2025 - Ballard, Jason - Mentorship in the Ministry

1:00 PM Lecture: Mentorship in the Ministry Jason Ballard, a western Gaston County native, has served the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association (GCCBA) since 2022. A graduate of Appalachian State University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he has led multiple church revitalization efforts. Ballard is known for his leadership in missions, ministry training, and church development. Captions automatically generated.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/greene-lecture-series/1004/thumbnail.jp

Dual Antiplatelet vs Monotherapy as Secondary Prevention for Myocardial Infarction in Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death globally, with myocardial infarction (MI) being the biggest contributor. While aspirin monotherapy is standard for preventing ischemic events in CAD patients, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) combining aspirin with P2Y12 inhibitors may offer greater efficacy. This review examines whether DAPT reduces MI incidence compared to aspirin monotherapy (AM), weighing the benefits against potential bleeding risks to guide optimal treatment strategies. Methods: Inclusion criteria included studies in English, published between 2019 and 2024, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The following key terms we used in the PubMed database, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors AND Aspirin AND Myocardial Infarction AND Coronary Artery Disease” along with Boolean operators. Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, comprising four randomized control trials (RCTs) and one meta-analysis. Discussion: DAPT with aspirin significantly reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction in adults with coronary artery disease compared to aspirin monotherapy. This is evident in high-risk groups such as those with diabetes and a history of PCI. However, DAPT also increases the risk of major bleeding, requiring careful patient selection and monitoring. Overall, while DAPT is beneficial for reducing MI, its use should be adjusted to the patient\u27s risk profile, with ongoing research required to improve these strategies

The Influence of High School Teacher Perceptions of PLCs on EOC Scores in a Rural South Carolina School District

This mixed methods convergent parallel study addressed high school teacher perceptions of the impact professional learning communities (PLCs) have on teaching practices and Biology I end-of-course assessment scores of students. This study is modeled after a study conducted by Dawkins (2020). Research participants in this study were science teachers from three high schools in one rural school district in South Carolina. Anonymous online teacher surveys captured quantitative data using Likert scales and qualitative data using open-response questions. Additional quantitative data were collected from a state-mandated Biology I end-of-course assessment. DuFour’s (2004) model of a PLC provided the conceptual framework, and PLCs were defined using DuFour’s three big ideas. The Adult Learning Theory was the theoretical framework. Teachers in this study reported they had the skills needed to ensure all students learned at high levels. Teachers also described how their teaching practices were positively impacted because of collaborating in PLCs. Additionally, teachers said they had the skills needed to create collaborative cultures. Also, student academic scores were positively impacted as evidenced by the ANOVA one-way assessment results. Themes were identified in the following categories and aligned to previous research studies: themes that addressed skills teachers have and need to help students learn at high levels; themes that voiced strengths and weaknesses of PLC meetings relating to collaboration; and themes that described the degree PLCs impacted teaching practices. The findings of this study may contribute to the overall effectiveness of PLCs implemented at the high school level

The Appalachia Effect on School Administrator Retention

The purpose of this study was to identify why school administrators in Appalachia North Carolina chose to stay in their current positions and to discover what factors impacted their decisions to stay. The study’s findings address what school administrators indicate as contributing factors when deciding to stay in their current school district. The results can inform district administrators in effectively retaining school principals in Appalachia North Carolina. After reviewing and studying existing data on the retention of school principal leadership, a survey was created based on principal retention and delivered to 62 principals in Appalachia North Carolina. Six participants volunteered for principal interviews in my study. My research study concludes that the Appalachia effect impacts the recruitment of school administrators. The themes from Research Question 1 that forge sustainable retention practices are diverse experiences, local love, and community aid. My research study shows that the Appalachia effect influences retention of school principals. The themes from Research Question 2 for creating Appalachian mountain school leader retention practices are acknowledging a higher calling, family togetherness, and defining the Appalachia effect. My research study explains that the Appalachia effect impresses upon the challenges of school leadership in Appalachia North Carolina through the themes of administrator ping-pong, Appalachian design, and a swamped support system. The Appalachia effect on educational success examined how location and isolation impact leader success and what practical steps can be taken to turn geographical separation into educational insulation for North Carolina mountain communities

Social Media Influencers’ Impact on Curated Subscription Purchases

Subscriptions gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that consumers would have access to their products without human contact. As consumers emerged from lockdown, marketers faced the challenge of whether consumers will continue to purchase subscriptions and how to attract customers now that in-store shopping has resumed. The purpose of this study is to investigate how user generated content (UGC), promotion, and trust impact the purchase intention of curated box subscriptions with social media influencers (SMI) serving as a moderating variable. The stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework was used to model how UGC, promotion, and trust can impact curated subscription purchases online. Data was collected through MTURK online surveys and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This research will help marketers and firms strategize how and when to utilize SMI to increase sales. Findings from this study also suggest that marketers should tailor curated subscription strategies to specific generational demographics

Factors That Motivate Special Education Teachers to Stay in Their Profession in a Rural South Carolina School District

This study was designed to contribute to our understanding of the different motivating factors that contribute to the long-term retention of special education teachers after they have been in the field for over 5 years. They set out to ascertain predominant mechanisms that motivate these teachers to stay in their positions as well as to inform on the associated struggles and support structures that are helping to both retain their teaching workforce as well as to support their commitment to their teaching lives. Using a descriptive convergent parallel mixed methods design, the study combined quantitative data from online surveys with qualitative findings derived from virtual focus group interviews. Conducted in a rural school district in South Carolina, the study relied on experienced special education teachers to inform this multifaceted perspective on retention. This would come to include professionals demonstrating strong support for their colleagues, autonomy regarding instructional decision-making, highly satisfactory ratings on the job, and the ability to be emotionally resilient. However, according to the study, burnout and occupational stress were major factors in attrition. These results point to a dire need for follow-up professional development efforts of great quality and organizational assistance as well as systemic measures that decrease tension and promote the health of teachers. This study provides important implications for educational leaders and policymakers eager to bolster workforce stability and support within the realm of special education

Homelessness: An Emergency for Many

This DNP project implemented nursing staff education on the importance of recognizing homeless individuals early during the initial triage process within the emergency department. Nursing staff were educated on community resources available for homeless individuals. This DNP project helped to promote the collaboration of care by nursing staff with the case management team to help provide resources, which can result in a safer and more effective discharge of homeless patients within the emergency department. Participation consisted of 125 nursing staff who reviewed the online training module and attended one of the 15-minute in-person poster educational sessions. About 53 nursing staff responded to the pre-test survey, and 42 nursing staff responded to the post-test survey. Participants in the DNP project demonstrated a significant knowledge gain from the pre-test to the post-test score after implementing the educational materials. This DNP project helped to determine the importance of updating educational resources for the homeless population and having resources readily available for nursing staff

An Examination of Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Literacy Knowledge and Levels of Use Post-LETRS Professional Learning

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine North Carolina teachers’ perceptions of their science of reading (SOR) knowledge gained from Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning as well as their level of use (LoU) of instructional strategies gained from that professional learning experience. I disseminated a survey about the level of knowledge of specific literacy topics taught in the LETRS training. Survey participants were also invited to participate in an interview to determine the extent to which they used the knowledge, skills, and resources gained from LETRS professional learning. This study aimed to inform literacy instruction for North Carolina teachers by providing insight into the knowledge obtained from the required LETRS professional learning and the LoU of SOR instructional practices. The results indicated that teachers had a perceived increase in knowledge of all SOR topics covered in the LETRS training, with most knowledge gained from the topics in Volume 1 (Units 1–4). Participants’ LoU indicated that their implementation ranged from preparing to use SOR instructional practices to implementing SOR practices, and a few were sharing strategies with others. Implications for teachers and literacy leaders are explained. Recommendations for future research are described

Aspirin Use for the Prevention of Preeclampsia: A Clinical Update

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a serious and deadly complication in pregnancy that affects thousands of women every year. The purpose of this clinical review is to analyze the efficacy of aspirin therapy to prevent the occurrence of preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. Methods: PubMed was searched using the key terms “pregnant,” aspirin, “high-risk,” preeclampsia, and “prevention”. Operators and filters narrowed results to 21 quality articles with 5 relevant to the topic for review. Results: One article is an RCT comparing the prevention of preeclampsia with aspirin therapy to no therapy. Four articles are meta-analyses of multiple RCTs. Three of the five articles reviewed recommend aspirin therapy to reduce the incidence of preeclampsia. Two articles state there is no significant difference with aspirin therapy. Discussion: After analysis of the reviewed articles, the results are mixed on aspirin use to prevent preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. More research is needed to solidify better recommendations and guidelines to improve patient safety regarding preeclampsia preventio