Date Approved

9-22-2025

Embargo Period

9-22-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

Department

Educational Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Shelley Zion, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Cecile Sam, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Scott Oswald, Ed.D.

Keywords

ADHD;Disproportionate Discipline;Mentorship Program;Middle School;Program Evaluation;Restorative Practices

Abstract

This program evaluation was initiated to determine the effectiveness of a one-on-one mentorship program at Maple Grove Middle School. The program emerged in response to a troubling pattern in disciplinary data from the previous school year, of which 18 students received ten or more discipline referrals in 2023-2024. Notably, 14 of these students were classified with a disability, highlighting a disproportionate rate of disciplinary action towards students receiving special education services. In an effort to address this issue, each student was paired with a mentor, with the intent to provide support for positive behavior, and an improvement in academics. This evaluation specifically focused on five students who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and were economically disadvantaged. The evaluation examined whether the mentorship program positively influenced their behavior, self-efficacy, and overall engagement with school. As Gregory et al. (2016) remind us, without proper guidance, support, and professional development for teachers, particularly in working with students with disabilities and implementing restorative practices, mentorship programs are unlikely to produce favorable outcomes. Thus, the evaluation considered how well teachers and mentors were equipped to meet the needs of these students through trauma-informed and restorative approaches. Through interviews and focus groups with mentors, teachers, and students, as well as classroom and hallway observations, it became evident that the program is promising, but more than just the mentorship needs to be refined.

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