A Phenomenological Study Exploring Administrators’ Experiences Supporting Career And Technical Education Teacher Self-Efficacy, Korbin T. Shoemaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the support of career and technical education teacher self-efficacy development for secondary public-school administrative leaders at West Central Maryland school districts. The theory guiding this study was behavioral leadership theory, as it provided a lens for understanding how leaders’ observable actions and interactions intentionally influence teachers’ confidence and professional growth. The central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of secondary public school administrative leaders as they support the development of self-efficacy in CTE teachers? This qualitative study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological design informed by van …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Elementary And Middle School Teachers’ Experience With Curriculum Development And Classroom Instruction While Being Mentored Through The First Year Of Teaching In A Rural Title I Public School Setting, Faith L. Peterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experience of teacher mentorship programs for new teachers in a Title I public school setting. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s (1978) theory on the sociocultural and zone of proximal development theories as they relate to how learning is a social process where individual skills and learning take place through social interaction. The central research questions were: How do new teachers describe their first years of teaching while being mentored? This was a transcendental phenomenological study as the focus will be on the lived experiences of elementary and …

Passing The Mantle: An Explanatory Sequential Study Of Mentoring And Succession In Ministry, Carol Anne Hankinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project developed an eight-week mentorship framework to address leadership succession in collaborative organizations. According to the Barna Group (2023), the aging of the American clergy has reached crisis levels for the Church. Christian institutions of worship must adopt a plan of action to address this concern. Scripturally and historically, mentorship has been God's plan for passing the mantle from senior to junior leaders (Akoto, 2024). Burns's (1978) theory of transformational leadership advocates relational mentorship to advance an organization's mission and purpose. To this end, the researcher explored an intentional mentorship program with 28 participants. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design …

The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Teachers In Supporting Literacy Growth Among Students In Secondary School: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Emanuel Arboleda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of teachers in supporting literacy among secondary students at a suburban secondary school in Connecticut. The lived experiences of literacy limitations among students were generally defined as a lack of literacy resources or inconsistent literacy support across courses and grade levels. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided this study, particularly regarding the cognitive, behavioral, and environmental experiences of teachers and their students’ literacy limitations. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of secondary teachers in supporting literacy growth among students? This transcendental phenomenological study on literacy …

Differences In Private School Leadership Styles Based On North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Participation Status And Geographic Setting: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tahira Copland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study examined whether leadership style differs between private school leaders of North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship participating schools and nonparticipating schools in urban and rural geographic settings. This study is important because the rapid expansion of school voucher programs has implications for the accessibility and effectiveness of private schools now serving larger numbers of recipients. This study adds to the literature on the behaviors of private school leaders in the context of school vouchers in distinct settings. The study comprised a convenience sample of 89 North Carolina private school leaders recruited statewide who were at least 18 years …

Secondary English Teachers' Experiences Of Supporting Literacy Using Books That Support Diversity And Inclusion: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Tremonisha L. Putros

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the use of supporting BIPOC students’ literacy with books that support diversity and inclusion for secondary English teachers in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory, as it stresses personal student engagement in individual learning tasks. The Central Research Question asks: What are the lived experiences of secondary English teachers who support BIPOC students’ literacy with books that support diversity and inclusion by teaching a novel with a BIPOC protagonist in a predominantly BIPOC class? Employing a qualitative methodology, this hermeneutic phenomenology examined the …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Transition Assistance Program Counselors After Their Related Training And The Challenges Of Transitioning Service Members From The Military, Paul Emmanuel Joseph Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to address gaps in the education and training provided to Transition Assistance Program (TAP) counselors at Crestview military base. A phenomenological research approach was used to discover themes and experiences shared amongst said counselors. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of transition assistance counselors in supporting service members’ transitions to civilian life? This study was conducted at a South-Central United States military installation that was one of the largest and most diverse military bases in the U.S. The Schlossberg transition model guided the research and included dimensions such as …

The Impact Of Teaching Evolution In Central Arkansas: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Method Study, Danya L. Utley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods research was to assess the ethical implications that central Arkansas Christian science teachers faced when evolutionary theory was taught without critical examination. This study first collected data in a quantitative form to identify public high schools in Central Arkansas that taught evolutionary theory without presenting opposing views. This study then collected data in the qualitative form regarding Christian science teachers’ perceptions of the school system's alternative views contrary to evolution. The data was then analyzed to determine if teaching evolution without alternative views in Arkansas public high schools was considered either ethical or unethical. The …

The Perceptions Of Leadership Styles On Educator Job Satisfaction Leading To Retention In Rural Title I Elementary Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Savannah Spotz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the administration leadership style on job satisfaction retention for elementary educators at rural Title I elementary institutions in Delaware. The problem was that elementary teachers have limited job satisfaction retention influenced by administrator leadership style. This study was guided by Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory. The study applied a purposive sampling technique to recruit 10 elementary educators of any race, gender, and ethnicity who have worked for two or more years at a rural Title I institution in a Northern state. Individual semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, along with long-answer …

The Lived Experiences Of Special Education Teachers Regarding The Influence Of Transformational Leadership: A Phenomenological Study, Jaleesa Glover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of school leadership among special education teachers in inner-city charter schools in the United States. At this stage in the research, the lived experience of school leadership support is generally defined as how special educators perceived, interpreted, and responded to the leadership behaviors of their school administrators within their professional roles. The theory guiding this study was Burns’ transformational leadership theory. The central research question addressed in this study was: What are the lived experiences of special education teachers in inner-city schools with school leadership support? Data …

The Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Of Certified Anduncertified Medical Assistants In Medical Clinics: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology Study, Shannon Waller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological study was to explore how supervising clinicians, including medical doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants in healthcare clinics in the United States. The problem was that it was unknown how supervising clinicians described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants. Becker’s human capital theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Participants were recruited through professional social media platforms and clinician-specific online communities. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, a focus group, andwritten responses to a writing …

Exploring How School Leaders Support The Academic Resilience Of Foster Youth: A Case Study, Melissa Gasser Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the resilience of foster care students in Oklahoma public schools. The study was guided by Garmezy’s resilience theory, which highlights the critical role of resilience in helping children recover from past trauma and thrive in academic settings. The central research question was: How do school leaders nurture academic resilience in foster children? This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, physical artifacts, and journal prompts. The data first underwent analysis through open coding, followed by a round of axial coding and finally selective coding. Informed …

Building Sustainable Ministry Through Leadership Development: Evaluating A Biblically Grounded Leadership Model, Christopher David Brisco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many churches face declining participation, leadership fatigue, and inadequate succession planning, often due to a lack of intentional, structured leadership development systems. Although research indicates that mentoring, leadership training, and supervised ministry experiences strengthen leadership capacity and organizational sustainability, many congregations struggle to implement leadership development models that effectively integrate biblical principles with strategic organizational practices. This researcher examined the implementation and effectiveness of a biblically grounded leadership development model within The Church of the Redeemed of the Lord in Baltimore, Maryland, a multigenerational church with diverse ministry departments that provided an appropriate context for evaluating intentional strategic leadership development. …

The Lived Experiences Of U.S. Army Leaders Transitioning To Civilian Educational Leadership Roles: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Emily M. Cassner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of transitioning into civilian educational leadership roles for U.S. Army leaders at educational institutions throughout the Southwestern and Eastern United States. Guided by Goleman’s emotional intelligence theory, this study addressed the lack of transition mentorship by examining the lived experiences, motivations, transition challenges, and existing support programs for these leaders. Utilizing a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, and artifacts. The findings revealed four central themes: identity reconstruction and loss of purpose, leadership style adaptation, emotional intelligence as a developed competency, …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Single-Parent Students Who Attend Higher Education Institutions With Support Services Tailored To Their Demographic, Autumn Inteso

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences utilizing parenting student support programs for single-parent students at higher education institutions in the United States. At this stage in the research, the lived experiences of utilizing parenting programs were generally defined as those students who had utilized programs or interventions that had been created or employed to directly or indirectly address the challenges faced by single-parent students while pursuing their advanced education. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The study sought to answer the question: What are the lived experiences of single-parent …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Developmental Education Courses On College Persistence In Higher Education Among First-Year College Students, Tosha J. Mobley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine differences in institutional integration scores among first-year college students based on enrollment status and gender assigned at birth at a public southern university. This study was important because previous reform efforts intended to improve college persistence and graduation rates have not eliminated the need for developmental education or learning support courses within higher education. The independent variables included enrollment status and gender assigned at birth. Institutional integration was measured using the Institutional Integration Scale–Revised (IIS-R). The sample was composed of 107 first-year college students enrolled in developmental (support) and traditional …

2026-08-20 Pac-26 Revision Draft, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A revision draft of PAc-26 submitted for review by the Faculty Senate on August 20, 2026.

2026-08-20 Faculty Regent's Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A report submitted by the Faculty Senate Regent to the Faculty Senate on August 20, 2026.

2026-08-20 Faculty Senate Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from April 26, 2026.

Finding God In All Things: A Course On Theology Of Sport At A Jesuit High School, Craig M. Smith

Journal of Catholic Education

This article examines the development, structure, and impact of a senior elective course on the Theology of Sport at an all-boys Jesuit Catholic high school in the east coast of the United States. Grounded in Ignatian pedagogy and the Catholic theological tradition, the course invites students to reflect critically on their lived experiences in sport through the lenses of play, spirituality, and Church teaching Drawing on sources such as Jürgen Moltmann’s Theology of Play, papal and Vatican statements on sport, and contemporary theological reflections on athletic experience, the course challenges the tendency to silo athletics from other dimensions of student …

Trauma-Informed Coaching: An Application Of Catholic Social Teaching To Formation And Healing Through Sport, Kristin K. Sheehan, Peter Piscitello, Elaine Cassidy

Journal of Catholic Education

Mission-driven athletic programs aim to form the whole athlete—physically, emotionally, socially, morally, and spiritually. A critical component of this mission is equipping coaches to serve as ministers of the Church while embracing trauma-informed practices. This paper introduces the rationale, process, and techniques for trauma-informed coaching as a research-based approach to supporting athlete mental health. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, this framework emphasizes community, participation, and the dignity of the human person, particularly care for the vulnerable. Drawing on neuroscientific and psychological research on trauma alongside Church documents and papal pronouncements, the paper demonstrates how trauma-informed coaching fosters healing and resilience …

Problematika Learning Loss Pada Kompetensi Pelayanan Dan Kesiapan Kerja Lulusan Smk Perhotelan: Studi Kasus Di Smkn 1 Jonggat, Heny Afrianti, Supiati Warni, Zulkarnain Zulkarnain, Endang Supiyatun, Irya Isnawati, Basilius Redan Werang

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Learning loss in vocational education is associated not only with reduced mastery of subject matter but also with limited practical experience required to develop occupational skills. This study aimed to analyze the forms of learning loss in hospitality education, learning conditions associated with competency gaps, and their implications for practical service skills at SMKN 1 Jonggat. A qualitative case study design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentation involving five purposively selected informants comprising teachers, graduates, and industry representatives. The data were analyzed thematically through coding, category development, theme generation, and interpretation. The findings indicate that …

Political Linguistics And Epistemic Agency: Universal Write Publications And The Defense Of Global Black Knowledge, Ayo Sekai

Wagadu: A Journal of Transnational Women's & Gender Studies

As linguistic erasure intensifies across the African world, the preservation of African-centered knowledge systems has become both a scholarly and political imperative. This article examines the relationship between linguistic imperialism, epistemic agency, and scholarly sovereignty through the intellectual trajectory of Dr. Ayo Sekai, political linguist and founder of Universal Write Publications (UWP), a Black woman–owned academic press dedicated to culturally grounded scholarship. Expanding traditional understandings of linguistic imperialism, Dr. Sekai advances political linguistics beyond structural language dominance to examine who holds linguistic power and how that power operates through dog whistle politics, signaling terms, and policy language code—discursive patterns embedded …

Examining The Impact Of Social-Emotional Learning On Academic Achievement In African American Middle School Girls, Rebekah Solomon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Examining the Impact of Social-Emotional Learning on Academic Achievement in African American Middle School Girls

Rebekah Solomon Ed.S

African American girls enrolled in middle school today face an education system that is impacted by overlapping factors such as their race, sex, teacher discipline systems, and insufficient encouragement of Black culture (Crenshaw, Ocen, & Nanda, 2015; Couvson, 2016). While numerous studies show that implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can increase academic performance and support emotional self-regulation, much of the research does not examine data from subgroups of learners, such as African American females. There is also considerable evidence to support that …

Understanding Superintendent Retention In Ohio Public School Districts: Motivational Influences On Superintendents' Decisions To Remain Or Depart., Thomas P. Perkins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Superintendent turnover continues to challenge school districts across the United States.  Frequent leadership changes can disrupt district initiatives, create uncertainty within organizations, and affect long-term improvement efforts.  While previous research has focused primarily on external conditions associated with superintendent turnover, less attention has been given to the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influencing superintendent retention.

The purpose of this study was to examine how intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influence Ohio public school superintendents’ decisions to remain in or leave their current positions.  Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory and Self-Determination Theory, the study explored the relationship between internal factors …

Exploring Special Education Teacher Perceptions Regarding Their Role In Promoting Self-Regulation Among K-8th Grade Students, Emily Keyes

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Existing research explores self-regulation in the field of special education, however there has yet to be a body of research that relates specifically to special education teachers’ perceptions of their role in fostering self-regulating students in grades K-8. This narrative qualitative study utilized interviews and observations to extract data from each of the 15 total participants across 9 suburban New Jersey public school districts. Common perceptions of participants included a lack of, or unclear, district vision regarding self-regulation, as well as an absence of explicit professional development. The key findings in this study revealed that self-regulation skills are fostered by …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Black Students In Criminal Justice Programs And Its Implications On Social Justice, Demetrius C. Dacres

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the experiences of Black students who graduated with degrees in criminal justice within the last five years, as well as professors serving criminal justice programs. In this study, Black students are defined as those who identify as Black or African American, and the research focused on a criminal justice higher education institution’s educational program in the Northeast. This qualitative phenomenological study drew on Lent’s Social Cognitive Career Theory and Tinto’s Student Integration Model to investigate how Black students experienced criminal justice programs and the resources and strategies they utilized to navigate and adapt. The study addressed a …

Fellowship Graduates’ Perceptions Of The Professional Competencies Developed In A Local Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Program In The Southern United States, Margaret Elaine Lonnemann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) fellowship programs focus on improving clinical skills and professional development in physical therapy. OMPT fellowship programs are 1–3-year postprofessional subspecialty training programs in manual physical therapy requiring prior orthopedic clinical experience. The problem that was addressed in this study is that professional competencies are not adequately assessed after program completion of an OMPT fellowship in the Southern United States. Grounded in Dreyfus’s skill acquisition model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore OMPT fellowship graduates’ perceptions of the professional competencies developed and recommendations for assessing these competencies in future graduates. Data were …

Kindergarten Classroom Educators’ Perceptions Of Social Emotional Learning Implementation, Thomasina A. Millner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that research on social emotional learning (SEL) has largely focused on student outcomes, program effectiveness, and implementation practices, but limited research has examined kindergarten classroom educators’ perceptions of implementing SEL. Grounded in the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework, the purpose of this study was to explore kindergarten classroom educators’ perceptions of SEL implementation. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with nine kindergarten educators who had at least 1 year experience implementing SEL were conducted. Through thematic data analysis the following five themes emerged: Educators noted (1) that SEL is …

Increasing Internal Teacher Capacity Through Instructional Support And Professional Growth, Kelly Compher

Masters Projects

The state of Michigan has long invested in early literacy by supporting K-2 teachers in professional learning and early literacy coaching. This project focuses on the need to develop upper elementary teachers in grades three through five on their knowledge of the science of reading and foundational skills. Providing professional learning on the science of reading will increase knowledge and self-efficacy, which upper elementary teachers need in order to implement a Tier 1 curriculum as mandated by PA 146 of 2024. This project outlines a series of three professional development sessions that help build content knowledge around the science of …