Rural Superintendent Turnover in Challenging Times: A Review of the Literature

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown a light on structural problems in education. Changing conditions, policy recommendations, and pressure from local communities have caused strain among educators and administrators across the nation. For rural districts already strained by shortages of teachers and administrators, the pandemic particularly raised alarms about the potential for accelerating superintendent turnover. By examining the superintendent turnover literature through the lens of district leadership roles and critical leadership of place, this review can support research to address superintendent turnover, provide guidance for preparation programs that aim to reduce the instability of rural district leadership, and the preparation of administrators for crisis situations

Rural Superintendent Turnover in Challenging Times: A review of the literature

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown a light on structural problems in education. Changing conditions, policy recommendations, and pressure from local communities have caused strain among educators and administrators across the nation. For rural districts already strained by shortages of teachers and administrators, the pandemic particularly raised alarms about the potential for accelerating superintendent turnover. By examining the superintendent turnover literature through the lens of district leadership roles and critical leadership of place, this review can support research to address superintendent turnover, provide guidance for preparation programs that aim to reduce the instability of rural district leadership, and the preparation of administrators for crisis situations

Transepithelial Transport and Enzymatic Detoxification of Gluten in Gluten-Sensitive Rhesus Macaques

In a previous report, we characterized a condition of gluten sensitivity in juvenile rhesus macaques that is similar in many respects to the human condition of gluten sensitivity, celiac disease. This animal model of gluten sensitivity may therefore be useful toward studying both the pathogenesis and the treatment of celiac disease. Here, we perform two pilot experiments to demonstrate the potential utility of this model for studying intestinal permeability toward an immunotoxic gluten peptide and pharmacological detoxification of gluten in vivo by an oral enzyme drug candidate.Intestinal permeability was investigated in age-matched gluten-sensitive and control macaques by using mass spectrometry to detect and quantify an orally dosed, isotope labeled 33-mer gluten peptide delivered across the intestinal epithelium to the plasma. The protective effect of a therapeutically promising oral protease, EP-B2, was evaluated in a gluten-sensitive macaque by administering a daily gluten challenge with or without EP-B2 supplementation. ELISA-based antibody assays and blinded clinical evaluations of this macaque and of an age-matched control were conducted to assess responses to gluten.Labeled 33-mer peptide was detected in the plasma of a gluten-sensitive macaque, both in remission and during active disease, but not in the plasma of healthy controls. Administration of EP-B2, but not vehicle, prevented clinical relapse in response to a dietary gluten challenge. Unexpectedly, a marked increase in anti-gliadin (IgG and IgA) and anti-transglutaminase (IgG) antibodies was observed during the EP-B2 treatment phase.Gluten-sensitive rhesus macaques may be an attractive resource for investigating important aspects of celiac disease, including enhanced intestinal permeability and pharmacology of oral enzyme drug candidates. Orally dosed EP-B2 exerts a protective effect against ingested gluten. Limited data suggest that enhanced permeability of short gluten peptides generated by gastrically active glutenases may trigger an elevated antibody response, but that these antibodies are not necessarily causative of clinical illness

Perceptions of Nebraska Administrators Regarding the Transition from STARS to NeSA and its Perceived Influence on the Implementation of a Balanced Assessment System

Over approximately the first decade of the 21st century, Nebraska educators have experienced the development and implementation of two differing assessment systems. The STARS system, implemented in 2001, was the first standards-based assessment system that Nebraska had supported and required of schools in the state. In early 2008, the Nebraska Legislature passed legislation that required a statewide criterion-referenced test of Nebraska standards in reading, mathematics and science. NeSA was developed and incrementally implemented. The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to explore the perceptions of Nebraska administrators in the 3rd Congressional District about their experiences in the transition from STARS to NeSA and their perceptions of the influence of that shift on implementing a balanced assessment system. The study was conducted in conjunction with a parallel study of Nebraska teachers\u27 perceptions completed by Jamie Isom. A total of 449 educators from 92 schools participated in the parallel studies, including 115 administrators and 334 teachers. In Phase I, quantitative data collected through a web-based survey of administrators\u27 perceptions about assessments in general, the Nebraska STARS assessment system, the NeSA assessment system, the transition from STARS to NeSA, and the prevalence of a balanced assessment system were collected. In Phase II, the collection of quantitative data was followed with the collection of qualitative data from open-ended survey questions and interviews with selected administrators for the purpose of assisting in the explanation and interpretation of the findings. The results indicate that administrators recognize the importance of a balanced assessment system but have yet to effectively define it within their districts. Districts must still determine the role of assessment in improving instruction, evaluating student progress, improving student learning, driving school improvement and demonstrating accountability for the public. Nebraska must incorporate the advantages of STARS in development of assessment, student preparation, and curriculum alignment with the strengths of NeSA in evaluating student progress and in public accountability

Dietary Patterns and Self-Reported Associations of Diet with Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND: There are insufficient data to make firm dietary recommendations for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet patients frequently report that specific food items influence their symptoms. In this study, we describe patients’ perceptions about the benefits and harms of selected foods and patients’ dietary patterns. METHODS: CCFA Partners is an ongoing internet-based cohort study of patients with IBD. We used a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to measure dietary consumption patterns and open-ended questions to elicit responses from patients about food items they believe ameliorate or exacerbate IBD. We categorized patients into four mutually exclusive disease categories: CD without an ostomy or pouch (CD), UC without an ostomy or pouch (UC), CD with an ostomy (CD-ostomy), and UC with a pouch (UC-pouch). RESULTS: Yogurt, rice, and bananas were more frequently reported to improve symptoms whereas non-leafy vegetables, spicy foods, fruit, nuts, leafy vegetables, fried foods, milk, red meat, soda, popcorn, dairy, alcohol, high-fiber foods, corn, fatty foods, seeds, coffee, and beans were more frequently reported to worsen symptoms. Compared to CD patients, CD-ostomy patients reported significantly greater consumption of cheese (odds ratio (OR) 1.56, 95% CI 1.03–2.36), sweetened beverages (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.03), milk (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.35–2.52), pizza (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12–2.20), and processed meats (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.04–1.89). CONCLUSIONS: Patients identified foods that they believe worsen symptoms and restricted their diet. Patients with ostomies ate a more liberal diet. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether diet influences disease course