To: Dr. Lucian Yates, III Dean Whitlowe R. Green College of Education Prairie View A&M University From: Dr. William Allan Kritsonis Professor PhD Program in Educational Leadership Prairie View A&M University Re: Dissertation Abstracts 2009-2010 Date: November 6, 2010 Dissertation Abstracts Listed Robert Marcel Branch, PhD Donald Ray Brown, Jr., PhD Jennifer T. Butcher, PhD Michelle Cloud, PhD Rebecca Duong, PhD Steven Norfleet, PhD Eunetra Ellison Simpson, PhD Rhodena Townsell, PhD Debra Denis Watkins, PhD PhD Graduate Completers
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To: Dr. Lucian Yates, IIIDeanWhitlowe R. Green College of EducationPrairie View A&M University
From: Dr. William Allan KritsonisProfessorPhD Program in Educational LeadershipPrairie View A&M University
Re: Dissertation Abstracts 2009-2010
Date: November 6, 2010
Dissertation Abstracts Listed Robert Marcel Branch, PhDDonald Ray Brown, Jr., PhDJennifer T. Butcher, PhDMichelle Cloud, PhDRebecca Duong, PhDSteven Norfleet, PhDEunetra Ellison Simpson, PhDRhodena Townsell, PhDDebra Denis Watkins, PhD
PhD Graduate Completers
ABSTRACT
Hispanic Teacher Recruitment and Retention Initiatives in Texas Schools
(FEBRUARY 2009)
Robert Marcel Branch: B.A. - Louisiana State University
M.A., M.Ed. - Prairie View A &M University
Dissertation Chair: William Allan Kritsonis, Ph.D.
The purpose of this study was to identify methods to assist with the recruitment and
retention of Hispanic teachers in selected schools in Texas. A mixed methods design involving
quantitative and qualitative measurements was utilized in this study.
Data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) involving the selected schools were
consolidated and inputted into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software for
required computations. Results were presented and analyzed to provide answers to the
quantitative dimension of the study.
Inputs of Hispanic teachers and district administrative personnel contributed to answering
the qualitative portion of the study. The researcher used a survey and conducted interviews to
examine factors associated with the effective recruitment and retention initiatives for Hispanic
teachers within the area of study.
The quantitative portion of the study showed that the average annual percentage for
Hispanic teachers ranged from 6.5% to 8.2%; the average annual increase over the years under
study was 0.15 percentage points. The average percentage for Hispanic students ranged from
27.8% to 38.5%; the average annual increase over the same years under the study was 1.78
percentage points. When the relationship between the average percent of Hispanic teachers and
the average percent of Hispanic students passing the TAKS Exit Level examination in
Mathematics was determined for the three years under study, all Pearson r values were negative.
The results of r = – 0.372 for SY 2004 – 2005 and r = - 0.418 for SY 2005 – 2006 were
significant at 0.05 level, two-tailed.
Likewise, when the relationship between the average percent of Hispanic teachers and the
average percent of Hispanic students passing the TAKS Exit Level examination in
English/Language Arts was determined for the three years under study, all Pearson r values were
also negative. The results of r = – 0.328 for SY 2004 – 2005 and r = - 0.520 were significant at
0.05 level, two-tailed. The increase of Hispanic teachers in SY 2006 – 2007 did not significantly
affect the performance of Hispanic students in both Mathematics and Reading/ELA TAKS Exit
level examinations. Possibly, the additional Hispanic teachers were assigned to subjects other
than Mathematics and Reading/ELA.
The qualitative portion of the study posed questions to Hispanic teachers and school
administrators and district personnel regarding recruitment and retention initiatives experienced
by both groups. Forty (40) Hispanic teachers answered the survey and fourteen (14) school and
district administrators were interviewed.
Of the nine (9) motivating factors advanced by the researcher in terms of recruiting
Hispanic teachers, the top five ranked by the Hispanic teachers were: opportunity to help others,
job location, salary, needed a job and prestige of the district or school.
The researcher had identified fifteen (15) factors that may motivate Hispanic teachers to
remain in their teaching job after they have joined the teaching force. Results of the rating done
by the Hispanic teachers identified the top five reasons: opportunity to help others, job
satisfaction, job security, salary and working conditions.
ABSTRACT
Reducing Recidivism Rates for African American Males Enrolled in
Middle School Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs
(August 2009)
Donald Ray Brown, Jr.: B.S. – Prairie View A&M University
M.Ed., Prairie View A&M University – Prairie View
Dissertation Chair: William Allan Kritsonis, Ph.D.
The purpose of this study was to examine structural procedures and
interventions that help reduce or eliminate the percentage of African
American males who return to the Disciplinary Alternative Education
Program (DAEP) after a successful completion of their initial placement. The
researcher will review program structure, best practices, Teachers’ Sense of
Teacher Efficacy, parental involvement and social skill curriculum to find out
what impacts and influences a successful one time visit to a disciplinary
alternative education program for the African American male.
Today’s public education system is focused on improving academic
achievement for all students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
This ambitious and sometimes ambiguous goal becomes quite difficult to
accomplish, when factors such as social-economic status, culture and
ethnicity are a part of the equation. Students who fit within the parameters
of this difficult equation face multiple challenges adjusting to the Americas
Public Education System (APES), which, throughout history has been
inherently biased to favor the learning experience of Caucasian Americans
(Bommarito, 2002). Consequently, African American males are suffering in
multiple parts of America’s Public Education System (APES), including the
DAEP settings.
The research was guided by the following questions to identify factors
that contribute to low recidivism rates for African American male middle
school students enrolled in DAEP’s:
RQ1 Is there a relationship between Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy score,
best practices, and African American male student recidivism rates in
disciplinary alternative education settings?
RQ2 How does each program structure model affect African American
male student recidivism rates in an alternative setting?
RQ3 What aspect of parental involvement influences African American
male student recidivism rates?
RQ4 What influence does the Social Skills Curriculum have on African
American male student recidivism rates?
Descriptive statistics were used to compile demographic information
about district chosen for this study. Pearson correlation coefficients were
used to calculate and establish whether or not a meaningful relationship
existed between the degree to which the variables and African American
male recidivism rates correlate. Sirkin (2006) describes Pearson’s r as a
“coefficient that is used when both variables are an interval or a ratio level of
measurement” (p. 446). A relationship could exist between DAEP program
structure, best practices, Teachers’ Sense of Teacher Efficacy, parental
involvement, social skills curriculum, and sixth through eighth grade African
American male recidivism rates.
A reasonable assumption would be that the current interventions and
structure educational and penile systems use for rehabilitation are
ineffective – based on high recidivism to DAEP and the American penile
Cheantel Adams, PhDPrincipalAlief Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Roselia Alaniz, PhDVice President of Human ResourcesIDEA Public Schools Weslaco, TexasGraduated: December 2007 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Allena C. Anderson, PhDDirector, Character Education (Central Administrator)Cedar Hill Independent School DistrictCedar Hill, TexasGraduated: August 2010 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Gary D. Bates, PhDPrincipalRoyal Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2007 – Dr. DeSpain, Dissertation Chair
Cynthia Lawry-Berkins, PhDGeology InstructorBlinn CollegeBrenham, TexasGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Herrington, Dissertation Chair
Robert Marcel Branch, PhD PrincipalClear View Education CenterClear Creek Independent School DistrictLeague City, TexasGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Donald Ray Brown, Jr., PhD PrincipalAlvin Independent School DistrictAlvin, Texas
Graduated: August 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Jennifer T. Butcher, PhDAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Educational LeadershipThe University of Texas Pan AmericanGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Michelle Cloud, PhDPrincipal, Brookline Elementary SchoolHouston Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Rebecca Duong, PhDPrincipal-Hall Career AcademyAldine Independent School DistrictHouston, TexasGraduated: August 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Sorie Gassama, PhDFrench TeacherHouston Independent School DistrictHouston, TexasGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Janetta Gilliam, PhDFinancial Aide AdministratorPrairie View A&M UniversityGraduated: December 2008 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Teresa A. Hughes, PhD (First recipient of PhD degree)Assistant ProfessorSam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TexasGraduated: December 2006 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
La’Shonte Williams IwunduAssistant PrincipalSpring Independent School DistrictSpring, TexasGraduated: May 2010 – Dr. Tanner, Dissertation Chair
Karen Dupre Jacobs, PhDScience Instructional SpecialistAlief ISDGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Clarence Johnson, PhD Director of Safe and Secure Schools Aldine Independent School District Houston, Texas 77032 Graduated: December 2008 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
James D. Laub, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorGraduate Program CoordinatorEducational LeadershipUniversity of Texas - Permian BasinGraduated: May 2007 – Dr. DeSpain, Dissertation Chair
Cheng-Chieh Lai, PhDAssistant Professor Hsiuping Institute of Technology Taichung, TaiwanGraduated: December 2008 – Dr. Herrington, Dissertation Chair
Alfreda Love, PhDAdministratorWaco Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Freeman, Dissertation Chair
Nasrin Nazemzadeh, PhDProfessor of Economics and BusinessLone Star College- TomballTomball, TexasGraduated: December 2008 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Grace Thomas Nickerson, PhDAssociate Principal of Small Learning Communities InstructionDekaney High SchoolSpring Independent School DistrictSpring, TexasGraduated: December 2008 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Lautrice Nickson, PhDAssistant ProfessorSam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TexasGraduated: May 2007 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Steven NorfleetTeacherFort Bend Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2010 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Margaret Curette Patton, PhDPrincipalBarbara Jordon Elementary SchoolFort Bend Independent School DistrictGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Arthur L. Petterway, PhDPrincipalHouston Independent School DistrictHouston, TexasGraduated: May 2007 – Dr. Mehta, Dissertation Chair
Gail C. Samuels-ParsonAdministratorFort Bend ISDGraduated: December 2007 – Dr. Freeman, Dissertation Chair
Eunetra Ellison-Simpson, PhDResponse to InterventionHouston AcademyGraduated: May 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Desiree Adair SkinnerBilingual/ESL Migrant Program CoordinatorBryan Independent School DistrictGraduated: August 2010 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Yolanda E. Smith, PhDEVA System ManagerUnited Space AllianceJohnson Space CenterHouston, TexasGraduated: May 2007 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Samuel Todd StephensSuperintendent of SchoolsMagnolia Independent School DistrictMagnolia, TexasGraduated: August 2007 – Dr. Hermond, Dissertation Chair
Rhodena Townsell, PhDPrincipalMadisonville Consolidated School DistrictMadisonville, Texas Graduated: May 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Debra Denise Watkins, PhDDefended July 31st
TeacherBrazos Independent School DistrictBellville, TexasGraduated December 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Monica G. Williams, PhDVice President for Human Resources &Director of Resource DevelopmentHouston Works USAHouston, TexasGraduated: August 2009 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair
Melody Ann Wilson, PhDAssistant Principal Aldine Independent School DistrictHouston, Texas Graduated: May, 2008 – Dr. Freeman, Dissertation Chair
Frances Craig Worthey, PhDDirector of Student LifeTexas State Technical CollegeWaco, TexasGraduated: December 2008 – Dr. Kritsonis, Dissertation Chair