Exploring the Transition from Classroom Teacher to Vice-Principal in Rural Schools

This research study investigates the experiences of classroom teachers who have transitioned into leadership roles as vice-principals in a rural school board in South-western Ontario. It looks specifically at personal and organizational factors that influenced their transition to a leadership position, as well as the paths that took them from the classroom to the vice-principal’s office. This study examines these transitions in both elementary and secondary schools specifically it explores how the teachers decided to make the transition into an administrative role, the challenges they face, and the duties within their new role. This study aims to document and develop awareness into how teachers experience the transition into the new vice-principal role. The research focuses on new vice-principals employed in one rural school board in South-western Ontario. Eight vice-principals, new to the role within the last two years were interviewed using semi-structured. This research will be valuable to current vice-principals, teachers transitioning to a leadership role, and those considering a leadership position. Similarly, the conclusions of this study have the potential to inform the school board’s recruitment and support initiatives for aspiring leaders

Exploring the Rural Construction of Masculinity and Boys’ Engagement with Schooling

This thesis investigates the construction of masculinities for a group of rural boys in one secondary school in South Western Ontario. It looks specifically at how the construction of gender, specifically masculinity, affects the boys\u27 engagement with schooling. The purpose of this study was to document and develop an awareness into how boys\u27 perceive their own masculinities and how these perceptions influence their engagement with schooling at one particular site. Six grade ten male students participated in semi-structured interviews providing insight into the rural construction of masculinity and its influence on schooling. The research indicates that male students construct and produce a dominant form of masculinity. The findings also highlight that boys who engage with activities associated with hegemonic masculinity are able to dominate other students and police the inappropriate male behaviour of others. This stereotypical behaviour negatively influences boys\u27 engagement with schooling. This study confirms the usefulness o f conducting research involving rural students in order to provide a voice for these boys. It is also necessary acquire insight into how masculinity is constructed in a rural area so educators can gain valuable insight into how masculinities affect boys\u27 engagement with schooling

Molecular and Spectroscopic Characterization of Water Extractable Organic Matter from Thermally Altered Soils Reveal Insight into Disinfection Byproduct Precursors

To characterize the effects of thermal-alteration on water extractable organic matter (WEOM), soil samples were heated in a laboratory at 225, 350, and 500 °C. Next, heated and unheated soils were leached, filtered, and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, optical properties, molecular size distribution, molecular composition, and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation following the addition of chlorine. The soils heated to 225 °C leached the greatest DOC and had the highest C- and N-DBP precursor reactivity per unit carbon compared to the unheated material or soils heated to 350 or 500 °C. The molecular weight of the soluble compounds decreased with increasing heating temperature. Compared to the unheated soil leachates, all DBP yields were higher for the leachates of soils heated to 225 °C. However, only haloacetonitrile yields (μg/mg_C) were higher for leachates of the soils heated to 350 °C, whereas trihalomethane, haloacetic acid and chloropicrin yields were lower compared to unheated soil leachates. Soluble N-containing compounds comprised a high number of molecular formulas for leachates of heated soils, which may explain the higher yield of haloacetonitriles for heated soil leachates. Overall, heating soils altered the quantity, quality, and reactivity of the WEOM pool. These results may be useful for inferring how thermal alteration of soil by wildfire can affect water quality