Educational Leadership Commons^™

How Coaching Changes Teaching Practices In Elementary Literacy Instruction, Terrilyn D. L. Cheney

All Theses And Dissertations

Professional development is a major initiative in many school districts in an effort to help teachers improve teaching and learning. Literacy coaches are becoming increasingly prevalent in many elementary school buildings. This study examined the effects literacy coaches have on teaching practices. More specifically, it examined to what degree literacy coaches affect teaching.

Utilizing an electronic survey, 18 elementary classroom teachers participated in providing feedback relative to their enjoyment, new learning, changes in practice, and subsequent changes in student learning that occurred as a result of literacy coaching. Teachers indicated new learning was occurring despite how many years they had …

Higher Education Mergers: Challenges Blending Organizational Culture And The Influence Of Leaders, Amy A. Maison

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore, identify, and describe the challenges two-year college administrators face when blending the organizational culture of two or more institutions as a result of an involuntary, single sector merger. This phenomenological qualitative study drew findings from interviews with 12 individuals who have experienced a merger, are currently in leadership or faculty positions, and work for the Technical College System of Georgia. Using Moustakas’s (1994) model of transcendental phenomenology and the open systems theory, the researcher sought to uncover the human experience of a higher education merger. As a result of the data analysis, …

Motivation To Lead: College Students' Perceptions Of Their Roles As Leaders On Campus, Jacob M. Gross

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Student leadership in college has long been studied from the perspective of the university, and more specifically, how the university supports its student leaders in hopes of enhancing institutional reputation. With this in mind, there is little attention given to the micro-level experience of college student leaders. As such, researchers are called to shift the rhetoric on student leadership away from an institutionally-driven conceptualization to a more student-focused discourse. The central aim of this study was to gather student leader perceptions of their roles as campus leaders and construct meaning behind those perceptions. This qualitative research study examined the phenomenology …

Motivation To Lead: College Students' Perceptions Of Their Roles As Leaders On Campus, Jacob M. Gross

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Student leadership in college has long been studied from the perspective of the university, and more specifically, how the university supports its student leaders in hopes of enhancing institutional reputation. With this in mind, there is little attention given to the micro-level experience of college student leaders. As such, researchers are called to shift the rhetoric on student leadership away from an institutionally-driven conceptualization to a more student-focused discourse. The central aim of this study was to gather student leader perceptions of their roles as campus leaders and construct meaning behind those perceptions. This qualitative research study examined the phenomenology …

Threads Of Support: Mentoring Of Online Doctoral Students, Debra Lynn Welkley

All Theses And Dissertations

Doctoral students in programs throughout the United States express a need for mentoring as an important element in the completion of their degree (Associate Students of the Graduate Division, 2017; Noonan et al., 2007; University of Michigan, 2006). Although there are several studies that explored types of mentor programs and student perceptions of mentoring (Johnson, 2015; Terry & Ghosh, 2015), a review of the literature indicates an examination of doctoral student mentoring from a faculty mentor’s lens had not been examined. This transcendental phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of faculty who mentor online Ed.D. students. The findings in the …

The Relationship Between Organizational Health And Student Achievement In High Poverty Schools, Rosalinda Hernandez, Roberto Zamora

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organizational health and student achievement of economically disadvantaged students in a large school district along the Texas-Mexico border that serves 99 % Hispanic students; districtwide approximately 95 % of the students are economically disadvantaged. All schools in the district are Title I schools and enroll 78%- 100% economically disadvantaged students. About forty-eight percent (48.3 %) of students served are English Language Learners. Student achievement was determined using the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and organizational health was determined using an Organizational Health Inventory that measures the …

The Effects Of Student Empowerment Through Leadership On Academic Achievement In English Language Arts And Math, Nathan Poteet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student academic achievement in Title I schools has been a topic of interest for years. The previous works of Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership Theory and Maslow’s Theory of Motivation in Title I elementary schools were used as the primary theoretical structures for this study. A quantitative causal-comparative (ex-post facto) study was planned, but a Mann Whitney U-test was used due to a failed assumption. The data collected from individual students’ scale scores on the Florida Standards Assessment was used to understand the impact of student empowerment through leadership within Title I elementary schools. While no statistical significance was noted in …

Successful Negotiations: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Superintendents Who Successfully Negotiate Teacher Contracts, Kelly A. Theurer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

New York State has a long history related to teachers’ unions. Superintendents are often the main players for school districts when negotiating teachers’ contracts. While much has been researched about negotiations, there is a gap in the literature in relation to the motivating factors of superintendents to successfully negotiate teachers’ contracts. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of school superintendents who have successfully negotiated teachers’ contracts within suburban areas of New York State. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of school superintendents who have successfully negotiated teachers’ contracts in …

Effect Of Perceived Self-Efficacy And Certification On Teachers Of Students With Emotional Disabilities Exhibiting Behaviors, Maisha Evonne Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher efficacy is a motivational construct that suggests teachers’ beliefs in their perceived efficacy affects the learning environments they create and the academic achievement of their students. Perceived self-efficacy affects the effort and persistence teachers exude during obstacles, such as when students exhibit challenging behaviors, regardless if the teacher is alternatively or traditionally certified. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to test the construct of self-efficacy grounded in the social cognitive theory and compare a teachers’ route to licensure (traditional or alternative) to perceived self-efficacy for special education teachers (SETs) of students with emotional disabilities exhibiting challenging behaviors. A …

The Relationship Between Virginia School Divisions’ Anti-Bullying Policy Scores And The Percentage Of Student Offenses Of Bullying, Amber M. Zachry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

State laws and policies that adhere to U.S. Department of Education (USDOE)-recommended anti-bullying legislative components have been found to reduce rates of bullying in schools. No longer considered a normal or tolerated part of childhood and adolescence, state legislation and local policy regarding bullying have experienced substantial growth over the last decade. Consequently, state laws and local policies are currently a critical component in response to bullying behavior and yet, there is limited research that has investigated the relationship between anti-bullying policies and the prevalence of bullying. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether a relationship exists …

Perceptions Of Empowered Teacher Leaders, Michael J. Rafferty

All Theses And Dissertations

Teacher Leadership movements over the last 30 years have attempted to create leadership opportunities within and across an organization. The purpose of this mixed method case study was to evaluate the impact of a district’s teacher leadership opportunities to reduce teacher isolation and increase teacher collaboration. This study illustrated how effective teacher leadership initiatives should take Piaget’s idea (1971) of discovery learning and combine it with the concept that teaching and learning are more powerful when they involve social interaction (Bandura, 1987).

A literature review revealed a gap in understanding what systems and structures made collaboration more successful for teacher …

Decision-Making And Ethics: A Study Of Massachusetts Superintendents, Maryann Perry

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the basis on which superintendents made decisions to see if they were using the four ethical frameworks of the multiple ethical paradigms to guide their decision-making. The primary purpose was to comprehend, as portrayed by Shapiro and Stefkovich (2016), which moral frameworks (i.e., justice, care, critique, and the profession) were used, assuming any were actualized by Massachusetts superintendents in decision-making. Superintendents require methods and processes that assist them to probe, “the ethical depths of each situation that calls for a judgment” (Rebore, 2013, p. 31). For this qualitative study, the modification of …

Through Their Eyes: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Perceived Leadership In Special Purpose Private Schools, Reva L. Mathieu

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions and experiences of leaders and followers within a special purpose private school during on-going crisis events to better understand demonstrated behaviors, values, and characteristics of leaders. The study site was the state of Maine, USA. The participants completed a survey and semi-structured interview. Four leaders and eight followers participated in the study from four schools and two agencies. A survey asked participants to prioritize leadership characteristics in the areas of relationships, operational style, and personal qualities; and to describe the five most challenging crisis experiences they have encountered working in their …

Graduate Nurse Perceptions Of Effectiveness Of Prelicensure Education On Medication Administration, Renee M. Mielke

All Theses And Dissertations

This cross-sectional descriptive survey examined nurse graduates’ perceptions of the efficacy of their educational experiences in preparing them to administer medications safely. Situated cognition provided organization for the study design and analysis. Data were obtained from a cohort of nursing graduates from a community college in south central Michigan using a two-step online and paper survey method. Respondents included 24 nurse graduates from the college of study. Data analysis from the researcher-designed survey revealed learning environments, activities and tools considered to be realistic to nursing practice are considered more effective for learning safe medication practices. Graduate respondents may feel effectively …

The Implementation And Impact Of Growth Mindset In A North Texas School District, Tricia A. Badillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growth mindset strategies are linked to positive academic behaviors. Additionally, it is common knowledge that a school’s learning environment and the teachers’ attitudes and points of view are influential on student learning. However, leaders of school districts continue to struggle with effecting necessary changes to alter schools’ culture and implement practices that align with growth mindset. One North Texas suburban school district (Coppell Independent School District) is leading a shared effort to ensure growth mindset culture and practices are implemented district-wide. The purpose of this single case study was to understand how district leaders, school leaders, and teachers incorporated growth …

2018-11-01 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes for November 1, 2018.

2018-11-01 Faculty Senate Newsletter, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate newsletter for November 1, 2018.

2019-11-01 Intercollegiate Athletic Committee Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., Intercollegiate Athletics Committee

Faculty Senate Records

Intercollegiate Athletics Committee meeting minutes for November 1, 2018.

Novice Elementary Teachers’ Experiences With Preparedness To Teach Mathematics: A Phenomenological Study, Ashleigh Rose Chaves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe novice elementary teachers’ experiences with preparedness to teach mathematics in a large school district in southeastern Massachusetts. In defining the novice elementary teachers’ experiences, I looked at the participants’ self-efficacy through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Self-efficacy was defined as how confident the novice teachers were in regard to their ability to teach mathematics. The focus of this study was how adequately prepared the teachers felt teaching elementary mathematics but also investigated how the teachers felt about their readiness to address the challenges students experience in mathematics. The following …

A Correlational Study Of Teacher Burnout In Elementary Schools In Georgia, Kimberly A. Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educational research has identified the importance of understanding the relationship between teacher burnout and teacher self-efficacy. Previous studies examined the relationship of teacher burnout to teacher self-efficacy, more focused research is needed in order to understand the relationship in regards to teaching in Title I and Title I Focus schools. This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between teacher burnout and self-efficacy for teachers working in Title I and Title I Focus schools. This study also investigated which factors predicted burnout. A convenience sample of 87 teachers from four urban Georgia elementary Title I and Title I Focus schools with …

Full Issue Summer 2017 Volume 12, Issue 2

School Leadership Review

No abstract provided.

Full Issue Winter 2017 Volume 12, Issue 1

School Leadership Review

No abstract provided.

A Review Of The Listening Leader: Creating The Conditions For Equitable School Transformation, Penny L. Tenuto

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

No abstract provided.

School Counselors As Leaders In School Turnaround, Renae D. Mayes, Colette T. Dollahide, Anita Young

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

This study examined the role of professional school counselors in the school turnaround process. Themes from a qualitative case study analysis suggest that school counselors used leadership to develop data-driven programs and activities congruent with the ASCA National Model. Additionally, school counselors sought greater collaboration, partnership, and relationships with teachers, students, families, and the community at larger. Finally, the role of school counselors was heavily shaped by the expectations of school principals. Implications are explored for school counseling practice.

Letter From The Editor, Jim Palermo

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

While the move from my chair as Managing Editor to Chief wasn’t far physically, it is a huge leap for me in part because my colleague and partner in this enterprise of JOEL, Founding Editor Steve Bingham, set the bar so high. Steve served the nascent Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership admirably as Editor in Chief through three years and six issues as we grew this small journal and explored the niche of leader/practitioner scholarship and the nexus of educational and organizational leadership. In those six issues we have explored topics such from principal preparation programs to Confucian values …

Law School News Tim Baxter '83 Elected Chair Of Rwu Board Of Trustees 10/29/2018, Edward Fitzpartick

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Sponsored International Students, Chimchanbo Uk

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to explore and understand the spaces sponsored international students experience at the University of San Diego. Given that we live in a diverse society, it is important for me to explore and understand the experiences of students who have traveled thousands of miles away from their home country to seek education in the United States. It is important for one to take the time to connect with students from other cultures in order to gain insight on how to better serve diverse student populations. As we come from different backgrounds our stories can be …

The Relationship Between Distributive Leadership, School Culture, And Teacher Self-Efficacy At The Middle School Level, Anthony L. Demarco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Recent and established research continues to demonstrate the need for school leaders to adapt their leadership practices to reflect the increasing demands associated with their role. This is particularly true for principals of large middle schools. Through the implementation of a distributive leadership framework, a principal can share responsibilities with qualified staff while promoting an institution-wide culture of trust that empowers teachers.

The purpose of this correlational, quantitative research study was to examine the extent to which relationships exist between distributed leadership, school culture, and the self-efficacy of teachers within public middle schools in central New Jersey. This study was …

Full Issue Winter 2018 Volume 13, Issue 1

School Leadership Review

No abstract provided.

Examination Of K-12 School Administrators’ Perceptions Of Their Preparation To Lead Special Education Programs, Jaime Davies

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Current research tells us that when school administrators are not prepared to lead special education, the result can be an educational detriment to the student involved and cause a costly fiscal impact to the school district. The researcher set out to ascertain school administrators’ perceptions of the skills necessary to effectively lead special education programs; it was also important to gauge school administrators’ preparation to lead special education programs based on their special education knowledge. Ball and Green (2014) state that it is the role of the school principal to develop teachers and related support within their buildings, while Pazey, …