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2024, Mar 27 - Faculty Meeting Materials
No full textGardner-Webb University Faculty Meeting Materials from 2024, Mar 27. Meeting Materials include: Agenda, Minutes, Committee Reports, and Provost\u27s Report
Elementary Principal Perceptions of Their Roles in Literacy Leadership: Collective Efficacy, Preparation, and Literacy Orientation
Get PDFLiteracy disparity is a widespread problem for schools across the country. Children with reading difficulties are present in every school in the United States. Although literacy is the foundation of all academics, many students lag behind regardless of their socioeconomic, racial, or gender status. There is mounting pressure on schools to produce students who read proficiently. The elementary school principal plays a pivotal role in creating a thriving literacy culture. For inexperienced and seasoned school administrators, the inability to produce proficient readers by the end of third grade is a significant concern. This dissertation examined the principal\u27s role as a literacy leader relative to the areas of preparation, efficacy, and methods for fostering collective literacy efficacy in schools. The study took place in an urban district located in the eastern part of the United States. All participants were elementary school principals with different levels of experience. Data sources included a modified version of the Principals’ Sense of Efficacy Scale survey including demographical data and transcripts from structured interviews with participants which were analyzed using the grounded theory analysis to identify participants’ perspectives and themes within and across these narratives. Findings demonstrated that principals believed their roles and responsibilities are to facilitate student learning, create a positive learning environment, and raise literacy standardized test scores. Findings demonstrated that current principal preparation programs are not equal, universities and districts need to work together to create stronger literacy leaders, and principal efficacy and collective efficacy go hand in hand
Growing Sustainable Quality Dual Language Immersion Programs: The Impact of Key Leadership Preparation, Training, and Support
Get PDFAs principals take the lead on planning, implementing, and ensuring the sustainability of their dual language immersion (DLI) programs, there is extant literature on the appropriate actions for conducting such work. However, there is a lack of research on principal preparedness and training for those leading bilingual education programs, specifically DLI programs. This mixed methods study explored specific leadership behaviors and/or practices necessary for program preparation as well as the internal and/or external support and professional development that is paramount for principals to lead and maintain successful and sustainable DLI programs. Subsequently, the study was designed to help identify key factors (components) in supporting DLI program sustainability and provided guidance on how to address such factors. Three questions guided the inquiry of the study: (a) What specific leadership behaviors and/or practices should principals possess in sustaining DLI programs; (b) What internal and/or external support and training are needed for principals to sustain quality DLI programs; and (c) How do the internal and/or external support and training impact principals? As a result of this study, a professional growth plan has been produced as a means of building a principal’s capacity in leading a sustainable quality DLI program. A recommendation list of dispositional (task and relationship behaviors) best practices has been developed as a means of further strengthening a principal’s ability to lead and maintain sustainable immersion programs
Perspectives of African American Male School Administrators on the Recruitment and Retention of African American Male Teachers
Get PDFThis qualitative study utilized one-on-one interviews to examine the lived experience of Black males who have successfully joined the teaching profession and moved into school administration. Their experiences shed light on factors that help attract African American males to the profession and continue to be educators. This study\u27s research is based on Herzberg et al.\u27s (1959) motivation-hygiene theory. This theory addresses which factors impact job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Participants in the study expressed that they are motivated by their desire to impact students and make a difference. They emphasized the importance of representation and shared that relationships with school and district staff influenced their decision to become educators and remain in the profession. Participants expressed that the current teaching demographics could be improved by providing quality support to educators, improving financial compensation, and developing leaders
Exploring the Perceptions and Behaviors of Parental Involvement of Parents and Teachers in Four Title I Elementary Schools
Get PDFSome of the benefits of parental involvement in schools are increased attendance rates, better communication between parents and teachers, and positive effects on academics (Duman et al., 2018, Hornby & Lafaele, 2011). Knowing parent and teacher perceptions and behaviors of parental involvement in different contexts provides the data needed to structure programs, policies, and activities that are tailored to the needs of the school. This study is a mixed methods explanatory sequential study that used Likert scale questionnaires and group interviews to explore the perceptions of parental involvement of teachers and parents in four Title I schools. Based on this study, there was a statistically significant difference in parental involvement perceptions between teachers in the district identified as low-performing Title I schools compared to teachers teaching in Title I schools not identified as low-performing. Based on group interview discussions, parents with students in both Title I and district-identified low-performing Title I schools perceived communication with school and teachers is needed to keep them informed and provide them with information to be involved at home and at school
An Analysis for Understanding the Impacts of Healthcare Leader Emotional Intelligence on Employee Engagement: Differences Between Clinical and Non-Clinical Employees
Get PDFWhile leadership theory and its applications have been studied by academic researchers since the 1800s, the study of emotional intelligence (EI) did not become a focus until 1990. Since EI’s conceptualization, this form of intelligence has remained a key focus area in the study of what motivates employees to best keep them engaged in their work. However, some critical aspects of the relationship between EI and employee engagement have not yet been explored. This research provides insight into the importance of EI in healthcare leadership. The narrowed focus of this study provides a better understanding of what role, if any, leader EI plays in the engagement of clinical and non-clinical employees in the U.S. healthcare organization setting. The healthcare industry has not been immune to the time known as “the Great Resignation.” With continued staffing issues across the U.S. healthcare landscape, it is more vital now that we understand how to maintain high engagement levels for both clinical and non-clinical healthcare employees. Data for this survey-based research comes from a leader EI assessment and an employee engagement survey. Statistical testing was performed to determine the impact that a leader’s EI has on clinical employees compared to their non-clinical counterparts. Based on the results from statistical analysis, practical and theoretical implications are explained. Findings include a positive relationship between non-clinical employees’ level of engagement and leader EI levels
Differentiating Leadership Styles and Behaviors of Teacher-Leaders
Get PDFThe rapidly changing landscape of education necessitates that schools build the capacity to swiftly pivot to new modalities, curriculum, and operations models. Much of the onus for positively responding to these changes falls to teacher-leaders. In many schools, teacher leaders are untrained and designated by virtue of their seniority. The authors posit that differences exist in the leadership styles and behaviors of professional educators depending on their role, status, and professional learning journey. Findings from the present study affirm the existence of some of these differences and, thus, could inform future efforts to designate and train teachers for leadership roles based off of these attributes
Developing Intentional Hospitality In First Baptist Church Lenoir, North Carolina
Get PDFThe project’s purpose is to reveal how hospitable First Baptist Church Lenoir, North Carolina currently is, and how that can be improved by instilling a commitment to hospitality in both the Sunday morning volunteers and the church congregation. Mystery guests attended worship and their initial experiences were assessed. The Hospitality Team underwent training, and an intensive Bible study was conducted for the Wednesday Night congregation. The mystery guests worshipped again, and their responses were assessed to see if their worship experiences had improved. In conclusion, the hospitality training was successful, and the worship experiences of the mystery guests improved significantly