The Last Two Years in Review
In January of 2023, I started the Masters of Education program at Michigan State University. I did not know where it would take me, but I knew I needed to develop my teaching skills to be more effective for my students. I was a year and a half into teaching Spanish in Washington State, and at the time, I enjoyed what I was doing and wanted to explore administration options. Over the following five semesters or a year and a half, I did not know how much my life would change; if I had, I would not have started the program, but I am ultimately glad I did. I have developed a sound foundation in educational theories and research tactics through courses like ED 800 Concepts of Educational Inquiry, EAD 801 Leadership and Organizational Development, EAD 882 Seminars in Educational Administration- Legal and Ethical Issues in K-12 Education, and EAD 822 Engaging Diverse Students and Families. While I still have a lot to learn, I look forward to being able to hone my craft of research to contribute to today's theories to increase success rates for historically marginalized students.
Not having a background in education, this was my first time taking education classes and looking into pedagogy, research, and practice. The first two classes I took were EAD 801 and EAD 882, which profoundly impacted the courses I would take in the future. EAD 801 was all about organizations and leadership, which showed me there was so much more to being a school administrator than meeting the eye. Not only did you have to lead the teachers and staff around you, but you also had an obligation to the students, parents, and other stakeholders in the community. Being a leader is also not determined by your title or position; it is how you act in a team environment. Being a young teacher, 22 at the time, I often felt that I was not being listened to because of my age and inexperience. However, this course allowed me to practice leadership skills to reach those around me at the school.
EAD 882 was a special course I took about legal and ethical issues in K-12 education. My brother was also at Michigan State at the time, but he was in Law school. I took this course thinking that it would give me good insight into what I might be dealing with as an administrator, and also, I knew my brother could help if I got stuck. Throughout the semester, the professor showed us different bills and propositions about education that were being discussed. We simulated legal issues such as Title IX, IEP and 504 plans, and workers' rights. This course allowed me to learn about issues that administrators face daily and practice what I would do if put into those situations. I thoroughly enjoyed this course, but this was when I realized that administration was not for me.
During my first semester, I also learned I was pregnant and traveled to Costa Rica with ten middle school students and six adults. This semester was a wide awakening of what was to come. I had been out of school for over a year and had to get back into the swing of things. Many things have changed since I was last in school, mainly having to do myself and my life stage. I was now more than just a full-time student. I was a full-time student who worked full-time and was married. I had to learn to balance my personal life and school in a way I wasn't accustomed to.
Following the first semester, I also traveled back to Michigan for a little over a month to watch a family member's kids while they were traveling for work, had two baby showers, and got ready for another year of teaching while making maternity leave plans. The summer semester was spent learning two significant concepts: society and educational inquiry. This is where I started to enjoy the research aspect of higher education. The concept of a learning society challenged my thoughts on higher education. In terms of educational inquiry, I was introduced to different types of research, which is where I found a love for academic research. Week after week, I looked forward to deepening my understanding of each research method and discussing its pros and cons with classmates. I also realized that my heart was not in the classroom anymore, and I wanted to pursue something different.
In the fall semester of 2023, I knew I was done in the classroom and wanted to work in the research field. This realization came from EAD 822 Engaging Diverse Students and Families and speaking with Dr. Jada Phelps about wanting to continue to a doctorate. In EAD 822, we discussed the taboo topics of education and race. We dove into what resources there are to help engage diverse students. We read about the latest research regarding diverse students. My son was also introduced to the world a little over a month early during the semester. Luckily, he was healthy, but he was just very small. This life event changed everything, and school got even more challenging to keep up with. I had to learn not to leave things to the last minute because he might need me at the last minute. This change also prompted me more than ever to leave teaching and school administration toward research and higher education. If I stayed in teaching, I would not have time for my family because I was already struggling to balance things.
The classes that followed the fall semester of 2023 were for my Coaching and Sports Leadership concentration. I took another course on law, but this time, it had to do with sports. I also took various courses that allowed me to practice my research skills as, once again, this was something I had never done before. This was my first time working with coaching and skill development theories, and it was challenging. I was stretched thin between school, being a new mom, and returning to work. Still, I persevered, and now I am here reflecting on the past year and a half at Michigan State.
Now, in the summer semester of 2024, I am taking the Capstone course and Children's Film and Literature. The Capstone project has allowed me to reflect on what I have learned and done during the master's program. The children's film and literature class has allowed me to explore classic children's books and movies and use them to discuss more significant issues. The MAED program has allowed me to discover what I wanted to pursue in the future and learn about topics I needed to gain experience with previously. Overall, this program has been a unique experience of exploration and growth.