Educational Leadership Commons^™

Reducing High School Dropout: An Instrumental Case Study Of Successful High School Dropout Prevention, Sasha Davila Crocker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to understand the dramatic reduction in dropouts in a rural high school in central North Carolina. Dramatic reduction in dropouts is generally defined by having reduced the school’s dropout rate by at least 50% in less than three years. The theories guiding this study were social learning theory and the stage theory of organizational change. The research questions were as follows: (1) How did the high school drastically reduce the dropout rate? (2) What was the role of each key informant in reducing the dropout rate? The data collection processes included individual …

The Relationship Between Years Of Homeschool And Self-Esteem Of Freshmen College Students, Sheryl Welfel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the number of homeschooled students choosing to attend college is increasing, there continues to be a need to identify potential self-esteem issues in homeschooled freshmen college students (Smith, 2013). This study investigated if years of homeschool had a relational effect on self-esteem in homeschooled college freshmen students attending a college campus. In this quantitative study, the sample population was comprised of freshmen college students between the ages of 18 and 22, have been homeschooled for at least one year, and were currently attending a college campus with under thirty hours of college credit. Participants received the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale …

A Phenomenological Study Of Graduated Nursing Student Athletes' Experiences Balancing Academics And Athletics, Robert E. Steed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of eleven graduated nursing student athletes who completed traditional, four-year nursing programs while concurrently finishing four years of athletic eligibility in their respective sport at three private, Christian, Midwest universities and across three different competitive collegiate athletic divisions. The theories guiding this study are Tinto’s Theory of Individual Departure from Institutions of Higher Learning, Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement, and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress Response, as they relate to student athletes’ persistence to graduation and to nursing students who reportedly experience higher levels of …

A Correlational Study Of The Demographic And Job Factors Related To Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among School Psychologists, Carla Donahue

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School psychologists are uniquely trained to provide a variety of services within a school setting. Because of the diversity in job responsibilities and the growing expectations of school psychologists across different settings, low rates of job satisfaction and high rates of burnout are contributing to school psychologists leaving the profession, and fewer students enrolling in school psychology programs. The shortage of school psychologists exacerbates the problems, with low job satisfaction and high rates of burnout as practicing school psychologists often serve more students and schools than is recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. Studies of job satisfaction and …

Professional Learning Communities And Relational Trust: A Correlational Study, Theresa Ann Pedersen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Professional Learning Communities (PLC) are considered best practice, but additional research was needed to examine the relationships necessary to build and sustain PLCs. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine if there is a relationship between the perceptions educators have about their PLC and the level of relational trust among its members. Scores for the analysis came from two surveys, The Professional Learning Community Assessment-Revised and The Omnibus T-Scale (Hoy & Tschannen-Moran, 2003). The sample consisted of 104 educators in 3 school districts in Iowa, Illinois, and New York; each was awarded model PLC distinction. Each teacher completed …

Global Citizenship Education: Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Global Education, Shannon M. Wasilewski

All Theses And Dissertations

As technology has improved communication and access to information around the world, it has become necessary for the purpose and goals of the American educational system to evolve. A focus on developing global citizens who can demonstrate 21st century skills will help educators who want to prepare their students to enter the world. This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of current secondary educators who make global connections in their classrooms so that it can provide practical support to educators looking to begin making or improve existing global connections in the classroom.

This study was guided by two research …

Marketing Approaches Used In Independent Schools: Analysis Of The Perceived Effectiveness Of Marketing In Hawaii Independent Schools, Tim Spurrier

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative study examined Hawaii independent schools’ administrator’s perceptions of the effectiveness of marketing, intended message, and the media used to communicate to increase brand awareness and enrollment. Economic and competitive pressures have created the necessity for independent schools to employ marketing plans and strategies to distinguish the schools from their competitors and influence enrollment management. Hawaii independent schools are dominated by the reputation of four large schools in the Honolulu area, which has produced pressure on smaller schools to create a niche in the market. This study produced data from parents of enrolling students concerning the school’s attributes and …

Why Families Choose Catholic High Schools In Neighborhoods With Highly-Ranked Public Schools, Rachel Shanley

All Theses And Dissertations

In the San Francisco Bay Area of California, there are numerous options for secondary education, including free, well-ranked public schools and costly Catholic high schools. Although enrollment at Catholic schools is declining nationwide, there is still an interest in attending Catholic high schools due to the teaching of strong moral values, the benefit of long-term enrollment, the extraordinary classroom experiences which include a safe and welcoming environment for the students, extensive faculty and staff dedication, higher levels of parent involvement, advanced standards for student achievement, more civically engaged students, and a more infused college-going culture in the school promoting college …

Exploring The Capacity Development Of Novice School Administrators: It's Not Only Where Capacity Sources Are Accessed But Also How, Aaron Ross Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Although many school districts provide inservice professional development to build the capacities of novice principals, some of these supports are proving inadequate in recruiting or retaining qualified leaders. Research on capacity development for novice principals is scarce, yields mixed results, and employs methodology which has invited participant response bias. Reflecting the school level, gender, and Title I experience of novice principals within a large school district in the mid-Western United States, a sample of 24 novice principals respond to semi-structured interview questions. Iterations of transcription coding, member-checking, and analysis yield findings that help school districts better understand the capacity development …

Political Culture And Policy: The Impact Of Culture And Values On School Choice Legislation, Heather Leigh Neal

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Policy actors unite political culture, power, and values to make substantial decisions which are often subjective in nature. Politics and policy are about collective decisions, which rely on the arrangement of a group of people. As values can influence policy actors in their attempt to solve problems, it is important for policymakers to establish a balance among the most essential values. A qualitative case study approach was used to investigate how, and what ways, political culture influenced how state stakeholders interpreted or implemented policy. Power and values were explored as both can connect for the implementation of policy. If values, …

Principal Influence On Collective Efficacy: A Single Case Study Looking At Principal Efficacy Influence On An Elementary School Through The Perspective Of Teachers, Jennifer Anne Banks

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study explored ways in which self-efficacy beliefs and actions of a principal contributed to the shaping of school’s collective efficacy through teachers’ perceptions. A general qualitative methods approach was used. The study featured a single embedded case design highlighting one high-poverty school achieving state accreditation standards for student proficiency levels in English and math. The study population consisted of 14 elementary school teachers in a district in a state in the mid-Atlantic region. Data were collected through a survey, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group to answer the following research questions: (1) What experiences/elements were influential in developing the …

Teacher Hiring And Placement At The Elementary School Level: The Challenges Of Implementing Strategic Human Resource Management Practices, Brittany Nicole Walker

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Decades of research emphasizes the importance of staffing schools with quality teachers, as this will have the largest impact on student achievement (Mason, Schroeder, 2010). With high teacher turnover rates in addition to shrinking qualified candidate pools, the hiring process holds great significance (Tooms, 2004). This case study explored how one school district hires and places elementary school teachers. This study follows a qualitative case study approach using documents and interviews as data collection methods. Recently, Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) has made the transition from business to educational literature. This study explored two concepts, including fit and flexibility from …

Networkings Role In The Informal Learning Of Elementary Principals, Joshua J. Ringling

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Formal learning is an important aspect for school principals in the era of federal and state accountability. These formal learning opportunities provide the conditions for leadership development and personal growth. Although formal learning has been a consistent focus of educational leadership research, informal learning has not. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative case study methodology to gain a better understanding of in depth Social Networking amongst school principals with varying levels of experience, as well as capturing the what and how of knowledge transfer amongst principals. This study found that a principal’s informal learning opportunities are just …

Adaptive Leadership Approaches In Online Education: A Study Of Trust Creation And Change Management In Higher Education, Andrew R. Casiello

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this study was to determine which aspects of “Adaptive Leadership” are most commonly used by leaders in online education at doctoral research institutions where online education is playing a major role in enrollment. Within this study, the current state of higher education is reviewed and major changes in the financial, technological and competitive landscape are discussed. Challenges within the higher education context are addressed. These challenges include the increasing cost of a college education, decreased state support for public institutions, reduction of regional hegemony caused by technological advancements, increasing competition for students, and student demand for greater …

Association Between Fiscal Effort Above Required Local Effort And Accreditation In Virginia Schools, Daniel C. Soderholm

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study expands on previous research regarding the adequacy of educational funding in order to reach a desired academic outcome. Specifically, this study examines Virginia policies of Standards of Quality and Standards of Accreditation to see if local fiscal effort above the minimum required by Virginia has an association to the desired minimum academic outcome of school accreditation.

The research in this study shows that when using a linear regression analysis or an ANCOVA there is no relationship between effort above Required Local Effort (RLE) and the percentage of students attending an accredited school. However, when looking at the non-linear …

The Impact Of Male Gender Dissonance On Women’S Potential Eligibility For Advancement To K-12 Public School Superintendent, Mona Lee Montgomery

Dissertations

Purpose:The purpose of this phenomenological replication study was to discover what behaviors female administrators exhibit that may prompt male administrators with whom they work with in California public educationto demonstrate behaviors associated with gender dissonanceand to discover any impact these dissonant behaviors may have on women’s potential eligibility for advancement to the position of K-12 school superintendent.

Methodology:This qualitative phenomenological replication study explored the experiences of seven female and seven male K-12 public school superintendents in Orange, San Diego, and Riverside Counties in California. Respondents were selected based on delimiting criteria and a purposive criterion sampling method. …

Student Connectedness And Academic Achievement: A Quantitative Study Of Career And Technical Education Students, Kern Mcginley

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The focus of this correlational study in an Alaskan career and technical (CTE) school environment was to explore the research question that guided this study: In a large urban school district of Alaska, with a diverse student population, what is the relationship between the CTE student connectedness level and academic achievement levels? Participants included 132 high school students, Grades 10 through 12. Additional research questions were developed to examine the strength of the relationship between student connectedness and academic achievement by gender and ethnicity. Data were collected using an online survey with a combination of demographic questions and Goodenow’s (1993b) …

Overview Of The 2018 Inclusion In Science, Learning A New Direction, Conference On Disability (Island), Cary A. Supalo, Jasodhara Bhattacharya, Daniel Steinberg

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

#Blackqueerlivesmatter: Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Black Gay Male Leaders In Los Angeles, Christopher Jackson

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The Black community and the gay community have historically experienced marginalization from society, public and private institutions, federal government agencies, and law enforcement. Black gay male leadership is not a conversation within leadership academia. This phenomenological study focuses on understanding the lived experiences and leadership among Black gay men who are leaders in Los Angeles County. This study found that the lived experiences such as oppression, mentorship, community involvement, and advocacy have influenced their leadership development and leadership identity. This study identifies how Black gay men define leadership, based off their lived experiences. It also identifies themes of leadership development …

From Midterms To Naptime: An Autoethnography Of The Affects Of Intersectionality Of An African American Single Parent College Student, Jovon Willis

Dissertations

Abstract

According to United States Census (2016), Women in female-headed households with no spouse experienced higher rates of poverty (35.6 percent) than women in married-couple families (6.6 percent) and men in male-headed households. Having an education would significantly increase their chances of obtaining suitable employment which would also grant them income and benefits that could improve the overall quality of life for their families.

Today women are the majority on college campuses. According to The United States Census Bureau (2011), women make up 56% of college enrollment. Though the percentage of women attending college is increasing, the challenges that they …

2019-03-28 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes for March 28, 2019.

Job Satisfaction Of Student Conduct Administrators And Their Use Of Restorative Justice Practices, Leslie Maxie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the effects of restorative justice practices on the job satisfaction of student conduct administrators. This study focuses on Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene theory’s intrinsic and extrinsic factors of motivation for student conduct administrators who use restorative justice practices (RJ). This quantitative study used a member sample from the Association of Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) with 176 electronic responses received.

Significant results found that student conduct administrators are more satisfied intrinsically if given the opportunity to take on new responsibilities, given appropriate responsibility and recognition from their supervisor, and if they can make a …

From The Co-Editors..., Todd Pagano, Sami Kahn

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Crisis Leadership And Management Of Superintendents During The 2017-18 California Wildfires, Dianna Kitamura

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods heuristic research study was to discover how school superintendents described their crisis leadership and management experiences during the 2017-2018 wildfires in California through the lens of the Five Critical Tasks of Strategic Crisis Leadership framework of sense making, meaning making, decision-making and coordination, learning, accounting (Boin, 't Hart, Stern, & Sundelius, 2017). Additionally, this study determined the extent to which school superintendents identify their use of the Five Critical Tasks of Strateby Dianna W. Kitamuragic Crisis Leadership framework.

Methodology: This explanatory, sequential mixed methods heuristic research study investigated a quantitative survey and qualitative …

Auditing Canadian Curricula For The Prevalence Of Personal-Finance Related Terms Using Text-Frequency And Distant-Reading Software Tools, Wes Armstrong Mr.

Western Research Forum

This quantitative research study explores each set of provincial curriculum documents (save for Quebec) for the frequency of user-selected personal-finance based terms. The data from each province is compared and examined to answer: which provincial curriculum mentions user-selected personal-finance terms most frequently; how many words/pages are between each term mention, and how many personal-finance terms appear in the top 500 words in each curriculum. The research found that Prince Edward Island’s curriculum documents contained the most searched-for terms (at least one mention). Further, money (British Columbia and Newfoundland) and entrepreneur (Nova Scotia) are the only two searched-for personal-finance terms among …

Understanding Promise: Impact Of State Support On Latino High School Student Habitus, Zarrina Talan Azizova, Jesse Perez Mendez

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study examined the role of a state need-based financial aid policy in Latina/o high school students’ meaning making of postsecondary access. Utilizing narrative research, the analytical focus on the meaning making uncovered patterns of individual agency in the journeys of eight Latina/o high school students who were recent enrollees in the state need-based financial aid program.

Report Of The President / March 20, 2019, José M. Torres

President's Report

LEADERSHIP MATTERS

This report provides the Board of Trustees with information regarding Academy activities and the progress that we are making toward achieving our IMSA Impact and Outcomes Statement and Priority Outcomes. I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the IMSA Impact and Outcomes document:

Three pillars:

1. STEM Teaching and Learning
2. Operational Capacity
3. Stakeholder Engagement

One Strategy—Strengthen Employee Engagement

and IMSA’s four priorities for Academic Year 2018-2019:

• Guide the integration of UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Advance equity and excellence
• Develop our international strategy
• Work on phase 1 of the innovation campus

I provide information, updates and …

The Predictive Power Of Teacher Practice In Explaining Student Growth, Nick Pillsbury

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In recent years, states across the nation have increased their interest to develop specific teacher accountability measures and improve student achievement. On August 6, 2012, the state of New Jersey approved the TEACHNJ Act, which reformed tenure laws and linked student growth to a teacher’s evaluation. The ultimate goal of the TEACHNJ Act is to “raise student achievement by improving instruction through the adoption of evaluations that provide specific feedback to educators” (TEACHNJ Guide). The 2013-14 school year was the first full year of implementation, which included student growth percentile (SGP) scores as one component of a teacher’s evaluation.

The …

Examining The Role Of Job Resources As Moderators In The Relationship Between Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, And Quit Intention In Teachers, Leanna Becnel Cupit

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Teacher attrition is a major problem facing education today. Some literature reports as many as half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years. The current study sought to examine the role of resources as moderators to the impacts of job stress and job satisfaction on quit intention in early career teachers. Drawing from conservation of resource theory, findings from this study show that high levels of job stress and low levels of job satisfaction are related to increased quit intention. However, results from this study showed no difference in the stress, satisfaction, and quit intention …

Stratification, Tracking And Course-Taking Patterns: An Examination Of The Impact Of Mathematics Course Placement On Achievement In A Regional High School District, Charles B. Sampson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the impact of mathematics track placement on the academic achievement of students as measured by student performance on the 2014 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in mathematics, and math course attainment in high school as measured by the level of math class completed by the end of grade 12. A substantive empirical base (Goodlad & Oakes, 1998; Slavin, 1995; Oakes, 2005; Darling-Hammond, 2010; Gamoran 2009) exists that outlines the inequalities often associated within tracked school systems. Despite widespread criticism, tracking remains dominant as a strategy to group students in American high schools (Loveless 2013). Regional …