Why did you want to work in education? What inspired you?

My family’s motto has always been, “You are blessed to be a blessing.” Having grown up in a medical family I had always thought I would become a nurse like my mother. The summer between my junior and senior years at college while working as a camp counselor, I met a wise woman, our camp nurse, who helped to see that I should explore education as a career because of my passion for serving young people at camp every summer. I did and ended up switching my major to Early Childhood Development and then to Liberal Arts with the intent to complete my multiple subject teaching credential the following year, which I did. I have taught all the grades from kindergarten through fifth grade before being transferred to middle school.

Why did you choose Concordia University Irvine for your M.A.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction degree?

Lutheran education has a long history in the USA for preparing students to go out into the world with a vocation as opposed to simply a career, to contribute to making the world a better place for all people, which relates back to the motto of “you are blessed to be a blessing.” In comparing Concordia University Irvine’s M.A.Ed. to that of my local state university, which has an excellent education department, the tuition, time commitment, and evening cohort style program formatting were similar. Valuing vocation over career, it was a simple choice for me to choose Concordia University Irvine.

Why did you choose an online program? What were the benefits?

I did not realize that I had selected the asynchronous online track for this master’s and had a moment of panic when I was informed of this choice. I went with it having learned that many times what we initially view as a mistake or wrong choice ends up being a great benefit in life. The asynchronous online format allowed me to complete my work on my time schedule, which was good for me as a full-time teacher and single parent. I was apprehensive as to if I would be able to complete the program, but Concordia University Irvine did an awesome job of supporting me and allowing me to grow into the program. The design of the course work builds on itself and prepares you to be ready to complete your capstone project. The instructors are well versed in what they are teaching, readily available to support you as a student, and the textbooks are well chosen to align with what is being learned in each course.

What skills did you gain or sharpen through your program at Concordia University Irvine and how do you use them today?

What you are learning is relevant to that which is occurring in education and the world we live in. Ironically, some of what I have learned has given me a greater understanding of systematic racism, which is a huge social issue and problem that has great focus at this moment in time. In addition, the technology skills that are developed and honed in the online coursework has made me better prepared to deal with the immediate switch to long distance learning that took place in March, 2020, and has me much more prepared for the adjustments what will be required to reopen my classroom in Fall of 2020 due to social distancing in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How has your curriculum and instruction degree impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future?

On a lighter note, the motto “blessed to be a blessing” and the concept of vocation collide in considering how I can best meet the needs of my students. I believe that as teachers we have a sense of what is good and right for our students. Having completed this master’s, I now have a wealth of knowledge based in peer-reviewed research to be a stronger advocate for my students and their needs. This will enable me to be able to assist them in achieving inside and outside the classroom. I am much more prepared to speak to the changes needed to build positive school communities and to work to improve the intercity environment in which my students live. There is a lot of lip service given toward equity for all students in my district, but what plays out is equality, which does not support the needs of our schools located in the low socioeconomic neighborhoods. My growth as a student and as an educator allows me to be prepared to speak to the issues that require modification and change.

What was a challenge you faced during your curriculum and instruction program, and who or what helped you overcome it?

A challenge I encountered on my pathway to completing my M.A.Ed. was in determining what I should embrace as my capstone project. I struggled with this decision for weeks until another wise woman, Ann McKellar, one of my Concordia University Irvine instructors, pointed out a passion I had for growing a positive school community based in social-emotional learning and ethics, with a support piece of service learning. I don’t know how she knew I was struggling with this decision because I never spoke to her about it. Somehow, she sensed it and provided guidance just when I needed it. I was so grateful to have the focus and clarity required to pursue my capstone project.

What would you tell (or what advice would you give) prospective students considering the M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction online degree program at Concordia University Irvine?

I encourage educators contemplating a master’s degree to drive into the adventure for several reasons. What Concordia University Irvine offers in their M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction supports your growth as a current educator. Much of what I was learning was readily applicable to my classroom. I had many “aha” moments; for example, I was independently investigating empathy interviews as an aspect of my capstone project and happen to mention this to my assistant principal who had just been to a district administrative professional development session on empathy interviews. This demonstrated how cutting edge Concordia’s program is. In addition, teachers need to consider their future and set themselves up for a financially sound retirement. Getting your master’s degree moves you over to the bottom right-hand side of the pay scale and helps to ensure a comfortable future for yourself. As you can see, this professional and personal challenge was a benefit to me for so many reasons, and I’m glad I took it on. If you are contemplating doing the same, I encourage you to do so because you are blessed to be a blessing and have the ability to make our world a better place.

The post Alumni Spotlight: Ingrid Fuelleman-Ramos, M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction appeared first on Concordia University Irvine.

Why did you want to work in education? What inspired you?

During my undergraduate years, I found great meaning in spending my spare time tutoring children in shelters. Once I graduated, rather than continue work in my field of human services, I volunteered with AmeriCorps at a Catholic elementary school in San Francisco, CA. I learned that many of the joys I had discovered in social work were also rooted in teaching; furthermore, I found that my connection with children was stronger in education where I was able to interact with them daily in the classroom and during student activities.

Why did you choose Concordia University Irvine for your M.A.Ed. educational administration degree?

I spent a good amount of time looking for a graduate program that fulfilled my educational, professional, and personal needs. My lifestyle included a job, a spouse who traveled frequently, and two young children. Having to commute to a class would be difficult. However, I wanted to have the experience of learning with a cohort and having “real time” with fellow students and my professors.

The blended model of a synchronous meeting every other week met my desire to connect with my learning community. In addition, I valued the low student-to-professor ratio, as it allowed for more personalized learning and feedback. I also realized the online program would create a geographical diversity among professors and students, which would positively impact my learning about the functioning and methodologies of other districts throughout California.

What skills did you gain or sharpen through your program at Concordia University Irvine and how do you use them today?

Through my program at Concordia University Irvine, I became acutely aware of my communication style. Many of the projects required working with other candidates who had their own commitments and time constraints. Since we never met in person as a group, we had to determine the best way to communicate, whether it was through email, Google Hangout, etc. We had to make an effort to connect to share our contributions, provide time to preview each other’s work, and allow for a collegial discussion and review of material before final revisions were made. This also allowed me to practice receiving and offering professional, constructive feedback. Additionally, it required me to be extremely disciplined with the timeline out of respect to my partners and our commitment to each other’s success.

How has your master’s degree impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future?

My master’s degree has impacted the way the administration team has valued me as a source of knowledge and insight. During my practicum, I requested for new experiences to broaden my expertise and skill set. I was invited to meet with leaders in the district and enter conversations about district decisions such as LCAP. My principal allowed me to stand by her in recruitment and community events, professional development, and instructional leadership. Since I was displaying an interest in administration, I was included in leadership team meetings, asked to be the chair for multiple departments, and involved in the interview process for our incoming principal. As a result, the program increased the number of areas where I feel confident and versed in if I enter a position where high-level conversations are occurring.

What was a challenge you faced during your educational administration program, and who or what helped you overcome it?

I was challenged by finding time to complete my practicum hours. I started to think outside of the box and completed them beyond the school day. I searched for opportunities such as community events, conferences, or meetings that were scheduled during the weekend or at night. Looking beyond my scope and understanding of what was available for professional development to what was available countywide positively influenced my experiences. In addition, I also asked my principal for responsibilities that I could complete from home using digital resources and tools, such as organizing a whole school community assembly. By being creative to meet my time constraints, I organically discovered other influential learning opportunities.

What was the biggest takeaway from your educational administration program?

Having taught for over fifteen years in alternative, traditional, and private schools, I thought I had a sturdy understanding of how schools functioned. However, now I am able to look at education through the lenses at the local, state, and federal levels. I am able to speak knowledgeably among stakeholders not only at my professional site but also at my children’s school. I am empowered to share what I have learned with colleagues, principals, and families about the educational system, including topics related to laws, committees, and decision-making factors. I have been enlightened in such ways that I am propelled to ask questions I would not have known to ask before taking courses at Concordia University Irvine.

Having my work experience limited to one Catholic school district and one public school district, I was under the belief that districts worked similarly in regards to their respective budgets, hiring procedures, etc. However, with the exposure to classmates from districts across the state, I realized how unique each district’s personality and inner workings are.

What would you tell (or what advice would you give) prospective students considering the M.A.Ed. educational administration degree program at Concordia University Irvine?

I would encourage any professional who is interested in pursuing the M.A.Ed. educational administration degree to complete it at Concordia University Irvine. The program is incredibly interesting, meaningful, flexible, and helpful. Even if a teacher does not plan on entering an administrative position right after the program, it will provide insight to his or her current role in his or her school and community. There is enough flexibility within each course that a student can focus on topics that seem most relevant to the student; however, the benefit of the synchronous meetings is that a student then learns beyond the curriculum due to other students’ presentations, experience, and research that is introduced during that meeting time. This program teaches practical information and has seasoned professors who are approachable, currently leading in the educational field, and willing to help and clarify as needed.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

As educators we realize our students will always be our students. I felt this guidance even as a graduate student when one professor offered to conduct practice interviews for any future administrative positions for which we applied. This speaks to the incredibly supportive learning environment at Concordia University Irvine.

The post Alumni Spotlight: Kate Little, M.A.Ed. in Educational Administration appeared first on Concordia University Irvine.