Browsing by Author "Isbell, Angela Lake"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    A Comparative Study of School Climate in Select Elementary Schools From One School Division in Virginia With Varied Title I and Accreditation Statuses
    Isbell, Angela Lake (Virginia Tech, 2014-04-08)
    The purpose of this study was to compare school climate in a sampling of four Title I and four Non-Title I elementary schools in one school division in Virginia with varied accreditation statuses. The Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire-Revised Elementary (OCDQ-RE), created by Hoy (1990) was utilized to measure school climate. The OCDQ-RE questionnaire were handed out during a regularly scheduled faculty meeting at each of the eight schools selected for the study. Of the 255 surveys that were distributed collectively, 165 participant surveys were collected for a return rate of 65%. In measuring school climate, the mean and standard deviation were computed for each of the six subtests of school climate: Supportive Principal Behavior, Directive Principal Behavior, Restrictive Principal Behavior, Collegial Teacher Behavior, Intimate Teacher Behavior, and Disengaged Teacher Behavior. These subtests were combined to determine teacher openness, principal openness and overall school climate. Descriptive and inferential statistics did not reveal significant differences in principal openness, teacher openness or overall school climate in schools of varying Title I and accreditation status. However, descriptive and inferential statistics revealed differences in component subtests of the OCDQ-RE. Specifically, a comparison of the standardized mean scores for each subset based on Title I status and accreditation status revealed some variations. Using inferential statistics, significant differences were found among school climate in the areas of supportive principal behavior, restrictive principal behavior and intimate teacher behavior.
  • Thumbnail Image
    A Qualitative Analysis of School Leadership Behaviors and Levels of Representation of One Minority Population in Advanced Placement Courses in One Southeastern Virginia School District
    Porter, Michelle Kaye (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-13)
    This qualitative case study analyzes the underrepresentation of minority students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Virginia high schools and examines the influences that encourage school leaders to lessen the existing gaps at their assigned schools. Data from a division in southeastern Virginia summarizing each school's minority representation in its AP courses were analyzed. After identifying the schools' minority representation levels, qualitative research methods were used to determine the impact, if any, of school leaders on student participation rates. Additionally, qualitative data from individual interviews were considered to determine if school leaders who had a higher representation of minority populations at their schools demonstrated intentional actions to address AP participation in their schools. The results of this study indicate that principals believed that all capable students should have access to AP courses and that teachers and counselors influence students' decisions to enroll in AP courses. Additionally, principals found that sharing data reflecting their school's representation rates helped justify the need to improve student participation in AP courses. Principals with high participation rates placed importance on communicating to students the opportunities obtained by participating in AP courses and expected school staff to encourage students with potential to participate in more rigorous courses. Principals with higher minority representation rates in advanced courses were also found to frequently remind a variety of stakeholders to encourage students to participate in AP courses. Furthermore, principals with higher minority representation in AP programs used more "we," "us," and "our" statements and references to a team approach when asked about their work. Finally, this study found that specialized academies create environments where stronger student representation rates can occur in AP courses for all student groups. The results of the study have the potential to impact high school leaders as they seek to improve outcomes for the students they serve.