Dr. Sharon Waller
| Title: | Disability Services Coordinator / Assistant Professor – Education |
| School: | School of Arts & Sciences |
| Department: | Humanities & Social Sciences Department |
| Office: | Bldg. K-330 |
| Phone: | +971 7 246 8852 |
| Email: | sharon.waller@aurak.ac.ae |
Dr. Sharon Waller is an Assistant Professor of Education at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah where she teaches courses in teaching & learning theory, leadership, group dynamics, comprehensive school reform, data-driven leadership, and continuous school improvement.
Dr. Sharon earned her Philosophical Doctorate in Education – Special Education at the Texas Woman’s University, Denton Texas in 2013. Dr. Sharon’s research dissertation for her doctorate was entitled “A Review of Discretionary Disciplinary Alternative Programs in Texas” and explored the “at risk” designations of students receiving disciplinary placement in an alternative education program throughout the state of Texas. She earned a Master of Education degree from the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton and a Bachelor’s in business administration also at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton.
Dr. Sharon is a Texas certified educational diagnostician and all level (K-12) special education teacher and serves American University of Ras Al Khaimah as the disability services coordinator in addition to her teaching and university committee responsibilities.
Dr. Sharon is a university Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Coordinator and assists various individuals in the university in meeting continuous improvement requirements by completing DASPA, Course Files, Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) and Annual Operating Plans Final Reports (AOPFRs). Additionally, she is the chair of the School of Arts & Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Committee and serves as a committee member on a number of other standing committees for the university.
Dr. Sharon’s research encompasses various educational topics ranging from special education to public education, and higher education. Dr. Sharon collaborates with individuals from various disciplines, backgrounds, and interests to address problems of practice within the field of education. Dr. Sharon supervises various Graduate Students in the Master of Education program specifically working with students conducting quantitative or mixed-methods research.
Dr. Sharon’s passion is students. She loves working with and supporting students as they strive to meet both their educational and personal goals. Her goal is to leave a positive fingerprint on everyone with whom she comes into contact.
Texas Woman’s University – Denton, Texas, Doctor of Philosophy December 2013
Major Area: Special Education
University of North Texas – Denton, Texas, Master of Education August 2003
Major Area: Special Education
Minor Area: Transitioning
Texas Woman’s University – Denton, Texas, Bachelor of Business Administration May 1991
Major Area: Business Administration
Minor Area: Records Information Management
Professional Certifications
Texas Educational Diagnostician – Current – Expires 4/30/2027
Texas Teacher Certification – Current – Expires 4/30/2027
Generic Special Education: Grades (PK-12)
Grants
2022 Stevens Initiative: The Scheherazade Project ($137,599)
2020 Stevens Initiative: ACT Developing Empathetic Leadership for a Global World
Acknowledge – Challenge – Transform ($231,000)
International Peer Reviewed Journal Publications and Book Chapters
Hererra, R. & Waller, S. K. (2022- In Press). Teacher planning templates: Helpful tool or waste of time? A comparative analysis of the perceptions of novice and experienced teachers in the UAE and USA. Athens, ATINER’s Conference Paper Series, NO: EDU2022-XXXX
Williams, C., & Waller, S. (2022 – In Press). Toward developing the problem-solving ability of cycle-2 and cycle-3 students in the UAE’s elite math program, Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education.
Waller, L., & Waller, S., (Eds.). (2022). Higher Education – New Approaches to Accreditation, Digitalization, and Globalization in the Age of Covid. InTechOpen.
Curry, T. & Waller, S.K. (2021). Using formative assessment to improve student achievement in reading: Reflections from the field. Athens, ATINER’s Conference Paper Series, NO: EDU2021-2734.
Proff, A., Waller, S., & Musalam, R. (2021). Understanding the influences of administrative staff retention in Sharjah private schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, Arab Journal of Administration, 41, retrieved from file:///Users/rustywaller/Downloads/UnderstandingtheInfluencesofAdministrativeStaffRetentioninSharjahPrivateSchoolsDuringtheCOVID-19Pandemic%20(1).pdf
Qureshi, S., & Waller, S. (2021). An examination of factors predicting the academic success of second-language learners in the United Arab Emirates, Athens Journal of Education, 8(4) retrieved from https://www.athensjournals.gr/education/2020-4072-AJE-Waller-05.pdf
Proff, A., Waller, S., & Musalam R.M. (2021). Understanding the influences and administrative staff retention in Sharjah private schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Arab Journal of Administration, 41. ISSN 1110-5453.
Waller, S., & Waller, L., (Eds.). (2021). Education at the Intersection of Globalization and Technology. InTechOpen.
Waller, L E., & Waller, S. K. (2020). Full Funnel International Enrollment Management. In EDUCATION SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD. London, England: InTechOpen. DOI:978-1-78984-392-7
Waller, L., Waller, S., Hendricks, L., Keck, R., Al Ali, F., & Yarjan, M. (2018). A comparative analysis of the appreciation of diversity in the USA and UAE, Global eLearning Journal, 6(1) retrieved from https://globalelearningjournal.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/a-comparative-analysis-of-the-appreciation-of-diversity-in-the-usa-and-uae.pdf
Al Shehi, S., Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2016). An examination of social media networks on the recruitment process in the United Arab Emirates. Asian Social Science, 12(2), p. 120-128.
Iskander, R., Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2016). An analysis of higher education leadership in the United Arab Emirates. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(1), p. 444-448.
Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2015). Surveying organizational effectiveness: A case study from the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communication and Conflict, 9(3), p. 45-54.
Pettaway, L., Waller, L., Khodr, M., & Waller, S. (2015). An analysis of the instructional leadership model at an institution of higher education in the United Arab Emirates, Asian Social Science, 11(28), 162-169, Retrieved from http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ass/article/view/54427/29388
Waller, S., & Waller. L. (2014). Alternative disciplinary placement in Texas. The Global eLearning Journal, 3(1), retrieve from http://www.theglobalelearningjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Alternative-Disciplinary-Placements-in-Texas1.pdf
Hines, T., McGee, T., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2009). Online theological education: A case study of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. Christian Higher Education, 8(1), 32-41.
Waller, L., Matos, E., Reyes, A. & Waller, S. (2008). Urban versus rural baccalaureate colleges: A national study of student financial aid. Academic Leadership, 7(3), retrieve from http://www.academicleadership.org/emprical_research/478.shtml.
Copeland, M., Tietjen-Smith, T., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2008). Urban versus rural community colleges: A national study of part-time enrollment. Community College Enterprise, 14(1), 67-78.
Waller, L., Flannery, J., Adams, K., Bowen, S., Norvell, K., Sherman, S., Watt, J., & Waller, S. (2007). Texas community college funding: Non-metropolitan and metropolitan ad valorem tax rates and revenue. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 31(7), 563-573.
Waller, S. & Waller, L. (2004). Texas tech prep environmental scan of partner perceptions: An assessment of effectiveness. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 28(7), 625-635.
Waller, S. & Waller, L. (2004). Higher education credentials of American clergy: Ethics and antics. Christian Higher Education, 3(2), 171-183.
External Conference Presentation and Workshops
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2022). An analysis of available higher education services in the United Arab Emirates for students of determination. A workshop presented at the 24th Annual Conference on Education held in Athens, Greece.
Fatima, S. & Waller, S. (2020). An examination of factors predicting the academic success of second-language learners in the United Arab Emirates. A (virtual) presentation conducted for the Applied Research International Conference (ARICON), London, UK
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2020). Promoting an understanding of Indigenous Culture within a framework of digital delivery. An online workshop conducted for SkillsCommons.org.
Waller, S. & Iskander, R. (2019). Using data for improvement. A presentation conducted for the Assessment in MENA (AIM) 2019 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Waller, S. & Waller, L. (2018). Serving students with special needs. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the 18th Annual Conference on Education held in Athens, Greece.
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2018). Full funnel international enrollment management. A presentation conducted for the QS Apple 2018 Asia Pacific Conference held in Seoul, South Korea.
Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2016). An analysis of higher education leadership in the United Arab Emirates. A workshop conducted for the Izmir University of Economics 1st International Conference on Educational Theory and Research, 2016 held in Izmir, Turkey.
Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2016). An examination of the acceptance of diversity in the United Arab Emirates. A workshop conducted for the Izmir University of Economics 1st International Conference on Educational Theory and Research, 2016 held in Izmir, Turkey.
Iskander, R., Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2015). Evaluating administrative effectiveness: A case study from the United Arab Emirates. A workshop conducted for the Planetary Scientific Research Center International Conference on Business, Economics and Management, 2015 held in Pattayta, Thailand.
Pettaway, L., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2015). Evaluating organizational effectiveness: A case study from the United Arab Emirates. A workshop conducted for the Allied Academies International Conference, 2015 held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2015). Empowering digital practice to engage diverse learners in the United Arab Emirates. A workshop conducted for the Online Learning Consortium 8th Annual Emerging Technologies for Online Learning Conference International Symposium, 2015 held in Dallas, Texas.
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2015). Low cost methodology for delivering instructor generated video using cloud technology. A workshop conducted for Innovation Arabia 8 Annual Conference, 2015 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2014). 2014 Sloan-C Effective Practices Using Emerging Technology. A workshop conducted for the Sloan Consortium Emerging Technologies for Online Learning Conference, 2014 held in Dallas, Texas.
Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2014). Designing and Delivering Instructional Video Via Cloud Technologies. A workshop conducted for the Sloan Consortium Emerging Technologies for Online Learning Conference, 2014 held in Dallas, Texas.
Lumadue, R., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2010) Classroom management: Lessons from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.” Workshop presented for the Texas Career Education Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2009). Classroom management: Lessons learned from The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Workshop conducted for Hemphill Independent School District in Hemphill, Texas.
Elizondo, J., Waller, L., & Waller, S. (2008). Institutional effectiveness: Meeting the expectations of accreditation. Workshop presented at the 61st annual meeting of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, Orlando, Florida.
Waller, S. & Waller, L. (2008). Serving students with special needs. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Health Science Technology Education Conference, Houston, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2008). A survivor’s guide to classroom discipline. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Health Science Technology Education Conference, Houston, Texas.
Waller, S. & Waller, L. (2008). Serving students with special needs. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Business Education Conference, Dallas, Texas.
Waller, L., Waller. S., & Lumadue, R. (2008). A survivor’s guide to classroom discipline. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Business Education Conference, Dallas, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). A survivor’s guide to classroom management. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Business Education Conference, Irving, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). Understanding the frameworks of poverty. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Business Education Conference, Irving, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). Issues in special education. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Texas Industrial Vocational Association, Irving, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). Understanding the frameworks of poverty. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Texas Industrial Vocational Association, Los Colinas, Texas.
Waller, L. (2007). Assessing the general education core curriculum. Workshop conducted at a gathering of the Central Texas Association for Biblical Higher Education, San Antonio, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). A survivor’s guide to classroom management. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Texas Industrial Vocational Association, Houston, Texas.
Waller, L. & Waller, S. (2007). Understanding the frameworks of poverty. Workshop conducted at a meeting of the Texas Industrial Vocational Association, Houston, Texas.
Local Presentations and Workshops
Waller, S. (2018) Using your Strengths: How to Succeed in College. A workshop presented to all Spring 2018 UNIV 100 students (3 sections) at American University of Ras Al Khaimah
Waller, S. (2018) Classroom Management 101. A workshop presented to the Kindergarten teachers of RAK American Academy for Girls, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Waller, S. (2018) Teaching Students with the Most Challenging Behaviors. A workshop presented to Ras Al Khaimah teachers and administrators held at American University of Ras Al Khaimah
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