Public Administration
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/203805
2024-03-28T16:49:04ZDeveloping and Implementing a School Wellness Plan at Buttonwillow School Through Community Partnerships
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/203914
Developing and Implementing a School Wellness Plan at Buttonwillow School Through Community Partnerships
Morelos, Abel
To improve health literacy in an agricultural region, Kern Family Health Care has funded
Buttonwillow School and community partners to inaugurate a school wellness committee (SWC)
and implement a school wellness plan (SWP). The purpose of this SWP is to help children stay
healthy, prevent future chronic diseases, and improve academic performance. Prior to the 2017-
2018 academic year, the school did not have a school wellness plan but was in the process of
working with community partners to implement an updated school wellness policy and related
strategies that promote school and community health. The SWP implemented six objectives that
may evolve through ongoing formative assessment by the SWC.
The investigator focused on the parents’ perspectives on how effective the SWP is
through take-home surveys provided for each family. For this study, the investigator provides
insight from the parents’ perspective that covered six areas of measurements in the surveys,
including: family engagement, family support, family efficacy, school climate, barriers to
engagement, and roles and responsibilities. The investigator’s length of service at Buttonwillow
School is from August 14, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The investigator assisted in assessing the
wellness program, factors that impact school health issues, and the progress in implementing a
school wellness policy.
This study demonstrates the benefits and impact of community partnerships in an
agricultural community and recommends family engagement practices from survey findings.
Findings of the study showed that the 2017-2018 SWP have reached families and engaged them
to be more active in their child’s health. This is significant as there is a better understanding for
parents in the development and implementation process of school wellness policies and plans in
a small rural school district through community partnerships.
2018-05-11T00:00:00ZAn Impact Evaluation of the Bakersfield College’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program Through STEM Education
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/203806
An Impact Evaluation of the Bakersfield College’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program Through STEM Education
Gonzalez-Mosqueda, Consuelo
The impact evaluation of the Bakersfield College’s (BC) Mathematics Engineering
Science Achievement (MESA) program through STEM Education provides broad evidence of
the value and role of a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program.
Thus, methods of analysis include theories from economics, sociology, educative evaluation and
STEM education research. The impact evaluation in this study utilizes quantitative and
qualitative methods.
MESA programs address STEM education and a STEM learning culture from academic
activities through teaching, professional development, and lifelong learning. The goal of the
BC’s MESA program is to improve student persistence, retention, success, course completion,
and assist students in transferring competitively into a four-year institution in STEM degrees.
The goal is achieved by using a thirteen-component academic model which includes a STEM
expert director, student center, counseling services, scholarships, internship experience,
mentoring, STEM research, Academic Excellence Workshops (AWEs), and field trips to
professional conferences and universities. In all, MESA programs serve over 5,000 students
yearly, which indicates a multiplied impact in the state economy including Kern County.
Overall, the evaluation of program impact of BC’s MESA program is a necessary process
to improve program implementation. The data collected in this study supports the importance of
continuing to allocate funds for MESA programs. Based on the results of the study, it is
recommended that BC’s MESA program model be duplicated in more institutions for the
expansion of the benefits and increase STEM graduates in the nation. As well, increased funding
will aid and lessened the current STEM professional shortage crisis. Therefore, MESA would
assist more students to be competitive in STEM degree completion.
2018-05-11T00:00:00Z