Secondary Education Commons^™

Redefining Culture And Climate In The Alternative Setting: Dumping Grounds Or Where Students Are Found?, Joan Louise Barbagiovanni

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study aims to answer the following questions: How can a school leader design a culturally sensitive, inclusive alternative education program? What type of systemic change does an alternative school leader believe to be most effective in supporting students in attaining a high school diploma and a solid postsecondary plan to become productive members of society? What characteristics of culture and climate are most critical in an alternative school setting? The study focused on 4 years and tells how a school leader successfully changed the school culture and climate to best serve students and staff in the alternative school …

Unlocking Understanding: Enhancing Scientific Literacy Through Interdisciplinary Reading Strategies In High School Science Classes, Nancy C. Hollenweger

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the intersection of literacy instruction and high school science teaching in response to low proficiency levels in these areas and interest in pursuing STEM careers among U.S. high school students. Participants reported using close reading practices combined with inquiry-based science instruction to enhance students’ science literacy and reading proficiency. Data were from document analysis, one-on-one interviews, and focus group discussions. Five significant themes showed teachers' journeys from recognizing a problem to implementing new instructional strategies while pursuing knowledge about how to continue growing their craft. The five themes included teacher awareness of students’ literacy struggles, the apprehension …

Ameliorating School Experience With Restorative Practices, Faith Thompson-Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental study was to explore the association between school success after the tier-one introduction of a three-tiered restorative practices program. To understand school success, student factors were examined using middle school data from a suburban school district located outside of a large metropolitan city in the northeastern part of the United States. These factors included achievement (Final GPA), attendance (Absences), and suspensions (In-school and Out-of-school) across racial groups. Separate multiple regressions were conducted for each school success factor on racial group for the 2021-2022 and the 2022-2023 school years. By this time, all district staff …

Comparison Of The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices For Students With Disabilities In Transition Planning, Geri Weinstein

Theses and Dissertations

This study used a non-experiment, ex post facto design analysis of survey responses to examine the difference between school districts that met and did not meet New York State: State performance plan Indicator 13- secondary transition; and Indicator 14 - post-school outcomes in special education providers’ self-reported use of evidence-based practices (EBP). A total of 37 respondents across four school districts in Long Island participated in completing the forty-six-question survey created by Mazzotti and Plotner (2014). The survey examines the relationship between transition service providers and the utility of EBP and the relationship to the school district’s compliance with Indicators …

Implementing Inquiry: A Case Study Of Secondary Science Teachers’ Perceptions Of Curriculum Change, Pamela A. Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

With the constant strive for higher standards in education, New York State has joined with other states in the nation to develop a new strategy to teach science and 21st-century learning skills to ensure that our children are ready to compete in the global economy. This study sought to determine the current knowledge and perceptions of in-service teachers in New York State regarding the shift in standards from the 1996-based standards to the recently adopted New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) and their implementation in the classroom. The study aims to help identify the shifts in classroom practices resulting …

Perceptions Of Bilingual Education Through An Organizational Culture Theory Framework, Martha Tuthill

Theses and Dissertations

The increase in the English language learner (ELL) student population in New York state has significantly impacted education in many school districts. The New York State Education Department has adjusted regulations for instructing ELL students in Part 154, and administrators and educators are adjusting educational programs to meet ELL student needs through bilingual and English as a new language (ENL) educational programs. The main purpose of this study was to explore perceptions regarding opportunities, challenges, and successes in a bilingual program for ELL students and examine how an organizational culture influences ELL education in the bilingual program. This qualitative multicase …

Hagwon: Shadow Education In The Korean American Community, Minkyu Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Asian and Asian American students are achieving academic success at disproportionate rates, even when faced with low social capital (i.e., English is not the primary language spoken at home) and high rates of poverty (especially in urban settings like New York City). A contributing factor to their academic success is shadow education. Shadow education (SE) is defined as systemized learning that occurs outside of compulsory schooling, at private cost, with the objective of guiding students through and providing them with a competitive edge in school admissions—often with a focus on high-stakes standardized academic exams (Bray, 1999, 2013). In Korean, shadow …

A Study Of K-5 Teacher Perceptions Of Home Visits On Attitude, Belief, And Behavior, Dene E. Gainey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to explore teacher perceptions of attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs as it pertained to home visits. The body of research available prior to the study focused on parent appreciation and takeaways from home visit experiences and/or students’ achievement as it pertained to having experienced a teacher coming into their home environments. Specifically, the researcher wanted to understand how K-5 teachers perceived their attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs prior to conducting home visits, during home visits and after the home visits were completed.

Through semi-structured interviews, participants were asked a series of questions that were …

An Examination Of Students Perceptions And Achievement Results In Co-Taught High School Math Courses, Joy Bacino

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined student perceptions about the impact of their math class on their learning and compared these perceptions across co-taught and single taught classrooms and IEP status of students. Student perceptions across groups indicated some differences. Of significance is students with IEPs in co-taught environments shared less favorable comments regarding their learning and reported learning more previously in their single-taught classrooms. End of course exam scores and PSAT scores were also compared and a significant difference between the ends of course assessment scores for non-IEP students within the single taught classroom and IEP students within the co-taught classroom was …

Teaching First-Generation Newcomers In Charter High Schools: Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Barriers, Teaching Practices And Strategies, And Teaching Supports, Daniel Loh

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers in the United States are experiencing challenges linked to the increasing number of immigrant students entering schools. Los Angeles County Charter schools are among the country's most diverse, with many immigrant students. Although first-generation and immigrant students’ education barriers and teacher challenges are documented, little is known about teachers' experiences with newcomer students, a particularly vulnerable group. This phenomenological study explored charter high school teachers’ lived experiences concerning their teaching challenges and perspectives on the barriers for first-generation/newcomer immigrant students, their descriptions of the strategies and practices used, and their perceptions of the support they receive. Twelve teachers from …

Educators’ Experiences And Perspectives On Teaching Sexuality Education To High School Students In Vietnam, Tram Van

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored experiences of teaching sex education and identified challenges to sexuality education among 10 Vietnamese high school educators. Sexuality education high-school teachers in Vietnam participated in in-depth interviews focused on (a) experiences associated with teaching sex education in Vietnamese high schools and (b) how high school educators’ experiences with professional training related to sex education influenced their teaching practices. This research explored teacher characteristics, curricula, professional development, and environmental factors. Study data were collected via Zoom interviews, enabling the researcher to engage participants in their subjective viewpoints and overcome the hurdles of long-distance travel and health …

Changing The Narrative: A Phenomenological Study On The Support And Practices Black Males Received For The Successful Completion Of Urban Area High Schools In Los Angeles County, Victoria Lynn Waters

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the support and practices Black Males received to graduate high school successfully. This study is important because it details the challenges and experiences that young Black males who reside in urban areas and attend school in Los Angeles County describes the factors needed to meet academic success and graduate high school and understanding why graduation rates for Black males are low, to learn what can be done to increase the graduation rates for Black Males. The study produced four conclusions:

1. Black Role Models and mentors on campus elevated student’s …

Best Practices Of Secondary Grades 6-12 Educators Teaching Physical Computing With Microcontrollers, David E. Platt

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological research study explores the best practices that secondary Grades 6-12 educators employ when using microcontrollers in the classroom. Governmental and private organizations have investigated and promoted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and computer science in education (Code Advocacy Coalition [CODE], n.d.-a; Fayer et al., 2017; National Science Board [NSB], 2010b, 2018, 2020b, 2022; President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology [PCAST], 2010, 2012). Computer science occupations are a leading field and will have strong growth through 2029 compared to STEM occupations (Zilberman & Ice, 2021). Organizations such as CODE, Computer Science Teachers Association …

Best Practices For Coaching Secondary School Teachers To Provide Social And Emotional Learning Support To Students, Vailet Yarijanian

Theses and Dissertations

Consequential to the COVID-19 global pandemic, widespread school closures ensued, profoundly affecting secondary school students' academic, social, and psychological well-being. Simultaneously, the academic year of 2020-2021 witnessed a notable surge in the departure of public school teachers, with nearly half opting to resign. This exodus was primarily attributed to the heightened stress associated with virtual instruction and the inadequate provision of mental health resources for educators and students. This dissertation sought to elucidate best practices for instructional coaches collaborating with secondary school teachers to develop a comprehensive toolkit for instilling social and emotional learning competencies within classroom environments. The contagious …

Beyond The Classroom: Unraveling The Impact Of Student Engagement On Graduation Rates In New York City, Kimberly Mccall

Theses and Dissertations

This study critically examined the impact of student engagement on high school graduation rates amidst the educational disruptions ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a concentrated focus on the United States. It evaluated the essential engagement factors--rigorous instruction, collaborative teaching, supportive environments, and trust--and their role in addressing disparities in graduation outcomes (New York City Panorama, 2022; Wang & Degol, 2014). Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), social-emotional learning theory (Durlak et al., 2011; Williamson et al., 2015), and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1987), this research utilized a comprehensive quantitative analysis of data …

Student Engagement In Model School Math: A Phenomenological Study Of Student Perspectives At A Model Continuation High School, James Robert Coles Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives on engagement of students who had passed Model School Math (Integrated Math 1 or Algebra 1) and graduated within the years 2015 to 2019 from a Model Continuation High School in California. This study sought to discover the strategies, policies, and procedures which best supported at-risk students and adequately prepared them for college and career after attending a continuation high school. The theoretical framework used for this study was flow theory. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in one school district with students who attended a single site. Each …

Making The Middle Matter: Considering Project-Based, Experiential, And Work-Based Instructional Strategies With Middle School Teachers, Trishauna Pulos

Theses and Dissertations

Middle school is about the growth, potential, and change of adolescents. Students at the middle school age level, generally ages 10 to 14, struggle with the dynamics of making the transitions from recess and active learning in elementary school to multiple teachers, bigger workloads and campuses, and larger student populations (Alexander et al., 1969; Howell et al., 2016). For this study, the instructional practices, and strategies of project-based, experiential, and work-based learning are researched including challenges, measurements of growth and success, and recommendations for future educators using these instructional delivery methods (Dincer, 2021; Flannery & Smith, 2021; Kalkan & Dagli, …

Strategies Teachers Use To Encourage Student Reading Motivation And Engagement In The High School Setting: A Generic Qualitative Study, Shelia Tate

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the practices and strategies used by Title 1 high school teachers to promote student reading motivation and engagement. Engaging students in the curriculum and motivating them to read is essential to a successful classroom experience. As districts move to a more prescribed curriculum with provided scope and sequence, teachers look for ways to engage their students and provide relevant resources to meet their students' needs creatively.

The researcher interviewed teachers to explore their beliefs, strategies, and practices for fostering student reading motivation and classroom engagement in high school. The guiding …

College Preparedness. Narratives Of Transitions From High School To College., Chelsey Luann Vincent

Theses and Dissertations

Despite many theories on student success as well as many resources to help students make the transition from high school to college, many students do not persist in or graduate from college. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into what takes place when students leave P-12 institutions and enter institutions of higher education by using focused narrative inquiry. This study took place at a large research university in the south. The study included 4 participants at various parts of their transition journey. Participants in the study responded to written prompts. Follow up interviews were conducted, and a …

Public-Private Partnerships (Ppp) In Technical Education: The Case Of Egypt’S Applied Technology Schools (Ats), Youstina Magdy

Theses and Dissertations

Technical education is a form of education that gained momentum in the 1800s and was considered as a parallel distinct model to general education by the post-war period. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were one of the scaling up and enhancement efforts of technical education. In Egypt, the technical secondary education system has various school models; however, it was until 2018, when we first see the implementation of an PPP model with the establishment of the Applied Technology Schools (ATS). ATS schools aim at supplying the labor market with experienced skillful competent graduates in the demanded sectors in the Egyptian labor market, …

The Connective Tissue Of Well-Developed Interests: A Case Study Of A Science Research Classroom, Deborah M. Brand

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine ways that long-term interests in high school students could be inspired and facilitated in educational contexts. In particular, it explored how a high school Science Research (SR) program cultivated belonging and supported autonomy in ways that inspired and promoted well-developed individual interests. This type of interest is characterized by an enduring desire to pursue learning out of an intellectual and emotional need to gain understanding; it drives behavior, motivation, and cognition toward particular activities and ideas. Classroom belonging is derived from this sense of connection and purpose a student feels from the …

Percepción De Docentes En Integración De Herramientas Tecnológicas Utilizando El Modelo Picrat En Una Institución De Nivel Superior, Marangely Perez Montalvo

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio tuvo como propósito analizar la percepción de los profesores sobre el modelo de integración tecnológica PICRAT y cómo este evalúa los niveles de reemplazo, amplificación y transformación que se le realizan a las herramientas tecnológicas para lograr una interacción pasiva, interactiva y creativa con el estudiante durante el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño transeccional no experimental con un alcance descriptivo y correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 23 profesores universitarios que imparten al menos un curso de manera remota en el nivel académico de maestría con especialidades en Ciencias de …

Propuesta De Un Modelo De Enseñanza En Las Matemáticas Enfocado En La Solución De Problemas En El Nivel Secundario En Puerto Rico, Carlos J. Colon Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito del estudio fue proponer un modelo educativo enfocado en la solución de problemas matemáticos en el nivel secundario, y se realizó la revisión sistemática para evaluarlo. El marco teórico incluyó teorías heurísticas y modelos educativos. La metodología de seis fases que se empleó en este estudio, incluyendo la formulación de preguntas investigativas, búsqueda de literatura, selección de investigaciones, levantamiento de información, análisis y resumen de resultados y exposición y discusión de estos. Se siguieron guías para revisiones sistemáticas y criterios de inclusión y exclusión para evaluar la efectividad de modelos didácticos en la disciplina de matemáticas con énfasis …

Mentors’ Perspective On Mentoring Practices For New Teachers: A Qualitative Study, Rosa Smith-Norman

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study explores the lived experiences of mentors as they share their perceptions of mentoring practices to better understand how participatory experiences affect the professional growth of new teachers. Using a phenomenological research design helps to better understand the participants’ perceptions and personal meaning making processes that emerge from their first-person lived experiences of their professional practice. This study explores how ongoing participatory experiences have served to shape one’s perceptions about teaching and learning though the use of best mentoring practice strategies. To this end, this study triangulates the data by conducting an initial email interview questionnaire …

The Relationship Of Teacher – Principal Trust And Student Demographics On High School Students’ Achievement In Mathematics, Rickey M. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Although school principals are primarily held accountable for student achievement, they have only an indirect impact on that achievement (Darling-Hammond & Bransford, 2007; Hallinger & Heck, 1996; Supovitz, Sirinides, & May, 2010). Teachers affect student achievement directly, and principals affect teachers. Because faculty trust in the principal is one variable principal’s affect in teachers that could have a positive impact on student achievement (Bryk & Schneider, 2002; Sweetland & Hoy, 2000; Tschannen-Moran, 2001), the challenge for principals is knowing what will impact their teachers’ trust in them (Blake & MacNeil, 1998). This study investigated relational trust and its influence on …

How Teacher-Student Relationships Shape Student Engagement And Interest In Science, Destini N. Braxton

Theses and Dissertations

The current research on emotional engagement and teacher-student relationship is abundant and acknowledges education as an environment that thrives on social interactions and causes a variety of emotions to be present in the classroom. However, research on the relationship between Black and Latinx students’ teacher-student relationships and students’ emotional engagement and interest in science in urban middle school science classrooms remains scarce. Unfortunately, Black and Latinx students often experience a) mixed social interactions with their teachers, b) a lack of relatability to science instruction, and c) a combination of positive and negative emotions during science instruction and activities. This phenomenological, …

The Influence Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Rural Virginia Secondary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Sherol L. Southerland

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for PK-12 education and exposed educators’ skill deficits. Teachers had to learn new approaches to doing their jobs while navigating the mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial impact of the pandemic on their personal lives. This undertaking was even more demanding for rural school divisions, which tend to lack the resources (e.g., personnel, technology, financial) that suburban and urban school divisions have. Schools reopened in fall 2020 offering fully remote, fully in-person, and hybrid modalities, however, there was no going back to teaching as it was before the pandemic. The present study sought to …

Exploring Digital Portfolios And Their Effects On Test Scores, Dithmar Kenneth Rualo

Theses and Dissertations

Many educators in the field are looking for ways to grade their students. Many of our youth can learn new concepts and attain academic growth but have difficulties in the traditional lecture-based classroom. Digital portfolio incorporation in our secondary classrooms may be a solution to engaging learners through various interactions using online learning tools, interaction with peers, and their teachers. This exploratory study investigated the current value of digital portfolios in improving academic performance in today’s classroom. Much of the trend was popular ten years ago. The research explored how current educators in the secondary school setting feel about the …

Marketization Without Marginalization? Approaches To Integration In A Dual Enrollment Magnet School, Shannon Mumolo

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the well-documented benefits of integration and Southern California’s racial, socioeconomic, and linguistic diversity, California and U.S. efforts to promote integrated magnet schools have been minimal and primarily driven by local districts. Attempts to evaluate magnet programs primarily focus on student outcomes, yet surprisingly few studies examine approaches used by school leaders to establish and achieve program outcomes. This study contributes to the knowledge and practice of magnet implementation by exploring one California high school’s efforts to establish a dual enrollment magnet program. An explanatory mixed methods case study design was used to understand how school leaders promoted student integration …

How Technology Mediated Social Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Case Study, Rashi Seth-Parmar

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in California were forced to shut their doors to students and staff during spring semester 2020. The school closures forced teachers to migrate their lessons to online platforms and forced students to learn using various online modalities. Students no longer had the traditional access to their teachers, administrators, or peers, which caused an imbalance in their social learning. This phenomenological qualitative study offers administrators and teachers best practices in fostering student social learning while utilizing distance learning or online learning specifically for K-12 students. The best practices are derived from the lived experiences of …