Educational Leadership Commons^™

Expectations For Success Impact On Achievement, Gregory Fields

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS IMPACT ON ACHIEVEMENTABSTRACT The intransigence of the achievement gaps in schools in this nation and in the school districts in which I served as a building administrator or district support staff member was the motivation for conducting this examination of the role of expectations for success relative to achievement on assessments. This study investigated the possible associations of how different categories of expectations for success, racial demographics, and school contexts may provide insight into persistence of racially identified achievement gaps and in confounding efforts to narrow those gaps. In addition, this study differed from numerous studies, some …

Building And Sustaining Trust During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons In P-12 Educational Leadership, C. Fred Engelhardt Jr.

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Trust has been called the “lubricant for social and interpersonal interactions” and “vital for individuals working together to create effective systems.” Organizations were challenged with considering how to adapt and innovate practices during COVID-19 in order to achieve their purpose and mission, continue their effectiveness towards that end, all while being cognizant of the health and safety of their members. Educational institutions were concurrently required to adopt remote instructional practices, adhere to strict safety and health measures, consider the effects of social-emotional health, while encouraging the ongoing learning of students. Courageous building principals and district leaders encouraged new practices, supported …

Standards, Evaluations, And Preparations: A Case Study Of The Perceptions Of Principal Pedagogy And Its Effectiveness In Developing Leaders In South Carolina, Melanie Louise Sigmon-Vaughn

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of new principals regarding their ability to fulfill the nine requirements of the South Carolina Program for Assisting, Evaluating, and Developing Principal Performance. The findings revealed that novice administrators believed they were effective at implementing the nine principles and that a district program for new principals may assist them. Although novice principals were concerned about effective administration and school-community interactions, they felt most prepared in the areas of vision and interpersonal skills. In spite of their conviction that their principal preparation programs were beneficial, the study's novice principals emphasized an area of need …

Reflective Practice Using Video-Recorded Classroom Observations, Angela Greer

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was prompted by a desire to understand the relationship between reflective practice using classroom instructional video observations and teacher perception of effectiveness. This was a mixed methods study in which quantitative data were collected from a pre- and post-survey using a Likert scale and qualitative data from weekly pre- and post-reflection questions and a final reflection question. This study involved data collection from 19 volunteer teachers from a rural middle school serving students in Grades 6-8. Effective teachers are those who use self-reflection to deepen their understanding of how their instructional practices affect student learning, make improvements to …

Changing Adult Behaviors: Examining The Factors Of Change That Facilitate The Mtss Implementation Framework In A Small Rural School District, Briana Whitaker

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study sought to identify the incorporation of support for implementing evidence-based instructional practices within an MTSS framework among teachers and the impact on student growth outcomes in three K-2 schools. The study also determined teacher perceptions regarding how support in adult behavior change, which is the theoretical framework of the study, impacted a shift in their instructional practices utilizing a qualitative survey, one-on-one interviews, and two independent samples t tests. Participants in the study expressed that school climate, principal instructional leadership, purposeful PLCs, and their attitudes about new behaviors best supported them in adopting innovative instructional reading …

The Agile College: How Institutions Successfully Navigate Demographic Changes, Andrew J. Cornelius

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

Andrew J. Cornelius reviews The Agile College: How Institutions Successfully Navigate Demographic Changes by Nathan D. Grawe, published by John Hopkins University Press, 2021.

Growth: 22 (2023)

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

The full issue of the twenty-second edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.

The Lived Religious Experience Of Black Students At A Southeastern Cccu Institution, Harold Goss

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

The overall purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the religious experiences of Black students at a Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) institution. The researcher interviewed 22 participants at a private Christian university and analyzed the data using in vivo coding, constant comparison, and thematic analysis. Findings suggest formal religious activities that are required and presumed by the institution to be nurturing can have the opposite effect for some Black students at the institution. The researcher identified three major themes regarding how Black students perceive and experience religious activity. The themes provide helpful insight regarding participants’ …

Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church, And What The Bible Has To Say, Kaleigh Richardson

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

Kaleigh Richardson reviews Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle, published by David C. Cook, 2021.

Helpful Entry Level Skills Checklist, Beth S. Rous

Educational Leadership Studies Faculty Publications

The Helpful Entry Level Skills Checklist is a practice-oriented tool designed to support early childhood transition planning by helping families, teachers, and program staff identify skills that may assist children as they enter or move across early childhood classroom settings. The checklist organizes entry-level skills across five domains: classroom rules, work skills, communication skills, social/behavioral skills, and self-management skills. The tool allows users to document whether a child demonstrates selected skills, identify target skills for instruction or support, and add comments across multiple dates. This fourth edition updates and preserves a resource originally developed through Project STEPS and subsequent outreach …

Under God: Political Views And Experiences Among Young Adults Attending An Evangelical College, Olga Dietlin, Amy Sparks, Hannah Bayne

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

While polarization has increased the saliency of political values, political meaning-making has been scarcely addressed in higher education literature and training. Additionally, even though the political orientation of evangelicals has been back in the spotlight since the 2016 presidential campaign, little research has been done to explore the interplay of faith commitments and political values among students at an evangelical college. This study examined religiosity, ideology, political attitudes, the salience of political identity, and experience with political differences among students at an evangelical Christian liberal arts institution (n = 223). Descriptive data confirmed the salience of religious belief and practice …

Relationship As Pedagogy: Empowering Faculty To Support Student Mental Health, Katie Breitigan

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

This study sought to explore the impact of college student mental health on faculty pedagogy. Using a grounded theory qualitative research methodology, the researcher interviewed 13 faculty participants about their experience of college student mental health in the classroom. A review of the literature on theological anthropology, trauma, and Christian higher education provided a framework for the findings of this study to be discussed. Findings revealed four main themes influencing faculty pedagogy which included: the value of relationships for promoting student well-being; lowered engagement by students experiencing mental health challenges; the increased need for mental health-related accommodations; and the impact …

Cultivating The Self-Awareness Of Global Students: The Role Of Communities Of Practice, Stephanie Calley

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

Research on the impact of leadership education programs on undergraduate students has demonstrated that cultivating self-awareness is foundational to developing other leadership capabilities. Yet, scant research has been undertaken to understand the impact of leadership education on global students. For the sake of this research, global students include any undergraduate student who had spent a significant portion of their development years outside the country of higher education. As such, global students include international students as well as other globally mobile students such as children of international military personnel, businesspeople, and religious workers. This qualitative research sought to understand how global …

A Mixed Methods Inquiry Into The Decision-Making Of California’S Principals During Local Control, Adrienne Ortega-Magallanes

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The 2013 implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control Accountability Plan in California granted school districts the opportunity to create their own expense plans based on student needs, with the aim of returning decision-making to those closest to students. Within subsidiarity is the belief that those at the least centralized decision-making level should have the dignity and freedom to decisions that affect the problem at its source, in this case, how to improve student achievement. It is argued here that principals, who have a strong indirect link to student achievement, are the least centralized. To explore the …

The Implementation And Impact Of The Teacher Evaluation Process On Special Educator Professional Growth In A Public Middle School, Michael L. Lefko

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation examined teacher and administrator perceptions regarding fidelity of implementation of components of the teacher evaluation program with middle school special education teachers. These components include pre-conferences, observations, and post-conferences; summary evaluations; and professional development plans. Incorporating evidence from qualitative interviews with school-based administrators, qualitative focus groups with special education teachers, and a quantitative survey with special education teachers, this study found that fidelity of implementation of the components of teacher evaluation is impacted by evaluator capacity. Capacity is defined as both, time to engage in the components of teacher evaluation and professional knowledge of special …

Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Students: Evaluating Public High School Principal Preparedness And Perceptions, Brian C. Johnson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was threefold: first, to measure high school principal preparedness to meet the increased mental health needs of students; second, to determine principal perceptions of mental health frameworks and needs; and third, to assist with creating a better understanding of what high school principals may need to meet the mental health concerns of their students. The study was completed using a survey titled Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Students: High School Principal Survey. The survey was designed from the Project Cal-Well Statewide Principals Survey Template utilized in California. Additional survey questions were created to …

Parental Engagement And Equitable Family Partnerships: Perspectives From Internal And External Stakeholders, Alexine Thomas-Brown

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This research study explored the critical topic of parental engagement and equitable family partnerships. The study aimed to provide holistic insight by uncovering internal and external stakeholders' combined perceptions regarding equitable parental engagement to establish a protocol for individualized support. Purposeful sampling was used to select the study’s participants. Participants were categorized into two groups: internal stakeholders, who included teachers, social workers, and administrators; and external stakeholders, who included parents and guardians. Open-ended surveys and interviews were used to collect insight from internal and external stakeholders. The data were analyzed thematically and interpreted against Epstein et al.’s (2019) and Darling-Hammond’s …

A Contextual Analysis Of The Self-Care Practices Of School Principals In A Rural District, Jennifer R. Croymans

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate current self-care practices used by school principals and the correlation between school principal self-care practices and their alignment with the seven pillars of self-care. This study sought to bring awareness as to the barriers and motivations of current school principals and the impact of those barriers and motivations on effective implementation of principal self-care. In addition, this study provides the district of study and other rural school districts with potential recommendations in order to support current school principals in the proper implementation of self-care practices. A mixed methods approach was used to …

The Essentials For Leaders To Motivate Volunteers And Workers, Angelique Burris

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Most organizations were created because there was a need for a service, product, or mission that would assist others in need. When considering what compels volunteers and workers to be consistent in organizations, motivation is imperative. The behavior of leadership, especially the ability to influence, has affected the volunteers and workers of the company in a positive or negative way. Leaders have played a chief role in drawing and retaining workers and volunteers. The purpose of this study was to show that our motivations are already inside of us, and this was key for leaders to realize the importance of …

Perspectives Of African American Male School Administrators On The Recruitment And Retention Of African American Male Teachers, Maurice Thomas

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study utilized one-on-one interviews to examine the lived experience of Black males who have successfully joined the teaching profession and moved into school administration. Their experiences shed light on factors that help attract African American males to the profession and continue to be educators. This study's research is based on Herzberg et al.'s (1959) motivation-hygiene theory. This theory addresses which factors impact job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Participants in the study expressed that they are motivated by their desire to impact students and make a difference. They emphasized the importance of representation and shared that relationships with school and …

Preparing For The Future: A Collaborative Design For High-Quality Career And Technical Education Programming, Shannon Rodriguez

Education Theses and Dissertations

Educators in public education as faced with preparing students for college and career after high school graduation. The collaborative efforts of Career and Technical Education programming allows for the development of a high-quality program through exploring non-traditional teacher use goal setting and pedagogy provide a foundation of success for students.

Insider Tips For Applying To Graduate Programs, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

As I approach my 20th year as a school psychology faculty member (12 as a program coordinator), I have reviewed thousands of applications and interviewed hundreds of prospective students. It is truly a joy to meet people at interviews who will go on to excel as school psychologists. I also have met my fair share of applicants who were clearly unprepared. This piece provides some insider information on how prospective students can strengthen their applications and interviews.

Crisis Leadership: Voices From The Field, Corinne Brion

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Care Coordination For Youth With Tbi: Moving Forward To Provide Better Care, Jennifer P. Lundine, Erika Hagen, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Care coordination aligns services and optimizes outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet numerous obstacles can impede effective care coordination following a TBI.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is to identify barriers and facilitators to care coordination from the perspective of individuals who care for young people impacted by TBI.

METHODS: Twenty-one care providers participated in semi-structured interviews to gather their perspectives on systems of care coordination for youth with TBI and potential areas for improvement. Using reflexive thematic analysis, researchers identified key themes across interviews.

RESULTS: Three themes were identified: 1) gaps in knowledge; 2) …

Leadership Efficacy: A Study Of The Relationship Between Leadership Efficacy, Teacher Perception And Teacher Retention, Rachel Hazel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Leadership self-efficacy is an important quality for school principals. In his work, Hattie has stated, "How we think about the impact of what we do is more important than focusing on what we do (Hattie, 2020)." Leadership efficacy, theories of action, and how leaders ensure their actions are aligned with their goals is more important than ever as educators face challenges with teacher shortages and leading in a tumultuous time. Teacher recruitment and retention is a worldwide problem. Teachers are leaving the field. While teachers do not have to validate the beliefs of their leaders, they must carry out the …

Dismantling The Master's House: A Decolonial Blueprint For Internationalization Of Higher Education, Bhavika Sicka, Minghui Hou

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

While critical scholars have attempted to decenter internationalization, limited research has aimed to understand internationalization efforts in the context of the socio-historical particularities of the postcolonial condition. This paper takes a decolonial perspective in the study of internationalization, in light of the Eurocentric tendencies of modernity, whose major manifestation in higher education is neoliberal globalization. We unpack internationalization in the U.S. and examine how it is embedded in and reproduces neoliberalism, racism, and colonialism. Since decolonization is not merely deconstructive but also regenerative, we reconceive what it means to be international and recommend how internationalization can be deployed as a …

[Review Of The Book Neo-Nationalism And Universities: Populists, Autocrats, And The Future Of Higher Education, By J.A. Douglas], Bhavika Sicka

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Neo-nationalism and Universities, a collection of essays edited by John Aubrey Douglass, explores the effects of the global phenomenon of neo-nationalism on the behaviors, roles, and values of major universities. The book's contributing authors, diverse and seasoned voices in higher education, illustrate how nationalisms of the past have taken on new configurations, ranging from nascent populism to autocratic regimes, across contexts such as the U.S., UK., Hungary, Poland, Turkey, China, Russia, and Brazil. Through grounded national and pan-national examinations, the chapters shed light on how neo-nationalist parties and leaders have domesticated universities, weaponized science, and curtailed dissent to service …

"We Collect Tons Of Data... We Report What We Think Our Community Cares The Most About... We Learn So Much From It:" School Librarians' Evidence Collection And Sharing Practices, Jennifer Moore, Maria Cahill, Jeffrey Discala, Wanyi Wang

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Evidence-based practice (EBP) offers school librarians a systematic process for developing, assessing, and revising their school library programs. Two of the seven steps in this process involve collecting and sharing meaningful evidence with appropriate stakeholders, often for advocacy purposes, strategically selecting communication channels and methods aligned with target audiences. Through a survey collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, 161 school librarians in Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas shared their experiences with evidence-based practice. The study reported here focuses on school librarians’ evidence collection and sharing practices. Findings indicate school librarians collect easily obtainable data and share evidence of practice widely; however, …

Exploring The College Enrollment Of Students From Rural Areas: Considerations For Scholarly Practitioners, Elise J. Cain, Samantha Class

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

Rural students graduate high school at a rate comparable to their urban and suburban peers; however, people from rural areas attend college at the lowest rate. Due to this discrepancy and the ever-growing importance of postsecondary education, this article summarizes and synthesizes works on the college enrollment of students from rural areas. The article begins with background information on the benefits of postsecondary education, definitions of rurality, the educational attainment of rural people, as well as institutional type and attendance patterns of rural students. Next, using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development as a guiding framework, literature about the individual, …

A Statewide Network’S Impact On School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy For Transformational School Change, Karen Perry

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

Changing educational practice is widely understood to be a challenging endeavor, even for experienced school leaders. Much of the research on school networks focuses on building teacher capacity for improving student performance, but less evidence exists relating to increasing school leaders’ self-efficacy, specifically for the purpose of transformational school change. Building on the body of research of school networks and leaders’ self-efficacy, this mixed methods participatory action research study investigates how a network, facilitated by university faculty, impacts the leadership self-efficacy of high school principals for the purpose of leading transformational school change. Self- efficacy is both malleable and essential …