Page 5 of 9

Alumni Spotlight: Scott Kasenga, Principal Certification, ’16

In the Spring of 2016, I earned the Principal/Program Administrator Certificate led by Dr. Cynthia Johnson. As a result of positive support and a rigorous training, I am the first Assistant High School Principal at College Place HIgh School in College Place, WA. Craig McKee, who graduated from the program two years earlier introduced me to Gonzaga . He spoke highly about the standards that the programs holds their students accountable, the support given to their students while attending the program, and the program’s leadership.

The instruction and guidance provided by Dr. Cynthia Johnson and Jim Whitford helped me tremendously during my adjustment out of the classroom and into the front office. As a first year administrator, Dr. Johnson has reached out to me to assist with this year’s cohort and Jim Whitford has stopped by my high school twice to make sure I was settling into my new position with relative ease.

One of the greatest lessons learned while attending Gonzaga is how to work collaboratively, because education’s greatest resource is others in our field. We can solve all our current issues if given enough time to first empathize an issue, create a definition, ideate possible solutions while building a prototype, and finally testing and evaluating our results. If we can provide the resource of time mixed with the experience of other educators most educational issues can be contained. Working with my colleagues for the betterment of the students has become my best part of my day, because the most challenging aspect has always been a meeting to set up a meeting. Any system can be infected with the bureaucracy. Part of my vision as an educational leader is to support those with a great idea. The idea needs to get into the classroom while the burning inspiration is still ablaze.

I want to raise the public perception of teachers in our society. I have worked with two highly dedicated and motivated school districts in my career, and in both always felt overworked, but this is the profession we have chosen. I want acknowledgement through accolades and compensation through funds showered on our current educators. Only then will the profession be viewed on the same level as other occupations in our society. However, this vocation can offer the most rewards you could ever imagine! Once a professional educator develops relational trust with all their stakeholders, colleagues, students, and parents, true success follows. Know what your strengths are and play to them while recognizing and developing your areas of concern.

Welcome from Dean Alfonso

Greetings and welcome to the inaugural Gonzaga University School of Education (SOE) e-newsletter. Through this medium, I hope to keep you apprised of our initiatives, which are based on mission and vision, and build community with you: our students, friends, alumni, and colleagues around the world.

As we begin another academic year, and I begin my fifth year as Dean of the SOE, I see our initiatives coming to fruition faster than ever before. Our school, guided by our strategic plan, continues to transform in ways that allow us to serve our students and community all year round. However, we are far from finished and have much more to accomplish in the months and years ahead.

The stories in this e-newsletter provide only a brief glimpse of what is happening in the SOE. Please visit our website at www.gonzaga.edu/soe and our blog at http://blogs.gonzaga.edu/soe/ for more stories, events, and celebrations. Thanks for being a part of the SOE!

Alumni in Action: The Elk Valley Arch

This is the first part in a series featuring the value of a cohort-based approach to graduate education.

The Department of Leadership & Administration is celebrating the 40-year anniversary of our Master’s programs in Canada. For four decades, the department has formed cohorts of working educators in their locales, and applied course content and assignments in their professional settings. Graduates of our Master’s programs have consistently reported that the program changed their life.

Dr. Elaine Radmer spent the last two years advising a group in Fernie, British Columbia. The Fernie cohort perfectly highlights the value of Gonzaga’s site-based approach. “All but one of the educators were from a single school district, but that district spans a number of communities,” Dr. Radmer wrote. “Geographically, they are spread along a single highway, but it takes almost two hours to travel between the outermost cities.”

In many ways, the Fernie cohort is very typical for our programs.  Their coursework structured for application in our students’ professional work, so at the end of their program, they have a list of accomplishments advanced by their involvement in the program.  Graduates often tell us that the program modeled experiential education for them. Faculty think of it as Ignatian pedagogy.

Our latest Fernie cohort’s graduation year coincided with another celebration: Canada 150 (a provincial change to the curriculum structure. Their district responded to B.C.’s new curriculum by encouraging project-based learning. Inspired by the cohort’s collaboration, their instructors, and the program content, some of our candidates decided to facilitate students in a project that would memorialize Canada 150 and represent unity among different schools who typically only compete in sports. Thus, the Elk Valley Arch project came to realization.

The Elk Valley Arch. Shared from elkvalleyarch.com

One of the candidates in the cohort, Steve, envisioned and spearheaded this major inter-provincial project, involving four schools to design, build, and erect 14’ x 16’ cedar archway at the top of mountain pass on Alberta/B.C. border. The story and images of the 3,000 kg arch are on a student-launched website, which was part of the learning embedded in the project: https://elkvalleyarch.com/.

Preparation spanned 10 months. Steve wrote 10 grants, raising $23,000 for the project. He involved colleagues, administration, School Board, government officials and private business people. They were able to obtain permissions to build the structure on crown land leased by a hydro company.

Students in a number of classes at the different schools were involved in designing, creating and transporting the memorial. In Sparwood, Social Studies and Grade 5 students helped identify symbols of the valley. The metal shop built a cart to haul the massive logs up mountain. The Woods class worked on the scaffold. Foods classes prepared granola for students to eat while camping, etc…

Students also played leadership roles in Elkford. Students presented the concept to the Town Council, informed the media and newspaper, and sought out businesses and volunteers willing to support the project.

Seven staff from 3 different schools, 5 volunteers, and 20 students moved the wood up the mountain by hand, and then constructed the arch. Local media covered the Arch. Additionally, a group of students participated in a 3-day outdoor education program, camping on the mountain.

New Programs Bring New Opportunities

Over the last few years, our departments have worked to create dynamic, new offerings that meet the demands of the ever-changing world. This required comprehensive reviews of our current curriculum, identification and development of new material, and the willingness to evolve to stay ahead of the curve. The dedication and effort of our faculty is apparent as we are launching two new programs in the coming year: our Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) and Master of Education in Educational Leadership (online).The new programs increase our program offerings to 3 Undergraduate majors and 16 Graduate or Doctoral options across five academic departments.

  • Our Ed.D., housed in the Department of Educational Leadership & Administration, will enroll the first cohort in Summer 2018. This 51-credit hybrid program prepares candidates for administrative, academic, professional, and research positions in education, civil organizations, private organizations, and public institutions. In American universities, the Ed.D. is recognized as qualification for appointment as a professor.
  • Our Master of Education in Educational Leadership (online), also housed in the Department of Educational Leadership & Administration, will enroll the first cohort in Summer 2018. This degree is designed for working educators, with a focus on linking theory and research to practical issues in teaching and leadership using their local districts as the context for their study.  Students are welcomed into an online cohort of educators and experience the benefits of a collaborative learning community delivered in a dynamic, fostering environment.

The application for admission to each program is open and we are already reviewing potential candidates’ applications. Spread the word: Apply Today!

DELA Celebrates 40 Years in Canada

For 40 years, the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration (DELA) has provided high quality masters programs across British Columbia (BC) and Alberta (AB), graduating knowledgeable, skilled, and committed leaders who operate from a strong value base. This year marked the 40th anniversary of program offerings in Canada, and three celebrations were held across the provinces over the summer. Faculty, alumni, and friends of the program united in Victoria, BC; Kelowna, BC; and Calgary, AB, for food, fellowship, and festivity. “The impact of our graduates reaches nearly everywhere across BC and AB,” Dean Alfonso remarked. “We are proud to celebrate our alumni and our department on this impressive milestone.”

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

40th Anniversary Celebration in Kelowna, BC.

Alumni Spotlight: Gane’ Bourgeois, Principal Certification, ’16

  1. Tell us about yourself:  My name is Gane’ Bourgeois, and I received my certification in Educational Administration/Leadership from the Principal Certification Program. We, our cohort, graduated in May, 2016.
  2. What are you doing now?: For the last six years, I have served as the Educational Director for the Madison House, a youth organization run by the Yakima Union Gospel Mission. I chose to remain in my role for an additional year to serve the students in our program, whom I’ve known and mentored for over 20 years. I recently accepted a position as the Assistant Principal at Wilson Middle School, in the Yakima School District, for the 2017-2018 school year.
  3. Why did you choose a program in the School of Education at Gonzaga? Gonzaga University is well-respected in the field of education, known for having an excellent program with high standards, talented faculty, and focused on bringing quality educators/leaders into the field.
  4. What influenced you the most during your time at Gonzaga? Dr. Cynthia Johnson was instrumental in helping all of us become successful. While she has extremely high expectations, she treated us with respect, and helped us keep our goal in mind. Dr. Johnson loves her school, and is a proud Bulldog. She made sure that we were well “decorated” in GU emblems for our future offices, as each graduating principal enters our new roles as administrators with a professional folio marked “Gonzaga University Educational Leadership” on the front. “Expecting” mothers and fathers received Gonzaga “onesies” to celebrate the new births that took place during our cohort year. She helped us become a supportive family, and her friendliness kept us “human” during our tough program.
  5. What was your greatest lesson learned at Gonzaga? My greatest lesson learned from my specific program at Gonzaga was that ANYONE can do ANYTHING for a year, but doing it well is the challenge.
  6. What is the most rewarding aspect of working in your field? Most challenging? The most rewarding aspect of working in the field of education, and in my position as an educator in a youth non-profit organization, is watching students make something of their dreams. When my students turn their dreams into goals and then go after them, it is so powerful.  The most difficult aspect of being a part of this field is helping students understand that success doesn’t come easily, all the time; and when they fail, helping them get up is difficult, but necessary.
  7. What critical issues do you see that need to be addressed in your field? I’m worried that educational professionals have become swept-up in a current of negativity. This has been caused by several factors; and though it is fairly easy to focus on things that distract us, we cannot lose sight of the reason why we do what we do…a successful future for our students.
  8. What advice do you have for future education professionals?
    1. In whatever role you acquire, give yourself at least two years; one to keep your lips above the water-line, and the second to actually do the work. Then decide if you like what you do.
    2. Find balance; this field will take every second of time that you have. The work will still be there tomorrow, but people may not be.
    3. Don’t be afraid to laugh…especially at yourself. This might be the only action that keeps you from “crazy”, on some days.
  1. Tell us about yourself: My name is Tiffany Hawkins and I completed a Master of Education in Leadership & Administration ’17
  2. What are you doing now?: I currently serve as a Vice Principal.
  3. Why did you choose a program in the School of Education at Gonzaga? I chose Gonzaga’s program in order to become a vice principal and eventually a principal. The program came highly recommended by Gonzaga graduates as the best professional development they had participated in. It was offered in Kamloops, so I didn’t have to do any courses remotely or by correspondence. The work and opportunity to study with colleagues expanded and challenged my professional capacity and opened new career paths for me.
  4. What influenced you the most during your time at Gonzaga? The closeness of our cohort. Even when you are exhausted at the end of the week and you have class at 4:30pm, by being with the group, I was re-energized as well as cared for. We laughed, cried, and got frustrated together. It was very powerful! Several of our professors cared about our well-being just as much or even more than our assignments. This allowed me to want to do well and push forward even though sometimes it felt impossible!
  5. What was your greatest lesson learned at Gonzaga? Time management and learning to prioritize items. Professional growth and learning does not stop at the end of the program. It has lead me to continue with learning through professional conversations and readings. I look forward to what else I can learn!!
  6. What is the most rewarding aspect of working in your field? Most challenging? Students growing emotionally due to the relationship that I worked to develop with them – being able to trust and begin to change their attitudes and negative behaviour. Relationships with staff – I find I am very strong in this area, which allows me to provide support as well as the ability to being the instructional leadership aspect of my job. The most challenging issue was being able to support children and families that are difficult to help. The issues can range from stating that they do not need help to the school and community providing excellent supports, but the family is not taking these lessons to help their family grow emotionally. As a result, the students struggle to function at school because they are not ready to learn due to instability at home.
  7. What critical issues do you see that need to be addressed in your field? We need to have counsellors at the elementary school level. We have many students entering our school with significant mental health issues that go above and beyond our abilities as teachers and administrators. These issues are not limited to our inner city schools. This can be found at any school in any area.
  8. What advice do you have for future education professionals? This field is extremely rewarding even when it feels overwhelming or it seems like you will not make it. During the process, make sure you have a strong support group, manage your time, and make sure you also take care of yourself. At the end of the day, if you are not well, you will not be successful. Do want you enjoy. Challenge the norm and yourself. It may be messy and uncomfortable, but the end result will be very rewarding.

Why I Teach: Danny’s Story

By Lauren Macey, MIT ’12

I get asked all the time why I teach. I never know how to answer it quite right, so I usually say something sarcastic like, “Because I’m really a huge fan of hearing myself repeat the same thing 16 times in three minutes,” or “Because summers, obviously.”

There was a 13-year-old boy in my morning class who I’ll call Danny. At least three times a week, he showed up over an hour late to my class. He was always behind, never quite knew what was going on, and his late work caused extra grading for me. Frankly, he annoyed me. Every time he showed up late, I assumed he didn’t care. He wasn’t responsible. He didn’t respect me. Finally, I asked him. “Danny, why are you always late?” He shrugged. I said nothing, and waited for a response. He sighed, “My mom got this new boyfriend, and whenever she stays the night at his place, no one is home to make sure my little brother gets on the bus. I make sure he’s awake and get him on his bus, but that means I miss my bus and have to walk.” How far is your house from school? “A little over a mile.”

Woah! Danny IS responsible. Danny DOES care. Danny DOES value his education. See, whenever Danny was late, he would miss the school’s free breakfast and go hungry until lunch. He’s frustrated with his mom, behind in his classes and hungry. Now, when Danny shows up late, instead of greeting him with a detention slip and an eye roll, I get to greet him with a genuine smile and a granola bar. Danny humbled me. To be completely honest, I get humbled by my students daily. They make me realize that I can be impatient, judgmental and imperfect. But the thing is, there’s no eleventh commandment that says, “Thou shalt be perfect.” Jesus just showed up, met people exactly where they were and loved them. Then he taught, but only after their immediate needs were met.

I teach because I get to ask kids “why” every day. Why are you late? Why aren’t your clothes clean? Why aren’t you doing your work? Why do you want to sleep in my class? Why are you so afraid to take a risk? Why don’t you trust adults? Why are you acting out? Why are you arguing with me? (Sometimes the questions are ridiculous: why are you hiding in my closet? Why did you think it was a good idea to throw your shoe out the window? Why did you just lick your neighbor’s ear?). The “whys” teachers ask aren’t to be punitive and shame kids. Teachers ask kids “why” because we get to treat students like human beings worthy of love and respect. Those “whys” show kids that we care, that they’re worthy, that they matter, and that they’re safe. We ask why, and then we listen … really listen to these kids.

For eight (sometimes up to 11) hours a day, I have the privilege of treating my students like people – not like test scores, not like a pay check, not like one big group who are all the same. In each class, I have 30 Danny’s. Each kid shows up with individual baggage, and I get one year to try and help them unpack it. When a kid trusts you enough to let you in or to take a risk in your classroom, that is a victory I can’t even begin to put into words. Teaching isn’t about the curriculum, the common core, the SBACs, the pay for performance ladders, or any of that. For me, teaching is about being that one consistent adult in a kid’s life. It’s about that moment when you see a kid grasp a concept they’ve struggled with for days, weeks, or even months. It’s about the look in their eyes when something clicks. It’s about the pride students feel when they turn in a project they were excited about. It’s about a student begging, “Miss, pleaseeee just read one more chapter, the story is so good!” It’s about one of the toughest kids in the school saying your class is their favorite because they know you care.

It’s about the smile that crosses a kids’ face when you hand them back an assignment with an ‘A’ written on the top and they feel successful for the first time in their life.

Yes, I get frustrated sometimes, but I don’t get to quit. I try and teach kids like Danny not to give up – to stick it out, face the adversity and rise above it. If we as teachers want to live out the lessons we teach, we can’t focus on all the negative aspects of this job, when there are so many good things! I fail every single day.
I handle situations the wrong way, I say the wrong thing, I snap at a kid who didn’t necessarily deserve it. I’m human, I’m flawed and I’m broken. But as a teacher,
I have redemption every day. I can lead by example and show kids how to come back from a mistake. Every class is a fresh start and a new opportunity to do a little bit better than I did last time.

Every single kid deserves a chance to make it. As teachers, we get to help them realize that education is their way out. Education is the springboard that’ll get them out of the situation they came from. Teaching isn’t about me. It’s bigger than me, and it’ll always be that way.

Teaching isn’t just a job. It’s a lifestyle. That’s why I teach.

Alumni Spotlight: Dianna Easton, Leadership & Administration, ’16

  • Tell us about yourself: My name is Dianna Easton; I was blessed with the privilege of earning a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Administration, in Calgary cohort 23, in July 2016.
  • What are you doing now?: Currently I am a grade three teacher that loops with her students into grade four, and then rotates to grade three again to pick up and new set of students for another two years. I teach in a public education setting, in a complex and diverse learning environment. This year, I also accepted a Learning Leader position with our administration team to help promote and further our schools development plan, as well as lead development in task design and Professional Learning Community protocols and collaboration. The Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA) also granted me an opportunity to work for them within their professional development seminar cohort, delivering requested ATA workshops and seminars throughout the southern part of Alberta.

There are three other roles that I have taken on as well, because of my love for learning and the need to continue to ask questions and develop a deeper understanding of culture and leadership. Starting in June 2017, I will be beginning my doctoral program in Leadership Studies with Gonzaga University. Dr. Chris Francovich is my academic advisor for my doctoral work. I am incredibly honoured to have this opportunity. Dr. Charles Salina, has also hired me to begin working with the Adjunct Assembly and help support and teach the Gonzaga Master’s Program in Alberta. Dr. Sherry Martens, the Associate Dean of Education for Ambrose University, has also invited me to be a sessional teacher, teaching elementary mathematical conceptualization courses to support Alberta’s mathematical drive to increase student performance and achievement.

  • Why did you choose a program in the School of Education at Gonzaga? The drive behind my choice to attend Gonzaga University stemmed from a summer seminar, in which two inspiring leaders conversed and shared their views and levels of thinking that touched my heart and caused me to ask deeper pedagogical questions that stirred my curiosity. The following Monday, I asked a question about pursuing a master’s level education. Before I knew it I was conversing with Dr. Charles Rose, and I began classes that weekend. In conversing with Dr. Rose and Dr. Martens, I realized that the face-to-face learning was where I wanted to be, as I was so (and in many ways still am) very unsure of my thinking abilities, qualities and capabilities. Yet, the supportive and highly knowledgeable people I have come to know and love, as my professors, believed in me. It was all I needed to begin to question and to view learning and teaching differently. It was the catalyst to my opening my mind and finding strengthen therein.
  • What influenced you the most during your time at Gonzaga? I truly believe in the cohort model, as sharing and listening to each other helped me to gain strength within my own thinking processes, but also with my perspectives and in my understandings/interpretations of events, experiences and opportunities. The notion of a lived experience only begins to touch the surface of the profound effect my master’s journey with Gonzaga has given me. My life has sincerely and irrevocably has been changed because of my association, interactions and professional relationships with Dr. Dan Mahoney, Dr. Sherry Martens, and Eric Perrault.

These three key individuals have influenced my understanding and desire to continue to question and consider ways to become better, to drive change, and seek after continued learning. Mr. Perrault introduced me to the notions and questions of cultural impact and consequence, which spurred my capstone inquiry and drove my interest into increasing cultural understandings of others. The impact of this course alone has changed my thinking and perceptions immeasurably. Coupled with the untold support and encouragement that Mr. Perrault and Dr. Martens gave me as I began to write, to explore my thinking, and notions of educational problems of practice that I found to of worth, was incredible. The knowledge and generosity of time given to help strengthen my self-confidence and encourage deeper thinking, really was truly profound. The unwavering and interest that Dr. Mahoney gave to my questions and conceptualizations was and is a profound gift and blessing. Dr. Mahoney was able to help me reframe and consider complex interactions and philosophies of interpreting ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ that allowed me to see beyond the immediate and into the possibilities of what could be with change and dedication to service and servant leadership. It was through Dr. Mahoney’s influence, support and gentleness, that I found the strength and desire to explore the reasons for why I fear leadership. The process was very personalized, which allowed me to dig deep and help me learn to write from my heart.

Simply put, my life has changed. My way of thinking has changed. I have been shaped and molded into someone I never thought I could be. It is so totally exciting and thrilling to continue this journey and to explore other ways that I can make a difference in the lives of those I teach!

  • What was your greatest lesson learned at Gonzaga? The greatest lesson I have learned at Gonzaga is the power and influence of servant leadership. So many individuals I have been blessed to associate with and learn from within the master’s program exemplify and embody what servant leadership is all about. The kindness, generosity, compassion, and passion have given me hope to work with increased determination for what education is all about – reaching potentials, building confidence, teaching and learning about thinking, and developing relationships that spur exploration, risks and trust; which all allow for failures, mistakes and increased probability of finding the heart of the matter (truth). But to also understand ‘others’ with different views and lenses, with increased care and appreciation. The collective and collaborative nature of working in education is complex and often times overlooked as political structures influence the design and needs of public education. In understanding that change is possible and that change matters, hope and willingness will prevail to endure within a changing structure(s)/understandings.
  • What is the most rewarding aspect of working in your field? Most challenging? The most rewarding aspect of working in education is to see the smile and eyes sparkle of child who has just discovered for themselves, that they can make sense of the world around them.

The excitement and enthusiasm children have with a natural curiosity and willingness to question events, experiences and happening around them is a motivational factor to continue to find ways to help children be the best learners they can be, with self-confidence, advocacy and appreciation. I would be remiss to not acknowledge the profound affect and effect the collaborative and influential nature of working with wise and profound leaders can have on one’s perceptions, perspectives, and interest in advancing educational practices and remaining student-centered.

The most challenging aspect of working in education, is understanding the influence of politics, organizational constructs, and interactions of our government with the institution of education. How does one teach all day, interact with children all day, and then at the end have others making decisions politically, financially, and socially that directly impact the way in which a child can be educated without voice, without collaboration, without time? How can teachers help other teachers and parents navigate the complexity of educational systems to enable teachers to be active, to progress, and to help parents be informed and a part of the educational experiences of their child in a meaningful manner? How can professional teachers help complacent teachers move forward and seek further knowledge and learning themselves without relational trust and personal interactions with decision makers and policy makers within a hierarchical system?

  • What critical issues do you see that need to be addressed in your field? The critical issues I see that need to be addressed within education include building a better sense of community for immigrant families to help them transverse the complex educational system within Alberta, Canada, so that parents can advocate for their child’s needs; but to also be aware of the various supports and options to help support learning success for all students. But I also believe that teachers need help with learning how to pragmatically shift between notions of teacher practice and professionalism within an organization, and to develop more advanced levels of cultural awareness to ensure rich and engaged learning experiences and opportunities for all students. As I have stepped into a Learning Leader position, and have begun to work with our school’s administration team, another layer to helping develop teacher competencies would be to help foster and develop leadership skills in others.
  • What advice do you have for future education professionals? The advice I have for future educational professionals is to enjoying changing your view and perspective. That higher learning is exciting and will only enhance and shift your teaching practices to meet the needs of all the students who enter your classrooms. Leadership is a mindset and way of thinking that broadens understanding and heightens differentiation to lead to more engagement and richness of thought/activity/purpose. The culture of learning is the best avenue to meet your students with and begin to develop relationships based on trust and security. Moreover, I firmly believe that educational professionals need to ask themselves and others questions, to deepen conversations, to shift thinking, and to never settle: keep expectations high and think your way through the various notions, changes, and conceptualization shifts and paradigms asked of you: be comfortable with change, and be an agent for change.
« Older posts Newer posts »