Social Justice & Equity in Higher Education: Disrupting Performative Equitable Practices

A PowerPoint presentation, titled Social Justice & Equity in Higher Education: Disrupting Performative Equitable Practices, given by Roger Cleveland at the Justice Festival held on the campus of Morehead State University on October 19, 2022

Using Multi-Instructional Teaching and Technology-Supported Active Learning Strategies to Enhance Student Engagement

University professors are developing an increasing awareness of how creative teaching is contributing to active learning in the classroom. Much is being learned from research that explores the significance of engaging students in activities designed to increase their learning. This article examines essential components of active learning, discusses ways in which multi-instructional teaching and technology can be used to generate active learning in the classroom, and provides examples of strategies, models, and tools that can be implemented to enhance student engagement and active learning in today\u27s classroo

Cultural competency: A Viable approach to health disparities in urban schools

This paper encapsulates a large body of work on cultural mismatch, cultural competency and their interrelation with health disparities in urban schools. Cultural mismatch is the cultural difference between formal institutions and the populations they serve, while cultural competency is defined as the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services (Cross, 1989). As noted in this paper, disparities include the racial, economic, and cultural issues affecting the health of school age children. Using cultural competency as a theoretical framework, this paper discusses the implications of cultural competency for health outcomes in urban schools

Prenatal Care and Infant Mortality in Nevada

The U.S. outspends all other industrial countries on health care, and yet Americans hardly enjoy better health (Gorman 2010). An American baby born in 2006 can expect to live 78 years – two years less than a baby born across the Canadian border. The U.S. ranks 28th in infant mortality out of the 30 major industrial countries (Gorman 2010). A large part of the gap in infant mortality can be traced to high infant death rates in certain populations, particularly African-Americans who make up about 13% of the total population. In 2005, infant mortality for non-Hispanic blacks in the U.S. ran to 13.6 deaths per 1,000 live births compared with 5.76 deaths per 1,000 live births for non-Hispanic whites. Such disparities reflect differences in education, environment, and socioeconomic status – factors notoriously difficult to mitigate (Gorman, 2010, p. 34)

Innovative Environments: The Equity Culture Audit: An Essential Tool for Improving Schools in Kentucky

In the last twenty years, the state of Kentucky has passed legislative initiatives to address the education needs of its children. Even with the implementation of the progressive laws that were passed, many formidable challenges still confront education delivery in the State. This article introduces and describes the utilization of the Equity-Culture audit as an invaluable tool for data collection and school culture assessment. The authors examine the significance of the role played by leadership in the creation and maintenance of a school\u27s culture. In addition, there is a discussion of how systemic change in districts and schools can be achieved by assessing and transforming their cultures and climates. Organizational change in schools requires active involvement and direction from the instructional leadership. The article also provides a brief account of Equity-Culture audits conducted in the state. Attention is devoted to the informative revelations of the findings and the data-rich value of these audits. Descriptions of how Equity-Culture audits serve as powerful data collection instruments for indentifying problematic issues and developing viable solutions for challenged schools are examined

High-Dose Glycine Treatment of Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder in a 5-Year Period

This paper describes an individual who was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) at age 17 when education was discontinued. By age 19, he was housebound without social contacts except for parents. Adequate trials of three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, two with atypical neuroleptics, were ineffective. Major exacerbations following ear infections involving Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus at ages 19 and 20 led to intravenous immune globulin therapy, which was also ineffective. At age 22, another severe exacerbation followed antibiotic treatment for H. pylori. This led to a hypothesis that postulates deficient signal transduction by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Treatment with glycine, an NMDAR coagonist, over 5 years led to robust reduction of OCD/BDD signs and symptoms except for partial relapses during treatment cessation. Education and social life were resumed and evidence suggests improved cognition. Our findings motivate further study of glycine treatment of OCD and BDD

Health Care Access and Insurance Availability in Nevada

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2012) defines healthcare access as “the timely use of health services to achieve the best health outcomes.” The Department specifies that efficient health care access is contingent on several steps, including (1) entry into the healthcare system, (2) availability of needed services, and (3) accessibility of providers with whom individuals can establish relationships founded on mutual communication and trust

Academic Achievement and School Resources

This chapter examines the national and local trends in educational policy, focusing in particular on Nevada’s academic achievement, standardized test performance, available school resources, and unmet needs. The discussion begins with the concept of academic achievement and the ways it is measured. After that, we analyze the policies impacting academic achievement, most notably the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Next, we suggest the strategies to improve academic performance in the Nevada K12 System and make recommendations to increase parental involvement in education and encourage culturally competent policies of bringing together children, families, and schools. Finally, we discuss the resources needed to raise academic performances in Nevada schools

School Culture, Equity, and Student Academic Performance in a Rural Appalachian School

The authors provide an overview of a culture-equity audit conducted in a rural Appalachian school. The purpose was to collect information that would assist the school to optimize student academic performance. School culture is critical to establishing successful school learning environments. It provides one of the most significant foundations for successful student achievement (Cleveland, Powell, Saddler, &Tyler, 2008). Some studies suggest that educational leaders could play significant roles in culture building (Deal, 1990, 1994; Levine, 1989; Parish & Aquila, 1996; Pritchard et al., 2005). A culture audit provides an opportunity to learn about the culture of a school or district. Equity audits use quantitative indicators to examine teacher quality and programmatic inequities in schools systematically (Skrla, Scheurich, Garcia, & Nolly, 2006). Culture audits provide critical data to reveal educational inequities among diverse school groups. Unfortunately, equity audits alone may not sufficiently capture the idiosyncrasies of exclusive school cultures that contribute to more subtle discrimination and poor student achievement. A culture-equity audit may be conducted for this reason. Researchers from a regional American university in the mid-west conducted an equity-culture audit for a rural Appalachian school with the aim of supporting student achievement. This article provides an overview of the audit and recommendations for reform