Before beginning a graduate program with OAESA in collaboration with Concordia University Chicago, I had several concerns about starting a graduate program. I had four young children at home ranging from ten years to eight months of age when I began my program, so I was already in the midst of a busy season of life. I questioned whether the online programs were truly designed with full-time working educators in mind. Could I balance being a full-time teacher, mother, and student?

However, my desire to obtain a more prominent leadership position in education prevailed over my concerns, so I took the plunge and spoke with an advisor to help guide me to the right path for furthering my education. Shortly after this phone call, I enrolled in OAESA’s school leadership graduate program, which I have never regretted.

Did You have any Reservations about a Fully Online Program?

I consider myself somewhat old school in nature, only having participated in a traditional educational setting, so the thought of an online graduate program made me apprehensive. Did I have the technical skills to maneuver my way through an online program successfully? Would I feel isolated in this journey learning in an online environment with strangers I have never “met”? Would my professors be accessible to me when I needed something in a fully online program?

All of these fears were quickly soothed after enrolling. It was clear during my first class that the fully online option was tailor-made for working-class educators.

How Did OAESA with Concordia University Chicago’s Online Format Address Your Concerns?

With all of these concerns swimming in my head, I had to have some clarity before deciding to begin or not begin a new graduate program. I spoke with an advisor who gave me an overview of the program and assured me that this program was indeed made for busy working professionals like myself who have other obligations they would have to uphold while simultaneously being enrolled in a graduate program. Having a flexible online format where I would only have to take one class every eight weeks made the program seem more feasible when considering the other demands on my time.

Furthermore, I found OAESA to be very personal, not cold and isolated as I had feared. I worked closely with the Graduate Information Office’s Maggie Kaminska as a point person. I would direct many of my questions to her first. She was friendly and able to either answer my questions or point me in the right direction of someone who could help, creating a very personal experience.

Many professors went above and beyond to make themselves accessible to me throughout my graduate program. I texted, emailed, spoke on the phone, and video chatted with several professors. Communication and support are paramount to OAESA’s graduate programs.

What Resources and Tools did You Use throughout Your Program?

In the School Leadership master’s program with Ohio Principal Licensure, there were many tools that helped support me throughout the program. First of all, OAESA provides personalized advising throughout the entire graduate program. My advisor helped me to navigate registering for classes, deciding the order of classes I needed to take, ordering transcripts, and applying for graduation. I never felt alone; if I had a question that my advisor could not answer, I was quickly directed to those best equipped to answer.

A Concordia email account and access to the online teaching and learning application Blackboard were two examples of resources and tools that supported me throughout my graduate program. The Concordia email granted me access to news of my program, an easy to connect with classmates and teachers, and a central location for communication to flow through.

Blackboard was provided to be the home base for all classwork. Class assignments, notes, reading assignments, discussion boards, and grades were all housed in one convenient location, making the navigation of an online program user-friendly.

How Did You Foster Connection and Collaboration with Your Cohort and Professors

Connection and collaboration were easily made with my cohorts and professors. Having only 18 students maximum in each class created an environment where connections were made quickly with my peers. Small class sizes and a cohort-based program made the entire master’s program feel intimate.

What begins as a group of people you don’t know at all can quickly become a close-knit group of learners working toward the same end goal. Professional connections are forged within the cohort you are placed in and last long after graduation. We were arranged into groups based on our geographic locations for the culminating internship, so a sense of comradery was built as we worked through our internships together with other teachers from nearby districts and schools.

Likewise, my fears of never getting to know my professors were quickly put aside. Professors not only interacted with me via weekly discussion questions, but they were also responsive, answering questions when I emailed them. It quickly became clear that it was possible to collaborate and build relationships with others in the program even in a virtual setting.

In Your Opinion, What are the Top Advantages of an OAESA with Concordia University Chicago’s Online Master’s Degree Program?

One of the best advantages of an OAESA online master’s degree is that the programs are created for Ohio teachers in mind. The program I pursued was made to support the needs and meet the requirements needed for a teacher to take the next step into a leadership position within an Ohio school district. All licensure and endorsement programs are fully approved and recognized by The Ohio Department of Education and aligned with Ohio Education Standards.

Personalized attention is another advantage high on my list. Class sizes limited to 18 students or less keeps classes small and personal, fostering a sense of community in the graduate programs. It was easy to create a network of connections with other local teachers and future leaders in Ohio schools. The completion rate in the principal licensure program is 100%, demonstrating that every student is supported throughout their graduate program from OAESA to ensure we all make it to the finish line.

Finally, affordability is another advantage. Prices are guaranteed not to increase during the entirety of your program. If you cannot “pay-as-you-go” there is a convenient financial aid plan, making this program affordable for working teachers.

Any fears before I began this program dissipated as I navigated my way through an online graduate program. It was evident that this program was made for Ohio teachers working full-time jobs already.

Suppose this is a path you are also interested in following. In that case, I highly suggest that you take the first step and begin your own venture into an online master’s program from OAESA with Concordia University Chicago!

The post How I Earned my Online Master’s Degree with OAESA and Concordia University Chicago appeared first on Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators.

It was only when I discovered OAESA with Concordia University Chicago, did I finally find a stand-out option that met my needs. The abundance of available resources, the supportive advisors, the ease of navigating the informational website, and the step-by-step instructions for obtaining financial aid are just a few of the reasons I decided to enroll with OAESA in partnership with Concordia University Chicago to obtain a Master of Arts in School Leadership with Ohio Principal’s Licensure.

Available Resources

If you are like me, you see enrolling in a graduate program as a life-changing event. This isn’t something you jump into without first doing your research. A plethora of questions are likely racing through your head:

• What programs are available to me?
• How many classes will I need to take?
• How do I enroll?
• How much will this program cost?

Luckily, there are so many resources on the OAESA with Concordia University Chicago website to help you make the best choice for you!

OAESA with Concordia University Chicago’s website has an abundance of information organized by tabs at the top to ensure you can find what you are looking for. Suppose you are just casually looking for information. In that case, you can read about the diverse program options available or request an informational packet be shared with you via e-mail or mailed to your home address.

If you want to speak with someone personally, you can request a virtual one-on-one chat or call to speak with a counselor or advisor. If a one-on-one chat session isn’t your preference, you can attend a convenient virtual informational meeting via Zoom to find out more about OAESA.

However you feel most comfortable acquiring more information about available programs, the application process, or options for financial aid, there is a tailor-made option for you and your comfort level!

Helpful, Supportive Advisors

After sifting through the abundance of information available on OAESA with Concordia University Chicago’s comprehensive website, some of you may still have questions. Choosing a graduate program is a life-changing decision that you want to be entirely sure of before you begin.

Luckily, OAESA with Concordia University Chicago has outstanding advisors who are prompt at answering questions or concerns you may have throughout your entire experience, from enrollment to graduation. On any page of their website, you will find a link to an advisor’s e-mail that you can contact with any concerns you may have.

In my personal experience, from start to finish, I was always assisted by quick-reacting, informational, and supportive advisors who made my experience one to appreciate.

Navigating Requirements and Locating Information

Once you decide that OAESA with Concordia University Chicago is the right choice for you, the enrollment process couldn’t be easier! There is a student application checklist on the webpage that has a numbered outline of the steps for enrollment. You will be guided through the admissions application process, the graduation registration form, and the payment of the $60 application fee (which can be waived by attending a 20-minute virtual informational meeting).

Once your seat in the program has been reserved, you will continue with the list of requirements such as:

• Arranging financial aid or payment options
• Arranging for letters of recommendation to be uploaded
• Arranging for transcripts to be shared with Concordia University Chicago
• Submitting an objective statement and your teaching license
• Ohio licensure students only: submitting employment verification form

The best part of this process is that all the steps are outlined on the website, ensuring that you know what needs to be done; it really could not be a more user-friendly process.

Financial Aid

Arranging for financial aid is a breeze when you follow the steps outlined on the OAESA with Concordia University Chicago website! Once you navigate to the “How to Pay” section of the website, you can find a phone number to the financial aid office as well as an easy four-step guide for securing financial aid:

1. Complete FAFSA
2. Review Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy
3. Review financial aid award letter
4. Complete the loan entrance counseling and promissory note

Why wait?

For years, I put off following my desire to get a principal’s license. When I finally bit the bullet and enrolled, I was extremely pleased with my decision. I can’t explain to you how glad I am that I finally took the plunge and started with OAESA with Concordia University Chicago! I now have a master’s degree, a principal’s license, and a new job of my dreams. My only regret is that I didn’t start my program with OAESA and Concordia University Chicago sooner.

If you have been hesitant about enrolling in a graduate program, I can’t encourage you enough to consider OAESA with Concordia University Chicago. Start your journey today!

The post How OAESA with Concordia University Chicago Made the Admission Process Easy appeared first on Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators.

I felt that asking an administrator that knows me closely for a letter of reference, would be better than asking my superintendent. While my superintendent  is a strong supporter, he is not as familiar with my day-to-day abilities. Luckily for me, I have a new administrator in my building that I could call upon, and also an administrator who has been in the district almost as long as I have been.

When I approached each one about writing a letter, I approached it as if it were a job interview, knowing that this letter was an integral communication, and an introduction to get acceptance into the graduate program. I spoke to my head principal, who has known me the longest. Getting him on board was critical.  I noted that his initial interest in why I wanted to pursue the degree was that he saw this as an advantage for my professional approach to the building and to the classroom. He readily accepted my letter of interest in the program, and wrote a supportive and convincing letter to the university. Giving him detailed information helped him to understand the information that he needed to include to make the letter appealing.

I followed the same protocol with my assistant principal. He had only known me for two years at that point. I was on his supervisory list for the year, so this was an advantage for me. His impression of my classroom, the structure, and the dedication to building relationships with my students was evident in his letter. The letter that he wrote reflected every aspect of how I view teaching. The power of his written word impressed to me how important this degree would be. The content was similar to the head principal’s letter, with a fresh approach to language that reflected a defined confidence in my abilities.

Both of these letters confirmed that they believed in the possibility of me becoming a leader and attaining a third degree. They gave me the confidence to not give up. Also, I keep the letters close by. Whenever I feel that the pressures are getting strong, I read them, which reminds me of their belief in me, and I push through.

The post How to Find a Good Reference appeared first on Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators.