When 24-year educator Erin Henry decided her next step was administrative leadership, she began researching programs that would prepare her for the role. Henry wanted a program that would be manageable for a working professional and parent and would also be challenging.
杏吧专区淚 wanted a program that was rigorous,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 didn't want to throw money at a degree and feel like I'm throwing it away; I wanted to learn.杏吧专区
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at the 杏吧专区 seemed to be just the right fit.
"I looked at a lot of different programs, and I feel like UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 program really offered the most value," she says. 杏吧专区淚t was designed for working professionals 杏吧专区 rigorous and challenging but also accommodating.杏吧专区
Now that Henry is preparing to graduate with her Master of Education, she says got what she came for 杏吧专区 not only a degree, but an education.
Relevant courses
Students enroll as a cohort in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership each Fall. Joining as a cohort 杏吧专区 and the program杏吧专区檚 hybrid format 杏吧专区 was appealing to Henry. She found she brought a unique perspective to her cohort, both as a private school educator and administrator.
Although she could not officially use the title, Henry has served as assistant principal at Catholic High in New Iberia for two years 杏吧专区 the entire duration of her master杏吧专区檚 program. Filling that role meant she could link her coursework directly to her position and her position to her coursework.
杏吧专区淥ne of the things that I was told when researching programs was that what you learn in class one night, you could go back and use immediately the next day. I found that to be very true,杏吧专区 says Henry.
Legal, Regulatory, and Ethical Issues 杏吧专区 EDLD 502 杏吧专区 was of special interest, but Henry says all of her courses were impactful, from developing gap analyses to vision plans and school improvement plans.
杏吧专区淚 loved them all for different reasons,杏吧专区 she says.
Manageable program
Henry杏吧专区檚 role meant she not only had a different perspective than many in her cohort, she also had different responsibilities.
However, the program's hybrid format made it possible to maintain a balance.
杏吧专区淚 had extra duties such as game supervision,杏吧专区 she says. "Someone's got to be the person to supervise and to support the officials if there's an issue. So that was a little time consuming early on but nothing I couldn't handle because of the way that the program was designed.杏吧专区
Students take two courses each semester in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Courses alternate each week, with students meeting for one class and completing coursework for the other course online.
The hybrid format, along with her husband杏吧专区檚 support, helped Henry remain present during a pivotal time in her daughter's education.
杏吧专区淚 was going through the program during my daughter's junior and senior years of high school, and she was a very involved senior between clubs and captain of the dance team and studio dance,杏吧专区 says Henry. 杏吧专区淪o, personally, there was a lot that I was juggling, but I still felt like the way the program worked allowed me to be successful in those areas, as well.杏吧专区
Accommodating faculty
Not only did the program design facilitate Henry杏吧专区檚 success, but support from professors 杏吧专区 many of whom are or have been administrators 杏吧专区 was also significant.
杏吧专区淐ommunicate with your professors. They offer all their contact information for good reason,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭he professors were wonderful as long as I communicated with them ahead of time. They were very supportive and very accommodating.杏吧专区
Henry also had buy-in from her high school principal.
"My principal was very supportive,杏吧专区 says Henry. 杏吧专区淪he knew which days were reserved for class time and structured my extra duties accordingly."
And just as attaining her degree was a priority, so is celebrating.
杏吧专区淭hat day is our senior orientation day, but because [my principal] is very supportive, she said, 杏吧专区榃e will man the ship without you. We need you to attend your graduation.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿