Browsing by Author "Kelly, Michael D."
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- Analysis of scores on content categories I-V from the School Leaders Licensure Assessment and sub-scores on the student internship self-assessmentKelly, Michael D. (2013-10-01)This study compares School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) sub-scores with principal interns’ self-assessment sub-scores (ISA) for a principal internship evaluation instrument in one educational leadership graduate program. The results of the study will be used to help establish the effectiveness of the current principal internship program, performance on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, and provide suggestions for program improvement. The researcher compared the sub-scores for the multiple choice section of the SLLA with sub-scores from the university’s principal interns’ self-assessments to look for correlations between the two data sets. The results indicated a positive correlation in two areas of the study.
- Analysis of the Reliability and Validity of a Mentor’s Assessment for Principal InternsKelly, Michael D. (2014-10-01)In this study, researchers analyzed the reliability and validity of the mentor’s assessment for principal internships at a university in the Southeast region of the United States. The results of the study yielded how trustworthy and dependable the instrument is and the effectiveness of the instrument in the current principal preparation program. Study results were analyzed using reliability requirements for instruments utilized in obtaining national accreditation and to provide suggestions for program improvement. The instrument was reviewed by a panel of experts from areas outside of the research population to establish content and face validity. Internal consistency and reliability were measured using Cronbach’s alpha. A total of 229 candidate internship scores were used. The reliability test resulted in an overall alpha of .949. The results obtained in this study indicate the instrument has a very high level of validity as well as reliability.
- Building Features that Impact Perceptions of Safety as Seen Through the Eyes of Students and TeachersWilcox, Nicole Marie (Virginia Tech, 2018-08-09)When students perceive their surroundings as being safe and comfortable, they can concentrate on higher order tasks such as learning (Bowen et al., 1998); a perception of safety is a "basic requirement" for academic success (Hernandez, Floden, and Bosworth, 2010). The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify building features that affect the safety perceptions of high school students and teachers, from one school district in rural Virginia. The study employed aspects of the methodology used by Biag (2014) in the study 'Perceived School Safety: Visual Narratives from the Middle Grades'. Comparisons were drawn between the areas and characteristics that influence the safety perceptions of students and teachers. This study was conducted in one high school (N=14) in rural Virginia. All findings and suggestions were shared with the school and district participating in order to assist with future improvements in their safety practices. Results show windows, lighting and accessibility to be among the most common items influencing perceptions of safety. Items such as cameras and proximity to administration were discussed the least for their influence.
- Building Teacher Leadership Capacity Through School-Level Supports and Professional Development: Teachers' and Principals' PerspectivesHarding, Lisa Ann (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-05)The job of principals is demanding and evolving; consequently, they cannot lead alone. Teacher leaders can be a valuable resource if principals know how to build leadership capacity in teachers and practice distributive leadership. Understanding principals' and teachers' perceptions of their needs and how to best meet these needs can aid principals in building, and sustaining teacher leadership capacity. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to identify principals' and teachers' perceptions of their need and efforts to build teacher leadership capacity through school-level supports and professional development as well as principals' and teachers' perceptions of their ability to act as teacher leaders having participated in school-level professional development. Existing literature on building teacher leadership and sharing leadership responsibilities as it relates to the role of the principal, professional development, and sustainability was reviewed. Qualitative data were collected from 18 teachers and six principals in teacher focus groups and individual principal interviews in six high schools in one division in southeastern Virginia. At the conclusion of the data collection process, the researcher examined the perceptions of the teachers and the principals. The analysis revealed principals' and teachers' perceptions about the following areas: formal and informal leadership roles; professional development opportunities, teacher leadership structures in schools, strategic plans for building teacher leadership, mentor relationships between principals and teachers, barriers to teacher leadership, and recommendations for improved professional development opportunities. The study reinforced the notion that school-level supports and professional development need to be systematic and strategic.
- Developing a Survey to Determine Student Perceptions of Readiness at the Beginning of an Educational Leadership ProgramKelly, Michael D.; Gratto, John (2016-08-03)In this study, a survey was developed to determine student perceptions of readiness prior to entering an educational leadership program. The survey was disseminated to all students entering the program, and the results were analyzed to determine the reliability and validity of the instrument. The data from the survey was then analyzed to help faculty in the program make instructional decisions based on the student feedback and used to provide suggestions to the faculty for program improvement. The results will also be used to contribute to program accreditation through the Council for Accrediting Educational Programs (CAEP). This study had two initial phases; first, it determined how trustworthy and dependable the instrument is in identifying student perceptions of readiness; second, the results were analyzed to determine areas of focus for the cohort of students in future courses. A panel of experts from areas outside of the research population was used to establish content and face validity of the instrument. Internal consistency and reliability were measured using Cronbach’s alpha. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the areas of focus for future classes. Approximately 50 survey scores were used from students enrolled in the educational leadership program across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey was given in July of this year, and the results were analyzed in time for presentation at the conference.
- Developing a Survey to Determine Student Perceptions of Readiness at the Beginning of an Educational Leadership ProgramKelly, Michael D.; Gratto, John (National Council Of Professors Of Educational Administration, 2015-11)In this study, researchers developed a survey to determine student perceptions of readiness prior to entering an educational leadership program. The researchers analyzed and established the reliability and validity of the survey created to understand student readiness as they enter the program. The information garnered from this survey will help faculty in the program make instructional decisions based on the student feedback and will be used to provide suggestions to the faculty for program improvement. The results will also be used to contribute to program accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This study identified how trustworthy and dependable the instrument is in determining student perceptions of readiness for educational leadership based on present knowledge levels. A panel of experts from areas outside of the research population was used to establish content and face validity of the instrument. Internal consistency and reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Fifty-one survey scores were used from students enrolled in the educational leadership program across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey was given in July of this year.
- Elementary School Teacher Preparation and Attitudes toward Co-Teaching in an Inclusion Classroom in an Urban Division in VirginiaWhite, Daniel Scott (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-13)This study measured the relative strength of the relationships among the variables that research has suggested improve teacher attitudes toward co-teaching inclusion. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine which variable produced the strongest relationship effect on teacher attitudes toward co-teaching in an inclusion classroom. All general education and special education teachers (n=1009) in elementary schools in an urban division in Virginia were surveyed. Teacher attitudes toward a practice have had an impact on student achievement (Friend and Pope, 2005; Ghaith and Yaghi, 1997). A teacher's beliefs regarding an instructional practice or innovation were directly linked to educational improvements (Ghaith and Yaghi, 1997; Loney et al., 1976). School leaders and teacher preparation programs have provided learning experiences for prospective and current teachers (DeSutter, 2015; DuFour, 2004). These experiences were provided in an effort to ensure preparation for the challenge of teaching or co-teaching struggling students (DeSutter, 2015; DuFour, 2004). In this study, positive correlations were found between all of the research variables and teacher attitudes toward co-teaching inclusion. The highest correlations were between the leadership and professional development and the dependent variable teacher attitudes toward co-teaching in an inclusion classroom. The weakest research variable correlation was in student teaching. This mixed methods study established recommendations for leadership in the preparation and development of teachers for success in co-taught inclusion classrooms. Additionally, the study carried implications that teacher preparation programs should include more clinical teaching experiences embedded in their preparation programs.
- Enhancing Teacher Performance: A Toolbox of Strategies to Facilitate Moving Behavior from Problematic to Good and from Good to GreatSelig, W. George; Grooms, Linda D.; Arroyo, Alan A.; Kelly, Michael D.; Koonce, Glenn L.; Clark, Herman D. Jr. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016-04-08)Exemplary schools have at their core outstanding principals and teachers. This book enables school leaders to enhance teacher performance to move from problematic to good or better yet, from good to great.
- An Examination of Parents' Perceptions of School Factors that Contribute to and Hinder the Academic Success of Students with Disabilities Attending an Intermediate School in Southeastern VirginiaJones, Jataune Norkeisha (Virginia Tech, 2017-05-04)Students with disabilities have historically underperformed on achievement tests in comparison to their non-disabled peers (Eckes and Swando, 2009; Hurt, 2012). This qualitative study explored parents' perceptions of school factors that contribute to and hinder the academic success of students with disabilities. The researcher collected data by interviewing a purposeful sample of parents of students with disabilities and gathered and reviewed their child's academic information. This qualitative research study utilized a phenomenological design approach that allowed the researcher to gain insights into parents' perceptions of students' lived experiences. Participants included a sample of parents of fifth-grade students with disabilities attending an intermediate school in southeastern Virginia. The researcher collected data for this study in the spring of 2017. Interviews were administered in one session, allowing the researcher to ascertain from responses to the 22 interview questions which school factors parents perceive as contributing to and hindering academic progress. The results of this study indicated that the success of students with disabilities was impacted by staff members' understanding of multi-modality learning, needs of students with disabilities, and the level of support needed by students. The findings also indicated large class size and the physical and cosmetic characteristics of a classroom had an impact on achievement. Parents recommended mentoring programs, restructuring the classroom environment, improving parent-teacher communication, and meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities as areas of improvement.
- Facilities Infrastructure Needs and Practices to Support Technology Implementation in Two Rural School Divisions in VirginiaJarvis, Michael Christopher (Virginia Tech, 2018-03-23)The purpose of this study was to determine the planning, installation, and maintenance necessary for school buildings to support technology initiatives in two rural school divisions in Virginia. The research questions guiding this study were: (1) What short-term and/or long-term plans are put in place for building and maintaining facilities infrastructure to support technology initiatives? (2) What physical components, equipment, and personnel are necessary for adequate facilities infrastructure to support technology initiatives? (3) What are the perceived infrastructure barriers to effective integration of technology in a school building? This qualitative study used purposeful sampling. The interview participants selected for this study were division-level technology leaders and their technology staff. The participants taking part in this study were at various stages of their profession, and at differing years of service, within their respective school divisions. The findings of this study may help division superintendents and division-wide technology leaders make more informed decisions regarding school building needs to support technology initiatives. The findings from this study indicate there is no agreement for how to build and maintain school buildings to support technology initiatives. However, there are several barriers to successful implementation of technology initiatives. Findings also uncovered common themes for best practice in how to plan and implement for school buildings to support technology initiatives.
- Identifying Principal Leadership Practices to Effectively Support Gifted Learners and Gifted ProgramsBanks, Dora Mae (Virginia Tech, 2019-09-09)The success of gifted learners and gifted programs in public schools depends upon principals who are well versed in the needs of gifted learners (Gallagher and Gallagher, 1994). Principal leadership in setting direction, developing people, and redesigning the organization influences teaching and student achievement in schools (Leithwood et al., 2004). Research indicated limited knowledge of the unique social-emotional and academic needs of the gifted learner contributing to underachievement and underrepresentation in gifted education (Lewis, et al., 2007; Reis and McCoach, 2000; Rimm, 2008; Siegle and McCoach 2003). The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify principal leadership practices that are effective in supporting gifted learners and gifted programs. Empirical data collection included three Delphi rounds, one open and two-structured principal leadership practices surveys, one included individual and panel ratings. Supervisors of gifted, principals, and university professors represented multiple regions across the Commonwealth of Virginia on the Delphi panel. By consensus, the Delphi panel identified 10 highly effective principal leadership practices, eight to support gifted learners and two for gifted programs. The highly effective principal leadership practices addressed social-emotional, curriculum, teacher differentiation, scheduling for staff collaboration, peer grouping, and selecting gifted cluster teachers. Implications for practice included teacher reluctance to differentiate, targeted professional development for principals and teachers of gifted students, professional learning community for teachers to analyze practices, and district and school opportunities in hiring, acceleration, and compacting curriculum (Urlik, 2017; Weber et al. 2003). Future research recommended studying implementation and impact of the 10 highly effective principal leadership practices in this study, gifted programs, and professional development in gifted education and principal and teacher preparation programs.
- The Impact of Online Credit Recovery Programs on the On Time Graduation Rate in Virginia School DivisionsWyatt, Wendy Sue (Virginia Tech, 2017-06-02)The choice to drop out of high school often follows a progression of disengagement from school (Bridgeland, Dilulio, and Morison, 2006). Students often begin this process as a result of attendance challenges, disciplinary consequences, and persistent failure in traditional learning environments (Bridgeland et al., 2006; Fenning et al., 2012; Foley and Pang, 2006). School divisions face federal and state mandates to improve graduation rates and are under pressure to reform educational practices in an effort to lower the dropout rate (Picciano, Seaman, Shea, and Swan, 2012). School districts around the country have sought to diminish dropout rates through a variety of strategies. The collective goal in all of the initiatives is to redefine the high school experience for students who do not fit the traditional model, connecting them with alternative learning opportunities so as to best meet individual needs (Ferdig, 2010; Carver, Lewis, and Tice, 2010). Online credit recovery programs have the potential to re-connect students at risk of dropping out of high school through technological interactivity, personalization, and immediate feedback (Ferdig, 2010; Watson and Gemin, 2008). This study identified 97 Virginia school divisions offering online credit recovery programs to students identified as at-risk. This dissertation examined the relationship between the use of online credit recovery programs and on-time graduation rates in the Virginia and found an increase in the on-time graduation rates in the school divisions that implemented this strategy. The researcher also examined the various models used throughout the Commonwealth and found a variety of implementation strategies used by school divisions. However data indicated no significant difference in the Virginia on-time graduation rates when comparing the different program implementation measures.
- The Lived Experineces of Parents and Their Perceptions of Preschool in one neighborhood in Eastern VirginiaManigo, Catrina Cherry (Virginia Tech, 2016-04-20)According to the United States Department of Education, approximately 4,172,347 four year olds are eligible to attend publicly funded preschool programs. Of this number, only 1,709,607 of those eligible are enrolled in a publicly funded preschool program (U.S. Department of Education, 2014). Because of a lack of quantitative and qualitative data regarding parents' positive and negative attitudes and beliefs about preschool, misconceptions arise regarding parental decisions to support or not to support their child's academic, social and emotional development prior to kindergarten. In a large urban district in the southeastern part of the United States, this qualitative phenomenological study investigated the perceptions of 12 parents, six of whom elected and six of whom did not elect to send their children to preschool, and the lived experiences that contributed to those decisions. Unanswered questions linger about why so few children attend preschool. Further, the study examined the relationship between parent attitudes and beliefs about preschool and whether or not their lived experiences contributed to their perceptions of the values of preschool. The conceptual framework for this study was based on Glasser's (1998) concept of an individual's quality world. Data were collected from initial and follow up interviews. Moustakas' (1994) modified van Kaam (2011) method was used to analyze the data, including listing and preliminary grouping, reduction and elimination, clustering and thematizing, and for a final identification of the invariant constituents and themes. Findings from the study revealed that participants encountered both positive and negative experiences that contributed to their decisions about preschool. Participants also believed that academic readiness skills, social emotional development, and parental involvement were values of preschool.
- Perceptions of Current Virginia School Superintendents and Active Board Chairpersons Concerning Essential Leadership Characteristics of SuperintendentsGreen, Shawn Devell (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-13)Educational leadership has been studied and disputed for decades, but it remains an elusive topic. The superintendent is the lead advocate in the school district (Bjork, 2009). Research suggests that certain leadership characteristics are more effective than others (Gray and Lewis, 2011). The purpose of this study was to identify current superintendents' and active school-board chairpersons' perceptions of superintendent-leadership characteristics. As a follow-up study, it compared the perceptions of superintendents and school-board chairpersons in 2009 and 2016 to determine similarities and differences (Thornton, 2009). Superintendents and school-board chairs agreed that effective communication with board members, division and school staff, parents, students, and the community is essential in superintendent leadership. Superintendents and school-board chairs also agreed that personal and professional integrity, honesty, and fairness are essential leadership characteristics for public-school superintendents. Superintendents and school-board chairs ranked instructional leader and visionary leader as the two most essential characteristics of the position of superintendent. In 2009, the superintendents perceived instructional leader and visionary leader to be the most essential characteristics. In 2016, superintendents also rated instructional leader and visionary leader as the two most essential characteristics. In both 2009 and 2016, school-board chairs identified visionary leadership as the most essential characteristic.
- Perceptions of School Leaders for One-to-One Device Implementation in K-5 Elementary Schools in One Division in VirginiaWilkerson, Crystal Lynn (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-14)New initiatives involving the use and implementation of technology are being put into place in many school systems across the country to help students acquire needed 21st century skills (Grady, 2011). The purpose of this study of the implementation of one-to-one devices was to examine school leaders' perceptions of changes in their leadership practices, teachers' instructional practices, and student engagement. A member of the central office staff and five elementary principals were asked to provide perceptions on the implementation process with their staff. School leaders also provided perceptions on how teachers were led to facilitate instruction while using devices. This study consisted of an interview with five elementary principals as well as a member of the central office staff who oversaw implementation. The school leaders' individual interview responses were analyzed and the data, based on their perspectives, were examined. The results of this study indicated that student collaboration, student-centered learning, diverse learning needs of students, and students' familiarity with technology were factors that influence students in a one-to-one device environment. Finding the right digital tool, instructional planning, teacher as facilitator, professional development, and parallel modeling and learning on behalf of the principal to all be important factors to consider for one-to-one device implementation. The results may influence the implementation of one-to-one technology programs for this and other school divisions as well as school leaders.
- Perceptions of Secondary Alternative School Principals Educating At-Risk Students in Regards to Leadership PreparationFerebee-Johns, Fontaine Monique (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-11)Alternative education as defined by Sable, Plotts, and Mitchell (2010), is "a public school that addresses needs of students that typically cannot be met at in a regular school" (p. C-1). In many public alternative schools, the individuals chosen as leaders are licensed, certified school principals. Research focusing on alternative education is emerging yet, there is limited research directly devoted to alternative school leadership (Price, 2010). With the knowledge that students attending alternative schools have needs that cannot be met in traditional school settings, what specializations can leadership preparation programs and school division sponsored professional development offer to prepare secondary alternative school principals for alternative school leadership? Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative-based research design, secondary alternative school principals across the Commonwealth of Virginia were asked to participate in a study which employed semi-structured surveys to explore their perceptions of leadership preparation programs, division level professional development, and the impact of specialized training on leadership. The results of the study indicated that secondary alternative school principals in the Commonwealth of Virginia perceive that specialized leadership preparation is needed to effectively lead alternative schools and they were not adequately prepared by their leadership preparation programs to lead alternative schools.
- Perceptions Of Strategic Compensation As A Motivating Factor On Teacher Quality, Recruitment And Retention In A Rural Southeast School DistrictCollier, Christopher Williamson (Virginia Tech, 2019-04-19)The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers and administrators in a rural southeast school district regarding the impact of strategic compensation as a motivating factor on teacher quality, recruitment, and retention. As a result of increased demands on K12 education and the limited pool of teaching candidates, public school districts continue to search for ways to motivate, recruit and retain teachers (Muranto and Shuls, 2012). Since many view the traditional teacher salary scale as an outdated and ineffective practice, school districts continue to search for new ways to provide additional financial bonuses. (Springer, 2009). At the time of the study, the rural southeast school district studied was the only district within its state that used a strategic compensation model as a part of its employee benefits package. The locally funded plan awarded bonuses to teachers who qualify according to the parameters set by their school board. The initial rationale behind the implementation of the plan was to acknowledge exemplary teachers within the district. In this study, the history of the traditional salary scale, teacher quality, teacher retention, teacher recruitment, proponents and opponents of strategic compensation and recent studies on merit pay were examined. In this mixed methods study, a survey was sent to all 237 candidates eligible for strategic compensation, and a focus group interview with 7 administrators responsible for the summative evaluations of teachers was conducted. After the data were collected, descriptive statistics were examined to determine if additional ANOVA analyses were required to determine if demographic differences could be identified. The findings from this study may assist school districts develop and maintain a strategic compensation plan as a part of its overall teacher compensation package. After the data were disaggregated and analyzed, the findings from this study indicated mixed reviews regarding teacher perceptions of strategic compensation. Survey results indicate that the ideal bonus lies between $1,000-$3,000. In addition, teachers and administrators did not perceive that strategic compensation assisted with teacher recruitment or retention. Additional findings indicated differences in perceptions of strategic compensation based on gender and level of teaching assignment.
- Perspectives of Mentors and Mentees on the Teacher Mentor Program and Teacher Retention in a Small Urban School Division in VirginiaRuss, Jonathan Duane (Virginia Tech, 2018-03-23)Many school divisions throughout the U.S. are having a difficult time retaining teachers (Darling-Hammond, 2010; Ingersoll, R. M., 2004). 'High levels of attrition, estimated to be nearly 8% of the workforce annually, are responsible for the largest share of teacher demand' (Sutcher, Darling-Hammond, and Carver-Thomas, 2016, p. 2). According to Ingersoll and Strong (2011), Ingersoll and Perda (2011), and Skaalvik and Skaalvik (2016), reasons as to why teachers decide to leave the profession or change teaching locations include: job satisfaction, school demographics, student discipline, lack of administrative support, lack of teacher autonomy, and new teacher mentor programs. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify mentor and mentee teachers' perceptions about the current mentoring program and their recommendations for future revisions that will increase teacher retention. An urban, central Virginia school division was selected for this study. Participants selected for this study have served as a mentor teacher for new teachers hired into the selected division or have recently been hired into the division. The division has approximately 260 full-time teaching professionals. From the beginning of the 2013-14 school year to the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year, 125 teachers were replaced. The attrition rate of the selected division is approximately double the attrition rate in the Commonwealth of Virginia (Pitts, 2017). Mentoring programs appear to be among the prominent approaches to teacher retention (McCann and Johannessen, 2010). The researcher sought to determine perceptions of mentor teachers regarding their suggestions for improvement in the current mentor program as a determining factor in whether teachers decide to remain in their current positions. This study yielded eight findings and six implications.
- Preschool and the Literacy Achievement Gap in one Rural School Division in VirginiaParker, Steven Daniel (Virginia Tech, 2018-05-18)As the number of public school students identified as living in poverty increases, so does the number of children entering kindergarten with inadequate pre-literacy skills. This lack of preparation creates a gap in literacy achievement that is persistent and grows throughout a child's K-12 experience. One rural Virginia school division has begun offering a full-day prekindergarten program for the most at-risk three year-old children. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the three year-old preschool program in this one rural school division in eastern Virginia. This study examined the literacy achievement data for the first five cohorts of these students, and determined what difference, if any, exists in achievement as measured by the Virginia Phonemic Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS), the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI), Get Ready to Read" Revised (GRTR-R) and teacher-generated student growth assessments. A two-tailed t-test was used to identify potential differences in mean scores on the appropriate achievement measures between those students who received the three year-old preschool intervention and those that did not. For each of the first five cohorts of students, no significant difference was identified in literacy achievement on the four assessments administered where such difference may be assumed to occur, indicating that early intervention may make a difference in closing the literacy achievement gap for students in poverty.
- Principal Leadership Practices Influence on Teacher Retention in Urban, Hard-to-Staff SchoolsBarnett, Felicia Foster (Virginia Tech, 2017-05-03)Teacher retention is a growing issue that plagues schools across America (Grissom, 2011). Consequently, urban high poverty, high minority schools face even greater challenges as they expect to lose approximately 50% of their teachers within their first five years on the job. According to Grissom (2011), school working conditions explain both teacher turnover and teacher satisfaction, and principal effectiveness has a significant positive impact on teacher retention, especially in disadvantaged schools. The purpose of this study was to examine leadership practices teachers and principals perceive to influence teacher retention in urban, high- poverty, high- minority schools. A basic qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of teachers' and principals' perceptions of how school climate and culture, instructional leadership, school mission and vision, and teacher development impact teacher retention in urban, hard- to- staff schools. Data collection included individual and focus group interview data from five principals and 17 teachers with longevity in urban, high-poverty, high-minority schools in Southeastern Virginia. An analysis of the data indicated that administrative support, principal-teacher relationships, shared leadership, clear expectations and instructional leadership are essential to teacher retention in urban, hard-to-staff schools. The results of this study may impact the recruitment and development of school leaders by both districts and school leadership programs.