Program Affiliations

Doctorate in Education Leadership, Superintendent Certification Program

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Biography

As an associate professor in Education Leadership, I teach students in the doctoral program and the Superintendent Certification Program. I coordinate both the campus online Superintendent Certification Program and the Ratliff Superintendent Certification Program. The Ratliff program is hosted by Region 8 and is taught face-to-face. I also work with the Certification Coordinator to help students complete their Practicum Portfolios and prepare for the TExES certification examination.

 

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Professional Experience

In 2004, I retired from a 32-year career in PreK-12 public education where I worked in different roles in five different school districts. Those positions included superintendent, district administrator, building administrator, secondary counselor, and high school teacher. I also worked as a consultant in school improvement, organizational management, and leadership development. After retiring, I joined A&M-Texarkana as an associate professor in Education Administration.  After five years, I retired again due to health issues.  In 2018, I was asked to return to full-time teaching in Education Leadership, and I accepted the invitation to once again have an opportunity to shape the next generation of education leaders.

 

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Education

I received my doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1995.  My master’s degree (1972) is in school counseling. My bachelor’s degree (1970) is from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with a double major in English and history. I hold lifetime certifications in the following: superintendent, principal, curriculum and instruction, counseling, secondary English, and social studies.

 

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Teaching

In the Superintendent Certification Program (SCP), I typically teach Superintendent Leadership in Public Schools.  I also manage the Superintendent Certification Practicum Lab and assist students with completing their portfolios and certification requirements.  I occasionally teach other SCP classes as needed.  In the doctoral program, I teach Critical Conversations and Team Building, Strategic Planning and Change, Field Study in Cultural Perspectives, and Dissertation Research.  I have also taught Dissertation Prospectus Development.

 

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Scholarship & Creative Activity

The favorite part of my research involves experiential learning.  I co-authored an article about the travel experience that our doctoral students had in a recent Field Experience in Cultural Studies class.  The journal editor asked us to participate in a podcast about our research and experiences with our students. I am currently writing an article about our doctoral cohort that couldn’t travel because of the pandemic. My consulting and coaching experiences center on leadership development, organizational management, change management, and school improvement.

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Teaching Philosophy

The secret sauce of teaching is the creation of relationships.  The stronger the relationships between students and teachers and between students and their fellow learners, the more success each one experiences. Strong relationships foster risk-taking, creativity, and support through the hard times and the good times. When a student has a goal and is committed to working toward it, I will do whatever it takes to help that student be successful.  I love teaching.  I love helping students strengthen their writing, thinking, and decision-making skills.

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Professional Affiliations & Service

Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA)
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
AERA sub-committee for Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI)
American Association for School Administrators (AASA)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED)
Phi Delta Kappa (PDK)