The College of Education, Health and
Human Sciences
Announces the Final Examination of
Emily Warren Meadows
for the degree of
Doctor of Education
June 19, 2014 at 1:30 pm
103 Ball Hall, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Biographical Sketch
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Christian Brothers University
Master of Arts, Counseling, Louisiana State University
Advisory Committee
Richard James, Ph.D., Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research, Committee chair
Chloe Lancaster, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research
Vicki Murrell, Ph.D., Instructor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research
Stephen Zanskas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research
Major Field of Study
Counselor Education
Period of Preparation: 2010 – 2014
Comprehensive Examination Passed: September 2013
A Model for Educating and Training School Counselor Directors
Abstract
This dissertation explores the educational and training opportunities available to those who are pursuing employment as a school counselor director. The primary focus was to examine the participants’ educational experiences, as well as what they consider are the requisite knowledge and skills to be an effective school counselor director. In spite of the American School Counselor Association providing a justification for school counselor directors, as well as a description of the roles and functions of this crucial position, currently there are no national standards for educating or training school counselor directors.
This study employed a mixed-method research design to investigate the research questions, using both qualitative and quantitative methods of collecting, analyzing, and representing data. Qualitative methods were utilized to initiate the research study and were then triangulated with quantitative methods to provide evidentiary support for the findings. This study applied four methods of data collection: personal journals, a focus group, a national survey, and document analysis.
The analysis of both the qualitative and quantitative data suggests that there are significant differences ( p < 0.05) between what the participants believe are the requisite knowledge and skills for their positions as school counselor directors and the degree to which their educational programs prepared them for these skills. Additionally, this study offers a model program for educating and training school counselor directors through a school counselor leadership certification program. This certification program is a hybrid program that samples both from educational leadership and administration, as well as advanced counseling courses that could be implemented as a component of a degree program or as an individual certification tract.