Dissertations / Theses: 'Professional development school'

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Parson, Demita Sidonia. "School Bullying and Teacher Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2015. http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1709.

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Bullying has become a serious concern in many American public middle schools in recent years. Inadequate professional development (PD) in bullying prevention and response strategies has compounded this problem. The overarching purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the growing problem of school bullying. Bronfenbrenner's socioecological theory, which states that environment and relationships influence student behavior, served as the conceptual framework for this qualitative study. Guiding research questions, grounded in socioecological theory, were used to examine middle school teachers' views of PD and their perceived skills in responding to or preventing bullying. Through purposeful sampling, 8 middle school teachers in a community in rural Alabama were interviewed over a 3-week period. Each had at least 1 year of teaching experience in the local rural setting. To authenticate study findings, discipline referrals and state incident reports spanning the 2 previous years were assessed for teacher management of bullying. Data were analyzed using open coding to identify and categorize the patterns and themes that emerged. Results indicated that the teachers perceived that PD would give them the strategies to recognize and manage incidents of school bullying. These results supported and informed the PD project for middle school teachers. This study contributes to social change by providing professional development that will help teachers to either prevent or manage school bullying appropriately, a benefit to children and communities.

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Scoggins, C. "Professional development in elementary school mathematics." ScholarWorks, 2010. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/817.

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This study was an investigation of mathematics instruction and professional development at a rural elementary school. The Department of Education in a southern U.S. state implemented a new curriculum in 2007 that required major changes in mathematics instruction. The problems were that teachers engaged in different levels of training and many students experienced a decline in mathematics scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). The historical learning theories of Piaget and Vygotsky framed the study. The guiding questions focused on how to improve mathematics instruction through professional development for teachers. Nine elementary school educators served as purposefully selected participants. The research design was a case study that included triangulation of data from teacher interviews, a research journal, and documents such as lesson plans. Open coding and selective analysis generated 9 themes and 9 subthemes to answer the guiding questions. Findings showed that participants believed content and pedagogy should be addressed through professional development led by teachers themselves. Additional findings were that teachers valued collaboration, literature and research, observation, vertical alignment, engagement, relevance, and support. Results were used to guide the design of a mathematics professional development program (MPDP), a collection of relevant tasks, literature, and online resources geared toward improving teachers' content and pedagogical knowledge. The MPDP is immediately applicable in an elementary school setting. The implications for positive social change include better mathematics instruction that will prepare U.S. students to compete in the modern economy and world of mathematical and scientific advances.

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Bruner, Carl. "School improvement planning and the development of professional community /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/7801.

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Quattlebaum, Simon F. "Designing Professional Development for Elementary School Teachers." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1549.

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Within a Northeast urban school, there is little empirical evidence to indicate the effectiveness of the district professional development (PD) program. Elementary teachers at the study site reported that they encountered problems accessing professional development programs applicable to their needs. The purpose of this case study was to examine teacher perceptions of district PD programs and to discover teacher perceptions of PD best practices. Knowles' adult learning theory provided a frame of reference for this study. The research questions assessed teachers' perceptions of the format, content, and process of professional development programs and examined how teachers applied new knowledge, concepts, and skills offered in professional development training. A case study design was used to gather focus group data from a critical case sample of 6 elementary teachers who were participating in PD training or who had participated in PD within the past 3 years. Emergent themes were identified from the data. Findings were developed and validated with member checking. The findings indicated that these 6 teachers desired more involvement in planning relevant PD, greater time allocated to collaborative activities, and more grade-level customized programming. Implications for positive social change include improved district professional development opportunities that align with best teaching practices for effective student instruction and increased student achievement.

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ZORN, DEBBIE. "THE ROLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN DEVELOPING SCHOOLS' CAPACITY FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin990794239.

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Wagner, Jo Ann. "High School Principals' Roles in Teacher Professional Development." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/77085.

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As the key leader at the school level, the principal plays a central role in the implementation of professional development programs and measurement of the outcomes of these activities (Elmore, 2000). This investigation explored high school principals' roles in and principals' perceptions of teacher professional development as a mechanism for improving teacher instructional practices. The 15 high school principals interviewed for this study were from one region in a southeastern state. Using the professional development standards developed by the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) (2001) to frame this study, a non-experimental descriptive research design was employed. Specifically, data collection methods included focus group interviews and document analysis. Three focus group interviews were conducted, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. Data sources were the transcripts from the focus group interviews with principals and information from each principal's school improvement plan. Data from both the transcripts and document review were sorted and categorized using the long-table approach (Krueger & Casey, 2000). Data were organized into the NSDC domains of context, process, and content. The findings indicated that principals assumed the responsibility for providing professional development at their school and reported that as part of that responsibility they performed the following eight roles: (a) connected the professional development to school and/or division goals, (b) allowed teachers to play a part in their professional development, (c) provided the resources of funding and time for professional development, (d) provided support and encouragement for implementation of the professional development, (e) held a variety of professional development activities at their school, (f) collected student achievement data to determine the professional development needs, (g) determined the effectiveness of the professional development in classrooms, and (h) allowed teachers to choose the professional development activity to attend. The two roles, supported in the literature, which only a few principals discussed were: implementing PLCs and providing on-going, continuous professional development with follow-up. One area of concern reported by the principals was the reality that all teachers do not implement the professional development in their classrooms. Five major conclusions were drawn from the findings in this study. Principals value teacher professional development as a mechanism to change teachers' instructional practices and accept the responsibility for implementing professional development at their schools. The majority of the professional development activities reported by the principals were generic type professional development activities that related to all teachers. However, principals do not expect that all teachers will implement the innovations in their classrooms. PLCs, in which teachers are working collaboratively to improve student achievement, are not being implemented in all reporting participants' high schools. Time is an important factor in determining the implementation of the professional development in the classroom.
Ed. D.

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Bishop, Judith E. "Teacher supervision of preservice teachers : a naturalistic study of teachers' professional development /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/7753.

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Bush, Nicole Lea. "The evolution of a professional learning community in a professional development school." Ashland University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1458523042.

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Pendergraft, Elizabeth Murray. "Teacher Inquiry in a Professional Development School Environment." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2008. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/msit_diss/26.

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Cothern, Thomas Lynn. "Professional development of school principals and policy implementation." Thesis, Southeastern Louisiana University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3616991.

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Effective professional development for school principals is crucial to the successful administration of schools, especially during periods of change resulting from policy mandates. The Louisiana Legislature has passed legislation in an attempt to reform education in the state. During this same period, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has determined school districts are responsible for the professional development of school principals in the district. However, there may be varying degrees of fidelity with respect to the types of programs implemented in the school districts in Louisiana.

This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to determine the elements, contexts, and topics found in the principals' professional development in two school districts in Louisiana. Educational leadership literature and studies have indicated professional development for principals should be ongoing and occur during all phases of the principals' career. The participants in the study included the district personnel responsible for implementing professional development for principals and the principals in two school districts, one rural and the other suburban.

The role district administrators had in the districts' professional development programs was examined and compared to the responses of the principals included in the study. The responses of the principals and superintendents in both districts were compared and contrasted through both a within-case and cross-case analysis. The role professional development had in implementing policy changes was also examined.

The data collected through the survey used and the interviews provided a glimpse of the professional development found in both districts, as well as the expectations and needs the principals had for the program. To take it a step further, the desires of the principals of both districts in all three areas are compared with the common areas in both districts delineated.

The results between the two districts were very similar in both the types of professional development the principals attended and the desires the principals indicated they would like to see included in a program of professional development. The principals in both districts desired the program to be ongoing, collaborative, and participative. The principals also desire for professional learning communities to be the context used in the programs. Topics should include the use of data, enhancing instruction, facilitating change, and the development of leadership skills. The expectations the principals had for professional development that should be included in a program are the use of data, personnel matters, and implementation strategies for changes to the school campus. The needs the principals perceived as important to be included in professional development included collaboration among their peers, provide follow-up, provide time for reflection, allow for school visitations, and the program be research based. The needs that were not being met through professional development included knowledge of teacher evaluation and instruction, data interpretation and student achievement, and activities designed to foster improvement in leadership skills.

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Via, Teresa Ann. "Collaborative processes of a professional development school partnership." College Park, Md.: University of Maryland, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/8155.

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Thesis (D.Ed.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2008.
Thesis research directed by: Dept. of Education Leadership, Higher Education, and International Education. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

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Theodocion, Kelley E. "Middle School Educators' Perceptions of Online Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1006.

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Numerous researchers have investigated distance education in postsecondary settings, but there is a paucity of research regarding the design and delivery of online professional development for K-12 educators. The goal of this mixed methods sequential exploratory study was to examine attitudes of middle grades educators toward an online professional development course held for teachers employed by one suburban school district in the southeast region of the United States. The theoretical framework is Knowles's theory of adult education (andragogy). The research questions addressed perceptions of connectedness and learning in an online professional development course. A structured interview protocol was used to collect qualitative data from 5 participants; data were coded and analyzed into 6 typologies. The Classroom Community Scale (CCS) that assessed perceptions of (a) connectedness and (b) learning effectiveness among 23 participants provided quantitative data to complement the interview findings. Mean ranks were used to prioritize 10 items within each of the 2 CCS subscales. Overall, participants felt like they could rely on others in the course yet were uncertain that others could depend on them. The study also identified a preference for immediate feedback and activities that required collaboration. These findings can be used to inform the design of online professional development courses for K-12 educators. This study contributes to positive social change by showing that online opportunities may allow teachers to collaborate with colleagues without the restrictions of time and travel by creating a community of learners through Web 2.0 tools.

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Glynne, Michele Theresa. "Exploring the Efficacy of School-based Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1620.

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No method exists for evaluating the effectiveness of professional development (PD) for teachers in Boston Public Schools. Often PD does not contribute to teacher quality, which can hinder student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of PD among K-8 teachers and to examine the alignment of PD in the schools with the 4 prerequisites of professional learning outlined by Learning Forward. These 4 prerequisites served as the conceptual framework. Of the research questions, 4 reflected the topics of the 4 prerequisites: commitment to students, readiness to learn, collaboration, and learning styles. The fifth research question was based on PD in general. In this case study, data from interviews from nine teachers were analyzed typologically. Key teacher perceptions included a commitment to students, overall lack of relevance and usefulness of PD and therefore lack of readiness to learn, failed efforts to promote collaboration, and lack of attention to teachers' learning styles. Strained partnerships with colleagues and lack of time hampered the effectiveness of the PD. Based on these outcomes, a professional learning opportunity for administrators was created to teach them how to develop effective professional learning for teachers based on the 4 prerequisites. This professional learning opportunity can be implemented at the local level to promote the design of more effective professional learning in Boston Public Schools. By improving the effectiveness of professional learning and subsequently teacher quality, social change in the form of improved student outcomes can be initiated.

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Lekome, Botsang Patricia. "Professional development of primary school educators through the developmental appraisal system." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09122008-152948/.

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Hedgpeth, Pamela S. "Professional development practices for developing principal instructional leadership /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2000. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9988668.

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Crocker, Judith Leslie. "Continuing professional development and curriculum development enhancing teacher satisfaction and commitment /." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B35339883.

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Lencho, Gizaw Tasissa. "School Level Professional Development of Primary School Teachers : Cases in Ethiopia." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.520443.

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The importance of improving schools to transform the delivery of education so that every student has the opportunity to reach her or his true potential is incontestable. School level professional development of teachers is one route towards school improvement. The purpose of this study was to explore school level professional development practices of three primary schools in Ethiopia. Qualitative case study was the basis of the study. Data from the participants (teachers and education officials) were obtained through in-depth and 'elite' interviews. Policy and school documents were also analysed. Field notes about the school environment and events were used to triangulate the data. The study showed the prevalence of tensions between in-service development through cluster resource centres and teachers' feelings of imposed change. It also showed instaff training, mutual classroom observation and experience sharing as forms of professional development in the schools. The study revealed teachers do not undertake action research due to lack of knowledge and skill to do it. In addition, the study found out that school level professional development is constrained due to teachers living distant from the school, teachers' clinging to traditional attitudes, poor management, lack of material support from education authorities and failure of the centre to reconcile central and local conditions. The findings suggest that there is a necessity to empower schools and teachers by developing their capacity in terms of knowledge, skills and material support to enable them decide about their professional development activities. This in turn necessitates collaborative work among education authorities, schools and organizations interested in teacher development, and also a strong partnership between schools and higher education institutions. The thesis is organized in nine chapters. Chapter one deals with educational change in Ethiopia, informed by change theories. Chapter two presents school level professional development ideas and policy formulation in Ethiopia. Teacher development models, approaches and management of school level professional development are discussed in chapter three. Chapter four is about the methodology of the study. Chapters, five, six and seven describe the case schools. Chapter eight provides cross case analysis. The final chapter presents concluding remarks and suggestion.

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Noguchi, Sara F. "District -based professional development for secondary administrators." Scholarly Commons, 2005. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2516.

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The following paper includes a literature review summarizing the following: the evolving role of the principal, the need for professional development, the need for improved professional development, and district-based professional development models. Studies generally focus on aspiring principals and those recently hired into the position. Ongoing development for experienced principals appears to be the most neglected, least developed component of principal preparation. The study was designed to add to the limited knowledge base on district-based professional development models for secondary administrators. This study utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methodology. Quantitative methods included both correlation and descriptive research. The purpose of this study was to determine whether, and to what degree, a relationship exists between participation in various professional development activities and principals perceived competencies in the five leadership standards. Descriptive research describes the extent to which principals express a need for further professional development of the various activity types. Qualitative research describes the recommendations principals make to increase the usefulness of the professional development activities. Participants included all secondary principals and vice principals in the Coastal Mountain Unified School District (CMUSD) for the 2003–2004 school year. This included 11 principals and 26 vice principals. Findings from this study revealed the following: (1) the majority of the activities offered through the Leadership Development Institute revealed a statistical significance greater than zero between participation in activity and the perceived competency levels, (2) principals perceived their skills in five leadership standards to be higher than the vice principals, (3) administrators expressed a need to continue the interactive nature of the professional learning activities especially as it relates to building collaborative teams and working in the area of supervision and instructions, (4) 85% of the principals indicated that participation in the activities related to skill development in supervision and evaluation had a moderate to large impact on their skills, (5) two-thirds of the respondents expressed a need for support in understanding campus climate issues, addressing racism and creating collaborative school environments, (6) the majority of the respondents felt that the content of the Leadership Development Institute was highly appropriate and very valuable.

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Palmatier, Randy Laverne. "The nature of professional development in a high-performing urban elementary school /." Digital version accessible at:, 1999. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/main.

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Hacker, Samantha R. B. S. "Interprofessional Education Experience and Professional Development." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479819792890846.

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Genniker, Veronique. "Professional and personal development of school management teams in three rural primary schools." University of the Western Cape, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4933.

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Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The essential role that school management teams (SMTs) play in managing change has been debated for many years both nationally and internationally. Central to these debates has been the need to understand how to best empower SMTs through a process of continuous professional development. This research aimed to explore SMT members’ experiences of professional and personal development in three rural primary schools in the broad context of educational change in South Africa and specifically in the context of policy implementation. This aim was explored by asking the following research questions: 1. How did educational change in South Africa influence leadership and management in schools? 2. What professional development was experienced by the SMTs as they tried to embrace new roles and responsibilities within a new policy context? 3. What personal development was experienced by the SMTs as they tried to embrace new roles and responsibilities within a new policy context? 4. What are SMT members’ suggestions for enhancement of personal and professional development and support of SMTs in schools in South Africa? The literature review which grounded this study focused on three areas, namely, educational change, leadership and management in schools, and professional and personal development. An integrated theoretical framework was employed and provided the lens through which the data was collected and analysed. Key concepts within the framework included mental maps, reflexivity and authoring which were synthesised within change theory. The change theory employed emphasised the value of engaging with first, second and third orders of change to effect the facilitation of meaningful change on both a personal and professional level. SMTs from three rural primary schools in three different provinces, comprising of six educators each, participated in the study. The researcher conducted three focus groups and 18 individual interviews. The social constructivist -interpretive paradigm that framed this research study is a worldview that understands reality as being constructed when people engage with each other. Congruent with the social constructivist -interpretive paradigm is a qualitative research design, which was employed in this study to collect rich, comprehensive, in-depth data that explored the professional and personal development experiences of SMTs to illuminate the complexity of the issue being studied. The study encompassed three phases of data collection. Firstly, a detailed document analysis was conducted where policy documents, research reports and job descriptions were studied and analysed. Secondly, 18 SMT members were interviewed in three focus groups. Thirdly, the 18 SMT members were individually interviewed. Phases two and three of the data collection process employed semi-structured interviews to generate data. The data analysis employed a qualitative, thematic approach to analyse and interpret the data that emerged. A thematic approach was used to illuminate the professional and personal development experiences and challenges facing the SMTs. The thematic approach generated distinct categories that were used as descriptors to report on the findings of the research. The findings highlight the need for integrated professional and personal development, role clarification, school-based support, policy mediation and outlines implications for the development of SMTs. This research makes a contribution towards educational change in South African schools by providing insights and proposing a model of professional and personal development for SMTs. It illuminates the vital importance of first acknowledging developmental needs and then facilitating personal and professional development to effect practical implementation of change at schools as required by policy. The researcher demonstrates how three orders of change theory with related personal development concepts can be integrated into a single theory to understand and facilitate change at the level of the individual, group and organisation.

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Brijkumar, Amritha. "School management teams' management of the school-based continuous professional development of teachers." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40393.

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This study focuses on how school management teams manage the school-based continuous professional development of the teachers at their schools. The assumption is that continuous professional development - if school-based - may be more practical in implementing changes because the teachers will be working in a familiar context when managing their own development and in meeting the specific needs of their school. At present the professional development of teachers consists mainly of external workshops and courses. Teachers then return to the school context that has not changed to accommodate what has been learnt at these workshops or courses. The lack of feedback or follow-up has done little to encourage teachers to implement any changes in their teaching practice. The study also explores the practice of school management teams in creating collaborative school cultures for the implementation of schoolbased continuous professional development. The rationale for this study is based on the urgent need for continuous professional development to be part of the schools’ development of teachers. The National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development provides the frame of reference. There is, however, a gap in the policy on how continuous professional development should be implemented to create a collaborative school culture and the role that the school management team plays in doing this. The aim of the study was to determine how school management teams managed continuous professional development at their schools; to identify the challenges they faced in managing school-based continuous professional development; and to explore the strategies that contributed to successful school-based continuous professional development. The research methodology employed in this study is a Triangulation Mixed Methods Design. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected simultaneously and analysed separately to understand the research problem. The sample consisted of principals, deputy principals and heads of department of primary schools who were interviewed. Questionnaires were administered to Level 1 teachers at these schools. The interviews were analysed by identifying emerging patterns, themes and categories. The questionnaires were analysed by presenting descriptive statistics about the schools and then inferential statistics were determined that correlated and tested the hypotheses. The results were reported in the form of summaries from the interviews and graphs from the questionnaires.
Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
gm2014
Education Management and Policy Studies
unrestricted

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McCray, Carissa. "Middle and High School Teachers' Perception of Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3179.

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Within the literature, a gap exists in understanding how teacher perceptions may be used to develop, implement, and evaluate professional development. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to describe the perceptions of middle and high school teachers regarding their professional development experiences in a rural school district in Florida. Guided by Chen and Chang's whole teacher framework and Knowles's theory of adult learning, the research questions addressed teachers' needs, expectations, and perceptions of professional development. Triangulated data sources included face-to-face interviews with 10 teachers, participant journals, and professional development agendas. Data analysis included line-by-line coding, open coding, and theoretical coding. Emerging themes were (a) effective and meaningful professional development, (b) teacher contributions to professional development, (c) teacher perceptions of professional development, and (d) student achievement due to professional development. Results indicated that although teachers perceive professional development as a tool for learning, teacher leadership, analysis of student achievement data, and collaboration are needed to increase its effectiveness. This study may contribute to positive social change by improving professional development practices in school districts, leading to enhanced student academic achievement and preparation for careers.

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Notz, Kimberly. "Utilization of professional development and adequate yearly progress, school size, and school level /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2004. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p3164532.

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Ware, Rebecca A. "An Evaluation of a Professional Development School: The School Teacher Education Partnership Project." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26300.

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The professional development school (PDS) has had a recent resurgence in teacher education. Professional development schools were designed to reform teacher education programs and revitalize K-12 education. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a professional development school: The School Teacher Education Partnership (STEP) at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). STEP is a partnership between Elizabeth City State University and one elementary school in each of three participating school districts -- Edenton-Chowan, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, and Gates -- in North Carolina. The study took place over two years. Participants from the 1998-2001 school years were the primary informants. Data were collected through extended interviews. Documentary data and end-of-the-year qualitative evaluations were used to substantiate interview data. The constant comparative method of Maykut & Morehouse (1994) was used to analyze the data. Data were unitized, coded, grouped, categorized, and compared for patterns and themes. The results of this evaluation were strong enough to recommend that a year-long internship be required for all prospective teachers at the university. The STEP graduates come from the program with strong pedagogical skills. The students are prepared to begin working with children from the first day of teaching. They can manage classes well handling routines with little difficulty. Mentor teachers were found to be primary contributors to the development of new teachers, and they are paid little for their efforts. It is recommended that they be paid an amount commensurate with their effort and contributions to the development of new teachers. This compensation should be an integral part of the budgets of the state, local, or university agencies responsible for the preparation of teachers.
Ed. D.

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Hodgen, Jeremy. "Teacher identity and professional development in primary school mathematics." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2003. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/teacher-identity-and-professional-development-in-primary-school-mathematics(3727b6d6-726a-4553-95b2-c74e350c4b7f).html.

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West, Raymond Owen. "Secondary School Choral Teachers' Perceptions of Quality Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2015. http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1728.

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Quality professional development is essential to enhance and sustain teacher efficacy. In a Southeastern school district, content-based, job-embedded professional development was not practiced or available for secondary school choral teachers. The purpose of this research was to discover the perceptions that choral teachers possess about what constitutes quality professional development. Guided by Bruner's constructivist approach, Knowles' concept of andragogy, and DuFour's professional development practices, this study examined the connection between these 3 ideas and supplied the foundation for the development of a professional development program. Using a case study design, data were collected through interviews and lesson plan documents from 9 secondary school choral teachers. The data were coded by hand and analyzed using an inductive approach. The key results were that the secondary school choral teachers desire quality professional development, characterized by content-based subject matter and collaborative delivery methods. A project of customized content-based choral music was constructed using teacher collaboration and mentoring as critical components of the delivery system. This study has implications for positive social change by providing professional development that addresses the needs and desires of the educators and increases their knowledge and skills. The project can perform as a prototype for professional development in other academic disciplines.

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Du, Cloux Kim E. "Professional Development Experiences of Southern California Elementary School Teachers." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4361.

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Many researchers have concluded that teachers' frustration with the lack of quality teacher professional development can be addressed by acknowledging teachers' voices and involving them in the planning and design of their professional development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore 3rd through 5th grade elementary teachers' experiences with professional development in their schools or in their district in Southern California. Hargreaves and Fullan's concept of professional capital and Shulman's construct of knowledge growth in teaching provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions that framed the interview protocol for this study focused on teachers' experiences and ideas for professional development. Open coding of interviews with 8 teachers determined common words, phrases, or sentences and constant comparison determined emergent themes. Findings that emerged were that district professional development lacked continuity and was experienced as overwhelming, ineffective, inadequate, and often insufficient. Teachers perceived that their needs were seldom met and their involvement in the planning and design of professional development was limited. The elementary teachers desire reflective processing time to become masters of their craft, as well as active involvement in planning and designing their professional development. This study may contribute to positive social change by providing insight to professional development designers that teachers desire involvement in planning training with more engagement and higher levels of learning which can contribute to improved student outcomes. Collaboration such as that found in professional learning communities could accomplish this goal.

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Palmer, Laurie A. "Looking back, moving forward the development of the University of Delaware Milford School District professional development school partnership /." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 156 p, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1216756081&sid=3&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Crocker, Judith Leslie. "Continuing professional development and curriculum development: enhancing teacher satisfaction andcommitment." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2005. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B35339883.

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Chan, Lai-yin Dora. "Could the current professional training programme meet the needs of the professional development of newly appointed secondary school principals?" Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2003. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B31963328.

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Johnson, Timothy Erskine. "Professional Development for Secondary School Principals: Delivery, Duration and Discernments." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/85526.

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School leaders are charged with the articulation of a clear vision for bringing about school change and providing students with an instructional program that promotes optimal learning (ISLLC, 2015). The purpose of this study was to examine secondary school principals' perceptions of professional development to achieve and/or maintain school accreditation. The study used a quantitative non-experimental research method along with simple descriptive statistics to analyze professional development experiences of principals and principal perceptions. The study included Virginia secondary schools in Region 2. Region 2 consists of 16 different school divisions with a total of 63 middle schools and 53 high schools. The research measured alignment of professional development to national ISLLC standards revealed in the literature review. Further examining relationship among relevance, quality, duration, format and differentiation of professional development for principals and variables such as school accreditation status. The research findings identified professional development experiences that were grouped by the following administrative themes: administrative, culture, data analyzing, instruction and technology. Approximately 99% of the professional development experiences were presented to principals face-to-face. All (100%) of the professional development experiences were aligned with the national ISLLC standards. Principals in the research study participated in only four online professional development experiences. Principals assigned to fully accredited schools accounted for 54.5% of the professional development experiences. Principals assigned to schools rated conditionally accredited reconstituted accounted for 28.7% of the professional development experiences. Implications for practice for improving the work of principals in secondary schools are recommended, as well as suggestions for future research. '
Ed. D.

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Shipp, J. D. "Professional Development Needs of Elementary School Principals Implementing Site-Based Management in an Urban School System." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1985. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331578/.

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The problem of this study was to identify professional development needs of elementary school principals who are implementing site-based management. The purpose was to develop a prioritized list of developmental needs of principals participating in site-based management in the evaluation of teacher performance, instructional knowledge, behavioral life styles, and other needs as identified by a decentralized decision-making questionnaire. The population for this study was the sixty-one elementary school principals in a large urban school district. The principals were encouraged by the central administrative staff to assume the responsibility of site-based managers during the 1981-1982 school year. Three priority areas involving decision making at the school site evolved. These three areas were personnel, instruction, and budgeting. During the three succeeding years, additional areas of decision making have been added, such as building-level staff development, implementation of flexible student schedules, and provisions for specialized summer programs. Findings of the study showed that there was normality in the assessment of teaching skills by principals, that a significant correlation existed between principals' knowledge of instruction and principals' teacher evaluation scores and that a significant correlation existed between principals' teacher evaluation scores, female principals being more consistent. The findings showed that no correlation existed between evaluation scores and training and age, that there was normality of principals' scores in instructional knowledge, and that there was not a relationship between knowledge of instruction and experience or training. It is recommended that staff development be provided to principals on the philosophy of site-based management and on the role of the principal and that this staff development be given for one to two years prior to implementing site-based management. It is recommended that specific training be provided principals in improving their instructional knowledge, understanding of the authority, and an understanding of the responsibilities that accompany site-based management.

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Joseph, Janine Marcelle. "Professional development programme for middle managers at schools." Thesis, Peninsula Technikon, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1905.

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Thesis (MTech (Education))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2005
In order for productive and positive interaction and growth to occur, schools need to be regarded as organisations with a specific purpose and aim. This means that very definite duties and responsibilities need to be structured to ensure that the organisation operates smoothly and that it achieves its aims and goals. In turn, smooth organisational operation will also determine its effectiveness and efficiency and the impact it has on educators, learners and the community. A professional development programme for middle managers might help to expand a philosophy and practice, which could help to equip middle managers of primary schools for a role in bringing about qualitative changes to address educational, needs. This study attempts to investigate the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes required by middle managers of Heads of Department (HODs) to be effective in their departments. This could be used to develop a skills development programme for middle managers in primary schools. The study as a whole is set against the research literature on the professional development of middle managers in primary schools and focuses on the following aspects: (I) managing policy; (2) managing people; (3) managing teaching and learning and (4) managing resources. In the exploration of the management roles and responsibilities of middle managers in primary schools. qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in investigating the research questions. The research instruments used in the study included 11 semi structured questionnaires, interviews and a focus-group workshop. After the development of data collection instruments, data was collected through semi- structured questionnaires from HODs at selected 18 primary schools. Interviews were also conducted with four principals, one circuit manager, the Assistant Human Resources Consultant and the Human Resource Coordinator of the WCED. A workshop was also conducted with 35 BTech students to develop a framework for a management programme for middle managers in primary schools. The research study reveals the following aspects: (I) the Western Cape Education department has no existing skills development policy for the training of middle managers in primary schools; (2) research respondents identified a need for training in the interpretation and formulation of policies within their various departments as well as training in conflict management and counselling in order to successfully manage the human resources in their department; (3) finance is available for the training of educators but not specifically for middle managers, (4) educators prefer formal training above informal training. This thesis then examines, analyses and discusses these findings with recommendations that follow in Chapter 5.

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Smit, Nicolaas Andrias Johannes. "School-Initiated Type-2 Activities in Continuous Professional Teacher Development." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78496.

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Professional development is more than marking an attendance register at a workshop. Professional development is a reflective process of continuous self-development that should inform the very essence of any learning context. This dissertation builds on how teachers experience school-initiated type-2 teacher professional development in secondary public schools and how their experiences may contribute to the work in the field of teacher professional development and assessment. Although a number of studies have examined teachers’ comprehension of the Continuous Professional Development framework in South Africa and the quality management policies, there is a considerable lack of literature on the relationship between the professional development of teachers and school improvement. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand teachers’ experiences with the implementation of Type-2 Continuous Professional Teacher Development activities in public high schools. The data for this qualitative study were collected through semistructured interviews and policy document analysis. The coded data were analysed and emerging themes were identified. The participants of this study consisted of teachers and members of the School Management Team. However, the study found that teachers perceived that there is a gap in the focus of professional development programmes. Teachers felt that the type-2 developmental activities seemed only for the benefit and achievement of the school’s goals, and do not adequately address the developmental needs of teachers themselves. The findings of this study argue that a culture of shared responsibility and leadership in secondary schools do indeed improve the development of teachers and the successful academic achievement of learners.
Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2020.
Education Management and Policy Studies
MEd
Unrestricted

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Johnson, Mark Steven. "The development of a professional learning community : one high school's experience /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/7878.

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Mulford, David John. "The secondary head of department : professional development requirements, expectations and directions /." Canberra, 2007. http://erl.canberra.edu.au/public/adt-AUC20081201.154838/index.html.

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Brundage, Sara E. "Factors related to the pursuance of professional development by elementary school teachers." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2005.

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Bowen, Gail Ann. "The Role of the Principal in Implementing Change in the Professional Development School." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1996. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278893/.

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This qualitative research study investigated the role of the principal in implementing change in the professional development school (PDS). The study involved 7 elementary schools and 4 school-university collaboratives in the Texas network of 17 Centers for Professional Development and Technology (CPDTs). The research questions focused on the role, leadership, and management concerns of the PDS principal.

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Mitakos, Dimitrios. "Computer literacy among Greek primary school teachers : knowledge, skills and attitudes." Thesis, University of Bath, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.311362.

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Wong, K. L. "The impact of professional development on stress in teaching." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B35711826.

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Potts, Barbara. "From Novice to Expert: The Professional Development of School Counselors." NCSU, 2003. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-03262003-075703/.

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The purpose of the study was to examine the tasks undertaken at different stages of professional development by school counselors and their perceived importance of those tasks. In the quantitative study, data from a survey conducted online by the National Board for Certified Counselors was analyzed to determine the frequency and importance of behaviors reported by counselors at four levels of school counseling experience and at three work level settings. Differences were found between the school counselors at each of the levels of experience and in each setting. In the qualitative study, two focus groups of school counselors, one elementary and one middle and high school, discussed what they do in their jobs. The discussion content was analyzed for themes, and differences were seen by work level setting and by experience level.

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Mphale, Luke Moloko. "An investigation into professional development of secondary school teachersin Botswana." Thesis, University of Bath, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.516940.

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Herman, Laura U. "Mountain View High School improving Algebra instruction through professional development /." Diss., Restricted to subscribing institutions, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1580661561&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=1564&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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Griffen, Jacalyn M. "School counselors in action reframing professional development to engage families." Scholarly Commons, 2015. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/869.

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Co llege enrollment rates in the U.S. have increased over the last 40 years, yet students from undcrservcd communities remain underrepresented. Families in these communities aspire for their children to go to college, but often lack access to the necessary social capital to transform aspirations for their children into action. Federal 6 initiatives focused on increasing educational attainment for students in underserved comn1tmities emphasize the critically important role of the school counselor. The school counselor is ideally positioned to reduce barriers to family engagement in the college access process. Yet, there is a lack of focused support and professional development resources for school counselors. To gain more in sight into how professional development might improve counselors' abilities to support family engagement in college access, I employed an action-oriented qualitative case study to critically consider how urban school counselors took action to address local educational inequities and engage families as partners in the postsecondary process.

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Park, Melanie Lynn. "Middle School Teachers' Professional Development Needs for ICT Literacy Integration." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2751.

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This qualitative case study explored U.S. middle school teachers' professional development needs in Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) literacy integration. Past literature has suggested that teachers should improve classroom practices that promote ICT literacy, but few studies have addressed educators' specific training needs. This study was designed to identify the unique professional development needs of academic teachers in a Midwestern middle school using focus groups and interviews to explore teacher perceptions of current technology usage as well as the barriers and/or facilitators of ICT literacy integration. The conceptual framework was based on Knowles's theory of adult learning, which suggested that adult learners are motivated when they understand the real applications of new information. Methodological triangulation was obtained using 3 teacher focus groups and 2 interviews with 17 academic teachers, 1 administrator, and 1 resource teacher. Transcription documents from the focus groups and interviews were color-coded to identify emerging themes. The findings revealed that the participants believed that their students currently use technology to access information, but rarely evaluate the validity of digital information. To address this deficit, a professional development plan was created with the goal of increasing teachers' ICT literacy integration skills in the area of information evaluation. This plan was designed to improve methodological practices and lead to better classroom instruction, creating positive social change by making educators better-equipped to meet the needs of their students. The local community will also benefit as students leave school better prepared to meet the demands of a technological workforce.

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Puente-Ervin, Leslie. "How High School Teachers Perceive the Quality of Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3063.

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New Jersey is 1 of 46 states to enroll in President Obama's Race-to-the-Top Initiative. Participating states must adopt national standards, revise teacher evaluation procedures, and administer new state assessments. States are prioritizing quality professional development (PD) to prepare teachers for these rapid shifts. The overall problem studied was how high school teachers perceive the quality of PD in a high school in New Jersey. While substandard PD alone is not enough to lose tenure, it has recently become one of the evaluative measures for teacher performance according to a new tenure law signed in 2012 by Governor Chris Christie. Such added pressures could impact teachers' attitudes toward their professional growth. The study was based on Mezirow and Knowles' theory of adult learning as well as social constructivism. Several questions guided this study, such as how can teachers' perceptions shape the current PD program in the featured high school and if the current shifts in educational reform affect their perception. A case study was used as the research design, and interviews were employed as the main method of gathering qualitative data. Subsequently, 7 educators in various content-specialties were interviewed. Once the interviews were analyzed, transcribed, and coded, 5 significant themes emerged: (a) organized and relevant training, (b) in-class support, (c) continuity and constructive feedback, (d) accountability of transference, and (e) a culture of respectful collaboration and partnership. The implications for social change for this project would be that an effective PD program at the high school might improve the high school teachers' attitudes toward their own professional growth. Improved attitudes might motivate teachers to apply new knowledge, which will increase student performance, faculty morale, and community & family relations.

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Cary, Lisa Jane. "Complicating the Professional Development School Model: Redemption, Desire and Discourse." The Ohio State University, 1999. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391615665.

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Matthes, Mellody. "A study of two school districts' practices in providing professional development for principals." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2008. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Fall2008/m_matthes_020209.pdf.

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Axelson, Gregory Carl. "School District Actions that Support the Development of Professional Learning Communities in High Schools." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2017. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc984132/.

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A gap exists in education research in the area of district support for campus-based professional learning communities (PLCs). The current study was an examination of practitioner perceptions of district structures and practices that support the development and sustainability of PLCs in public high schools. I examined the perceptions of 341 teachers, campus administrators, and district administrators in a suburban North Texas public school district with three comprehensive high schools. Using a sequential mixed-method design, quantitative data from an electronic survey and qualitative data from face-to-face interviews were collected and analyzed. The findings revealed a generally positive view of central office support among the participants, including consistent ratings from each high school, each campus-level position, each content area, and each level of experience in the district. There was some misalignment of perceptions between campus-level and district-level staff. The study also uncovered a set of best and worst district practices, the six PLC strengtheners and six PLC inhibitors, which were synthesized into a set of recommendations and guidelines for district support for high school PLCs. From participant feedback, I concluded district support is needed and desired by high school practitioners and there are specific district practices and structures that are most effective. While the study results provide a practical set of recommendations for school districts for supporting high school PLC efforts, expanded research is necessary to confirm transferability to school districts of diverse sizes, locations, and demographics.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Professional development school'

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