2022 Doctoral Capstone Projects

Berlin, Kenneth A.

This mixed-methods study examined the efficacy of a one-to-one (1:1) technology initiative designed to provide every student in Grades K-12 with a PC device in the Wattsburg Area School District. The study also assessed the effectiveness of the related technology professional development. The purpose of this study is to improve the 1:1 technol...
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Todd E. Keruskin.

Analysis of a 1:1 Technology Initiative : Examining Implementation at the Elementary and Secondary Levels: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Sprouse, Rachel L.

Historic decreases in teacher preparation program enrollments across the nation and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are resulting in school districts experiencing difficulty in attracting and retaining new teachers. This crisis highlights the importance of a meaningful and effective New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) to support and retain ...

Creating a Meaningful New Teacher Induction Program in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Azar, Robert Sami.

Resources that strive to increase academic performance for secondary students is a noble endeavor. One such technique may prove beneficial and does not require additional resources. This resource is to increase instructional time within the classroom. The setting of this research project was at a suburban comprehensive technical high school in t...

The Effect of Increased Algebraic Instructional Time in a Career and Technical Hight School: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Piddington, Michael G.

School districts are always exploring different ways to develop programs and activities for students in an attempt to provide opportunities for academic growth and achievement. One area of particular focus has been programs offered during the summer months to try to minimize and/or eliminate the "summer slide" that some student experience with t...

The Effectiveness of a Summer Remediation Program on the Academic Growth of Elementary Students: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Lesnett, Christian

According to Robert Marzano, author of the archetypal work, "Classroom Instruction That Works", good instruction can take any student and make them better. The Peters Township School District's mission and vision statements align with Marzano's beliefs. However, the current system employed by the District by which students are placed into honors...

The Effectiveness of Teacher Course Recommendations in Predicting Student Outcomes: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Kubistek, Denise.

Across the United States, high school seniors are surveyed during their final year to determine their plans after graduations. Many Jeannette City School District students have three options: to enter the workforce, join the military, or continue on to post-secondary education. Based on these surveys about 25% of the students do not pursue a ca...

Engaging Students in the Workplace: Getting High Schools Students Prepared for Employment After Graduation: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Muench, David Michael.

A central component of special education is the concept of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), meaning a student’s right to have access to the regular education classroom and curriculum as the starting conversation for placement. The purpose of this study is to examine IEP specially designed instruction implementation and teacher perceptions of...

Establishing Effective Supports Across Classrooms that Allow Equity and Access to High Quality I: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Strausbaugh, Bobbie M.

This research project evaluated the effectiveness of elementary grading practices in the Dover Area School District, focusing on English language arts and math in the first through fifth grades. The study was critical because the district did not have clearly defined elementary grading guidelines, and it was unknown if consistency existed in gra...

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Current Elementary Grading Practices and Determining Perceptions of a Standards-Based: Report Card in the Dover Area School District : A Doctoral Capstone Project

Clancy, Carole Lynn.

Over the past 45 years, the supply and demand of the special educator has ebbed and flowed, but in most recent times the shortage of qualified special educators has hit a significant point of crisis across the nation causing challenges for school districts to provide the services mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. One m...

An Examination of the Correlation Between Prior Experience of Working with People with Disabilities and Choosing: Special Education as a Major : A Doctoral Capstone Project

Shaffer, John Patrick, Jr.

This action research doctoral capstone project investigates the perceptions of a high school staff towards a Tier 1 PBIS framework that was previously implemented into the school. The importance of this action research was to determine the next steps needed within the implementation and progression of the PBIS framework. The research questions p...

High School Teacher's Perception of a Tier 1 Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Framework: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Thompson-Winnor, Amanda N.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) working in schools report struggling to provide high-quality support and services to their students, given their workload and the limited time available during the school day. School administrators, in turn, are challenged to assign caseloads to professionals that ensure students receive the support and servic...

How Speech Pathologists' Caseloads Impact Employee Effectiveness in Public Schools: A Doctoral Capstone Project

DeShong, Scott.

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are in their fifth year of implementation at Avon Grove High School. DuFour et al. (2010) define a professional learning community (PLC) as an “ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students t...

The Impact of Teacher Participation in Professional Learning Communities on Teacher Practices and Student Learning: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Bartek, Jacquelyn.

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of the newly hired special education teachers and paraprofessionals of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20's (CIU20) onboarding process, engagement with staff, and preparedness as part of the CIU20 community to develop systems and strategies to increase CIU20 retention rates. Special educa...

Improving Retention of Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Binakonsky, Brandi Lee

Research encompassing the characteristics of effective professional development and the influence on supporting educators in delivering high-quality instructional services is more prevalent within the context of school-age and early childhood programs. The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit (WIU), a regional educational service agency that provides ...

A Mixed Methods Study: Investigating the Perceptions of Preschool Early Intervention Intermediate Unit Staff on Professional: Development : A Doctoral Capstone Project