SPARK Bethel University
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Teacher Burnout and the Impact on Special Education Students and Strategies to Cope and Manage Burnout
No full textThe teaching profession requires educators to fulfill multiple roles—beyond instruction, they serve as counselors, mentors, behavior managers, and sources of emotional support, especially in underserved urban and rural communities. These roles often extend well beyond the classroom and require teachers to navigate complex social and emotional dynamics, all while maintaining personal emotional balance. Unrealistic expectations increasingly drive teacher burnout, making it a primary factor in teacher turnover. Numerous studies highlight the widespread consequences of burnout, not just for educators themselves but for the entire educational ecosystem. Research by Gooden et al. (2023) found that burnout was particularly pronounced in schools with high suspension rates and where teachers struggled to manage disruptive behaviors. However, other structural factors, such as school size or location, were less predictive. Moreover, teachers deeply attuned to students’ emotional well-being are more likely to experience burnout, as their empathy becomes both a strength and a vulnerability. Teachers witness emotional weight, including trauma, managing inequities, and balancing academic expectations, which can take a cumulative toll. Conroy et al. (2024) report that many educators remain dedicated to their students despite the strain and draw strength from the meaningful relationships they have with them. Still, the ongoing emotional burden contributes to high attrition rates, which undermine student stability, academic consistency, and the overall school climate. This research aims to investigate how these layered expectations and emotional demands contribute to burnout and how that burnout, in turn, impacts student outcomes, particularly in marginalized communities. Understanding this dynamic is essential for developing support systems and coping strategies that can sustain both teachers and the students they serve
Effective Individualized Services by Case Managers of Special Education Students at the Secondary Level
No full textSpecial education case managers in secondary education may need to utilize check-ins as a service for students. While students should be kept in the least restrictive environment, their needs sometimes necessitate services outside the general education classroom setting. A check-in offers an opportunity for case managers to build positive relationships with their students while providing time to work on student-specific deficits that may not be addressable in the secondary classroom. Special education students across multiple disabilities sometimes have deficits in executive functioning skills and/or social, emotional, and behavioral skills. These may be best addressed briefly at a weekly or monthly check-in. All special education high school students must address transition plans. Goals for these can be created and evaluated in check-ins, as well
From Damnation to Digital Dissolution: Justice in the Don Juan Myth from Baroque to Cyberculture
No full textThe primary research focus aims to examine the recurring motif of divine punishment across different iterations of the Don Juan narrative. How does the myth reflect the tension between human desire and divine justice? How do the characters\u27 rejection of religious values inform broader cultural and philosophical debates about faith, morality, and salvation? This comparative project is interdisciplinary, multicultural, multilingual, drawing from literature, music, philosophy, psychology, sociology, biblical studies, and comparative theology. The enduring relevance of Don Juan’s myth provides a rich vein for exploration across time and cultures. We will analyze the myth in its historical and cultural contexts, uncovering its significance in modern discourse on religion, morality, and human nature. Through this comparative study, we aim to bridge disciplinary divides and provoke new insights into the intersection of faith, culture, and the human experience.
Nicholas Jarman, Associate Translatorhttps://spark.bethel.edu/primetime-presentations/1025/thumbnail.jp
Reading Motivation and Achievement: Exploring Theories, Strategies, and School Climate Contexts
No full textThis literature review examined the intersection of self-efficacy and motivation, and their impact on reading achievement. The analysis demonstrated how motivation and context support and shape students’ reading outcomes. This synthesis of peer-reviewed research (2014–2024) from ERIC, PsycINFO, and JSTOR highlights Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a lens for understanding reading motivation through competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Evidence shows that fluency strategies (prosody, repeated reading, and arts integration) enhance pacing, comprehension, and engagement, while supportive school climates (characterized by safety, teaching, and relationships) further sustain motivation. The evidence underscores the importance of integrating motivational supports, fluency instruction, and student-centered practices to foster lifelong reading engagement. However, gaps remain in the research of long-term interventions and for the experiences of underrepresented populations. Future studies should investigate tailored strategies for diverse learners and the role of school climate in promoting equitable and lasting impacts on reading achievement
Integrating Emotional and Cultural Intelligence
No full textThis presentation addresses a critical gap in the literature, both biblically and theoretically, on the integration of emotional intelligence (EI) and cultural intelligence (CI). These two factors significantly impact leaders, employees, teams, and organizations, fostering positive outcomes when present and creating challenges when absent. As workplaces and communities face growing polarization, the demand for EI and CI is increasing. Integrating these competencies enhances relationships, promotes understanding, and facilitates productive dialogue. This presentation explores how EI and CI can bridge divides and improve societal interactions. Biblical insights and practical examples will demonstrate their application in personal and professional settings. Imagine how advancing emotional and cultural intelligence could transform a society struggling with polarization into one of connectedness
Increasing Academic Engagement in Underserved Elementary Students
No full textThe issue of student disengagement has been troubling teachers and school systems for years. The COVID crisis brought the issue to the forefront and renewed attention to the critical effects of disengagement on students’ academic and life prospects, most significantly - on marginalized students. This study analyzes the effects of disengagement and the factors that influence student disengagement. It also provides practical tools and strategies that can be implemented to promote engagement for underserved students. The goal of this literature review is to increase the understanding of disengagement and its effects on underserved students and to equip educators with tools to lessen its effects
The Relationship Between Belief in Religion and Ethical Values
No full textResearch suggests that individuals who hold religion to a higher importance are more likely to make ethical judgments, although there has been contradicting research showing no correlation between religion and ethics. My study fills the gap in the literature and examines the relationship between a belief in religion and ethics, specifically looking at the justifiability of certain unethical behaviors
Hmong American Caregivers and Kindergarten Readiness
No full textResearchers identified a gap in literature and suggested the need for further study by parents from all ethnic groups regarding their perceptions of their children’s school readiness. The participants in this qualitative study were Hmong female primary caregivers with low socioeconomic status. The purpose of the study was to gain insights into their beliefs about the significance of the kindergarten transition, assess their children’s readiness to transition to kindergarten, and determine their children’s preparedness for the kindergarten transition. The findings revealed that most of the participants struggled to understand the transition to kindergarten effectively and needed more collaboration with the school. This collaboration helped clarify the transition process and set clear expectations for parents and educators, and contributed to a more positive and successful kindergarten experience for children
Equitable Educational Outcomes for New-to-Country SLIFE Students in Minnesota: The Student Perspective
No full textStudents who are new-to-country and arrive with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) are increasing in number in Minnesota schools, which is forecasted to continue to grow. Many of these students arrive with trauma, and this ultimately impacts their continued educational experience. Based on student perspectives, schools must be better prepared to receive these students and provide the education they need to ensure their future success. This phenomenological case study aimed to understand whether current program models within a high school in the metro area of Minnesota best served new-to-country SLIFE students. Seligman’s Theory of Well Being (2011) and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943) were used to inform how each student’s prior experiences in their home country and the trauma they carried impacted their educational experiences. The lived experiences of new-to-country SLIFE students were investigated through in-person semi-structured interviews to better gauge their experiences in a public school in Minnesota. The findings from these interviews pointed to the importance of a translanguaging approach in the classroom, additional research on how to best support SLIFE students, continued opportunities for professional development for teachers, and the support of staff with similar linguistic backgrounds
6PM (Jonathan Cyphers Official Music Video)
No full textThis is the official music video for 6PM by Jonathan Cyphers. It tells the story of the song, and how even with God as a friend, we still need human connection.
https://tr.ee/ar4_E1jr8