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Item Administrator Views of Influential Factors on School Climate at Various Schools in Northeast Tennessee(2020-10-13) Cooper, Ryan; Dula, MarkThe purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the variables leading to a positive school climate, according to school administrators in selected school systems in East Tennessee. The study identifies which elements of school climate and culture are the most important among the participants of this study. The sample consisted of 8 administrators from 4 selected school systems in Northeast Tennessee. The participants selected for this study were school principals, assistant school principals, and supervisors related to curriculum and instruction. The researcher designed questions to gain an understanding of the factors that influence school climate, ways in which the interviewee creates a positive school climate, and how they maintain a positive school climate, and which dimensions of school climate are of the most significance. After a detailed analysis of the literature and the interview data, the researcher identified emerging themes regarding factors that impact and help to create a positive school climate: Safety, teaching, and learning, interpersonal relationships, institutional environment, community relationships. Relationships were identified by participants as an important dimension that affects school climate. Participants agreed that complacency is the greatest struggle facing the school climate. These findings suggest a need for districts and schools to evaluate school climate routinely and comprehensively as well as recognize student, staff, and community input.Item Adventures and Abilities: A Role Playing Game(2018-04) Curtis, RachelleItem Are there effective treatments for pornography and sexual addiction?(2019) Hodge, Christopher; Drinnon, JoyThis is a review of different treatment options for pornography and sexual addiction.Item Around the Table--Communial Meals in Acts: Building the Identity of the Early Christians(2015) Teixeira, RogerioItem The Association Between Adolescent Substance Abuse and Suicidality(2021-08) Underwood, Jacob; Drinnon, JoyThis systematic review explored the relationship between adolescent substance abuse and suicidality. Peer-reviewed journal articles concerned with this topic were analyzed and screened from Google Scholar and Milligan University’s online research database. While the research varied in terms of experimental design, the data indicates that adolescent substance use, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts are positively correlated. Increases in frequency of use and lethality of substance strengthens the relationship between the variables. Findings also indicate that females and minority groups are most likely to exhibit suicidal behavior and non-suicidal forms of self-injury. The research identifies various risk factors that contribute to adolescent suicidal ideation and substance abuse. The research varied in terms of experimental design, implications for future research, and approach to treatment.Item The Big Book of Social Stories(2017-04-12) Gillum, MorganThis is a book of social stories that address situations and scenarios of everyday life. These are designed to help children with Autism understand what is expected of them and what they can expect in these different situations. They are designed to be a guide to help them prepare for different events, outings and daily activitiesItem Bound By Blood: Re-Discovering the Church as a Family at the Church at Redstone(2021-04) Moon, Chris; Holland, JackJesus and the New Testament writers described the church as a family. This doctor of ministry project explores the historical and biblical foundations of the church as a strong-group family and considers practices that may help a church better live out its life as a family. This project was carried out at the Church at Redstone in Colorado.Item Buprenorphine MAT's Impact on Opioid Relapse(2022) Thomas, Alexandria; Drinnon, JoyIn 2020, opioids were involved in 68,630 overdose deaths, which accounted for 74.8% of all drug overdose deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). In the past few decades, an increased understanding surrounding the neurological, and subsequent physiological, dependence caused by substances has shifted society’s ideology away from viewing addiction as a choice and instead towards a disease that has claimed the lives of millions. Opioid addiction as outlined by the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, indirectly effects arguably all Americans due to the financial toll and how this disease impacts not only loved ones, but also communities surrounding individuals suffering from addiction. Buprenorphine, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmacological treatment option for opioid use disorder, has yielded drastically positive outcomes, especially when combined with behavioral health interventions. More specifically, Greiner et al. (2021) found that of those who retained treatment, fewer met relapse criteria (16.4% vs 38.9%), they had fewer opioid use days in the past month (4.4 days vs 9.8 days), and they had less stimulant use (15.2% vs 27.7%). An opposition to MAT options such as Buprenorphine, neglects the empirically sound evidence, disregards the importance of combating the opioid epidemic, and exhibits a lack of urgency to save lives. It is important to note that buprenorphine at any dose has been found to retain patients in recovery better than a placebo (Reimer et al., 2020). The availability of these treatment options is vital to preserving the health of Americans and combating years of stigma attributing to barriers individuals face when receiving addictions treatment.Item Calling Out Your Name: An Inquiry Into the Relationship of Natural Theology and the Book of Proverbs(1998) Milliser, Gregory ScottItem Caregiver Resource Guide(2018-04) Dunaway, AmandaThis resource guide is a helpful tool for 24 hour caregivers or caregivers visiting a loved one at a facility that are caring for their loved one with dementia. It outlines the brain changes, types of dementia, stages, helpful tips for caregivers, handling difficult behaviors, and interventions for the caregiver to carry out.Item Christian Churches initiating a partnership with the Shona Chiefs' Traditional Courts in Zimbabwe as an evangelistic tool(2013) Mushayamunda, DonaldIn this project, I highlight that the Shona African community of Matsai communal lands in Zimbabwe has its own centers of power located at the chiefs and Headmen's courts. I reflect on how the church, in its hundred years of presence lost the opportunity to touch the lives of the people more deeply by avoiding the chiefs court; partly because of the western idea of separation of church and state, and also the simplistic demonization of African customs and traditional structures. I accordingly make a proposal for the church to be contextual by initiating a partnership with the chiefs court at his "Table of Justice." Through this partnership, the church can dialogue with Shona customs, learn from the Shana elders, enjoy the confidence and influence of this "table," and in the process, contribute Christian ethical value to the Traditional African justice system, and attain community building outcomes that proclaim the gospel.Item Classroom Management and its Effects on Student Behavior(2021-05-04) Combest, JuliaThe purpose of this study was to bring awareness to the use of highly effective classroom management strategies amongst Early Childhood Education classrooms. In this study, qualitative research was conducted by interviewing a variety of teachers in grades Pre-Kindergarten-3rd at one elementary school in Northeast Tennessee. More specifically, the study asked for their personal opinions and experiences on specific classroom management approaches they use to manage student behavior. The sample consisted of five Early Childhood teachers; three first grade teachers and two Kindergarten teachers. Data was analyzed using a thematic content analysis method. Results revealed that the implementation of classroom management strategies and procedures present a number of thematic similarities within the range of teachers that were interviewed. Those being, on/off task behavior, reinforcements and rewards, rules and expectations, and a unified set of school-wide expectations. Overall, results suggest that the implementation and use of classroom management strategies in Early Childhood Education classrooms do have a positive and lasting impact on students behavior.Item College Students and ADHD: Effective Treatments(2019-07-25) Lockridge, Rebecca; Drinnon, JoyWhat effective treatment options exist for college students diagnosed with ADHD? This review will provide an overview of current treatments available for college students diagnosed with ADHD, with a special focus on treatments and issues that could be addressed in the context of a college counseling center.Item College Success and Early Postsecondary Opportunities(2021-04-20) Peer, Ashley; Dula, MarkThe purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of various EPSOs and college success. Data were gathered from 175 students from a private university in Northeast Tennessee. The 175 students were the freshman cohort from the 2018-2019 school year. 116 students had Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSOs) while 59 students did not. The following data for each student were collected: fall 2018 GPA, spring 2019 GPA, fall 2018 retention, 2018-2019 school year retention, number of EPSOs, type of EPSOs, and first grade within five course clusters. The course clusters examined were Arts & Humanities, Human, Public, & Social Sciences, Business & Industry, Language, and STEM. The results suggest that as the number of Early Postsecondary Opportunities increase, first and second-semester GPA tend to increase, and student continuation of college after the first year. Course cluster examination yielded findings that suggest students with EPSO credit score a higher first grade in the Arts & Humanities and STEM clusters and students with Advanced Placement credit score a higher first grade in the Arts & Humanities and Human, Public, & Social Science course cluster compared to those with dual enrollment credit. Recommendations for further study include examination of types of EPSO credits beyond Advanced Placement and dual enrollment, a study to compare college success in students that passed the Advanced Placement exam to receive credit and those who did not, and a study to allow students to provide feedback on Advanced Placement courses versus dual enrollment courses.Item Coming Alongside Individual with Diverse Abilities: Using Occupational Therapy Practices to Promote Inclusion in the Church(2018-04-18) Tate, KayleeThis project consists of resources and information on how to meet the needs of individuals with special needs in the church community. The booklet includes calming strategies, tools for effectively communicating emotions, self-regulation strategies, ideas for promoting social interaction, and more.Item Common Behaviors and Supports for Successful Online Learning(2023-03-28) Humphrey, Jeremy; Dula, MarkThe purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate student behaviors when they transition to an online school at a selected school in Northeast Tennessee. This study aimed to determine specific behaviors that successful and unsuccessful online students showed when they first came to an online setting. In addition, it aimed to discover specific supports online schools can provide to increase student success in online schools. The sample consisted of 9 current or recently graduated students from the same online school in Tennessee at 10th grade or above. Data were collected using four focus group conversations where the participants were assigned different groups based on previous in-person TNReady assessments scores. Data were analyzed using Merriam & Tisdell’s (2016) step-by-step process: “naming the categories, determining the number of categories, and figuring out systems for placing data into categories” (p. 236). Common themes came from this process: (1) external student behaviors, (2) internal student behaviors, (3) family qualities, and (4) school qualities. These themes provide valuable information and feedback for current online schools and higher education in situations where students have never taken an online course. This study concludes that there are specific behaviors where online students are successful when coming from an in-person school. In addition, there are specific supports that online schools and teachers can utilize for new students. Future research should include qualitative studies on specific time management and self-discipline skills students use while learning online. Also, more qualitative data from the families and teachers on online learning could be beneficial since this study focused on student perspectives.Item A Comparative Study of Accessibility to Professional Supports and Instructional Strategies in Select Schools in Northeast Tennessee(2023-04-13) Drinnon, Brooke; Dula, MarkSchools and districts spend a great deal of time and money on teacher professional development each year. Previous studies have indicated that the quality and type of support teachers receive may vary from school to school, based on factors such as geographic location and school funding. The purpose of this study is twofold: To determine which teachers are receiving effective professional development supports and to examine whether or not those supports make a difference in teachers’ instructional practice and student achievement. This study analyzes survey responses from teachers and administrators (N=1293) from 65 schools from 18 districts across the northeast Tennessee region who were involved in a 2018-2022 Education Innovation and Research grant. This study's findings point to several similarities and differences between rural and non-rural teachers, Title 1 and non-Title 1 teachers, and elementary and secondary teachers. The most significant findings indicate that there may be gaps in access to certain professional development supports depending on a school’s locale, the socioeconomic status of its students, or the grade level taught. Other significant findings of this study reveal a relationship between certain professional development supports and teachers’ instructional practices, access to and use of student data, and, ultimately, student achievement. According to this research, some professional development supports have a greater impact than others.