The Role of Mentoring in Developing Professional and Personal Competencies for School Administrators

In the state of Georgia and across the nation there was a shortage of principals. A new supply of administrators was needed to guide education through the 21st century. These leaders needed updated knowledge and skills to address the needs of an educational system affected by educational reform. Effective leadership allowed administrators to view situations in both the eyes of management and leadership. A mentoring program for beginning administrators provided guidance in developing these skills and in recruiting and retaining individuals for these critical positions. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of a mentoring program for mentored principals. This qualitative study analyzed data from two groups. One group consisted of eight principals from Georgia who had varied experiences with mentoring either prior to becoming a principal or during their first or second year as a principal. The second group consisted of four principals from Kentucky who participated in a required formal mentoring program during their first year as a principal. A set of twenty questions was used in a semi-structured interview process. The software program, QSR NUDIST (N5), was used to help identify patterns and themes in the participants\u27 responses. Following are the major findings yielded from the data. First, all participants thought it was important to have a mentor. Participants wanted individuals who wanted to be their mentor and cared about their success. The main benefits from mentoring were: the confidentiality and trust between the proteges and mentors; the mentor serving as a role model and providing knowledge, experience and resources; guided instruction that provided help with problem solving and on-the-job practice; and help with career path and job advancement. Several participants recognized that mentors helped reduce the isolation/loneliness of the principal position. Others noted that positive mentoring experiences made them want to mentor others who were aspiring to be administrators. Finally, although both formal and informal mentoring experiences had significant effects upon the participants, those in formal mentor programs perceived greater benefits than those who participated in informal mentorships. These findings enabled the researcher to make several recommendations for mentoring programs for entry-level administrators

Space Transportation System solid rocket booster thrust vector control system

The Solid Rocket Booster, Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system was designed in accordance with the following requirements: self-contained power supply, failsafe operation, 20 flight uses after exposure to seawater landings, optimized cost, and component interchangeability. Trade studies were performed which led to the selection of a recirculating hydraulic system powered by Auxiliary Power Units (APU) which drive the hydraulic actuators and gimbal the solid rocket motor nozzle. Other approaches for the system design were studied in arriving at the recirculating hydraulic system powered by an APU. These systems must withstand the imposed environment and be usable for a minimum of 20 Space Transportation System flights with a minimum of refurbishment. The TVC system completed the required qualification and verification tests and is certified for the intended application. Substantiation data include analytical and test data

Integration mockup and process material management system

Work to define and develop a full scale Space Station Freedom (SSF) mockup with the flexibility to evolve into future designs, to validate techniques for maintenance and logistics and verify human task allocations and support trade studies is described. This work began in early 1985 and ended in August, 1991. The mockups are presently being used at MSFC in Building 4755 as a technology and design testbed, as well as for public display. Micro Craft also began work on the Process Material Management System (PMMS) under this contract. The PMMS simulator was a sealed enclosure for testing to identify liquids, gaseous, particulate samples, and specimen including, urine, waste water, condensate, hazardous gases, surrogate gasses, liquids, and solids. The SSF would require many trade studies to validate techniques for maintenance and logistics and verify system task allocations; it was necessary to develop a full scale mockup which would be representative of current SSF design with the ease of changing those designs as the SSF design evolved and changed. The tasks defined for Micro Craft were to provide the personnel, services, tools, and materials for the SSF mockup which would consist of four modules, nodes, interior components, and part task mockups of MSFC responsible engineering systems. This included the Engineering Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) testbed. For the initial study, the mockups were low fidelity, soft mockups of graphics art bottle, and other low cost materials, which evolved into higher fidelity mockups as the R&D design evolved, by modifying or rebuilding, an important cost saving factor in the design process. We designed, fabricated, and maintained the full size mockup shells and support stands. The shells consisted of cylinders, end cones, rings, longerons, docking ports, crew airlocks, and windows. The ECLSS required a heavier cylinder to support the ECLSS systems test program. Details of this activity will be covered. Support stands were designed and built for each module to sufficiently move and rotate each module. Secondary structures such as floors, ceilings, bulkheads, standoffs, racks, etc. were developed and built

Occurrence of Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Trees Previously Infested with Enaphalodes Rufulus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas

Black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), are nearly ubiquitous in North American forests. These ants are documented as predators of red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), a native longhorn beetle that experienced an unprecedented population increase synonymous with an oak decline event in the oak hickory forests of the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas from the late 1990s until 2005. We examined previous red oak borer emergence holes, tree crown conditions, and site aspects in 13 pre-established vegetation monitoring plots and correlated these forest and tree attributes with the presence or absence of black carpenter ants. At each site, all red oaks \u3e 10 cm diameter at breast height were baited for black carpenter ants with a mixture of tuna and honey. Black carpenter ants were more frequently found on trees with low levels of previous red oak borer infestation versus those trees with previously high infestations. These data suggest a potential role for black carpenter ants in the dynamics of red oak borer populations. Distribution of black carpenter ants in red oaks prior to and during the outbreak is unknown. Future investigations should be directed at efforts to understand whether black carpenter ants simply prefer different tree and site attributes than red oak borer or if, via predation, these ants are acting as agents of red oak borer control

Beyond A Vision For The Future: Tangible Steps To Engage Diverse Participants In Inclusive Field Experiences

Synopsis Recent strides toward improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in field biology present a unique opportunity for transdisciplinary exploration of the impacts and state of a topic that has remained hereto largely underexplored and under-discussed in the academic setting. Within current literature, themes of racial and gender inequity, power imbalances, unsafe environments, and underdeveloped infrastructure and resources are widespread. Thus, we organized a symposium that addressed these compelling issues in field biology DEI through a multitude of experiential and academic lenses. This article will orient the reader to the special issue and offer summative goals and outcomes of the symposium that can provide tangible steps toward creating meaningful improvements in the state of DEI and safety in field settings

Best Practices To Promote Field Science Safety

Interventions are necessary to address the ongoing epidemic of sexual harassment and assault in field settings. An evidence-based approach to identifying specific interventions will be most effective at promoting the safety of scientists. We present the results of a workshop conducted by experts in field biology and the study of sexual harassment and assault that identified a comprehensive set of best practices for individuals and organizations. These recommendations are grounded in peer-reviewed scholarship and are separated into four topics: culture change, accountability, policy development, and reporting. The resulting report of the workshop recommends 44 practices, categorized by the resources required for implementation, the time frame of implementation, and the level of organization responsible for implementation. The best practices that we present are designed to support individuals and organizations in the development of field safety plans

Investigations of soil morphology, hydrology, reduction-oxidation potentials, and stratigraphy on a selected hillslope in western Oregon

Hydric soils are defined through the hydric soil definition, and a means to identify hydric soils has been established through hydric soil criteria and Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the U.S. However, the field indicators are a recent development that requires more research and testing to increase our knowledge of correlations between soil morphology, hydrology, and soil processes and properties for all types of landscapes and geomorphic processes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the Field Indicators capability to identify those soils that met the hydric soil definition on a selected hillslope. Further research and investigation was done to determine whether the study area would meet federal specifications for jurisdictional wetlands and assess stratigraphic units and geomorphic processes that contributed to the present hydrological conditions. Morphological observations; soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical analysis; collection and analysis of piezometric, precipitation, soil temperature, and reduction-oxidation potential data; vegetation characterization; and geomorphological and stratigraphical investigation were used to characterize the soils and study transect (Sites 1 through 4) on the backslope-footslope of Witham Hill in Corvallis, Oregon. Hydrologic, redox potential, and soil temperature data provided documentation that the soils of Sites 2, 3, and 4 meet the conditions in the hydric soil definition. Seasonal perched water tables ranging from 9.7-12.6 cm occur over a discontinuity consisting of slowly permeable clays on the upper footslope; and temporary episaturation that gives way to endosaturation with an average water table at 5.5 cm occurs on the lower footslope. Redox data that indicated continuous iron reduction for 21 to 30 weeks correlated with the morphological properties for each of the three sites. However, morphological characteristics of the soils on the upper footslope did not correspond with the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the U.S., Version 3.2, 1996. Two major factors that prevented positive outcomes for any indicators were layer thickness requirements and the inability to round a color that fell between color chips. A third factor was the requirement that at least 60% of a designated layer have a depleted matrix. The first two issues were addressed by the Field Indicator Committee of the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils in the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States, Version 4 issued in March 1998. Further investigation into study area characteristics found that: (1) physical and mineralogical analysis supports the presence of four stratigraphic units on the upper footslope; (2) mineralogy indicates that the two clay units and the Spencer Formation that underlies the area may share a common origin and that the clay units could be colluvial material from the eroded Spencer Formation of once-higher surfaces; and (3) soils at Sites 2, 3, and 4 meet the three criteria for identification of jurisdictional wetlands

Gender, Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Factors Influence How Wildland Firefighters Communicate their Work Experiences

As Climates Change, Natural Resource Professionals Are Often Working on the Frontlines of Intensifying Environmental Disasters, Acting in Both Scientific and Emergency Response Roles. One Subset of This Group, Wildland Firefighters Often Engage in Multifaceted Careers that Incorporate Elements of Resource Planning, Conservation Management, Community Disaster Relief, and Operational Management. Despite These STEM Roles and Nearly Half (48%) of Them Having Earned at Least a bachelor\u27s degree, usually in a STEM Field, Wildland Firefighters Are Almost Exclusively Lumped with Emergency Responders in the Scientific Literature. We Surveyed 708 Wildland Firefighters with 9 Open Response Questions as Part of a Larger Survey Asking About Experiences and Attitudes in the United States Federal Workplace. from their Responses and Voluntarily Provided Demographic Data, We Extracted Information About Response Length, Use of Hedges, Tag Questions and Imperatives, Use of Personal Language, Use of Expletives and Derogatory Language, Use of Apologetic Language, and the Types of Responses Provided. We Then Analyzed Whether Certain Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Were Statistical Predictors of Language Use in Wildland Firefighter Survey Responses with the Goal of Ultimately Providing a Framework for Differentiating and Identifying Factors that May Influence Employee Retention, Attitudes, Morale, and Experiences among Wildland Firefighter Sub-Demographics. We Found that Different Demographic Groups Varied in their Responses to Questions: Minority Groups Used Fewer Words and Were More Likely to Relate Personal Experiences Than Majority Groups

Local environmental variables are key drivers of ant taxonomic and functional beta-diversity in a Mediterranean dryland

The decomposition of beta-diversity (β-diversity) into its replacement (βrepl) and richness (βrich) components in combination with a taxonomic and functional approach, may help to identify processes driving community composition along environmental gradients. We aimed to understand which abiotic and spatial variables influence ant β-diversity and identify which processes may drive ant β-diversity patterns in Mediterranean drylands by measuring the percentage of variation in ant taxonomic and functional β-diversity explained by local environmental, regional climatic and spatial variables. We found that taxonomic and functional replacement (βrepl) primarily drove patterns in overall β-diversity (βtot). Variation partitioning analysis showed that respectively 16.8%, 12.9% and 21.6% of taxonomic βtot, βrepl and βrich variation were mainly explained by local environmental variables. Local environmental variables were also the main determinants of functional β-diversity, explaining 20.4%, 17.9% and 23.2% of βtot, βrepl and βrich variation, respectively. Findings suggest that niche-based processes drive changes in ant β-diversity, as local environmental variables may act as environmental filters on species and trait composition. While we found that local environmental variables were important predictors of ant β-diversity, further analysis should address the contribution of other mechanisms, e.g. competitive exclusion and resource partitioning, on ant β-diversity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anomalous Lattice Vibrations of Single and Few-Layer MoS2

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) of single and few-layer thickness was exfoliated on SiO2/Si substrate and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The number of S-Mo-S layers of the samples was independently determined by contact-mode atomic-force microscopy. Two Raman modes, E12g and A1g, exhibited sensitive thickness dependence, with the frequency of the former decreasing and that of the latter increasing with thickness. The results provide a convenient and reliable means for determining layer thickness with atomic-level precision. The opposite direction of the frequency shifts, which cannot be explained solely by van der Waals interlayer coupling, is attributed to Coulombic interactions and possible stacking-induced changes of the intralayer bonding. This work exemplifies the evolution of structural parameters in layered materials in changing from the 3-dimensional to the 2-dimensional regime.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure