Thelma J. Roberson, Ph.D

Associate Professor

DURING THE 2011-2012 ACADEMIC YEAR DR. ROBERSON WILL BE ON SABBATICAL FROM ESR.

Research Interests

My research interests are eclectic within the field of education (k12 and higher education). I am interested in supervision, curriculum development, program development, leadership, the history and foundations of American education, educational facilities and design, and staff development. I love working with graduate students to develop their research interests and am frequently called upon to chair dissertation committees.

Current Teaching
Curricula in Higher Education (HE 713)
Student Centered Curriculum Development (REF 607)
Dissertation

Teaching Interests
Public Education in the United States
Administration and Supervision of College Teaching
The Professoriate
Seminar in Higher Education
Educational Research: Interpretation and Applications
Foundations in American Education
Social Foundations of Education
History of Public Education in the United States

Selected Publications
Anderson, R., Styron, R., Roberson, T., & Rachal, J.  (2005).  The journals that administrators read.  Educational Leadership, Vol. 62.  Available:  http://www.ascd.org.
Styron, R.A., Roberson, T., Schweinle, W., & Lee, D.E. (2005).  I’m fighting a lion with a toothpick:  The no child left behind act from the perspective of K-12 principals.  The Researcher, 19, 6-11.
Klotz, J. & Roberson, T. (2005).  No parent left behind.  Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.  AASCD Focus: Journal of Research and Best Practice, 2(1).
Roberson, T., Applin, M. B., & Schweinle, W. (2005).  School libraries’ impact upon student achievement and school professionals’ attitudes that influence use of library programs.  Research for Educational Reform, 10(1), 45.
Albritton, S., Klotz, J., & Roberson, T. (2004).  Parents as teachers: Advancing parent involvement in a child’s education.  E-Journal of Teaching and Learning in Diverse Settings 1(2), 188-208.
Roberson, T., Klotz, J., & Albritton, S.  (2003).  Parents as teachers: Advancing parent involvement in a child’s education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 482696).
Roberson, T., Schweinle, W., & Styron, R. (2003).  Critical issues as identified by aspiring, novice, and experienced principals.  (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 482925).
Roberson, T., Schweinle, W., & Applin, M. B. (2003).  Survey of the influence of Mississippi school library programs on academic achievement: Implications for administrator preparation programs. 
In Shinew, D. M. & Walter, S. (Eds.) Information Literacy instruction for educators: Professional Knowledgy for an information age.  New York: The Haworth Information Press.
Roberson, T., Applin, M. B., & Schweinle, W. (2003).  Survey of the influence of Mississippi school library programs on academic achievement: Implications for administrator preparation programs.  Behavioral and Social Sciences Librarian, 22(1), 97.
Roberson, T. & Klotz, J. (2003)  Chat: The Missing Link cited in http://www.downes.cl/archive/03/01_18_news_OLDaily.htm.  (Retrieved 08-13-03).
Roberson, T. & Klotz, J. (2003)  Chat: The Missing Link cited in Online Learning
Update, Ray Schroeder, editor.  University of Illinois at Springfield (Retrieved 08-13-03)
Applin, M. B. & Roberson, T. (2002).  Sharing the responsibility of teaching information literacy:  Educating the educators.  Mississippi Libraries.  66(1), 3-5.
Roberson, T. & Klotz, J. (2002).  How Can Instructors Fill the Missing Link in On-Line Instruction?  Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration.  Available:  http://www.westga.edu/~distance/jmain11.html.
Klotz, J. & Roberson, T. (2001).  Teacher shortages and alternative route certification. Mississippi Professional Educators. 13(3), 17-18.
Klotz, J. & Roberson, T. (2001).  Chat:  The Missing Link in On-Line Instruction.  (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED460160)
Roberson, T. & Klotz, J. (2001).  Integrating Four Courses Into a 12 Credit Hour Block of Instruction in an On-Line Format as part of a Masters Program in Educational Administration. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED458864)
Klotz, J. & Roberson, T. (2001).  Confronting Design Problems in Developing On-Line Courses in Higher Education.  (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No.ED459674)
Roberson, T. J. (2001).  Philosophy of philosophy: Making the connection between philosophy and pedagogy for preservice teachers. Journal of Philosophy and History of Education.  51,141-144.
Roberson, T. (2000). Philosophy of Philosophy: Making the Connection Between Philosophy and Pedagogy for Preservice Teachers. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 446092).
Roberson, T. (1999).  A community’s power structure and its influence upon decision-making within the public school. Dissertation Abstracts International 60(06) 1858 (UMI No. 9935705)
Roberson, T. (1998). Classroom observation:  Issues regarding validity and Reliability.  (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 427070).

Selected Conference Presentations
2008    University Council for Educational Administration. Motivation for Pursuing a Degree in Educational Administration. With Rose McNeese and Geoffrey Haines
2008    University Council for Educational Administration. Poster Session: Reasons Students Choose to Pursue Degrees in Educational Administration. With Rose McNeese and Geoffrey Haines           
2007    South Regional Conference on Educational Administration. Are Parents Getting the Message? Analyzing the Readability of School-to-Home Communications Sent to Parents by Schools. Research by Roberson and Hill
2007    AAACE Conference. Exploratory Analysis of the Literacy Level Required to Read Communications Sent to Parents by Schools Research by Roberson and Hill. Presented by Lilian Hill
2006    Mid-South Educational Research Association. Technology Tipping Point. With David Freeman
2006    Mid-South Educational Research Association. Reasons for Becoming a School Administrator. With Rose McNeese and Geoffrey Haines
2006    Louisiana Education Research Association.  Why Are Graduate Students Entering the Field of Educational Administration in This Stressful Era of Accountability? With Rose McNeese and Geoffrey Haines
2005*  Mid-South Educational Research Association. Parent /Family Centers in Mississippi: A Descriptive Study. With Rotiffany Pearson-Poxes.
2005*  Mid-South Educational Research Association. Why are Graduate Students Entering the Field of Educational Administration in this Stressful Era of Accountability? With Geoffrey Haines and Rose McNeese.
2005*  Mid-South Educational Research Association. What Successful Administrators Read. With Randy Anderson and Ronald Styron.
2005 Eastern Educational Research Association.  Using DISC Profile of  Behaviors as a Tool for Team Building in Educational Administration: Year 3.  Presented by my colleagues: Jack Klotz, Shelly Albritton, and John Marshak
2004    Mid-South Educational Research Association.  Linking School Libraries and Student Achievement.  Co-Presenter: Mary Beth Applin
2004    Mid-South Educational Research Association.  Symposium: Graduate Students’ Research on Clinical Supervision and Classroom Techniques 
2004    Mid-South Educational Research Association.  Poster Session: EDA Master’s Program’s Capstone Experience
2004    Mid-South Educational Research Association. Does Technology Training Influence Teaching Practices in the Classroom?.  Co-Presenter: April DiBenedetto
2004    Mid-South Educational Research Association.  No Parent Left Behind.  Co-Presenter: Jack Klotz
2004    American Association of School Administrators.  Increasing Student Achievement Via Increased Collaboration and Support of School Library Programs. Co-Presenters: Mary Beth Applin and Will Schweinle    
2004    Eastern Educational Research Association.  Using DISC Profile of Behaviors as a Tool for Team Building in Educational Administration: Year 2.  Co-Presenters: Jack Klotz, Shelly Albritton, and John Marshak.
2003    Mid-South Educational Research Association. Parents as Teachers: Advancing Parent Involvement in a Child’s Education.  Co-Presenters: Jack Klotz and Shelly Albritton
2003    Mid-South Educational Research Association.   Using Simulations to Prepare Future School Administrators for the Real World.  Co-Presenters:  Jack Klotz and Shelly Albritton
2003    Mid-South Educational Research Association.  A Study of the Most Critical Issues Facing Education as Identified by Aspiring, Novice and Experienced Principals.  Co-Presenter: Ron Styron
2003    Educational Leadership Program Council.  A Multi-Lateral College Effort
2003    Mississippi Department of Education.  Library Study
2003    Educational Leadership Program Council.  Using Palm Pilots in Administator Preparation Programs
2003    School Leadership Center of Greater New Orleans.  Principals’ 10 Critical Issues.  Co-Presenter: Ron Styron
2003    Eastern Educational Research Association.  Using the DISC Profile of Behaviors as a Tool for Team Building in Educational Administration.  Co-Presenters: Jack Klotz, John Marshak, and Wanda Maulding
2002    National Policy Board for Educational Administration.  The Proof is in the Pudding: A Study of Recent Graduates’ performance as Principals.  Co-Presenter: Will Schweinle
2002    Southern Regional Council of Educational Administration.  The Ultimate Measure of Program Success: Graduates at Work.  Co-Presenter: Sandra Gupton
2002    Eastern Educational Research Association.  One Educational Leadership Department’s Response to the Call for Reform.  Co-Presenter: Jack Klotz
2002    American Association of School Administrators.  Can Collaboration Between Professors and Practitioners Produce Better School Leaders?  Co-Presenters: Sandra Gupton and Charles Lyle
2001    Mid-South Educational Research Association, Little Rock, AR: Chat: The Missing Link in On-Line Instruction.  Co-Presenter: Jack Klotz
2001    Mid-South Educational Research Association, Little Rock, AR: Confronting Design Problems in Developing On-Line Courses in Higher Education.  Co-Presenter: Jack Klotz                                             
2001    Mid-South Educational Research Association, Little Rock, AR:  Integrating Four Courses Into a 12 Credit Hour Block of Instruction in On-Line Format as Part of a Master’s Degree Program in Educational Leadership.  Co-Presenter:  Jack Klotz            
2001    Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration, Jacksonville, FL:  Preparing Future Principals to Effectively Supervise Quality Library Media Programs in the K-12 Setting. Co-Presenter:  Mary Beth Applin
2001    Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration, Jacksonville, FL:  Mentoring the Mentors in Educational Administration Programs.  (Accepted for presentation:  Scheduling conflict prevented actual presentation)
2001    Southwest Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.  Panel Member:  Reformation, Revision, and Reconstruction of a Master’s Degree Principals’ Preparation Program at the University of Southern Mississippi.
2000    Society for Philosophy and History of Education, Biloxi, MS:  A Philosophy of Philosophy:  Making the Connection      Between Philosophy and Pedagogy for Preservice Teachers.
1999    South Eastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE) Regional Forum on school Improvement: Building Foundations for the Future, Atlanta, GA
1998    Mid-South Educational Research Association’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA: Issues Relative to the Supervision of Teaching as Seen by Doctoral Students

Professional Affiliations (current and past)
University Council for Educational Administration
Louisiana Educational Research Association
National Association of Secondary School Principals
American Association of School Administrators
Eastern Educational Research Association
Phi Delta Kappa, Gamma Gamma Chapter
Phi Delta Kappa International
Southern Regional Council of Educational Administration
Mid-South Educational Research Association
Mississippi Professional Educators
National Rural Educator’s Association (state representative)
National Council for Professors of Educational Administration
Southwestern Educational Research Association
Society for Philosophy and History of Education
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
American Educational Research Association