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SMART Learning in an AI-Driven World
No full textSMART learning is an approach that combines sustainability, motivation, adaptability, results-oriented practices, and technology enablement. AI-driven SMART learning prioritizes flexibility, cost-efficiency, and knowledge retention, equipping teachers and students with the tools to adapt to an ever-evolving world. By envisioning AI\u27s role in fostering SMART learning attributes, we pave the way for a future where technology and education intertwine to empower learners and redefine teaching practices
SoftChalk: Product Review
No full textSoftChalk is a powerful content authoring tool designed to support self-directed learning (SDL) and student engagement. It enables instructors to build interactive, multimedia-rich lessons that are accessible across devices. This review explores SoftChalk\u27s key features, including embedded quizzes, self assessment tools, and cloud-based access. It evaluates its effectiveness in enhancing student engagement and explores its system specifications, LMS integration, intuitive interface and flexible design capabilities. Whether used for language acquisition, portfolio creation, or ongoing professional development, SoftChalk proves to be a versatile and impactful tool in today’s digital education landscape
Effective Principals in 2025 from the Lens of the Supervisor
Full text linkThe ever-changing and complex nature of school leadership requires schools to have principals who have strong leadership skills and experience. In this study, the researchers sought to define the essence of effective principals through the lens of their supervisors. Using phenomenological inquiry, we interviewed four assistant superintendents of large school districts in the Greater Houston area. These supervisors, who supervise several school principals, believe successful principals are passionate, driven leaders with well-developed leadership and communication skills who can accurately assess the school culture and the level of teacher buy-in. Implications for training principals and future research are shared
Economic Status Differences in Industry-Based Certification Attainment Rates of Texas High School Graduates: A Multiyear, Statewide Analysis
Full text linkThis statewide, multiyear study was an examination of industry-based certification attainment rates by the economic status of Texas public high school graduates. Data analyzed were provided by the Texas Education Agency via the Texas Academic Performance Reports for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years. Inferential statistical analyses revealed that students who were economically disadvantaged earned industry-based certifications at a lower rate than all Texas high school graduates in aggregate. The gaps in attainment rates between students who were economically disadvantaged and the all student group increased over the three school years of data analyzed. Trends in attainment for both student groups, as well as recommendations for policy and future research, are presented
Differences in Algebra I End-of-Course Exam Performance of African-American Girls as a Function of Their Economic Status: A Texas, Multiyear Analysis
Full text linkThe extent to which differences were present for African American girls as a function of their economic status in their performance on the Texas state-mandated Algebra I End-of-Course exam was examined. Specifically addressed was the extent to which African American girls differed in their performance on three Grade Level performance standards: Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level. Inferential statistical analyses of Texas statewide data revealed that statistically significantly lower percentages of African American girls who were economically disadvantaged met the three Grade Level standards than African American girls who were not in poverty. Implications and recommendations for future research were discussed
Bioremediation of Effluent Water in a Coal Ash Disposal Area: Optimizing Microbial Sulfate Reduction
Full text linkCoal combustion residues (CCR) pose a serious environmental threat, even long after they are disposed of in specialized landfills, due to their complex composition and potential for leaching into waterways. This study focuses on the issue of elevated sulfate concentrations at the Martin Lake Steam Electric Station (MLSES) A-I Disposal Area in Panola County, Texas, where CCR are disposed of in a permanent landfill. Currently, this site is exceeding its regulatory limit of sulfate concentrations in its effluent and is in need of a cost-effective and sustainable solution to this problem. This research utilized benchtop experiments to investigate sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) mechanisms within flask wetland microcosms, simulating conditions comparable to the final pond at the disposal area. The effectiveness of acetic acid, lactic acid, mushroom compost, and cow manure were analyzed through a series of laboratory experiments treating flask wetland microcosms with varying concentrations of carbon sources to test their efficiency in improving SRB reduction. Mud substrate from an active wetland on site of the A-1 Disposal Area was used to inoculate flasks with SRB, and 1000 ppm synthetic sulfate water was created using sodium sulfate powder. Carbon-rich substrates were added to sustain the SRB and promote continuous sulfate reduction. Five trials were conducted testing four carbon treatments at three different ratios of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and three controls; each carbon treatment and control group were run in triplicate (n=45). Trials 1 and 2 were conducted over the course of one week, while Trials 3 and 4 lasted for four weeks. Trial 5 was extended for eight weeks and included an additional carbon treatment administered at the halfway point. At the conclusion of each trial, water samples from the flask wetland microcosms were mixed with 0.10 M barium chloride (BaCl2) solution to induce turbidity. Ultraviolet Visible (UV Vis) Spectroscopy was used to measure final sulfate concentrations using the Mettler Toledo Method. Results show the acid substrates were successful in promoting SRB to utilize sulfate in the system, with up to 98% sulfate reduction after a 4-week experimental period. The mushroom compost and cow manure were less efficient, with sulfate reduction of 30-50% at all concentrations. Trial 5 demonstrated that overall, an additional carbon treatment at four weeks is helpful for maintaining reduction rates, with the exception of higher ratios of lactic acid. The 4:1 and 6:1 treatments of lactic acid demonstrated continued sulfate reduction throughout the eight weeks without an additional treatment. Time was a critical component in the success of SRB reduction of sulfate. The 1-week trials demonstrated negligible sulfate reduction, while the 4-week trials exhibited substantial reduction of sulfate in all treatments, especially the acid treatments. Overall, this research provided insights into long-term strategies for sulfate reduction and water quality improvement in coal ash disposal areas. By leveraging natural processes of biological sulfate reduction, this study proposes sustainable solutions for environmental remediation and regulatory compliance
Igniting Resilience During Critical Times: Reflections of Women Superintendents
Full text linkThis qualitative study sought to explore the perceptions of women school superintendents in K -12 public schools in Texas about the challenges they face as leaders and how they endure these impactful challenges, particularly during critical times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Polidore’s Resilience Theory (2004) as the theoretical framework, the study sought to determine which of the nine resilience qualities, either innately possessed or through acquisition over time, helped to sustain the women superintendents during adverse situations associated with the highest level of leadership in a school district. The nine qualities of resilience include: religion, flexible locus of control, optimistic bias, autonomy, commitment, change, positive relationships, education viewed as important, and efficacy. Implications from this study are far-reaching and note-worthy for any position in educational leadership. The results from this study may positively enhance the experiences, retention, sustainability, effectiveness, and longevity of both women and men in one of the most important roles in a school district - the superintendency.
Key words: resilience, women superintendents, women educational leaders, critical times, COVID-19 pandemic, Resilience Theor
Closing the Gap: The Relationship Between School Climate and Student Achievement in the Middle School Sector
Full text linkSchool leaders must make decisions and implement strategies to improve a school climate and student achievement, and it benefits them to understand which areas of school climate have the greatest impact on student achievement. The State of Georgia measures school climate and student achievement with its school accountability measure, the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data that was publicly available from CCRPI data for a two year span to examine the relationship between school climate and student achievement statewide in the middle grade sector. Findings revealed that all four components of school climate (i.e., Survey Score, Discipline Score, Safe & Substance-Free Learning Environment Score, and Attendance Score) were significantly related to student achievement. Additionally, the Survey Score and Discipline Score were the most significant predictors of student achievement. These findings provide school leaders with essential information to strategically make decisions involving processes and procedures that impact these areas. Future research is needed to determine whether the relationship between school climate and student achievement is similar for elementary, middle, or high schools. In addition, separating the data into rural, suburban, and urban schools and running similar analyses may also help administrators improve school climate and student achievement
Development of an Excel Tool for Retirement Planning
Full text linkPreparing for retirement is a difficult and intimidating process that requires a great deal of planning and preparation. I developed a user-friendly Excel tool that illustrates the balance of a retirement account over time. The user can manipulate key variables by using the sliders. The tool performs all the calculations and displays the running balance in a graph
Testing Multiple Index Models to Predict the Returns of Fixed Income ETFs
Full text linkObjectives: Models of different complexities can explain asset return. This study: a) examines how variants of index models predict results in 6-month and 12-month periods out of sample b) examines how variants of index models whether their predictions are biase