<p> The results of the study provided a unique perspective of 20 teachers and how their personal childhood bullying experiences influenced their response to student bullying. Teachers who participated in this study acknowledged that they had a heightened awareness of student bullying, felt their positive attitude was due to their Olweus training as well as a sensitivity towards students who are bullied, indicated that they were aware of the negative impact on their self-esteem, and identified the role empathy played in their response to student bullying. The question of self-efficacy in fourteen participants (70 percent) was an alarming emergent theme in teachers&rsquo; response to student bullying. Although fifteen participants (75 percent) responded in a proactive way, the participants&rsquo; self-confidence in stopping bullying altogether remained an issue. The benefits of responding to bullying, according to the participants, included stopping the cycle so as the student being bullied would not bully others, and these same participants felt that responding to bullying helped to build trust between teachers and students. The results of the study provide a framework of recommendations for educational leaders, policy makers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, and teachers.</p>

<p> The increase in teacher attrition rates within the state of California since 2000 is of concern to the California Department of Education and districts throughout the state because of a myriad of issues created by the loss of qualified teachers. The cost of replacing qualified teachers and recruiting and training new teachers to replace those who have left is a costly challenge. In California, 13% of new high school teachers leave the profession within the first two years of teaching and 22% leave within the first four years, even after successful completion of a teacher support program funded by the state (Reed, Reuben, &amp; Barbour, 2006). Teacher attrition is a growing concern to both the state and the nation.</p><p> In this quantitative correlational study, one public high school within San Diego Unified School District served as a sample reviewed for data relating to teacher job satisfaction and elements of educational leadership that work to promote teacher retention. Data were analyzed to formulate a conclusion regarding job satisfaction and the set of predictor variables including the general quality of administrative leadership within a teacher&rsquo;s educational environment, problem-solving conducted by the leadership in place, professional respect demonstrated for the educator by school leadership, professional development opportunities for teachers, and projected length of employment of the teacher. </p><p> A Bonferroni adjustment was performed on the original alpha level (&alpha; = .05) to reduce the likelihood of a type I error (false positive interpretation). Due to the application of the Bonferroni correction, the research study presented the finding that job satisfaction was not related teacher job satisfaction. Recommendations include the integration of relevant, focused professional development opportunities for teachers, with the ultimate goal in mind to retain dedicated, quality educators who seek to improve the lives of their students daily.</p>

<p> Since the 1970s, a continuous decline in the number of males entering into the teaching profession has resulted in significant underrepresentation of male teachers in public schools, especially in elementary schools. The problem is applications to elementary school positions by females far outnumber applications by males. This qualitative phenomenological study was designed to identify potential male elementary school teachers&rsquo; perceptions of teaching in the primary grades and how the perceptions are influenced. Nine male veteran teachers and 11 male nonveteran teachers participated in the study. All data were collected with in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. Six relevant themes pertaining to attracting and retaining male teachers in elementary teaching emerged during data processing, including the decision to teach, stereotypical expectations about elementary teaching, the importance of money, reducing barriers for male teachers, the benefits of teaching, and technological teaching orientations. Exploration of the emergent themes on an individual basis provides information for school leaders that will help refine recruiting practices and allow leaders to target potential male elementary teachers more effectively.</p>

<p> This qualitative case study explored perceptions of teachers and educational administrators regarding differences between online grading systems and traditional written grade books. The purpose was to gain knowledge of online grade books in relation to parental involvement in the educational process and student academic performance, when compared with the older written grade book method. As well as educator&rsquo;s perceptions of the time use required by online grading systems, and any concerns that educators have with the technology, as compared with the older written grade book method. The research method was qualitative, using recorded interviews of participants where interviewees gave their perceptions relating to the research questions in this study. Research Question 1 was, &ldquo;How do online grading systems affect parental involvement in the educational process compared with traditional written grade books?&rdquo; After coding of the responses to this research question, the main theme was &ldquo;Transparency&rdquo;. Research Question 2 was, &ldquo;How do online grading systems affect student academic performance compared with traditional written grade books?&rdquo; After coding of the responses to this question, the main theme was, &ldquo;Transparency&rdquo;. Research Question 3 was, &ldquo;How do online grading systems affect the time use of educators compared with traditional written grade books?&rdquo; After coding of the responses to this question, the main theme was, &ldquo;Grades Automatically&rdquo;. Research question 4 was, &ldquo;How do the technological concerns with online grading systems compare with traditional written grade books?&rdquo; After coding of the responses to this question, the main theme was, &ldquo;Reliability&rdquo;. Educators and educational institutions may find this information useful when making decisions relative to implementing online grading systems.</p>

<p>This action research study examined the effects of student voice in one high school and the self-reflection of the researcher-administrator involved in the effort. Using three cycles of action research, the researcher-administrator completed a pilot study, implemented a student voice project in one class, and developed a professional development module completed by two other teachers in the school. The researcher-administrator documented personal changes throughout the process. Data was collected through student and adult questionnaires, student and adult interviews, action plans, observations, field notes, and the researcher-administrator&rsquo;s reflective journal. Data was coded for themes and triangulated to obtain results. The reflective journal was used to analyze the researcher-administrator&rsquo;s growth. The researcher-administrator derived two themes as important to both students and teachers engaged in the study: student growth and collaboration. Students in the study believed that by having a voice, personal and school change occurred. Teachers involved in the study believed the action research projects implemented made them more effective. The researcher-administrator&rsquo;s views changed during the study in three major areas: personally, conceptually, and in the development of a Living Educational Theory. There were four outcomes to this action research study: students engaged in this study reported self-growth; students valued their roles as change agents; teachers engaged in the study reported self-reflection helped to make positive changes in practice; and the researcher-administrator evolved as a person and school administrator. </p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> student voice, action research, data collection, themes </p>

<p> No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, was the signature education legislation of the George W. Bush administration. NCLB was but the latest evolution of at least two previous reauthorizations of the ESEA. In 1988 continued receipt of Title I funds to schools was first linked to increased student achievement scores (LeTendre, 1991). The1994 ESEA reauthorization under Bill Clinton saw the federal government go further by tying Title I funds to standards-based curriculum reform (DeBray, 2005). What has made NCLB so different was the punitive approach it took toward Title I schools. The law guaranteed that parents would have the option of opting out of schools that were deemed failing under the law. Failing was defined as a school that had not reached its annual yearly progress goals or, AYP, for two consecutive years. </p><p> This study compared two sets of Title I middle school students: students who remained in their home school, and a matching group of students who chose to opt out of their Title I school and into another school that was not under federal sanctions. Results indicated that students who chose to opt out of their home school did show academic growth. However that growth was similar to their peers who remained in their home school with regard to reading. However, growth was significantly less than their peers with regard to mathematics; thus casting doubt as whether the federal mandate of using school choice as means of improving student achievement was having its intended effect. Implications for future research and practice will also be provided.</p>

<p> Federal stimulus funding expired in 2011-12. NCLB performance mandates approached the 2013-14 deadline. The ESEA waiver became an option with first year of implementation, 2012-13. This convergence of forces and timeline provided the opportunity for this study. </p><p> The study sought to explore whether or not superintendents from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont had already taken and/or would take greater responsibility for curriculum, instruction, and assessment or whether these responsibilities would be delegated to other district personnel and/or outside agencies to ensure that structures were in place and were effective in supporting student achievement. </p><p> This mixed method descriptive study was used to gather data. One hundred superintendents completed the survey. Survey data was collected through SurveyMonkey and analyzed using SPSS v. 20. The study showed that superintendents have taken a greater role and more responsibilities for curriculum, instruction, and assessment due to fiscal limitations. In addition, two-thirds of responding superintendents had yet to establish nonnegotiable goals for student achievement. The study encountered two categories of superintendents: those with and those without district level positions for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. </p><p> Data from the respondents showed that there were differences among the states. The following are a few of the findings from the study. Respondents from Connecticut had the greatest percentage reporting that principals had shared responsibility for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Respondents from Massachusetts had the greatest percentage reporting that superintendents had increased involvement with curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the previous two years. Respondents from New York had the greatest percentage reporting an anticipated budget shortfall for 2012-13. Respondents from Vermont had the greatest percentage reporting a district level position for curriculum, instruction, and assessment.</p><p> Key words: changing superintendent responsibilities, fiscal limitations, budget, curriculum, instruction, assessment</p>

<p> No matter how well an educator evaluation system is designed, it can only be as effective as those who are actually implementing it in the trenches (Stronge, 1993). Unfortunately, many educational reforms at the school level have entirely failed or have failed to be implemented as designed. While much of the current educator evaluation research is focused on the perceptions of school principals and teacher perceptions of how the evaluation system has impacted student learning, "it is important to consider the faculty's perceptions of the evaluation system and their opinion of instructional leadership in their building" (Batchelor, 2008, p.22). </p><p> This study addressed the following main research questions: What is the relationship of the leadership dimensions of vision, support, structure, and trust on charter school teacher attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System? What do teachers perceive as the factors that contribute to teachers' attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System in relation to leadership? </p><p> Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used sequentially in this mixed methods study that examined charter school teachers' attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island model of the Educator Evaluation System. The population sampled was Rhode Island grade 6 - 12 Charter School teachers. The entire population was sampled for the online questionnaire, while a sample of those who completed the survey and volunteered were selected to participate in the focus group. </p><p> Survey respondents perceive support, structure, and trust as having a significant correlation with teacher attitude towards the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System; trust and support explained 72% of the variance. Focus group participants reported that alignment of visions, clarity, transparency, and a small school setting, were factors that contributed to their attitudes toward the implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System. </p><p> The findings of this study could help several stakeholders in the implementation and sustained use of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System: school level leadership, district level leadership, and state level leadership. </p>

<p>New employees lack the professional development, decision-making, and developing skills when entering the Department of Student Affairs (Ondercin, 2009). Given this information, the literature indicates that administrators use different leadership styles and techniques when addressing workplace problems and challenges. This quantitative correlational research study investigated the relationships among student affairs administrators in NASPA&rsquo;s Mid-East region pertaining to their leadership frames and practices disaggregated by gender and the length of time in student affairs (new versus mature administrators). Two instruments used in this research were Bolman and Deal&rsquo;s four-leadership frames typology and Kouzes and Posner&rsquo;s leadership practices inventory. The dependent variables in the study were nine subscales from both the Leadership Orientation Survey (LOS) by Bolman and Deal (1991a) and the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) by Kouzes and Posner (2002). The independent variables in the study were, first, gender of the administrator (male/female) and second, tenure of administrators dichotomized as new administrators with 5 or less years of service versus mature administrators with 6 or more years of service (National Association for Student Personnel Administrators, 2009). Study findings revealed a correlation between both survey instruments and that certain subscales yielded significant results. Recommendations for future research include the need to expand future studies to encompass additional demographic information from participants (race, name of the position held, actual years of service, and identifying the number of administrators who use multiple leadership frames and practices). Researchers should examine additional methods to increase the number of survey participants. The incorporation of these suggestions would increase areas for generalizability. </p>

<p> This dissertation examined the importance of family involvement in student learning and achievement within the Response to Intervention framework. This study built upon the premise that family involvement in a child's education is paramount if educational gaps are to be closed. Families included in this study were randomly assigned into a control or intervention group. This study connected early literacy curriculum based measurement scores and family involvement data gathered from family sessions/interviews. Several research strategies were utilized: 1) quantitative analysis of family-school connections; 2) slope data derived from early literacy curriculum based measurements (CBM); and 3) qualitative analysis of family sessions. Data were collected from an inventory, CBM benchmarking and progress monitoring data, and extensive interviews and field notes. This dissertation challenged the current myopic view of family involvement in student learning and placing the value of families in schools as vital to student learning. Analysis of the family interviews revealed several themes that are relevant for all educators as they attempt to close learning gaps among students.</p>