coaching model can serve as a basis for leadership development. Previous research about Cognitive Coaching has highlighted the benefits of Cognitive Coaching for students, teachers, administrators, and …

Vcu Day Of Service Toolkit (Vcu-Dst), Christie Atkins, Jeff D'Ambrosio, Ann Deppmann, Keith C. Ellis, Alex Fisher, Javeria Kazi, Emilie Raymond, Lachelle Waller

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This team designed and developed a digital Day of Service Toolkit (VCU-DST) to help facilitate the planning and execution of community service projects by VCU students, faculty and staff. The VCU-DST includes guidance and relevant procedures for all the aspects of planning needed to execute both large-scale and small-scale projects, including resources for strategic partnerships, financial planning and event logistics and evaluation. The VCU-DST is designed to be utilized for day-of-service projects planned and initiated by VCU students, student leaders, and organizations at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and professional). The VCU-DST is designed to be flexible and adaptable, assisting in …

Virtual Communities Of Practice As Responses To The Turbulence Of 2020: Developing Equity And Justice Leadership, Joshua Bornstein, Elizabeth Gil

GSE Faculty Publications

Purpose – Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) supported educators during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgent movement for racial justice that arose in 2020. Four VCoPs offered a venue for practitioners and researchers to develop social capital in the face of pandemic and persistent institutional racism.

Design/methodology/approach – Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with organizers of four VCoPs and collected supporting documentation from those organizers.

Findings – VCoP organizers created opportunities to develop bridging and bonding capital of equity- and justice-focused educators.

Research limitations/implications – The analysis points toward the affordances of VCoPs in crisis response and equity leadership.

Originality/value – …

Balancing The Benefits And Risks Of Ai Large Language Models In K12 Public Schools, Jesse Senechal, Eric Ekholm, Samaher Aljudaibi, Mary Strawderman, Chris Parthemos

MERC Publications

With artificial intelligence (AI) models rapidly emerging, the potential implications for K12 education are imminent. To illuminate the potential impacts on public schools, this MERC research brief answers the following questions: 1) What is AI? What are AI large language models? How do they work?, 2) What are the implications of large language models for teaching and learning?, 3) What are the main concerns with the use of AI large language models? What are the concerns for use within public schools?, 4) What are the considerations for school district policy on AI large language models?, and 5) What are the …

Faculty Perceptions And Beliefs About Utilizing Social Media As A Teaching Tool In Higher Education: A Q Methodology Study, April Robinson

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The purpose of this study was to examine college faculty’s perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes concerning the use of social media as a teaching and learning tool, and to determine possible factors that may influence their perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes about social media use in the classroom. For this purpose, Q Methodology which is a mixed-methods approach was used to study the subjectivity of the participant’s perceptions and beliefs objectively. Q methodology systematically can reveal the shared perceptions and beliefs of college faculty. Data were analyzed from 19 teaching faculty in Long Island, New York. This study identified and examined the …

School Division Policies Related To Suicide Prevention And Response, David Naff, Fatemah A. Khawaji, Morgan Meadowes, Jill Flynn, Meg Sheriff, Lauren Powell, Lisa Gwyn, Tameka Burroughs, Jean Samuel

MERC Publications

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among youth age 10-19, and is an increasing concern in the wake of COVID-19. K-12 schools are crucial spaces for offering mental health support to students, and can implement policies to help prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This MERC research and policy brief focuses on education policy related to suicide prevention and response. It is structured to answer five questions: 1) What are recent trends in youth suicide? 2) What does research show about school division policies that are effective in suicide prevention and response? 3) What policies in Virginia and …

Pursuing Campus Collaboration That Works: Assessing The Impact Of Relational Leadership And Work Engagement On Relational Coordination Between Student Affairs And Academic Affairs In Christian Higher Education, Mark Muha

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs departments has long been a focus of organizational development but is inconsistent at best. This quantitative study of student affairs professionals (n = 256) within the Christian higher education context examined the role that experience of relational leadership and a worker’s level of work engagement have on a student affairs professional’s experience of relational coordination with the academic affairs departments within their organization. The study used three validated surveys and subsequent regression analysis to measure relational leadership, work engagement, and relational coordination to identify the predictive relationship between the variables as well …

The Impact Of Self-Care On Nursing Faculty Burnout And Worklife, Jennifer J. Harrington

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Nursing faculty are relied upon to prepare the nursing workforce of the future. The stress and pressure felt by nursing faculty impacts their ability to practice self-care, and this threatens their ability to perform optimally. Lack of self-care can lead to diminished quality of life, and ultimately burnout. Feelings of burnout and decreased quality of life, which are precursors to faculty turnover, further perpetuates the nursing shortage. A Quality Improvement (QI) Pilot Initiative, with an evidence-based design methodology was implemented within one university’s nursing department, located in a western state, to address this problem. Using a pre-post survey design and …

Leading From Between: Finding Meaning As A Third-Space Librarian, Heather Campbell

Western Libraries Publications

No abstract provided.

School Principals’ Emotionally Draining Situations And Student Discipline Issues In The Context Of Work Intensification, Katina Pollock, Ruth Nielsen, Fei Wang

Education Publications

Over the past decade, research into principals’ work intensification has revealed that principals spend significant work hours on student discipline and attendance issues, and that they report high levels of emotionally draining situations. In the current study, we examined the relationship between student discipline issues and principals’ emotionally draining situations to determine if variables related to student discipline issues affected principals’ experiences of emotionally draining situations. Using a correlational research design with hierarchical regression, we analysed data from a digital survey of school principals in Ontario, Canada. A total of 1434 surveys were included in the final analysis, with respondents …

Trauma-Sensitive School Leadership, David Tranter, Katina Pollock, Nadine Trépanier-Bisson

Education Publications

Public schools welcome and support students from all walks of life. As a result, educators in public schools are responsible for meeting multiple and divergent student needs. Events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic – such as increased anxiety, domestic abuse, neglect and school closures – as well as growing awareness of systemic societal inequities for many under-represented groups, and historical atrocities such as the discovery of unmarked student graves at residential schools, have led to an increased public awareness of student and staff trauma.

The Critical Architect: How Can Educational Leaders Use Duoethnographic Boundary-Spanning Dialogue To Build Pathways For Transformative Leadership?, Wendy Lawrence

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The U.S. schooling system has a long history of failed reforms that lead to schools consistently perpetuating society’s inequities. Rigid organizational structure, built purposely to sustain the life of the institution (as if it, and not the children, were the thing whose life mattered), ensures that even the most well-intentioned transformative school leader or community activist will struggle to create lasting change. Barriers created by organizations, laws, and culture are everywhere, acting as obstacles to discourse and progress. Any attempt to rethink schools must include the voices and ideas of marginalized students and families who are often excluded from curriculum, …

Building A Mathematics Intervention Program: One District’S Journey, Karise Mace, Karen Austin, Jodi Kirstein

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

2022-2023 Core Syllabus, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

CORE

No abstract provided.

01. Friday Funday, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

CORE

No abstract provided.

06. Design Sprint, Pt. I, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

CORE

No abstract provided.

12. Final Project, Pt. Ii, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

CORE

No abstract provided.

The Complex Art Of Wearing Multiple Hats: A Case Study Analysis Of Dual-Role Administrators In Rural School Districts, Abi Van Regenmorter

Dissertations and Theses

Both superintendents and principals create a foundation for student achievement, school culture, and the vision of a school building or district. When combined, these two, distinct administrative roles become one unique position with less time and resources to fulfill individual job responsibilities. This comparative case study was designed to foster understanding of rural dual-role administrators’ roles, responsibilities, and experiences. A dual-role administrator was defined as an individual serving as a superintendent and principal simultaneously. By interviewing and observing two practitioners and reviewing public documents, this study developed an in-depth investigation of the cases. As a result of this study, there …

From Mortars To Mortarboards: Military Veterans Transitioning From Active Duty To Higher Education, Joseph Alan Knoer

Dissertations and Theses

Following the events of September 11, 2001, Student Veterans have emerged as “one of the fastest-growing subpopulations of nontraditional college students” (Schiavone & Gentry, 2014, p. 29). Military veterans transition from active-duty service into higher education and civilian life facing a variety of new challenges and experiences they are unprepared for. The focus of this study was to understand issues veterans face when transitioning from active-duty military service into higher education. Using transition theory, zoom interviews were conducted containing a series of open-ended questions to allow the student-veterans to share their experiences and perceptions of what it means to be …

California Community College Presidents’ Leadership: Serving Latinx Students At Hispanic Serving Institutions, Christina Joy Ryan Rodríguez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how California Community College Presidents (CCCPs) make meaning of leading a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) to evaluate how CCCPs respond to Latinx student success gaps and support initiatives at their campuses. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) have been more visible within community college literature, but what remains unclear is specifically how leaders at HSIs enact their leadership and direct their efforts to serve Latinx students. This dissertation addressed the gap in MSI scholarship to explicitly focus on the role of CCCPs at HSIs and their service to Latinx students. The study applied Eddy’s Multidimensional Leadership Model …

Three Essays In Behavioral Economics, Zhou Fang

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Well-being is important because it directly impacts an individual's quality of life and overall happiness. It encompasses physical, mental, and social aspects, promoting a balanced and fulfilling existence. Optimal well-being leads to improved productivity, resilience, and positive contributions to society, creating a healthier and more harmonious world.

This dissertation delves into the realm of interdisciplinary research, bridging economics and psychology, to investigate several critical areas that affect peoples’ wellbeing. It explores gender discrimination within peer review processes, seeks advancements in the measurement of subjective well-being, and analyzes the influence of cultural factors on prosocial behaviors.

The first chapter delves into …

Training Future Hybrid Nonprofit Social Enterprise Leaders: A Research-Based Instructional Needs Analysis, Robert Woodrow Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Nonprofit social enterprises (NSEs) seek to address societal problems through for-profit ventures. Because they pursue social and commercial goals, these organizations have great potential to solve social and environmental issues more efficiently and effectively. Given their unique purpose and challenges, NSEs require a different type of leadership than traditional nonprofit organizations, a distinctive competency model with specialized social work and business management training. Research has shown, however, that finding leaders with this necessary mix for effective management poses a challenge for such organizations. This exploratory study aimed to examine the extent to which MPA (i.e., master’s degree in public administration) …

Emerging Issues And Innovations In Public Pk-12 Education: Implications For Strategic Planning, David B. Naff, Lisa Gwyn, Fred Gatty, Tara Willging, Marzia Farhana, Jill Flynn, Cammie Justus-Smith, Jean Samuel, Alexander Campbell, Ciana Cross, Jamie Nervil, Michael L. Schad

MERC Publications

This research and policy brief from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) explores emerging issues and innovations that PK-12 school districts should consider when engaging in strategic planning. It includes a discussion of peer reviewed literature related to how PK-12 school districts engage in strategic planning, a thematic analysis of strategic plans across Virginia (as well as the largest school districts in the United States), and an exploration of Google trends related to prominent topics in PK-12 education over the previous five years. It explores the following questions: 1) How do PK-12 school systems engage in strategic planning?, 2) What …

The Bridge Builder: Nadia Lopez, Elise Langan

Publications and Research

Often unrecognized for their accomplishments, women of color in educational leadership positions are change agents whose practices must be analyzed in order to transform education at all levels. Dr. Nadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy (MHBA) Middle School in Brownsville, New York City—one of the poorest congressional districts in the United States. Due to Dr. Lopez’s leadership, MHBA has a ninety-eight percent graduation rate and students gain admittance to some of the most academically competitive high schools in New York City. This article examines the leadership role and work of Dr. Lopez, and how she …

Vcu Job Shadowing, Austin Adam, Nora Bloch, Sue Kurgatt, Ezrah Medina, Erin Pacelli, Rebecca Segal, Stephanie Thulin

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Job shadowing is an initiative aimed at bolstering students' career preparedness through an immersive exploration of the multifaceted landscape of career opportunities within higher education. By facilitating these experiential learning opportunities, this program endeavors to achieve a twofold objective. Firstly, it seeks to enhance the student experience at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) by cultivating meaningful interactions between students and VCU's typically non-student-facing staff and faculty members. Secondly, by facilitating direct engagement with our students, it is our aspiration that every member of the VCU community, regardless of their traditional roles, will have the opportunity to support our students' personal and …

A Critical Race Critique Of Campus Climate And Belonging For First-Generation Students Of Color At Historically Black Colleges & Predominately White Institutions, Samantha Gale Aaron

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to assess whether and how higher education campus climate, policy, and practice influence belonging for first-generation students of color. Through the lens of critical race theory, the study further juxtaposes those experiences through the testimony of students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Grounded theory informed my qualitative survey and interview tools through which I examined belonging through three standards: social, which explored belonging through peers, groups, and the environment; personal, which explored belonging through the respondent’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions; and institutional, which explored belonging through practice, …

Innovating Education Through Design Thinking: A Case Study Of Problem-Solving Educators, Matthew Pimental

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study aimed to identify methodologies and practices that enable innovation to thrive in the public education system. Design thinking (DT) was selected for examination given its demonstrated ability to: (a) make people and teams more innovative , (b) change institutional cultures to be more creative and solution-oriented, and (c) create conditions necessary for innovation to thrive within established organizational structures. This intrinsic case study explored the experiences of a group of educators who used design thinking to innovate solutions to the intractable problems they faced. Participants in this study were teachers and administrators who received training in DT, and …

Examination Of Intramural Sport Officials’ Training, Development And Performance: A Mixed Methods Study, Daniel Comas

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Sports officials play a significant role in organized sports, yet academic research surrounding their training, development, and performance is minimal. Across the nation, athletes are attempting to safely resume play after the COVID-19 pandemic, and many sports officials have decided that they will not return to their respective fields or courts. More robust training and development within intramural sports programs on college campuses could be the solution to recruiting and retaining sports officials.

This mixed methods study examined intramural sports officials’ training, development, and performance within a collegiate intramural sports department. This study utilized a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed methods …