VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Gratto, John Robert"

Browsing by Author "Gratto, John Robert"

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AVID Implementation and Program Fidelity: One District's Case
Sims, Jeanene Evette (Virginia Tech, 2021-10-27)
The purpose of the study was to examine how four different high schools within one school district implemented the AVID program. The researcher used a comparative case study model to examine the different sites' programs and how the program and program implementation varied by site. The research questions answered how the AVID program was implemented by site, whether the program was implemented with fidelity, and if there were factors that impacted program implementation. The AVID district coordinator, site administrators and site coordinators were surveyed to gauge the understanding of the AVID program, program implementation, and how AVID implementation impacts the program fidelity by site. AVID research suggests that the program works to address the needs of students from underserved populations and aims to help them access advanced academic classes and achieve more success within those college prep courses and school overall. This study may help school districts, school administation and AVID personnel better understand how site implementation impacts overall program success and to see how barriers impact the implemenation process at school sites. Findings included, some school-based administrators and site coordinators did not feel they implemented the AVID program with fidelity, site administrators' involvement with the AVID implementation was inconsistent, most site administrators knew nothing about the specific rating of the AVID Coaching and Certification Instrument (CCI) or the measurement overall. Other findings were AVID site coordinators completed the AVID CCI and coordinated all aspects of the process and AVID implementation at the sites, site coordinators perceived that they implemented the AVID program with the most fidelity possible within their respective "means" but not with fidelity. Further, schools implemented the AVID Domains with varied degrees of fidelity according to the AVID CCI and each site had a unique implementation of the AVID program.
Case Study of the Factors Contributing to Graduation from a Secondary Dropout Prevention Program
Runkle, Marya Anne (Virginia Tech, 2022-05-12)
The decision to drop out of high school can affect a person's life in many ways, as lifetime earnings, employment options, overall health, and the probability of incarceration are all negatively influenced when students drop out of school. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the perceptions of faculty, staff, parents, and high school graduates regarding factors leading to the high graduation rates of students in a dropout prevention program during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 school years. A total of 15 one-on-one interviews were conducted to collect data around participants' perceptions of how the application process; onboarding and orientation program; academic progress monitoring and interventions; and social, emotional, and mental health supports contributed to the program's high graduation rate. Data were reviewed, analyzed, and coded, resulting in emerging themes across the data set. Themes were then synthesized and aggregated into four findings. Findings indicated the advisor role and the student–advisor relationship, staff training in trauma-informed practices, staff collaboration, and providing a flexible and responsive program structure were factors influencing the high graduation rate of students in this dropout prevention program. These findings were used to develop four corresponding implications for district and school leaders to create and maintain structures where students are supported by at least one trusted adult, provide meaningful and consistent trauma-informed professional learning, create an environment where staff collaboration around student needs is a priority, and provide flexible schedules and options for students to positively affect student graduation from alternative educational settings.
Cyberbullying in Middle Schools in Southwestern Virginia
Allen, Roger Scott (Virginia Tech, 2016-12-06)
Cyberbullying is an alarming phenomenon affecting the lives of adolescents across the country. Traditional bullying has moved from the playground to cyberspace. This online environment allows perpetrators to attack their victims beyond the walls of school, twenty-four hours a day. Advancements in and access to technology have made electronic communication the preferred method for adolescents to socialize. Although email, texts, social media sites, and websites were created to ease communication, some adolescents are using these tools to harass and harm their peers. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the existence and prevalence of Cyberbullying in middle schools across Region VII in southwest Virginia. Cyberbullying policies and strategies used to address Cyberbullying were examined. The experiences of middle school principals with Cyberbullying incidents were explored. The aim of this study was to address the following three research questions: 1. What is the status of Cyberbullying in Region VII of southwest Virginia? 2. What are middle school principals' perspectives regarding their schools' effectiveness in responding to Cyberbullying? 3. What are middle school principals' recommendations to strengthen Cyberbullying policies and procedures? A quantitative method was chosen and a survey was conducted with the goal of adding to the literature that existed on Cyberbullying in public schools. Through the development and administration of a survey, quantitative data was collected. A quantitative analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics. The study adds to the current empirical research base on Cyberbullying in middle schools, especially in the rural area of a state. The perceptions of principals working in middle schools are valuable. This study tapped into this knowledge base and added to the literature on Cyberbullying by providing insights into the feelings and perceptions of administrators. Analyzing the experiences of the participants provided valuable information for those interested in learning more about Cyberbullying in middle schools in southwest Virginia. Findings of the study include information for Region VII of southwest Virginia on the status of Cyberbullying, middle-level schools' effectiveness in responding to Cyberbullying, and principals' recommendations to strengthen Cyberbullying policies and procedures. Based on the survey results, it is clear that Cyberbullying existed within the school systems in the region. Cyberbullying incidents occurred both at school and away from school. The largest percentage of these incidents occurred in the seventh and eighth-grades. Survey data indicated gender played a role in Cyberbullying with female students having the most reported incidents. Bullying prevention programs were being implemented in most school systems and schools in this region, and, in some cases, Cyberbullying was specifically addressed. In school systems and schools where no bullying or Cyberbullying prevention programs were implemented, overwhelmingly, principals felt they should be. Data revealed most principals found it difficult to identify Cyberbullying instances but believed they did report Cyberbullying incidents consistently. Most principals felt their school system's Cyberbullying policies were effective in dealing with Cyberbullying incidents, that the policies did not need revision, and that no additional policies were needed. Most principals felt Cyberbullying consequences implemented at their school effectively deterred Cyberbullying. Three strategies were identified by more than fifty percent of principals that would help in deterring Cyberbullying incidents. These strategies were increased parental involvement, encouraging students to report Cyberbullying, and anti-bullying education.
Educational Leaders' Perceptions of the Impact of MBTI Professional Development on Leadership Practices in One School Division in Virginia
Gardner, Daniel Joseph (Virginia Tech, 2021-03-17)
The purpose of this study was to identify the perceived impact of Myers-Briggs Test Indicator (MBTI) professional development on principal and assistant principal educational leadership practices in one school division in Virginia. The researcher collected and analyzed data to determine self-reported leadership changes that came as a result of school-system led professional development involving the Myers-Briggs Test Indicator. The results of these findings could help determine if school leaders and school systems would benefit from Myers-Briggs professional development. The findings were as follows: a) interview participants indicated only limited benefits of the MBTI training b) some participants identified self-awareness as a valuable leadership action related to the personality disposition training; c) some participants identified that they changed how they approached decisions when working with individuals with similar or different personality preferences and, d) participants indicated interest in additional MBTI training. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to conclude MBTI could be considered as a personality disposition tool in the context of comparing educational leadership personality preferences and understanding certain aspects of the decision-making process. The majority of the participants also recommended that such professional development be extended with additional sessions that allow for exploration and learning in specific school and team settings.
Effective Principal Leadership Practices of National ESEA Distinguished School Principals to Minimize Achievement Gaps
Barker, Darwin Robert (Virginia Tech, 2022-05-23)
As achievement gaps persist among some groups of students, school leaders are identifying strategies and implementing plans to support the academic needs of diverse student populations. The purpose of this research study was to identify the leadership practices and strategies used by National ESEA Distinguished School principals who have successfully minimized the achievement gaps among Caucasian and non-Caucasian students. Six successful National ESEA Distinguished School principals were interviewed. These leaders represented rural and urban pre-K–12 schools in different geographic regions of the United States. A qualitative research methodology with in-depth interviews was used to gather the data. The participants were asked open-ended questions during the semi-structured interviews. The findings in this study reflect nine leadership strategies and practices identified by these school leaders to minimize achievement gaps. The leadership strategies were compared to Kouzes and Posner's (2017) five leadership practices, which are model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. Results can be used to inform practitioners about what worked for leaders who have been effective at minimizing achievement gaps. Based on these results, school division leaders should consider designing targeted professional development, mentoring, and coaching around effective principal leadership practices.
Elementary Principals' Perceptions of Technology Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Virginia
Faust, Jeffrey Stephen (Virginia Tech, 2023-01-24)
This study investigated the perceptions of elementary school principals in Virginia in their role as technology leaders during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This study focused on three research questions: 1) What technology leadership requirements did elementary principals feel were emphasized due to the COVID-19 pandemic? 2) What level of support and preparedness did elementary school principals receive for their role as technology leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic? 3) How did elementary school principals adapt their practices and development as technology leaders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? Invitations to participate were sent to over 600 elementary school principals in Virginia. As part of the study, the researcher interviewed a group of elementary principals (n=12) from several school divisions across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The themes generated from the transcripts of interviews were analyzed to generate findings and implications from the perspectives shared by the participants. The analysis showed that 75% of the participants actively deployed, distributed, and managed 1:1 devices in their building. Concerning preparedness, 91% of the participants reported that they did not feel adequately prepared for their role as technology leaders. However, the pandemic response also made them feel supported by their school division to fulfill the necessary obligations, and less than half (42%) of the participants reported a lack of support. Technology-focused Professional development having more importance than before the pandemic was a perspective shared by 67% of the participants. The majority of participants (58.3%) indicated they placed greater importance on their staff's effective use of technology due to their experiences during COVID-19. Findings suggest that elementary principals embraced their role as technology leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of not feeling prepared or necessarily knowing how to define technology leadership. The implications of this study could significantly contribute to school leaders, school divisions, and principal preparation program leaders in promoting technology leadership among elementary principals in Virginia.
Equity in Opportunity: Minority Student Enrollment in Advanced, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate English and Mathematics Courses in Virginia Public High Schools
Ackins, Charmelle Justine (Virginia Tech, 2022-01-20)
Equal access in education has proven to be less than sufficient regarding academic success for all students (Atchison et al., 2017; Glynn and Wassell, 2018). Previous research indicates that despite efforts to impart significant reforms in public education within the United States, few gains have been made regarding equity among students (Glynn and Wassell, 2018). Some researchers have recommended that school divisions provide equal access to education pathways as a step in the right direction for educators, administrators, and school divisions; as employing equity in education provides all students with the resources needed to experience academic success (Atchison et al., 2017). This is because equity impacts educational opportunities as it entails the experiences of individuals and social identifiers (Atchison et al., 2017). The purpose of this study was to identify variables that contribute to the minority student enrollment gap in advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) English and Math courses at the high school level. The researcher used a multiple regression analysis to assess if significant gaps of enrollment in advanced, AP, and IB English and Math courses exist between minority and non-minority students in Virginia public high schools from 2015-2020. The possible impacts of attendance and economic status on minority student enrollment in advanced, AP, and IB English and Math courses were also examined. The results of the study yielded significant enrollment gaps between minority and non-minority students in advanced, AP, and IB English and Math courses in Virginia public high schools.
The Experience of Co-teaching Elementary School Teachers in a Rural Public School District
Yearout, Rebecca Lee (Virginia Tech, 2016-11-30)
As a result of recent federal legislative changes affecting educational policies, co-teaching, which requires general and special educators to work together to provide instruction to students in inclusion classrooms, has been on the rise and is considered by some educators as a method for meeting mandates required by law. While co-teaching is an idea that should work in practice, teachers who implement co-teaching find themselves facing complex issues regarding their roles and responsibilities within the context of program logistics. This qualitative study was designed to help co-teaching partners and others to understand how co-teaching partnerships are formed, develop, and work in classrooms. This understanding may be helpful to others as they seek to overcome barriers and form relationships that facilitate successful co-teaching partnerships. Elementary co-teachers in a rural school district were interviewed face-to-face, and a document analysis was conducted to examine how co-teachers experience co-teaching partnerships. Six general education co-teachers and six special education co-teachers were randomly selected for interviews, and they were asked to bring any literature that they had received on co-teaching to the interviews. Results indicate that co-teachers thought compatibility was important when working as co-teachers. They expressed the need for a mutual planning time during the school day, and both general and special education co-teachers were concerned about the amount of uninterrupted time special education teachers could spend in inclusion classrooms. When co-teachers thought they had a compatible partnership, they were willing to make alternative planning arrangements, and they were accepting of the time special education co-teachers could spend in the classroom.
Experiences in the Principalship for African American Women
Edmunds-Heard, Terri Lynn (Virginia Tech, 2022-05-03)
The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the perceptions African American female principals hold regarding the challenges and opportunities they experienced when seeking and holding administrative positions in a K-12 public school setting. The interview protocol contained open-ended questions and was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with six participants. Findings indicated that when seeking the principalship, African American women inspired to become principals, obtained the required credentials through district-sponsored cohorts and university programs, were knowledgeable of the required skills, felt mentors and networking were most helpful in obtaining a principalship, and noted that as they served as principals, they took advantage of opportunities to serve their school community. They reported that as they sought and served as principals, stereotypes about African American women were unique challenges and their experiences, opportunities, and challenges were different than those of their peers. Implications from the study indicate school district leaders can encourage African American women to pursue the principalship by promoting positive relationships with other administrators and supervisors, developing mentorships, and promoting district-sponsored programs. District leaders must also maintain awareness and combat the stereotypes faced by African American women as they seek and hold administrative positions.
Globalization, Global Citizenship, and Catholic Education
Jacobsen, Carey Mae (Virginia Tech, 2021-06-28)
According to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA, 2020), 2 million children attend K-12 Catholic schools in the United States. Because Catholic school systems are "among the largest and most significant" religious educational institutions (Marshall, 2018, p.185), Catholic educational leaders should be part of a dialogue to improve the quality of education. Furthermore, it is vital that these dialogues address phenomena impacting the quality of 21st century education. Among critical phenomena impacting 21st century education is globalization (Darling-Hammond, 2010; Friedman, 2005; Zhoa, 2009). In this qualitative study, phenomenological methodology was used to examine experiences and perspectives of Catholic school administrators regarding the phenomenon of globalization. Specifically, the study explored understandings of Catholic school administrators within the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia regarding globalization, global citizenship, and global competencies. Further, this study investigated current practices fostering global citizenship within the Catholic school system. Purposeful sampling of individuals who serve in administrative roles in Richmond diocesan schools, including Junior Kindergarten (JK)-8, JK-12, and 9-12 levels, was used to identify 11 participants who met study inclusion criteria. Consenting individuals were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview regarding the phenomena of interest. Upon completion, participant interviews were transcribed and coded for analysis using qualitative methods consistent with phenomenology. Themes regarding globalization, global citizenship, and global competencies within the Catholic education system were identified. The results and findings of this qualitative study, including implications for educational leaders and recommendations for future studies, were summarized.
High School Principals' Perceptions on the Readiness of School Culture for Implementation of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Framework
Grimm, Martin Edward (Virginia Tech, 2022-05-04)
The purpose of this study was to expand upon the research with high school principals and leaders of school divisions as they seek to implement the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework. Though a significant number of studies have been conducted at the elementary and middle school levels, research at the high school level has lagged (Choi et al., 2019). This study consisted of a survey sent to 251 principals in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey return rate was 17%, with a fully completed survey return rate of 10%. The survey consisted of a principal self-assessment of the MTSS framework and of the four elements necessary for the implementation of MTSS: collaborative culture, Response to Intervention (RtI), Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), and social-emotional learning (SEL). The self-assessment section of the survey was followed by a series of Likert scale statements addressing collaborative culture, RtI, PBIS, and SEL. These statements went into specific detail to create a deeper reflection on the school culture by principals. The statements were divided into two parts. The first part addressed potential obstacles within the school culture and the second addressed potential principal actions. The first phase of analysis consisted of a two-tailed t test to compare the mean of the MTSS framework self-assessment to the means of the self-assessments for collaborative culture, RtI, PBIS, and SEL. The second phase was a series of two-tailed t tests to compare the means of collaborative culture, RtI, PBIS, and SEL to the means of the Likert scale statements. The p-value for all but one two-tailed t test performed in the study exceeded the accepted 0.05. The one exception was the mean of the principal self-assessment for SEL compared to the mean of the Likert statements for SEL at 0.03 and N = 25. Beyond conducting the mean analysis, Likert scale ratings for each statement were examined to identify trends and outliers. The implications of the results are that the data from the survey or similar surveys can be useful to principals and leaders of other school divisions to inform professional development, prioritize resources, and implement strategies to improve student performance in both academic and social-emotional learning.
Hiring for Success: The Hiring Practices of Site-Based Principals in One District in Virginia
Worcester, Eric William (Virginia Tech, 2023-04-17)
The goal of our educational system is to create successful students. Research has found that instruction from a high-quality teacher has more impact than other factors, and students taught by those high-performing teachers experience a range of long-term ongoing benefits (Marzano,2003; Chetty et al., 2011). Understanding this impact, one of the most important roles of educational leaders is to ensure that they are hiring teachers who will be effective at instruction. This hiring effectiveness has a direct impact on the efficacy of their school (Donaldson, 2011; Loeb et al., 2012). Despite the importance of using effective hiring practices, there has been a scarcity of research on determining what practices have been found to be successful in hiring high-quality teachers (Klassen and Kim, 2019; Bruno and Strunk, 2019). The purpose of this study was to examine the hiring practices of principals to discover what practices they found to be successful. Through the framework of a basic qualitative study, several principals were interviewed regarding their hiring practices. Through the study, the lessons that they learned from their hiring experiences were examined. By analyzing these practices, commonalities were explored that might be applicable to a broader group of hiring administrators. With teacher shortages hitting school districts nationwide (Walker, 2019), this study sought to provide assistance to those making those hiring decisions to help them secure the most effective teachers who will have a positive impact on student success. The findings discuss the importance of having common hiring practices, the ways that administrators develop those hiring practices, the factors currently prioritized when making hiring decisions (candidate experience and the perception of candidate interpersonal skills), and the impact that a smaller available pool of candidates has had on the hiring process. The implications suggest that districts should focus on including research-based hiring practices into their professional development opportunities and should provide more opportunities for discussion around hiring practices. Finally, the current hiring conditions should encourage leaders to adjust their approach to the hiring process in order to recruit and retain effective teachers in this competitive educational job market. As principals work to grapple with hiring challenges, continued research on effective practices will be needed to help guide them towards making the best choices. The success of their school and students requires nothing less.
Hyperacceleration in secondary mathematics and student course taking patterns after middle school algebra
Allard, Jennifer Evans (Virginia Tech, 2023-06-14)
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a school division policy on early algebra on students' course taking patterns in high school. Over the past two decades, there has been significant growth in the number of students taking Algebra 1 in middle school. Research about the advantages and drawbacks to completing Algebra 1 prior to high school have mixed conclusions, with some suggesting that students benefit from the opportunity to take more advanced mathematics and science courses in high school and others concluding that students are more likely to fail and need to repeat courses if they take Algebra 1 early (Stein et al., 2011). Most of the research has focused on students taking Algebra 1 in eighth grade. At the same time, there is an ever-growing group of students seeking to take Algebra 1 even earlier, as evidenced by expansive growth in the number of students accessing Advanced Placement Calculus prior to twelfth grade (College Board, 1997; College Board, 2017). To assess the impact of early Algebra 1, the researcher considered transcript data for two cohorts of students in a large, suburban school district who took Algebra 1 in seventh or eighth grade. Statistical analysis was performed to assess whether students were likely to access the highest level mathematics courses available to them, whether they were staying in mathematics courses throughout all years of high school, and what patterns might emerge in mathematics and science course taking for students based on when they took Algebra 1. The findings indicated that students in this cohort who took Algebra 1 in eighth grade were more likely to complete the highest level mathematics courses available to them than those who took Algebra 1 in seventh grade, but they also took, on average, fewer total mathematics and science courses. For all students taking middle school Algebra 1, there were sharp declines in students accessing honors-level mathematics coursework as they advanced through the mathematics sequence.
The Influence of The Leader In Me Program within a Middle School in Virginia
Newell, Lisa Gayebower (Virginia Tech, 2017-05-04)
Character education has increased over the past years to build student character in such a way that students are more successful and teachers spend maximal time for classroom instruction as well as minimal time with behavioral concerns. If a student experiences positive character traits and practices success in earlier grades, then it is logical to assume that the positive habits he or she establishes will transfer into the upper grades. However, very few studies have determined whether positive habits established in early grades will continue to bring success in subsequent grades. The purpose of this study was to examine the success of students in subsequent years after they were taught character traits and 21st-century skills in elementary school using The Leader in Me program. Previous research indicates a lack of studies that measure results after students leave the program setting. The main question for this study was the following: Do middle school students who have received instruction in The Leader in Me program for two years during elementary school show more improvement on selected measures of student behavior and academics than students who have not received such instruction? In order to determine the success of the program, the researcher reviewed discipline referrals, attendance records, and cumulative grade point averages (GPA) for reading and math students in grades six and seven. Independent samples t-tests were performed on the data sets to find relationships between the treatment population who had received The Leader In Me instruction for two or more years during elementary school and the control population who had not received any instruction in The Leader in Me during elementary school. Descriptive statistics showed fewer discipline referrals for the treatment group, but the numbers were not statistically significant. The results of the study showed a significant difference in attendance between the two groups. The students who had been instructed in The Leader in Me missed significantly fewer days than those who had not been instructed. Reading and math GPA did not show a significant difference for either group.
The Influence of Universal Screening Measures on the Diversity of Students Found Eligible for Gifted Education Program Services
Fohl Jr., George Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2021-05-07)
Underrepresentation among those identified for gifted programs has been a concern in the field of gifted education for over a century, affecting students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Universal screening has emerged as a possible strategy to increase referrals of students from underrepresented populations and to produce gifted population demographics more reflective of total student enrollment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of universal screening measures on the diversity of students found eligible for gifted education services. The study examined the following research questions: 1. What is the relationship between a referral source and the gifted identification of elementary school students? 2. To what extent do universal screening measures influence the diversity of students eligible for gifted education services? This study used existing referral and eligibility data of elementary school students in a medium-sized school district who were administered a universal screening measure during the 2019-2020 school year. Pearson chi-square tests with Yates' continuity correction were used to determine the existence of possible associations between referral source and gifted identification status, and Cramér's V was used as a measure of effect size. Referral rates, accuracy, and effectiveness of referral sources were also computed. Across all demographic groups, universal screeners referred more students than any other referral source, and the highest number of students identified gifted after the full gifted evaluation came from universal screener referrals. Teacher referrals and universal screener referrals produced the most diverse identified gifted results after evaluation. Universal screeners displayed the highest referral rates and were the most accurate and effective referral source across all demographic groups. This study provides the field of gifted education further research on universal screening, and the findings of this study provide educational leaders data to inform practice. Implications for school and district leaders involve multiple stakeholders and address different areas to promote diversity among the gifted student population. The implications center on parent and community engagement, professional learning, best practices in gifted education, and evaluation of gifted identification processes.
Instructional Leadership Practices Principals Use In Blue Ribbon Awarded Public Elementary Schools In Virginia
Boone, Benjamin Daniel (Virginia Tech, 2017-06-01)
The purpose of the study was to identify instructional leadership practices elementary principals in Blue Ribbon awarded public elementary schools in Virginia implemented to influence the instructional program. A mixed methods research design was used to collect and analyze data. Principals at eleven of the sixteen public elementary schools in Virginia who received the Blue Ribbon Award between the years 2013-2015 were interviewed. An interview protocol consisting of eleven questions was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. From the data collected during the interview process, a list of fifty instructional leadership activities was developed by the researcher. The list of fifty activities principals performed were grouped into the following categories; teacher observation practices, providing feedback to teachers, collaborating with teachers to analyze data, implementing professional development, and promoting a positive learning environment.
Job Satisfaction of Female Superintendents: Role Conflict and Role Commitment
Forrest, Gregory Lee (Virginia Tech, 2017-03-31)
This study examined the relationship between the job satisfaction of female superintendents, role conflict, and role commitment. The population included all female superintendents in the states of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Job satisfaction and role conflict were assessed using survey instruments while role commitment was a one question item determining the prioritization of work first, important relationships first, or work and relationships equally. Higher scores in the survey instruments indicated higher overall job satisfaction and internal role conflict, respectively. The relationship between and among variables were investigated using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, a multiple regression analysis, and ANOVA. This study found that unlike both male and female secondary principals in the Midwest (Eckman, 2004), role conflict and role commitment had no statistically significant relationship with job satisfaction for this population. Role commitment and role conflict, however, had a significant, positive relationship where those more committed to work first felt greater internal role conflict while those committed to important relationships first felt less internal role conflict. Finally, professional vs. self was the factor that created the most role conflict while the nature of work and co-workers were factors that contribute most to job satisfaction while operating conditions was the weakest source of job satisfaction.
Middle Level Leaders' Responsiveness to the Needs of the Sixth Grade Student Transitioning to Middle School in Two Virginia School Divisions
Smith, Natia Keem (Virginia Tech, 2023-02-03)
The purpose of this study was to identify middle level leaders' perceptions of their responsiveness to students' developmental needs and their support of staff and structures related to meeting those needs. This study also sought a broader understanding of how transition programs aligned with the developmental needs of young adolescents. A mixed-methods approach was used to address the study's research questions. Participants in the study included middle school principals and assistant principals in two Virginia school divisions. Participants completed an online questionnaire reporting their self-perceptions about their responsiveness to their students' developmental needs and their support of staff and structures related to meeting those needs. Participants rated their responsiveness to their students' developmental needs as fairly often and their responsiveness to supporting staff and structures related to those needs as falling between frequently, if not always, and fairly often. Middle school leaders also shared how their schools' transition programs aligned to their students' developmental needs in focus group interviews. Participants identified that young adolescents need additional emotional, social-emotional and organizational support during the transition to middle school. They also shared the need and desire for training to best serve young adolescents. Overall, the findings aligned with existing research underscoring the critical role middle level leaders play in meeting the developmental needs of young adolescents when transitioning to middle school. This study provided implications for middle level and school division leaders and principal prep programs to emphasize strategic, on-going, and collaborative learning opportunities to prepare middle level leaders.
A Multiple Case Study Examining Perceptions of Preparedness and Standards Alignment of Principal Preparation Cohort Programs
Belch, Harry Ess III (Virginia Tech, 2019-09-10)
The purpose of this study was to determine how well current students and graduates of principal preparation program cohorts in one large school district in the Mid-Atlantic perceived their program was preparing them, or has prepared them, to be school-based administrators. Current cohort students and graduates were studied to determine their perceptions regarding how well their principal preparation program prepared them to be school-based administrators as well as how well they believed their program was aligned with the current (2015) Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSELs). To ascertain if any significant differences appeared in the data, a two-tailed t test was used to compare participant groups (graduates with administrative positions and graduates without administrative positions) and an ANOVA was used to compare universities. Statistical analysis revealed that graduates with administrative positions perceived they were better prepared to be school-based administrators than graduates without administrative positions on most of the current PSELs. Additionally, graduates with school-based administrative positions believed their programs were better aligned the current PSELs than graduates without administrative positions. Furthermore, graduates and current students perceived that one of the universities under study did not prepare them as well and was not as well aligned as the other two universities under study based on some of the current PSELs. Focus group discussions revealed that significant differences in the data may be due to different administrative experiences/internships, curriculum, professors, and personal responsibility. A document review indicated that the standards taught were, in general, not well aligned with the current PSELs.
Perceptions of K-12 Alternative Education Program Leaders in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Thiemann, Angela Amiss (Virginia Tech, 2021-07-01)
Preparation leadership programs for beginning and inexperienced alternative education program leaders are mostly non-existent (Price and Doney 2009). Although finding administrators who have a passion for the alternative education setting is difficult, the challenge and goal to prepare these new leaders to become highly effective leaders in the alternative education environment is just as challenging. "There is little research, however, on exactly what leaders of alternative education programs need in terms of skills, preparation, and training to be successful" (Price and Martin, 2010, p. 3). The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of K-12 alternative education program leaders in the Commonwealth of Virginia on the experiences, skills, training, and preparation needed for effective alternative education program leadership. Utilizing a basic qualitative research design, structured interviews were used to identify the perceptions of K-12 alternative education program leaders in the Commonwealth of Virginia on the experiences, skills, training, and preparation needed for leadership.

Browsing by Author "Gratto, John Robert"

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