Graduate Work: Showcase & Essays
On this page you will find a showcase of my graduate work that encapsulate the following themes that I feel are essential for effective leadership: Reflection (the starting place for ensuring success in the other themes), Policy & Process, Reaching All Learners.
It wasn't too far into my journey of pursuing my Master of Arts in Education (MAED) with a Sports Leadership and Coaching Concentration that I realized a theme that precedes other actions: Reflection.
When time is taken to look back on our experiences and actions eventually we can sometimes find ourselves lost deep in thought about self and the future. Reflection is the process in which we aim to focus & frame the random thoughts, organize them and set goals. Below you will find some exercises in reflection that helped me form my educational philosophy.
Policy and process are necessary for order and clear communication amongst all involved – reflection helps refine these skills by being aware of my own personal biases and open and inviting to different perspectives. Under this theme you will find examples of policies or documents from an administrative lens created during my program.
Reaching all learners is the ultimate goal in education. Without reflection, policy, and process, reaching all learners can seem like a staggering task. The Reaching All Learners section includes a case study utilizing best practices in literacy development and a website created to inform others about School Wide Positive Behavior Supports.
Periodically analyzing our actions and thoughts enables thoughtful leadership. This reflection process is crucial to ensure success in other essential areas of leadership such as policy, process, and as educators how to reach all learners.
Use the links in pink at the bottom right of the box to navigate to the different sections of the Showase.
You will also find three essays below that reflect on my goals upon first entering the MAED program, future learning goals, and a synthesis essay regarding my experience in the MAED program.
Reflection
The beginnings of my leadership and educator philosophies.
What's Your Role?
In this brief essay, I relfect my coaching experience and how it relates to Georgia Tech's "Total Person Program."
Topics include: expanding my educator philosophy - being a guide as my role as an educator.
Educator Philosophy
No longer am I torn between higher education and K-12. Understanding and reflecting on my experiences professionally and personally have helped me define my educator philosophy and future goals.
Topic: A professional interview with MSU's Student Athlete Support Services (SASS).
Psych Foundations
In this essay I discuss the beginnings of my philosophy as an educator and coach.
Topics include: Self Determination Theory, reflections on prior coaching experience, teacher-coach.
Coach Observation & Analysis
This document usues the Coaching Behavioral Assessment System (CBAS) to conclude how cues from the physical
and social environment of a sport practice shape the behaviors of coaches and their players.
Policy &Process
Understanding the why's and how to's of policy and procedure creation and implementation.
Coaching Concept Map
Two maps representing my growth of a coach's responsibilities - specifically with a high school's cross country team head coach.
The maps start with developing a coaching philosophy and expand outward.
Hazing Policy
After research on hazing, historical moot court cases, and various this article is an example of my policy creation concerning hazing in a hypothetical high school athletic programs.
Sport Recruiting Document
This Open House/Info Session for a made-up high school track and field team, is an example that showcases a real-world
product
based in research and review of articles on joint responsibilities for coaches and administrators.
Reaching All Learners
Resources and best practices
Literacy Learner Case Study
A case study conducted to engage in research and implementation of best practices with regards to literacy development. The Common Core State Standards and the State of Michigan standards and benchmarks were also included.
This case study also depicts the main theme of my graduate work, reflection. I reflect on my experience being able to return to the classroom in my minor subject, Visual Arts, but with a new perspective based on the knowledge I have gained .