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Congratulations to Dr. Carnovale on her Recent Academic Achievement!

Congratulations to Dr. Carnovale on her Recent Academic Achievement!

We are happy to congratulate Dr. Christina Carnovale, Science Teacher at Finley Middle School, on completing Hofstra’s Ed.D. program in May of 2024. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Hostra as well. Dr. Carnovale has completed a research study that she hopes will contribute to the growing body of literature that speaks to a need in preservice teacher programs, that in turn will give English Language Learners the best education they can receive. Below is a summary of her dissertation:

This quantitative study aimed to assess how confident secondary preservice teachers feel about teaching English Language Learners (ELL). Dr. Carnovale used a modified version of the Teacher Sense of Self-Efficacy (TSES) survey. The survey included demographic questions, program evaluations, and 12 questions on a 5-point scale where preservice teachers rated their confidence in handling various teaching situations. The study found that a higher perceived quality of the higher education program was linked to higher self-confidence. Additionally, there was no relationship between the preservice teachers' current academic standing and their effectiveness in teaching ELL students. These findings highlight the need for higher education programs to review their teacher training to ensure preservice teachers feel prepared and capable of teaching ELL students.