Perceptions of Selected Groups Toward the Current and Ideal Role of Special Education Directors as Administrative Leaders in North Dakota Schools Which Have High Concentrations of American Indian Students

The Problem. The purpose of the study was to determine how selected groups view the role of the special education director/coordinator in North Dakota schools which have concentrations of American Indian students. This study also compared the perceptions of the selected groups toward the current and ideal role of the special education director/coordinator. Procedure. A survey instrument was developed and administered to seventy-eight administrators, special education directors/coordinators, and special education teachers to assess perceptions toward the current and ideal role of the special education director/coordinator in North Dakota schools serving significant numbers of American Indian students. The data obtained from the survey instrument were statistically tested for significant difference. The .05 level of significance was considered sufficient to reject a hypothesis of no difference. The data reported represented the responses of seventy-eight participants who were working in Bureau of Indian Affairs, contracted, cooperative, boarding, public, or private schools which had 30 percent or more American Indian student enrollment during the 1980-1981 school year. Forty-six (100%) of the special education teachers, twenty-one (95%) of the administrators, and eleven (92%) of the special education directors/coordinators elected to participate in this study. The Results. There were statistically significant differences among the perceptions of all the groups toward the current and ideal role of the special education director/coordinator in all areas of administrative functioning. However, some individual items in the four administrative functions--planning, decision making, executing or operating, and appraising--indicated no significant differences. There were no perceived differences among the selected groups as to the ideal role of the special education director/coordinator. However, there were a few differences on individual items within the four functions as perceived by the three selected groups. There was no perceived difference among the three selected groups as to the current role of the special education director/coordinator. However, there were few differences on the individual items with the four functions. In describing conflicts or problems inherent in working with significant numbers of American Indian special education students, respondents expressed concerns about following regulations recruiting and/or retaining special education teachers or in comparing special education programs to other schools. Other difficulties cited were that there were language and cultural differences which surfaced when interpreting test results. The respondents also cited isolation, stringent North Dakota requirements, lack of suitable housing, and social activity as major factors in recruiting and retaining special education teachers. Conclusions. Three major conclusions were drawn from the statistical treatment and analysis of data used in this study. For the total population, there were statistically significant differences among the perceptions of all groups toward the current and ideal role of the special education director/coordinator. The special education directors/coordinators, special education teachers, and school administrators viewed the ideal role in essentially the same way. The special education directors/coordinators, special education teachers, and school administrators viewed the current role in essentially the same way

The Effects of Development on Indian Water Rights: Obstacles and Disincentives to Development of Indian Water Rights

17 pages. Contains references

The Effects of Development on Indian Water Rights: Obstacles and Disincentives to Development of Indian Water Rights

17 pages. Contains references

Anthropogenic Influences on Avian Life, Past and Present, Within the Adirondack Park

In the northeastern comer of New York over the last 10,000 years, avian life developed a complex network of niches within the varied ecosystems produced by the retreat of the last glacier. When humans began to dominate the area, beginning around two hundred years ago, avian diversity was compromised. The past and present anthropogenic influences have increasingly intensified the stresses on avian life in the park. If avian diversity is to be preserved, human factions must work together to decrease that stress. The establishment of the Adirondack Park and hunting seasons as well as restrictions on pesticide use have directly and indirectly helped curtail complete destruction of Adirondack avian diversity. Future preservation of Adirondack avian life depends on a collaborative effort, locally and nationally, that will increase knowledge and appreciation for the special needs of all avian species and why it is important to retain optimum avian diversity

Native American Women Perceptions In Pk-12 Administrative Positions In North Dakota Public Schools

ABSTRACT Historically Native American women have experienced barriers in their rise to Pk-12 educational leadership positions. There is limited research available on Native American women in educational leadership. Therefore, the purpose for this survey study was to discover what inspired current Pk-12 Native American women educational leaders to choose and accept these positions, common leadership attributes they share, and any barriers they may have encountered. Currently in North Dakota, there are 42 licensed Native American administrators, 22 male and 20 female. Ten of the 20 females are employed as Native American superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and assistant principals in North Dakota Pk-12 public schools. Presently .0010% of licensed female educational leaders in North Dakota are Native American. A survey was used in the study to explore perceptions of 9 Native American female educational leaders. There were five major themes that emerged from the data: (a) Barriers-there were no substantial barriers identified, (b) Support-conventional support included family, husband, school district, parents, and college professors, (c) Leadership style-two were identified: participatory and collaborative, (d) Personal attributes-included visionary, perseverance, intuitiveness, and collaboration, and (e) Personal motivation characteristics were identified as hard worker, good listener, caring, compassionate, honesty, and organized. The survey study identified an understanding of the perceptions on successful Native American women in Pk-12 educational leadership positions in North Dakota public schools. (Native American Women, Native Women in Educational Leadership Positions

John Arthur Decoteau letters

The collection consists of letters to John Arthur Decoteau of Savannah, Georgia, from brothers and sister in St. Lucia, 1922-1928, as well as several letters to him from Alphonso Grant of Jersey City, N.J. and other friends, 1929-1930. The collection also includes various items belonging to Decoteau including mail, stamps, receipts and notices Find this collection in the libraries\u27 catalog.https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/finding-aids/1197/thumbnail.jp

Positionality and Racialization in a PAR Project: Reflections and Insights from a School Reform Collaboration

This paper shares findings from a critical reflection on a collaborative participatory research initiative called “The Improving Schools Project. The first author’s reflections explored the interaction of race, space, and positionality within the context of a cross-racial participatory research project. She considered how the racial identity of organizations and individuals nested within organizations impacted patterns of engagement and participation in this project. Through engaging in critical reflexive work facilitated by co-inquirers, she developed a clearer understanding of how the racialization of organizations played a critical role in mediating participants’ engagement in terms of control, collaboration, and commitment. Organizational histories and legacies grounded in (mis)treatment and relationships with communities of color shaped and were shaped by the racial identities of individuals representing these organizations. Multi-layered critical reflexivity allowed for the examination of unintended impacts on participatory processes and practices in cross-racial participatory projects

Experience Implementing a Public Health Surveillance System Designed for Fathers of Infants on a South Dakota American Indian Reservation

Introduction: Paternal behaviors and attitudes during pregnancy are not known. A health survey for fathers of recently born infants was developed to be administered concurrently with a maternal survey to assess parental behaviors and attitudes before, during and after pregnancy. Methods: Participants were parents of 149 American Indian infants born from April 1 and Dec. 31, 2015 who were recruited prospectively from data of all births in prespecified reservation counties representing Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation. Data collection was via hard-copy or online survey. Results: Response rate among mothers was 62 percent (n=92). Of 149 births, 126 listed a father on the birth certificate and 51 percent (n=64) of these completed surveys on average 4.7 months post-birth. Healthwise, 90 percent of fathers reported being overweight or obese, but a small percent visited a health care worker in the previous year to be checked for diabetes (11 percent) or hypertension (14 percent). Among fathers who smoked in the last two years (73 percent), 77 percent of the mothers also smoked compared to 20 percent of mothers smoking if the father did not smoke (pConclusion: Conducting a health survey with both fathers and mothers in a reservation setting is feasible and the father’s attitudes and behaviors related to breastfeeding and smoking were associated with maternal health behaviors. Most fathers attended health care visits with the mother, but they were not being screened for health conditions despite a large proportion being overweight and smokers. Prenatal and antenatal visits may provide an opportune time to engage fathers and address paternal health issues