Transitioning adult education students to post-secondary programs and community college requires deliberate intervention and support services. This dissertation study was part of a larger action research study aimed at increasing transitions to college for non-traditional adult students by providing support and resources to adult education…

This capstone project occurred in collaboration with Cornerstone Christian Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a role-emerging area of practice, occupational therapy must focus on integrating services in private schools just as much as public schools. The need for resources to support future fieldwork students at Cornerstone Christian Academy makes…

Mid-career teachers make up the majority of the educator population (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021) and a significant number of mid-career teachers encounter career cycle periods known as career frustration and career stability (Fessler & Christensen, 1992). The first is characterized by overall frustration and disillusionment…

The SUGAR Program Manual was designed based on an extensive literature review on bullying, adolescent development, resilience and protective factors, and anti-bullying programs. Literature on anti-bullying programs showed a deficit for older adolescents, particularly high school students. A whole-school approach is proposed by incorporating…

For many years, organizations have been challenged with developing leaders. Organizational leaders understand the importance of developing new leaders that can carry the values, mission, and vision of the organization. They also know that those values are an important factor in achieving the organization's objectives. However, many leadership…

The crux of this project involved creating an accreditation handbook for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation process for the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at Morehead State University (MSU). CAEP is a nationally recognized accrediting body that reviews and ensures quality in teacher education…

This study aimed to enhance students' experimental skills and laboratory techniques in cell and molecular biology. A trifold intervention involving a Gene Screen Worksheet, a Gene Screen Flowchart, and a laboratory manual were used, along with a mixed methods approach to data collection. The trifold intervention was grounded in constructivism,…

Humanity is dependent on the natural world for its resources and for human health and well-being. A growing population and unsustainable human activity, though, are having adverse impacts on Earth systems. Research shows that meaningful, systemic environmental education (EE) programs are essential for public schools to ensure that all learners…

In 2014 the White House held a Maker Faire and began a new obsession for American public schools: makerspaces. This capstone begins with an in-depth discussion about the history of American makerspaces and discusses many of the predominant makerspace best practices and the groups that have researched them. The capstone seeks to create a…

Little information is known on crisis prevention and intervention plans in schools across South Dakota. A review of the existent literature revealed gaps within school-based crisis intervention models, their objectives, and their effectiveness in addressing the psychological and physical safety needs of students, staff, teachers, families, and…

This study is a program evaluation of a small, rural school district's special education program's compliance with key processes, including the child study, eligibility, and individual education plan (IEP) processes. The goals of the evaluation were to identify potential weaknesses in the special education program implementation, and to provide…

This case study served to investigate the current practices of career-planning advisement through the usage of degree maps as a tool at an urban university (New Jersey City University). The focus of the study involved the undergraduate STEM student community, which has historically faced high levels of attrition, with proper advisement and support…

The purpose of this Action Research study was to investigate and improve preschool program maintenance and decision-making processes as understood by teachers, parents, administrators, and community members. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 consisted of interviews with two teachers, one current and one former, and three former parents…

Student teaching is recognized as the culminating and seminal experience of preservice teacher education. It is a unique time when preservice teachers are fully engaged in daily responsibilities of P-12 music educators, while under direct supervision of a mentor, often referred to as the cooperating music teacher (CMT). CMTs have immense influence…

This study investigated the curricular representations of the environment and the human-environment relationship at one residential school sponsored science camp. Data gathered included field notes from observational time at the camp, interviews with staff and classroom teachers, and documents from the site's website, guides, manuals, and…