A Phenomenological Study of Chicago\u27s Independent School Principals

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 identifies principals and teachers as equally important components of effective schools. Competent and skillful principals are needed to improve struggling schools and maintain high performing schools. Despite their importance, Chicago’s principals are leaving their schools in high numbers. The systems that surround, support, and retain principals are failing. Reacting to the large number of principal departures and a lack of qualified replacements, the Chicago Public Schools added principal leadership capacity and retention as priorities to their reform efforts. School improvement efforts are undercut when principals depart their roles prior to making sustainable impact. Seeking to identify and retain quality principals, Chicago implemented the Independent School Principals program in 2016 to reward deserving principals with autonomy from district supervision. This study employed the use of phenomenological methods to examine the lived experiences of Chicago’s independent principals. Interviews were used as the primary source of data

Mental wellbeing in non-ambulant youth with neuromuscular disorders: What makes the difference?

The physical and social challenges associated with neuromuscular disorders may impact mental wellbeing in non-ambulant youth during the more vulnerable period of adolescence. This cross-sectional survey investigated non-ambulant youths’ mental wellbeing and relationships with physical health, participation and social factors. The conceptual model was the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Thirty-seven youth aged 13 – 22 years old (mean age 17.4 years; n = 30 male; n = 24 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and their parents provided biopsychosocial data through a comprehensive self-report questionnaire. The primary outcome measure was the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Relationships between mental wellbeing and variables within and across each ICF domain were explored using linear regression models. Mean WEMWBS scores (55.3/70 [SD 8.1]) were higher than for typically developing youth and comparable to youth with other chronic conditions. Over half of youth reported severe co-morbidities across all body systems. Multivariable modelling indicated that mental wellbeing was independently associated with academic achievement and perceived family support but not with physical health variables. Beyond management of physical co-morbidities, enabling youths’ educational attainment and attending to social support likely optimises youth’s wellbeing

Relative Contribution of Physical Interference and Allelopathy to Weed Suppression by Winter Annual Cover Crop Mixtures

Cover cropping systems are widely used in crop production systems to prevent erosion, improve soil health, and suppress weeds. Common cover cropping systems include combinations of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), Brassica species, legumes, and other winter annual species. Three cover crop mixtures (cereal rye alone, cereal rye plus winter pea, and cereal rye plus winter pea plus radish) were applied using three methods (fresh residue, dried leached residue, and leachate) to common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus var. rudis) and large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]. The experiment was conducted once in a greenhouse and once in a growth chamber Significant interactions (α=0.05) were observed in the greenhouse study between treatment and days after planting (DAP) for emergence, height, and leaf count for common waterhemp. In addition, fresh cover crop residues suppressed common waterhemp emergence relative to dried leached residue. The interaction of treatment and DAP was also significant for large crabgrass emergence. In the growth chamber study, common waterhemp data were inclusive due to poor emergence. No significance was observed with the large crabgrass, but trends suggest that fresh residue was more effective than other applications. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that cover crop mixtures did not influence weed response, but data suggest that allelopathy had an important contribution in both environments

Barriers Missouri\u27s Farmers Face Regarding Beginning Farmer Government Programs

Federal and state governments have responded to the hardships beginning farmers and ranchers face by creating programs to mediate the identified challenges for new producers. However, hardships still exist for these producers and there is a lack of research on if the programs are providing the needed assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. This research explores the perceived barriers to beginning farmer federal and state government programs for Missouri producers. Through the utilization of focus groups, the research identified major barriers such as: time, program awareness, program resources, and program requirements and eligibility. Aside from the barriers, the research also identified results in program positives and benefits. Altogether, the results of this research illustrate areas which could be improved and potential ways to improve the government programs, thus providing more and better opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers

2009 Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri

The rates reported in this guide are based on a statewide survey conducted by mail in the summer of 2009. Farmers, agribusiness firms, aerial applicators and land improvement contractors responded to questions concerning rates they were charging in 2009 for custom services, excluding the cost of materials being applied.6 pagesDownloaded from MU Extension website.New 10/65; Revised 12/09/2M

A fine balance and a shared learning journey: Exploring healthcare engagement through the experiences of youth with neuromuscular disorders

BACKGROUND: Youth with Neuromuscular Disorders (NMD) who are wheelchair users can now survive well into adulthood if their multisystem comorbidities are prudently managed. Uptake of health behaviors may optimize their health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To explore youths’ perceptions of health, health behaviors and healthcare engagement. METHODS: This qualitative study purposefully recruited 11 youth with NMD from a concurrent, population-based study for variability of age, gender, type of NMD and their ratings of motivation and engagement. Interview data were analyzed and synthesized by thematic content. RESULTS: Participants perceived healthcare engagement as being given tools (knowledge and responsibility) and using them to maintain their finely balanced health. Nested in adequate social, emotional and physical support, they took responsibility for creatively integrating health behaviors they felt were informed by credible knowledge, gained primarily through personal experience. CONCLUSION: Cognizant of their compromised health, youth with NMD in this study were motivated to maintain their physical health. Limited NMD condition specific knowledge challenged youths’ uptake of health behaviors. They valued a learning partnership with their healthcare professionals. By embracing the youth’s experience based knowledge and through facilitating supportive relationships, healthcare professionals co-construct youth’s healthcare engagement that may optimize health behaviors and outcomes

Dependence on resources and cooperation networks of the National Olympic Academies

This study seeks to identify the strategic and operational factors necessary for the effective operation of the International Olympic Academy (IOA), and of the National Olympic Academies (NOAs). It applies Resource Dependence Theory (RDP) and Inter-organizational Relationships Theory (IOR) to the institutional environment of the NOAs. A set of exploratory semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), IOA, NOAs and Academics. A thematic analysis of the interview data provided themes to be incorporated into a questionnaire conducted with NOA directors and NOC officials focusing on relationships of the NOAs with other organisations and the implications for their autonomy. The nature of the field of NOA activity and its environment, is such that, for many NOAs, it is beset by an imbalance of power. This is reflected in the resource dependency of many NOAs on, in particular, NOCs and ultimately the IOC for legitimacy, human, financial and physical resources. The paper highlights a number of ways in which these relationships might be modified for the benefit of all the organisations involved

An exploration of the institutional environment of the National Olympic Academies by following a mixed method approach

Within the present framework of the Olympic Charter (2019) the International Olympic Committee (IOC) supports educational issues through the International Olympic Academy (IOA), the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and the National Olympic Academies (NOAs). However, there are a number of de facto variations in the arrangements adopted in different national settings. To that end this study seeks to identify the organisations within the institutional environment of the NOAs and how these determine the strategy and the decisions made by NOAs. How does the environment affect the effective operation of the IOA, and of the NOAs in the Olympic academy system? In order to address this question, an archival research along with a set of exploratory semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 key stakeholders from the IOC (4), IOA (2), NOAs (8), Academics (5). The archival research along with thematic analysis of the interview data, provided themes to be incorporated into a questionnaire conducted with NOA officials (response rate 67.8% - 99 of the 146 registered NOAs) focusing on the strategic and organizational factors involved in their functioning. The paper highlights future amendments and changes and a number of ways in which the IOC and the IΟΑ can respond to NOA’s needs and expectations