杏吧专区淲ow. Do that again!杏吧专区
It杏吧专区檚 the sort of thing you might hear as an illusionist uses up-close sleight of hand.
It杏吧专区檚 also what the coordinator for the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Master of Education in Educational Leadership has been hearing from superintendents and administrators. But there杏吧专区檚 no illusion. Just real education leaders forged through real-world data, research, and problem-solving.
Using a cohort system in which students start as a group and work together for six straight semesters, UL Lafayette has been bringing its program to various school districts.
Program coordinator Dr. Frank Del Favero says the first cohort was in St. Martin Parish and was quickly followed by others in St. Mary, Vermilion, and Rapides parishes.
Because of the effectiveness of those graduates, there are now second cohorts underway in St. Mary, Vermilion, and Rapides.
杏吧专区淭he beauty of this whole thing is we杏吧专区檙e getting called back,杏吧专区 says Del Favero.
Sarah Butler is among the second Rapides Parish cohort members; her sister graduated with the first.
杏吧专区淔ollowing her journey and how much she and others grew, that was exactly what I was looking for,杏吧专区 Sarah says.
As she began her 13th year as a teacher, Sarah returned to the classroom as a student, as well. With minimal on-campus requirements, this hybrid Master's of Education program is designed for the working teacher.
The hybrid educational leadership program provides students with 24/7 access to online course content and valuable face-to-face time in their own school districts with faculty and peers.
In becoming a cohort member, Sarah has found not only an enriching course load, but also personalized attention.
杏吧专区淭he draw for me is that it杏吧专区檚 hands-on, real-world, relevant experience, and the expertise of the professors 杏吧专区 they杏吧专区檙e top-notch,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey杏吧专区檙e so personal; they meet our individualized needs.杏吧专区
Students in the Master杏吧专区檚 of Education program use data and issues from their own schools to develop action plans for progress.
杏吧专区淲e show students how to analyze the data, how to identify trends, strengths and weaknesses then to find research-based solutions to the problems they uncover,杏吧专区 Del Favero says. 杏吧专区淪tudents tell us their principals are excited when they hear they杏吧专区檙e in the program because they know they杏吧专区檙e going to get some help in addressing whatever issues that school might have.杏吧专区
That杏吧专区檚 been the case for Sarah, who also says she杏吧专区檚 able to pursue a graduate degree without feeling like she杏吧专区檚 carrying a separate workload.
杏吧专区淚 don杏吧专区檛 feel like I杏吧专区檓 doing extra work; I just feel like I杏吧专区檓 doing more directed work toward making our school better,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淢y administration is more than happy to give me those opportunities because it杏吧专区檚 so beneficial to them.杏吧专区
Plus, she still has time to focus on her family, which includes an active 5-year-old son.
杏吧专区淚 still have time to go to T-ball games; I still have time to go on vacation,杏吧专区 she says.
Sarah graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2004 with her Bachelor杏吧专区檚 in secondary education, fulfilling her lifelong dream and calling.
杏吧专区淚 loved my teachers. They were my superheroes, and I wanted to be just like them,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a God calling. A lot of times we are the students杏吧专区 primary support, and that杏吧专区檚 important work.杏吧专区
As her calling evolves, Sarah hopes completing UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Master of Educational Leadership program will position her for the next phase in her career.
杏吧专区淚 hope to move into administration and work with students from that angle, providing them with a school and environment that best suits their needs and helps them thrive and grow,杏吧专区 she says, adding she hopes to provide similar support to other teachers, giving them, 杏吧专区渢he school, culture, and environment they need to grow professionally and be the best they can be for their students.杏吧专区
Sarah says she sees the potential for statewide impact through UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 efforts.
杏吧专区淲e will see student achievement increase across the state because of their dedication to build a program outside of Lafayette,杏吧专区 she says, as cohorts learn valuable leadership skills through coursework as well as the traits demonstrated by instructors.
杏吧专区淚 just can杏吧专区檛 speak enough for the professors in the program at UL; they杏吧专区檙e true teachers,杏吧专区 Sarah says. 杏吧专区淭eachers go above and beyond for their students and our professors at UL have done no less.杏吧专区
Want to learn more about how UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Master of Education in Educational Leadership can help you grow as an educator and improve your school? Request information today!