<p> This study examines how the state and federal courts have made decisions regarding public school students&rsquo; Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights in 105 cases during the years 2004 to 2015 when school resource officers were involved. Since the Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision in <i>New Jersey v. T.L.O.</i> (1985), the requirement of only reasonable suspicion, as opposed to the more stringent Constitutional standard of probable cause in school searches and seizures, has resulted in conflicting decisions how school resource officers should work with school officials. This research found that both state and federal courts tend to decide for the school rather than the student in these types of incidents except in cases of egregious violations of students&rsquo; rights and dignity. The number and the nature of court cases suggest the need for improved training and communication among students, school personnel and school resource officers.</p>

<p> According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2014), 74 percent of Wisconsin&rsquo;s teachers are women, while only 26 percent of Wisconsin&rsquo;s superintendents are women indicating a significant disparity among the educational ranks. Studies have claimed that women are obtaining their superintendent credentials at the same rate as men, yet in the state of Wisconsin, women account for a mere 22 percent of licensed candidates. Much of the previous literature identifies this problem and rationalizes it with the gender biases that have plagued women for centuries. </p><p> This study went beyond that and focused on women in the 26 percent who have overcome barriers and obstacles to their advancement and how they have managed to balance their work and family. This study was a narrative analysis of the personal and professional histories of female superintendents with children. Using qualitative methods through personal interviews of four women, this study addresses the need for role models for work-family balance for mothers who wish to pursue the superintendency. Probing questions were asked to identify what balance means for these women, how they balance their work and family, and what commonalities these women share in their personal and professional lives that relate to their career trajectories. </p><p> Catherine Hakim&rsquo;s Preference Theory was used to identify how these women characterize themselves as <i>home-centered, adaptive,</i> or <i>work-centered.</i> This theory was then applied to these women using the data obtained through their interviews in order to identify commonalities and themes among them as they relate to work-family balance. </p><p> This study did not dismiss the biases and perceptions of women leaders, but instead focused on how these women navigated these perceptions, and to inherently see the light at the end of the tunnel. This study confirmed that women have a choice in their career decisions, that balance is different for each woman and that stages of career and family play an impactful role in what balance looks like. Finally, this study identifies traits found to be common among the participants that have helped them to find their balance and describe what balance looks like for women superintendents.</p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative ex post facto study was to determine if mandatory Advanced Placement courses improve reading comprehension scores for students; especially Hispanic students. Not only is a minority student achievement gap prevalent in American education, but also a minority opportunity gap is present for students in Advanced Placement courses. The literature review detailed educational reform in the United States to include the rise and expansion of the Advanced Placement Program via the College Board. The benefits and drawbacks of Advanced Placement were emphasized as well as obstacles minority students face in participating in advanced courses. The results from the archival student reading achievement on the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program between sophomore students in two rural, Colorado high schools exposed two certainties; the achievement gap remains and mandatory Advanced Placement participation does not positively affect reading achievement. In the 2013 and 2014 school years, uncommon p-values were identified rejecting the null hypothesis. The ANOVA test for interaction produced a p-value of .438 pointing to an uncommon result, and the t-test produced p-values of 1.00 and .996 which are higher than the alpha of .05, and thus the null was rejected. There is no significant effect between Advanced Placement participation and increased reading achievement scores. Furthermore, this study confirmed the school that did not mandate Advanced Placement courses outperformed the mandatory Advanced Placement school on the state reading examination. More research on this topic is necessary. Longitudinal studies of these student populations may determine if the results may be generalized to larger populations. Among the most significant findings from this study are the importance of teacher preparation and leadership in identifying, recruiting, and enrolling minority students in to Advanced Placement and honors programs with greater consistency. </p>

<p> This study investigated the following overarching questions: Why do some Americans support religious expression and prayer in public schools while others oppose it? What accounts for the variation in support for school prayer? Previous research on this question indicated that support for religious expression and prayer in public schools varies by geographical regions in the United States, whereas Americans in some regions are more likely to support religious expression and prayer in public schools than those living in other regions. In an effort to explain this regional variation, Feig (1990) developed a model that suggested this regional variation is due to four major factors: demography, political orientation, moral values, and religiousness. Were it not for these factors, he claimed, there would be no regional variation for religious expression and prayer in public schools. Hence, regional variation is due mainly to these four factors. </p><p> Viewed as an exploration of Feig&rsquo;s (1990) model, this study shows that the correlation between region and attitude on religious expression and prayer in public schools is partially due to the factors in Feig&rsquo;s (1990) model. It provided evidentiary support by measuring the strength and direction of the relationship between the four factors and support for religious expression and prayer in public school. It also attempted to ascertain how much variation in support for religious expression and prayer in public schools is accounted for by the factor combination.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study is to explore the educational perceptions of Mexican parents living in the United States and how their experiences gestate Mexican student concepts of education. Additionally, the study explores the high drop-out rate among Mexican students enrolled in U.S. public education, the consequences the drop-out rate has on U.S. society, and the history and culture of Mexico that formed the environment in which Mexican parents lived their experiences. The study was administered using a qualitative, empirical, phenomenological methodology using in-depth interviews. The study sample consisted of six native Mexican parents with students enrolled in an urban school district in Utah. Data was collected using an interpreter, originally from Mexico, literate in English and Spanish. The in-depth interviews were recorded and translated, then transcribed using Dragon voice recognition software. The qualitative data was then analyzed for this study.</p><p> Two major themes were identified in the study. The leading theme ascertained within the data indicated gender roles of <i>machismo</i> and <i> marianismo</i>, as influenced by cultural proclivity, dominate family life, which is the basis of Mexican existence. The second dominant theme showed a narrow worldview inculcated by a group- or family-oriented life world experience. Recommendations to address the identified themes in the study are provided. </p>

<p> This qualitative, phenomenological study explored Sexual Health Education (SHE) through the lens of 11 public school teachers who formally taught sex education. It explored the levels of comfort and barriers that educators possessed when they communicated SHE to adolescents. One community within the State of Indiana was examined. Eleven 7-12^th grade educators among three school districts shared their beliefs, values, and feelings regarding SHE instruction and levels of sexuality comfort. As a result, the concept of sexuality comfort was reconstructed, and three findings emerged from the data that can contribute to further research in the fields of education, communication, and health. They include: (1) An inclusive sexual health education program can provide educators with more sexuality comfort, (2) Teacher training and instructional materials relate to an educator&rsquo;s sexuality comfort level and willingness to communicate SHE, and (3) An educator&rsquo;s level of sexuality comfort will likely increase if engaged in SHE decision-making policies.</p><p>

<p> This case study explored the viability of using a Critical Friends Group (CFG) dialogue protocol within a novice teacher induction program to facilitate dialogue about equity in a diversifying suburban school setting. The study included two research questions: How do novice teachers in a suburban school district with shifting demographic diversity make sense of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities? How does an equity-focused community of practice using a dialogue protocol affect novice teachers&rsquo; praxis through their understanding of how to address issues of student equity in their instructional practice? Even in a high performing suburban school, novice teachers had significant dilemmas of equity in their classes. Consequently, the novice teachers did not feel suitably trained or capable of providing the range of differentiation necessary to equitably meet the needs of their students. Thus, the novice teachers admitted to teaching by subjective intuition and asking for guidance from colleagues. The effects of adding the dialogue protocol included both an improved sense of trust among participants and of personal efficacy among the novice teachers. Questions posed during the dialogue protocol challenged the novice teachers&rsquo; personal biases, ethics, and decisions. Overall, the dialogue sessions created a space to help each of the novice teachers understand their options, responsibilities, and resources to improve their instructional praxis. This study recommends future research be conducted about the longitudinal impact of implementing a Critical Friends Group (CFG) dialogue protocol into the California induction credentialing process. This includes research into how to train mentors to facilitate group dialogue sessions, and collect and analyze student outcomes data.</p><p>

<p> This phenomenological study focused on the lived experiences of modern day polymaths. The constructs of openness to experience, identity, self-directed learning, polymathy or multi-disciplinarily, and intrapersonal functional diversity were used to frame the research. The primary theoretical lens of this study is based on Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory. The inquiry focused on accomplished polymaths with careers spanning both the arts and sciences. The participants&rsquo; narratives provided insights regarding how they became polymaths and what their experiences as polymaths have been like. </p><p> The population for this phenomenological study was found using snowball sampling (also called chain or network sampling). Interviews with thirteen participants were conducted using a modified version of Seidman&rsquo;s (2013) method, focusing on (1) life history, (2) details of the experience of being a polymath, and (3) meaning making of being a polymath. Through applying Moustakas&rsquo; (1994) phenomenological data analysis methods, a total of twelve themes emerged. In addition to the twelve themes, textural and structural descriptions were presented that helped to elucidate the essence of polymathic experiences. </p><p> Seven conclusions were drawn from this research: (1) to be a polymath, one must accept not fitting in the typical box and perhaps even embodying apparent contradictions; polymathy is being intrapersonally diverse, (2) polymaths are exposed broadly, think creatively and strategically, and juggle their many interests and obligations through effective time management, (3) being a polymath can make life richer, but it can also be quite difficult, (4) polymaths are excellent at being creative and solving problems creatively, (5) polymathy develops due to a combination of nature and nurture, and polymathy is maintained in adulthood by a willingness to continue to work to improve oneself through self-directed learning, (6) polymath identity is discovered from not fitting in; polymath identity can be difficult to fully own and to explain to others, (7) family and financial resources impact the emergency of polymathy. A number of recommendations for theory, practice, and research are provided as well. </p><p>

<p> Social media has permeated nearly every facet of our modern society. The influence on our culture has been beneficial but challenging. The impact of social media upon the school environment has been tremendous, yet few school districts have created policies describing its acceptable use by employees. Teachers are left feeling uncertain as to where the boundaries exist for their personal and professional use of social media and what can happen when they cross that undefined line. This dissertation examines the court cases that have influenced employment decisions for school employees and defined employees&rsquo; First Amendment right to free speech as it relates to the use of social media. The cases related to students&rsquo; free speech limitations that have influenced teachers&rsquo; cases will be reviewed, as well as current policies as they exist at the national, state, and local levels. The primary purpose of this research is to look for trends among the cases, create guidelines for administrators to use to determine if their employees have engaged in protected speech, and provide a framework for districts to use when creating their own social media policies.</p><p>

<p> Active shooter events in K-12 schools have increased since 1990, and developing response policies to such events is a responsibility of school personnel. A paucity of data regarding options-based response practices existed with no focus on policy processes. The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to describe the decision-making processes used in school districts when approving the inclusion of options-based responses to active shooter events in Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs). The research questions addressed processes that shaped the development of options-based responses to active shooter policies in 3 K-12 school districts within the Midwest. The conceptual framework was informed by the theory of policy paradox and the concepts of situational awareness and resilience. Structured interviews were conducted with 12 school personnel and safety professionals involved in 3 high schools; EOPs and state and federal regulations and guidelines were reviewed. An analysis of the interview responses and document reviews using four levels of descriptive coding required a cross-case analytic technique to discover patterns, connections, and themes. Law enforcement and school personnel worked together to create policy and to implement trainings related to options-based response. Results included enhancing situational awareness and empowering teachers and students to become responsible for their safety. These findings can be used to inform and guide school leaders in their efforts to make policy and implementation decisions regarding active shooter policies in EOPs. The potential for social change exists in more school personnel understanding and implementing options-based response policies and making the lives of K-12 students safer.</p><p>