Transformative Leaders: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Role of Transformational Leadership and its Impact on Teacher Efficacy

This dissertation was designed to examine the relationship between the specific transformational leadership behaviors that relate to impacting or enhancing teachers’ self-efficacy. The need to better understand leadership models that provide for more self-effective instructors is integral in building a strong educational system. Previous research had yet to explore specific dynamics of transformational leadership and define whether or not it has any impact on teacher self-efficacy. The study was conducted utilizing a single school district in the southeastern United States. Three schools within the system representing elementary, middle, and high school levels were studied. Instructors at each school were given the opportunity to respond to a two-part survey to help identify transformational leadership characteristics of their building leader as well as define their own individual self-efficacy. Quantitative data showcased a correlation between transformational leadership behaviors and teacher self-efficacy values. Qualitative interview data provided specific transformational leadership behaviors that helped to enhance teacher self-efficacy

Exploration of Alternative Methods of Providing Quality Educational Programs in Five Small Illinois Rural School Districts

This study explored alternative methods that might be used by five selected small Illinois rural school districts to provide quality educational programs. Many Illinois school districts are facing problems that are unique to today\u27s educational setting. Declining enrollments and decreasing farm land assessments along with small increases in state aid have compounded the problems of school districts. School board members must be aware of the condition of the school districts and what warning signs show impending problems. This study explored the enrollment projections, financial conditions and the instructional setting of five Shelby County Illinois school districts. Then options available to these districts to retain and enhance quality educational programs were explored. Conclusions were made with regard to the condition of these districts. With the information in the study and with careful evaluation, the members of the boards of education of these five school districts should be able to make more informed and appropriate decisions as to the direction each school district should take in the future

A theory of stall propagation in axial compressors on the basis of airfoil characteristics

The process of stall propagation in an axial flow compressor is represented by nonlinear airfoil lift and drag characteristics, with a time lag associated with the stalling mechanism. A pair of nonlinear integro-differential equations express the lift and drag as a function of time for a given airfoil in an isolated plane cascade representing an annulus with only a finite number of blades. Approximate solutions of these integro-differential equations are obtained by considering only the fundamental frequency in the Fourier series representing the blade loadings. Qualitative results are obtained for three cases: (a) only blade circulation is considered to be of importance in the mechanism of propagating stall, (b) blade drag is of predominant importance, and (c) combined effects of lift and drag are considered. Comparisons are made of the propagating speeds calculated for a finite number of blades with the values obtained by the approximation of an infinite number of blades. The magnitudes of the fluctuations in lift and drag are calculated as well as limiting angles of attack for which stall propagation can occur

The Social Significance of Labor in Karl Marx

According to Marx, productive activity arises as a result or the need of an individual to express himself to externalize himself. Thus, it is in keeping with this concept that the following . paper is written, since I feel that much can and needs to be learned from an examination of man\u27s place in society and the world today. This is especially true when one realizes the frequency with which terms such as alienation and class-consciousness occur with reference to the labor-movement. And this would be in keeping with Marx\u27s own conclusion that philosophy was dependent on certain social-economic environmental conditions in order for it to be practically realized. In turn, philosophies up to his time had only interpreted the world differently; the real point was to change it. ..