[{"id":7133,"date":"2026-06-24T13:41:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T18:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/?p=7133"},"modified":"2026-06-24T13:58:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T18:58:52","slug":"alumni-chloe-troutman-23-taught-steam-education-in-ireland-on-matts-maker-space-fellowship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/2026\/06\/24\/alumni-chloe-troutman-23-taught-steam-education-in-ireland-on-matts-maker-space-fellowship\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Chloe Troutman ’23 Taught STEAM Education in Ireland on Matt’s Maker Space Fellowship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet Chloe Troutman<\/h2>\n

Major\/Program
\n<\/strong>Education Pre-K \u2013 4th Grade<\/a><\/p>\n

Minor
\n<\/strong>Dual Certification in Special Education Pre-K \u2013 12th Grade<\/p>\n

Graduation
\n<\/strong>2023<\/p>\n

Hometown
\n<\/strong>Northumberland, Pa.<\/p>\n

High School
\n<\/strong>Shikellamy High School<\/p>\n

Hobbies & Interests
\n<\/strong>I love making art, reading, camping, hiking and spending time with my animals, friends and family, and I absolutely love traveling. I\u2019m passionate about mental health and social-emotional learning in education and am currently on track to pursue my Master\u2019s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to become a therapist.<\/p>\n

“The Matt\u2019s Maker Space Fellowship felt like the perfect opportunity to align with my priorities as an educator \u2014 immersing myself in new cultures, engaging with diverse approaches to learning and stepping outside of my comfort zone to explore an international curriculum.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Chloe Troutman<\/em><\/p>\n

When Chloe Troutman ’23 was completing her undergraduate degree at Point Park University, she had the opportunity to student teach in Ireland as part of the School of Education<\/a>‘s partnership with SEK International School. Two years later, she’s returned to Ireland, this time on the Matt’s Maker Space Fellowship, which is open to any School of Education alumni.<\/p>\n

Learn more about her experience and how to apply for this unique opportunity.<\/p>\n

What did you do during your fellowship?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

During my fellowship, I taught alongside SEK Dublin\u2019s Maker Space teacher, lifting up STEAM education as a crucial part of the modern inquirer\u2019s education. We challenge students to think outside the box during our various Design and Computer Science courses as they are tasked with addressing real-world, complex scenarios.<\/p>\n

In addition, I prioritized offering my support in areas of need. I led the Middle Year Program 1 (MYP1) International Baccalaureate (IB) community project, a service-learning plan in which students are tasked with addressing a need in their community and planning actionable change. We started the process of integrating sign language education into our students\u2019 day-to-day lives to bridge communication gaps for our student population.<\/p>\n

I also led a Bridging Cultures group where students were exposed to many elements of different cultures, such as traditions, languages and art. Each week, we “journeyed” to a different country, where students chose a cultural aspect to research and shared with the group. Together, we highlighted the importance of respecting all traditions and honoring the people who keep them alive. The Bridging Cultures group was more than a classroom activity \u2014 it was a supportive community where we celebrated one another and uplifted one another’s ideas.<\/p>\n

Why did you apply for the fellowship?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Matt\u2019s Maker Space Fellowship felt like the perfect opportunity to align with my priorities as an educator \u2014 immersing myself in new cultures, engaging with diverse approaches to learning and stepping outside of my comfort zone to explore an international curriculum like the IB. I absolutely loved my experience in Ireland when I student taught here in March 2023, and I was eager to return. I was also passionate about advancing my teaching practice in STEAM education, as I believe learning becomes most meaningful when it emphasizes inquiry, research and reflection.<\/p>\n

What are you learning through this opportunity?<\/strong><\/p>\n

From this experience, I gained so much, both professionally and personally. I learned how inquiry-based learning and STEAM practices can be meaningfully applied within the IB framework, while also exploring new ways to support diverse learners and integrate cultural perspectives into my teaching. At the same time, I grew personally by stepping outside of my comfort zone, adapting to new environments and embracing fresh perspectives. This time \u00a0reminded me how powerful collaboration, creativity and cultural exchange can be \u2014 not only in the classroom, but in my own life.<\/p>\n

What was it like living in Ireland?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It truly felt like a dream \u2014 I felt completely at home here. I lived in a similar area to where I stayed before, and it\u2019s amazing to see the east coast of Ireland through a slightly older lens. There are familiar places I now appreciate in new ways.<\/p>\n

The public transportation, especially the DART, was a game-changer. The station was just a 20-minute walk from my home, and from there I could be in Dublin\u2019s city center in about 45 minutes \u2014 all while soaking in the breathtaking coastal views. Most days, I brought a book and alternate between reading and gazing out the train window. It felt surreal to be surrounded by landscapes that seem straight out of a fairy tale, and even more magical to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean\u2019s waves every night.<\/p>\n

Why would you recommend someone apply for this fellowship?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would wholeheartedly recommend this fellowship because it offers the rare chance to grow as both an educator and as a person. Professionally, it pushes you to think more deeply about inquiry-based learning, STEAM and the way culture shapes education. Personally, it gives you the space to step outside your comfort zone, immerse yourself in a new community and see the world through fresh perspectives.<\/p>\n

Beyond the classroom, the experience is truly life-changing \u2014 whether it\u2019s forming meaningful connections, exploring a new culture or simply finding joy in the everyday moments. If you\u2019re looking for a fellowship that will challenge you, inspire you and leave a lasting impact, this is it.<\/p>\n

Why would you recommend Point Park’s School of Education to a prospective student?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would recommend Point Park’s School of Education because the program truly prepares you to be a well-rounded and adaptable teacher. The professors bring real-world experience into the classroom, and the smaller class sizes mean you\u2019re not just a number \u2014 you\u2019re part of a supportive community where your voice matters. Point Park also places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and field experiences, so you\u2019re out in schools early, gaining the confidence and practical skills you need to succeed.<\/p>\n

What stood out to me most was how much the program values both professional growth and personal connection. You\u2019re encouraged to explore different approaches to teaching, reflect on your practice and find your own voice as an educator \u2014 all while being supported by mentors who genuinely care about your success. I\u2019ve built connections with my professors and colleagues that I know will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Matt\u2019s Maker Space Fellowship or apply, visit pointpark.edu\/school-of-education-seeking-applicants-for-inaugural-matts-maker-space-fellowship-in-ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet Chloe Troutman Major\/Program Education Pre-K \u2013 4th Grade Minor Dual Certification in Special Education Pre-K \u2013 12th Grade Graduation 2023 Hometown Northumberland, Pa. High School Shikellamy High School Hobbies & Interests I love making art, reading, camping, hiking and spending time with my animals, friends and family, and I absolutely love traveling. I\u2019m passionate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":7130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[46,10],"class_list":["post-7133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alumnispotlight","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumni Chloe Troutman '23 Taught STEAM Education in Ireland on Matt's Maker Space Fellowship - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One Point Park University education alumni, Chloe Troutman, shares her experience teaching abroad with the Matt\u2019s Maker Space Fellowship.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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Spotlight: Christal Edmunds, Ph.D., Professor of Education"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>“The most important reason to choose Point Park University is that we are a deeply engaged faculty. Our class sizes are small, and we\u2019re able to get to know you well as a student. We also provide tremendous experiences for students. We teach the way that we would hope students are going to teach their children in their classroom someday.”<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Christal Edmunds, Ph.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/ChristalEdmunds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christal Edmunds<\/a>, Ph.D., is a professor of education and the director of undergraduate programs at Point Park. Like so many\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Education<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">faculty members<\/a>, she brings years of experience teaching children to help prepare education majors for their own classroom someday. In the Q&A and video below, Edmunds shares more about her experience and philosophy of education.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your past experience in teaching, and how does that impact what you do in the classroom?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that teaching is what I was called to do. I became a Montessori teacher initially and am certified in Pre-K through eighth grade, along with my Montessori certification. When I came to Point Park University, I came with that profound interest that I have in the philosophy of education. That question of “Why do we do what we do with young children?” is so important to me.<\/p>\n<p>In my classes, I teach about the philosophies of different people. In Educational Theories and Practices, we go all the way back to the 1500s and study John Amos Comenius and work our way up through people as contemporary as Ron Clark. Recently, I took a small group of students who had been part of this philosophy class to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news-education\/ron-clark-academy-new-teacher-conference-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Teacher Conference at the Ron Clark Academy<\/a> to learn from him and his staff directly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do you like about teaching at Point Park University?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First, we have a wonderful student body at Point Park \u2014 students who are eager and excited to learn about education and how to best address the needs of young children in our challenging world today.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, I love our faculty and our staff.\u00a0 We are a strong team that works together to provide the best experience possible for our students, and I\u2019m really proud to be part of it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should a student choose Point Park University?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The most important reason to choose Point Park University is that we have a deeply engaged faculty. Our class sizes are small, so we\u2019re able to get to know you well as a student. We also provide tremendous experiences for students. I believe wholeheartedly in providing experiences for my students so that they can learn through hands-on, engaging activities.<\/p>\n<p>For example, in the School of Education, we spend a great deal of time working with students on hands-on activities, such as our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Matts-Maker-Space-Lab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Matt\u2019s Maker Spaces<\/a>. We teach the way that we hope students will teach their classes someday.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, we take students out into the community. We have many, many community connections, collaborations and partnerships with schools and organizations in the Pittsburgh area. Our students have a wealth of experiences around us, from the <a href=\"https:\/\/pittsburghkids.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Children\u2019s Museum<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heinzhistorycenter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Heinz History Center<\/a>, to a variety of school districts and private schools.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the advantage of attending a university Downtown?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Because we are in an urban setting, our population and field experiences are very diverse, and we\u2019re proud of that. In addition, being Downtown offers so many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/about\/aboutpittsburgh\/livingandlearninginpittsburgh\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opportunities for students<\/a> in terms of daily activities, like Market Square, The Point, Starbucks, along with all the theater and sports opportunities here in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us about a special moment in the classroom.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I teach some of the initial courses first-year students take, and I get to know students when they\u2019re 18-year-olds and a little bit intimidated by all this new educational language and ideas that they\u2019re hearing from us.<\/p>\n<p>Then four years later, I also teach a senior seminar when they are student teaching. They meet with me and we talk about their student teaching experience, along with all of the nuts and bolts of what they need to do to apply for their certification.<\/p>\n<p>I see students when they\u2019re the 18-year-olds who are just starting this journey, and then I see them when they\u2019ve mastered all of the skills, ideas and theories that we\u2019ve taught for four years, and they\u2019re able to go out and do it. There they are, conducting a class of their own. That\u2019s probably the most exciting thing for me \u2014 and I know for the rest of the faculty \u2014 that we get to watch our students grow and develop into the professional teachers that they are going to become.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to add?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the greatest things we’re able to do at Point Park University is prepare our teachers to work with this changing world in a way that\u2019s most effective and developmentally appropriate for children. Teachers in a classroom can be profoundly positive or profoundly negative in a child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p>We work diligently in the School of Education to help you be the best teacher that you can be, because we know that just <em>one<\/em> teacher really tapping into a child and being that positive force can change that child\u2019s life forever. We work hard to be that for you, so you can be that for the children that you\u2019ll work with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>“The most important reason to choose Point Park University is that we are a deeply engaged faculty. Our class sizes are small, and we\u2019re able to get to know you well as a student. We also provide tremendous experiences for students. We teach the way that we would hope students are going to teach their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":7132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[26,10],"class_list":["post-7128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-facultyspotlight","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Faculty Spotlight: Christal Edmunds, Ph.D., Professor of Education - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet Christal Edmunds, a Point Park University Professor of Education, and her education journey.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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About Point Park University’s M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>What do the M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education programs encompass?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Point Park University <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/m-a-in-special-education-with-grades-prek-12-special-education-certification-for-certified-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M.A.<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/m-ed-in-special-education-with-grades-prek-12-special-education-certification-for-non-certified-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M. Ed. in Special Education<\/a> are graduate degree programs designed for students to earn a\u00a0master\u2019s\u00a0degree and Pennsylvania Special Education Pre-K through 12 Certification. The M.A. degree is for teacher candidates currently holding a teacher certification who want to earn a\u00a0master\u2019s\u00a0degree with special education certification. The M.A. program is 30 credits, and teacher candidates will complete the coursework in 18 months (about one and a half years).<\/p>\n<p>The M.Ed. degree is designed for those teacher candidates with a bachelor’s degree but no teaching certification who want to earn a master\u2019s degree with an initial teaching certification in special education. The M.Ed. program is 42 credits, including a 15-week student teaching experience, and teacher candidates will complete the program in five semesters. The courses for both programs are structured in an eight-week online format, and students are enrolled in one course every eight weeks. The courses meet the standards, competencies, and guidelines for the Pennsylvania Department of Education certification programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What differentiates Point Park University\u2019s M.A. and M.Ed. Special Education programs from other schools that offer similar programs?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Point Park\u2019s program differs from others because master’s degrees at other universities may not offer the M.Ed. for those who want to earn both a master’s degree and a teaching certification. The coursework for both programs is streamlined so that students can complete the program with both a master’s degree and a teaching certificate in special education, Pre-K through 12.<\/p>\n<p>The cohort sizes are small\u00a0so that\u00a0student candidates and instructors have a more personalized experience.\u00a0The courses are designed and taught by instructors who\u00a0are experienced\u00a0teachers and administrators in special education.\u00a0And\u00a0therefore, the content, assignments\u00a0and\u00a0embedded experiences are very realistic to schools and classrooms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How will this program help educators during\u00a0this time of\u00a0COVID and\u00a0Post-COVID\u00a0teaching? How will it better prepare them for\u00a0today\u2019s\u00a0education challenges?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>None of us predicted how the COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0influenced\u00a0how we teach.\u00a0Valuable lessons were learned\u00a0during the pandemic. Teachers, students, and parents\u00a0needed to\u00a0prepare to teach and learn virtually. With an online learning format, graduate students understand the unique challenges of learning, communicating, and collaborating through a virtual format.<\/p>\n<p>Together, we ensured that our students and student teachers could continue with their teaching experiences even though we shifted our teaching platforms to online learning. We modified, adjusted, and adapted as needed. These are qualities of a good teacher. From a\u00a0learner’s\u00a0perspective, graduate students understand how\u00a0learning styles and preferences can be supported\u00a0without face-to-face teaching. Some courses also require assignments for and about virtual and online learning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What career opportunities are available to students who graduate from the program?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is a growing teacher shortage across Pennsylvania and the country. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goerie.com\/story\/opinion\/columns\/2023\/05\/31\/pa-state-schools-passhe-propose-financial-aid-plan-train-teachers-shortage-low-income-affordability\/70259942007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It is estimated that by 2030<\/a>, Pennsylvania will need 10,000 more teachers. But we have\u00a0a sufficient number of great people who would make excellent teachers.\u00a0Students who graduate from the program can teach special education in Pennsylvania in any public, private, or charter school.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, students may relocate to another state where a Pennsylvania teaching certification is recognized and accepted by other state\u00a0departments of education.\u00a0With a\u00a0master’s\u00a0degree in special education and a teaching certification, teachers can hold positions such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Special education teacher<\/li>\n<li>Substitute teacher<\/li>\n<li>Teacher\u00a0assistant<\/li>\n<li>Case manager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These positions can be in a variety of settings\u00a0including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Public schools<\/li>\n<li>Private licensed facilities<\/li>\n<li>Private schools<\/li>\n<li>Special education centers<\/li>\n<li>Mental health facilities<\/li>\n<li>Hospitals<\/li>\n<li>Residential therapeutic camps<\/li>\n<li>Sheltered workshops<\/li>\n<li>Nonprofits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also, to\u00a0add to the\u00a0variety of job opportunities\u00a0available to them, special educators with\u00a0master’s\u00a0degrees can add administrative certifications or endorsements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should prospective students choose this program? Why should they choose Point Park?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I would invite prospective students to read the alumni profiles on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/newstaglisting\/success%20story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Point Park University success story blog<\/a> about their experiences. Prospective students should choose this program because it is structured so they can teach, study, and balance their educational and personal lives while earning a master\u2019s degree and teaching certification in special education Pre-K through 12.<\/p>\n<p>Point Park is very affordable; graduate education tuition includes a 25% discount when compared to non-education graduate programs. The online format is convenient for students who are geographically unable to access a quality master\u2019s program in person, as evidenced by those students from across Pennsylvania and in other states who are currently enrolled in the program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do the M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education programs encompass?\u00a0 The Point Park University M.A. and M. Ed. in Special Education are graduate degree programs designed for students to earn a\u00a0master\u2019s\u00a0degree and Pennsylvania Special Education Pre-K through 12 Certification. The M.A. degree is for teacher candidates currently holding a teacher certification who want to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10,21],"class_list":["post-4594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-pointparkuniversity","tag-specialeducation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>All About Point Park University's M.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education Programs - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you feel a calling to Special Education? 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Park University Celebrates Graduate Degree Recipients at Fall Hooding Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Point Park University conferred 41 doctoral degrees, 118 master\u2019s degrees and 60 Education certificates Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Fall Hooding Ceremony, held in the University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/playhouse.pointpark.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pittsburgh Playhouse<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/StanleyDenton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stanley Denton<\/a>, Ph.D., professor of education, served as Grand Marshal.<\/p>\n<p>Jason Lange, M.A., M.Ed., founder and president of <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomboard.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BloomBoard<\/a>, an education talent development provider, was the keynote speaker. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news\/point-park-university-bloomboard-partnership-takes-on-pa-teacher-shortage-with-innovative-degree-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Point Park recently entered a partnership with BloomBoard<\/a> to solve the teacher-shortage crisis by providing a pathway for paraprofessionals and support staff to receive their teaching certification. The program uses on-the-job experience to meet the requirements of classes taught by Point Park faculty members.<\/p>\n<p>Shari Payne, Ph.D., acting dean of the school of education, praised Lange for his innovation. \u201cI\u2019m extremely impressed by how entrepreneurial Jason has been about solving a real societal problem,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Lange encouraged each of the graduates to take a similar approach, actively exploring the possibilities that emerge when connections are made between seemingly dissimilar fields.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have a level of depth to be truly dangerous in each of your fields,” he said. “The idea that you can take that depth and apply it across fields and start to really think about how you can change the fields you\u2019re excited about, using the depth of expertise you have \u2014 that\u2019s where can solve society\u2019s biggest problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bridget Miller, Ed.D., who received her Doctorate in Leadership and Administration, addressed her fellow graduates as the student speaker. Miller, an assistant principal in the Seneca Valley School District, exhorted graduates to bring dignity to all their interactions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to validate one another, respond to each other\u2019s concerns, look one another in the eye and say \u2018I. see. You. I acknowledge you, and while you may think differently, vote differently, believe differently than I do, I see you and even more importantly, I accept you,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, president, and Michael Soto, Ph.D., provost, also offered inspiring messages that expressed the pride they feel for Point Park’s latest graduates.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/academics\/schools\/schoolofartsandsciences\/departments\/psychology\/psyd\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doctor of Clinical Psychology<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/academics\/schools\/business\/departmentofcommunityengagement\/communityphd\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doctor of Philosophy in Community Engagement<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/academics\/schools\/education\/graduateprograms\/leader\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration<\/a>\u00a0programs were awarded their hoods on stage by their dissertation chair or other faculty member.<\/p>\n<p>Master\u2019s candidates in the Rowland School of Business and Schools of Arts & Sciences, Communication and Education were greeted by the respective dean of each school.<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony marked the first time the University has included the students who have successfully completed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/academics\/schools\/education\/graduatecertificates\/principalcertificate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Principal Certificate<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/academics\/schools\/education\/graduatecertificates\/superintendent%20letter%20of%20eligibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Superintendent Letter of Eligibility Certificate<\/a> programs. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/DarleneMarnich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Darlene Marnich<\/a>, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Leadership and Organizational Administration in the School of Education, Point Park certifies more principals than any other institution in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are the programs that produce the future leaders of schools and school districts,\u201d said Richard Gutkind, Ph.D., director of Online Graduate Programs in the School of Education. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how pleased I am that Point Park is now recognizing these important graduates from the School of Education along with peers from other educational programs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Veronika Panagiatou, Ph.D., an alumna of Point Park’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Business\/DepartmentOfCommunityEngagement\/CommunityPHD\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community engagement<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/SchoolofArtsandSciences\/Departments\/Psychology\/PsychologyUndergrad\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psychology<\/a> programs and part-time faculty member, welcomed the graduates into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/alumni\/alumniboard\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alumni Association<\/a>, which boasts nearly 30,000 members across the globe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Point Park University conferred 41 doctoral degrees, 118 master\u2019s degrees and 60 Education certificates Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Fall Hooding Ceremony, held in the University\u2019s Pittsburgh Playhouse. Stanley Denton, Ph.D., professor of education, served as Grand Marshal. Jason Lange, M.A., M.Ed., founder and president of BloomBoard, an education talent development provider, was the keynote […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-4237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Point Park University Celebrates Graduate Degree Recipients at Fall Hooding Ceremony - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Point Park University conferred 41 doctoral degrees, 118 master\u2019s degrees and 60 Education certificates Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Fall Hooding 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and Tricks for Success in Graduate Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Success in Graduate Programs: Tips and Tricks<\/h2>\n<p>The key turns. Slowly, the ignition cranks. It putters a bit. The key turns again. Puttering\u2026 again. A few seconds later, and for a third time, the key turns, and the engine roars.<\/p>\n<p>Success in graduate programs is the car that needs a little love. As a veteran (and successful graduate) of four different graduate programs, I have seen in-person, hybrid, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online<\/a>, and COVID-affected graduate programs.<\/p>\n<p>With your graduate program, you must keep your engine fueled, listen to the signals, and treat yourself with respect when your engine won\u2019t turn over.<\/p>\n<h3>Make Time for Your Hobbies<\/h3>\n<p>First and foremost, the car needs fuel. Your mind and your body need fuel as well. That fuel must come from outside of graduate reading.<\/p>\n<p>You must stimulate your mind throughout the graduate process. Take up crossword puzzles, sudoku, a new streaming show, pickleball, or like me, increase that movie-watching frequency. Warning: I have an app that tracks this. Throughout my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">graduate programs<\/a>, which spanned six years, I averaged around 60 movies per year seen in theaters. While it seems like a lot, it was a release for two hours. For me, there is nothing like watching a flick on the 40-foot x 70-foot screen. While I often sat in the top corner of the theater alone, it gave my mind a focus that wasn\u2019t on my studies.<\/p>\n<p>Going to the movies afforded me the opportunity to not think about school, work, or home, and that is exactly what a successful graduate school student needs \u2014 a distraction and a release. Whatever your hobby is, don\u2019t lose it.<\/p>\n<h3>Take Care of Yourself<\/h3>\n<p>With your mind, you must also keep your body fueled. Don\u2019t rely on Thin Mints and Monsters. You\u2019re not 21 anymore. You can\u2019t go on a three-day bender and expect to recover for the life of a graduate student. Hit the brakes and fuel your body right. Eat meals as scheduled as possible and as well-rounded as possible. You will need mental focus and energy to be successful, and you can\u2019t run your vehicle on sludge. Put the proper gasoline in the engine to make it purr.<\/p>\n<h3>Rely on Your Support System<\/h3>\n<p>If that engine isn\u2019t purring, listen to the signals. If the check engine light is on, talk to a professor, a mentor, a doctor, the old lady on the corner with lots of cats, or whomever. Just talk to someone. It is okay to vent. That is listening to your body. Part of venting, though, is letting go. Once you get it out of your system. Let it ride. Think of it like an oil change. You are going to go to some random person, and they\u2019re going to change you out.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ll show you the stick they dipped in the oil, and you\u2019ll have no idea what it means when they show you. You\u2019ll nod with utter and undeserved confidence, and you\u2019ll drive away. That is totally normal and okay. When you vent and someone gives you advice, if you have no clue how to take it in the moment, just go with it. It will help your engine run and function. You just must listen to that little \u201cChange Oil\u201d light when it comes on in your head.<\/p>\n<h3>Rest<\/h3>\n<p>Now, you\u2019ve changed the oil and fueled the vehicle, but the engine still won\u2019t turn over. It\u2019s all gravy. Give a few seconds\u2026 or a few hours, and just rest it. Go to sleep. Your whole being needs it. Rest and reset.<\/p>\n<p>To be successful in a graduate program, especially when balancing life and other things in your life, you must know when to stop and rest. For me, between work and class in my first master\u2019s degree program, that meant finding a bench in a hidden hallway on campus and taking a snooze. As I grew older, that meant setting a bedtime earlier and going to sleep before the sun goes to sleep. You must find the right time for you to reset your body, so you can turn your engine over to do the next assignment, to take in the next lecture, or to simply walk into class. Your success depends on it.<\/p>\n<p>So, whether you are coasting forward on cruise control and putting the blinker on to get in the fast lane, you must understand how to fuel your mind and body, how to listen to the signals and vent, and how to hit reset and count some sheep.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in continuing your education? Check out our <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>education graduate programs<\/strong><\/a><strong> and take your next step today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Success in Graduate Programs: Tips and Tricks The key turns. Slowly, the ignition cranks. It putters a bit. The key turns again. Puttering\u2026 again. A few seconds later, and for a third time, the key turns, and the engine roars. Success in graduate programs is the car that needs a little love. As a veteran […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[48,10],"class_list":["post-3668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-graduateprograms","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tips and Tricks for Success in Graduate Programs - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A Point Park alumni discusses tips and tricks that helped him to pursue multiple graduate degrees, and guided him in his success.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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Spotlight: Jade Steele-Stripsky, Fourth-Grade Teacher"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Job Title & Employer:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fourth-Grade Teacher, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sps.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Springfield Public Schools<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Major:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Instructional Studies<\/p>\n<p><strong>College Activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Student Government Association senator for the School of Education<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hometown:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brookville, Pa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>High School:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jefferson County-DuBois Area Vocational-Technical School<\/p>\n<p><strong>Now Living In:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Springfield, Mass.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hobbies & Interests:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reading, painting, going to Disney World and listening to Taylor Swift<\/p>\n<p>“If a student wants to gain real-world experience in urban education and first-hand knowledge from professors who have dedicated their lives to education and preparing future teachers, Point Park’s School of Education is where they want to be.”<\/p>\n<p>Jade Steele-Stripsky ’21<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Why did you choose Point Park University?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>I originally chose Point Park for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/SchoolofArtsandSciences\/Departments\/LiteratureCultureandSociety\/HumanitiesandSocialSciences\/GlobalCulturalStudies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">global cultural studies<\/a>. Then I auditioned for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/COPA\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a>. Once I found the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Education<\/a>\u00a0during my freshman year, it was the perfect fit for me. My high school spirit colors were green and yellow just like Point Park, so it felt like a sign.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How did the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Undergraduate\/InstructionalStudies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Instructional Studies<\/strong><\/a><strong> program prepare you for career success?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Point Park’s School of Education set me up for success in urban education in part because I got to live in Downtown Pittsburgh. I was paired with amazing coordinating teachers in different schools around the city, and I gained actual experience in the exact career path I wanted to pursue. Point Park showed me I was meant to work in urban education.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Which\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/FullTimeFaculty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>faculty<\/strong><\/a><strong> had a significant impact on you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It is nearly impossible to pick which professors had the greatest impact on me in the School of Education. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/ChristalEdmunds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christal Edmunds<\/a> was truly the mentor I needed whenever I needed her. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/StanleyDenton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stanley Denton<\/a> gave me the resources I needed to realize urban education was my calling. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/DarleneMarnich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Darlene Marnich<\/a> was so supportive every step of the way. Point Park’s School of Education offers programs made by teachers, for teachers.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What have you been up to since graduation?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>I moved to Massachusetts and worked as a long-term substitute teacher in middle schools. I then received my license to teach in the state, worked with incarcerated children during the summer, got married and I accepted my current position in July. I am a fourth-grade teacher teaching all five subjects.<\/p>\n<p>There are so many things I love about my job. I am truly living my dream. My favorite part is working with the most incredible students. I spend my days with 22 nine to ten-year-olds who love to learn, and I know I have an impact on them. It is a really good feeling.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What\u2019s your favorite subject to teach and why?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>That’s a tough question! My favorite skill to teach is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news-education\/School-of-Education-Students-Gain-Classroom-and-Research-Experience-with-Open-the-Joy-Program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social emotional learning (SEL)<\/a>, but if I had to choose a subject it would be English language arts. I love getting excited about what we are learning because it keeps the students more engaged.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What did you like about living and learning in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/About\/AboutPittsburgh\/DowntownPittsburgh\/ThingstodoDowntown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Downtown Pittsburgh<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Living and learning in Downtown Pittsburgh was a really interesting experience. There was never a dull moment. I had the ability to experience city life and learn to be an adult, but with a safe environment around me. Spending four years in Downtown Pittsburgh was one of the best experiences of my life.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Why would you recommend Point Park’s School of Education to a prospective student?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If a student wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news-education\/Field-Experiences-Offer-Education-Students-Valuable-Real-World-Training-Opportunities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gain real-world experience<\/a> in urban education and first-hand knowledge from professors who have dedicated their lives to education and preparing future teachers, Point Park’s School of Education is where they want to be. A really awesome thing about my program was that none of us were competing against each other for jobs. We all genuinely wanted each other to succeed, and we still do.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Is there anything else you would\u00a0like to add?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>I recently asked my students if they had to describe their teacher with one word what would it be, and the responses I received are too fun not to share:\u00a0Supportive, kind, brilliant, funny and groovy. You can check out my experiences as the grooviest fourth-grade teacher on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@stripskyteaches4th\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Job Title & Employer: Fourth-Grade Teacher, Springfield Public Schools Major: Instructional Studies College Activities: Student Government Association senator for the School of Education Hometown: Brookville, Pa. High School: Jefferson County-DuBois Area Vocational-Technical School Now Living In: Springfield, Mass. Hobbies & Interests: Reading, painting, going to Disney World and listening to Taylor Swift “If a student […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[46,10],"class_list":["post-3502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alumnispotlight","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Alumni Spotlight: Jade Steele-Stripsky, Fourth-Grade Teacher - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One Point Park University education alumni, Jade , shares her experience and satisfaction changing her career and receiving her education graduate degree.\" 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of a Master’s Degree for Educators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner? Are you thinking about increasing your job marketability? Are you interested in advancing your current degree or even adding additional certifications? Would you like to increase your salary? When you begin to investigate options to reach your goal, you will find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">numerous programs available for educators<\/a>, all with varying levels of coursework, time commitment, and potential outcomes. With so many possibilities, making a decision can be difficult!<\/p>\n<h2>What is a Master’s Degree?<\/h2>\n<p>Graduate programs usually consist of a limited number of courses on a very specialized topic.\u00a0 These programs usually require the shortest amount of time to complete, often within a year.\u00a0 The coursework is highly concentrated and designed to meet the needs of a specific career path. Programs such as these allow you to be more flexible by adding additional areas where you can teach or supervise such as a reading specialist, principal, or superintendent letter of eligibility.<\/p>\n<p>These programs provided real-world skills and assist in preparing for any necessary professional certification tests. A master\u2019s degree requires more courses and often takes around two years to complete. These programs provide more in-depth knowledge within a particular field such as reading and literacy, educational administration, special education, or learning, design, and technology. This type of degree has broader applications because you have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.<\/p>\n<p>Many leadership positions within a school such as department leaders, coaches, and administrative positions may require master’s level knowledge. A doctorate degree requires the most intense coursework as well as a longer time commitment. These programs often take two, three, or more years to finish and require the completion of a dissertation. Beyond gaining knowledge in your field, doctorate coursework has a heavy focus on research, analysis, and writing. Many schools look for doctorate degrees for their top executive positions and can allow individuals to transition their career into academia.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, when making a decision you need to reflect on your personal career goals and determine how much time you are willing to commit to your program. Point Park University offers a variety of Master in Education and Master of Arts programs that can easily meet the needs of educators, even those that are currently in the classroom. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Point Park\u2019s programs<\/a> offer a high level of flexibility with in-person, online, and hybrid programs. Many of the programs follow the cohort model which means that you will move throughout the program with the same group of classmates, enhancing your knowledge, and building relationships that last into the future. I still reach out to the support system I build at Point Park when facing challenges or celebrating successes within my current district. Each program is led by highly dynamic educators in their field, provides highly focused content in your area of concentration, as well as allows for opportunities to practice your skills throughout your coursework.<\/p>\n<h2>Advantages<\/h2>\n<h3>Increased Job Opportunities<\/h3>\n<p>When looking at the benefits of completing a master\u2019s program, increased job opportunities is often at the top of the list. Adding additional certifications and degrees can open doors both in the present as well as in the future. As someone who sits in a variety of interviews, a candidate with multiple degrees is more coveted than someone with a single degree. Districts are always looking at both their current needs as well as ways to address plans for the future creatively. They also are looking for teachers who are highly skilled. A master\u2019s program can often provide both of those qualities. On the flip side, as someone with additional certifications, I recognize that when I am in search of a new position I have more choices than other educators. I am not limited to simply a handful of positions. The ability to be versatile in an ever-changing climate is so incredibly important!<\/p>\n<h3>Increased Salary<\/h3>\n<p>Financial compensation is often another advantage of obtaining a master’s degree. Most school districts have salary scales that take into consideration not only the number of years you have been with the district but also the type and level of degree you possess. Salaries in my district are broken down into steps such as Level I, Level II, Masters +15, Masters +30, and doctoral degrees. While retirement is far in my future, I recognize the importance of setting myself up for financial success now and in the future.<\/p>\n<h2>What You’ll Learn in a Master’s Degree Program<\/h2>\n<p>Ultimately my driving force for returning to the classroom as a student was that I wanted to enhance my skill set and ultimately increase my professional opportunities. I constantly want to grow my knowledge base so that I am better able to problem-solve with my teams. That does not mean that I will always have the answers, but that I have a means and path to work toward a solution.<\/p>\n<p>I believe that I possess a growth mindset and I want to model and share that with those I work with. In addition, I am constantly trying to build upon my leadership skills. I recognize that successful programs, schools, and districts are the result of high-quality transformational leaders. I strive to be one of those and Point Park University has given me the tools so that I will be able to reach that goal.<\/p>\n<h2>Advantages of a Graduate Degree through Point Park University<\/h2>\n<p>In my case, I completed a master\u2019s program and honestly enjoyed my courses, professors, and classmates so much that I decided to apply for a second program to add a Principal Certification. Were the classes rigorous? Absolutely! I grew as an educator and leader in ways that traditional professional development cannot replicate. Was the work meaningful? You bet!<\/p>\n<p>Everything that I was learning, I was able to apply within my current position. Most importantly, my professors and all of the staff from admissions to graduation supported me every step of the way. The end result not only was I able to grow as a leader in my school but my certifications and degrees also gave me the flexibility and skills to change positions when the timing was right.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in continuing your education? Check out our <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>education graduate programs<\/strong><\/a><strong> and take your next step today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner? Are you thinking about increasing your job marketability? Are you interested in advancing your current degree or even adding additional certifications? Would you like to increase your salary? When you begin to investigate options to reach your goal, you will find numerous programs available for educators, all with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[16,10],"class_list":["post-3390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mastersdegree","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Advantages of a Master's Degree for Educators - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are many advantages to a master's degree as an educator. 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of Education Alumna Melissa Botta-Havran ’22 is a Lead Teacher at Catalyst Academy of Pittsburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>“The faculty and staff in Point Park’s School of Education have their finger on the pulse of what is most challenging in education today.\u00a0They are knowledgeable and incredibly accessible, which, as a working mom, was important to me as I navigated this program.”<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Melissa Botta-Havran ’22<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Meet Melissa Botta-Havran ’22<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Job Title & Employer: Lead Teacher, <a href=\"https:\/\/catalystacademy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catalyst Academy of Pittsburgh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Major: PreK-4th Grade Certification-M.Ed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why did you choose Point Park’s <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>School of Education<\/strong><\/a><strong> for your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>master’s degree<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I wanted a competitive program that would allow me the flexibility to continue prioritizing being a mom to my young son, while still being able to fully engage with fellow students and professors on an academic level. The main attraction to Point Park was the robust curriculum they offered for their graduate programs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3290\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3290\" style=\"width: 222px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3290 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Melissa-Botta-Havran-22-and-her-son-Michael-222x300.jpg\" alt=\"Melissa Botta-Havran '22 and her son, Michael.\" width=\"222\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Melissa-Botta-Havran-22-and-her-son-Michael-222x300.jpg 222w, https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Melissa-Botta-Havran-22-and-her-son-Michael.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3290\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Melissa Botta-Havran ’22 and her son, Michael<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>How did the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/m-ed-with-grades-prek-4-certification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>master’s in PreK-4 program<\/strong><\/a><strong> prepare you for career success?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The program’s curriculum was scaffolded so the workload became more rigorous toward the end of the program. The balance between independent work and collaboration with my peers equipped me to express my own thoughts on education while respecting and taking others\u2019 opinions into consideration. Essentially, this mix taught me to think outside the box when considering the specific needs of each student. This program really did a deep dive at the end of each course. Nothing of importance was left untaught.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Describe the flexibility our program provided.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Being a mom is certainly the most important job I will ever have. My joys in life come from my role as mother and wife; however, as everyone starts to grow up, you realize its your time to find joys outside the home. For me, it was teaching. I love what I do, and I love the kids I teach. This program being <a href=\"https:\/\/online.pointpark.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fully online<\/a> allowed me the opportunity to put family first and participate in my son Michael’s sports and activities that were important to him. When he went to bed, the schoolwork started. Had it not been for the online program, I am not sure if I would have been able to complete the program at this time in my family\u2019s life. I am grateful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Were there any <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>faculty<\/strong><\/a><strong> members who had a significant impact on your Point Park experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They were all incredible instructors, but in particular, I would have to say <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/Kamryn-York\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kamryn York<\/a>, Ed.D. Dr. York was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news-education\/Faculty-QA-Kamryn-York-Assistant-Professor-School-of-Education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highly knowledgeable<\/a>, accessible and supportive. Her love for what she does was an inspiration to me as I faced the challenging last semester of the program.<\/p>\n<p>Equally as impactful was my dad, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/SchoolofArtsandSciences\/Departments\/CriminalJusticeandIntelligenceStudies\/CJIS%20Faculty\/MichaelBotta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Botta<\/a>, D.S.S., professor and chair of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/SchoolofArtsandSciences\/Departments\/CriminalJusticeandIntelligenceStudies\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/SchoolofArtsandSciences\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Arts & Sciences<\/a>. His love for the University and commitment to his students have always been a constant inspiration. Having witnessed the impact he has had on his students post-graduation speaks volumes to the passion one should have while pursuing a career in education. Watching his commitment and dedication inspired me to excel in my own program and career as an educator.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are you teaching now, and what do you enjoy about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At Catalyst Academy Charter School, I teach general studies for the second grade. Dipping my toes into urban education has been perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I enjoy learning about each of these unique students. Many have had trauma in their lives, specifically emotional trauma. It has been a humbling experience and speaks to the state of education in the U.S. today. Somewhere along the way, many children have been left behind. There are wonderful educational institutions, like charter schools, that are equipped to handle these dilemmas and strive to bring out the gifts each student possesses while providing them with a high-quality education in the least restrictive environment. The goal in these institutions is that no child will be left behind.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us about your writing career.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I love writing. In 2013, I wrote a children\u2019s history book, illustrated by my talented mother, called “George Washington.” Since then, I\u2019ve had the pleasure of writing both historical and political articles for History Is Now, an online magazine, and a political article for Future Female Leaders, another online publication. Currently, I am working on an e-book with Amazon called, \u201cA Kid\u2019s Guide to Patriotism,” while developing a presentation on the significance of 9\/11 for future generations. I hope to complete both of these projects this spring.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice do you have for other aspiring educators?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are days when it\u2019s going to get hard. Get up, show up and never give up. Also, never stop learning. Even though the class work is done, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/2022\/10\/18\/the-importance-of-continuing-education-for-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teachers are lifelong learners<\/a> and should aspire to not only share their knowledge with their students but seek opportunities to collaborate with peers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why would you recommend Point Park to a prospective student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The faculty and staff in Point Park’s School of Education have their finger on the pulse of what is most challenging in education today.\u00a0They are knowledgeable and incredibly accessible, which, as a working mom, was important to me as I navigated this program. Their love and enthusiasm for teaching were motivators for me during my student teaching practicum. The mentorship I received from them has empowered me to mentor younger teachers seeking help with studying for the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT), and I share my own career path with them. I believe we learn best by listening to the stories of others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there anything else you\u2019d like to add?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEducation is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.\u201d \u2013 Nelson Mandela<\/p>\n<p>Even if we don\u2019t think children are watching us, they are \u2013 the way we carry ourselves in the classroom, how we respond to stress, etc. It’s important to constantly be aware of this to inspire the next generation of learners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>“The faculty and staff in Point Park’s School of Education have their finger on the pulse of what is most challenging in education today.\u00a0They are knowledgeable and incredibly accessible, which, as a working mom, was important to me as I navigated this program.” Melissa Botta-Havran ’22 Meet Melissa Botta-Havran ’22 Job Title & Employer: Lead […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[46,10],"class_list":["post-3289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alumnispotlight","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Master's of Education Alumna Melissa Botta-Havran '22 is a Lead Teacher at Catalyst Academy of Pittsburgh - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Master's of Education alumna Melissa Botta-Havran '22 is a Lead Teacher at Catalyst Academy of Pittsburgh, and shares her experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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Park University School of Education Students Gain Impactful Field Experience Through Family and Community Diversity Course"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>\u201cI think having experiences like this so early in my career is so rewarding because it allows me to become more comfortable in the setting I plan to work in for the rest of my life. It also allows me to create meaningful and impactful experiences for young minds, which I really appreciate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Tayler Cleveland ’25<\/em><\/p>\n<p>One of the most impactful lessons <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Undergraduate\/SecondaryEducation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">secondary education<\/a> major <strong>Tayler Cleveland \u201925<\/strong> has learned this academic year is what it means to be an equitable teacher.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really want to emphasize the importance of that in any environment I work in,\u201d she said. \u201cI also learned the value of teaching culturally relevant lessons and how offering different perspectives does so much more good than one would expect. I want my future students to leave my classroom knowing that their voice matters, and they deserve to take up space in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These powerful takeaways illustrate the value that Cleveland and other students found in Dr. Rhonda Threet\u2019s Family and Community Diversity course last semester. The course, a requirement for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Undergraduate\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">education<\/a> majors and an option for other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/UndergraduateAcademics\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">majors<\/a>, focuses on methods and strategies for creating a positive, inclusive learning environment that addresses the various cognitive, affective and developmental needs of diverse learners. To further their learning outside of the classroom, Threet arranged for students to have a hands-on field experience at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pghschools.org\/faison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pittsburgh Faison\u2019s K-5<\/a> after-school program, during which they worked in groups of four to facilitate mini-lessons based on positive, identity-affirming children\u2019s books with 40 elementary school students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think having experiences like this so early in my career is so rewarding because it allows me to become more comfortable in the setting I plan to work in for the rest of my life,\u201d said Cleveland, an alumna of McKeesport Area Senior High School. \u201cIt also allows me to create meaningful and impactful experiences for young minds, which I really appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>‘Courageous Conversations’<\/h2>\n<p>This was Threet’s first time teaching the Family and Community Diversity course. She said\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/EducationFacultyandStaff\/StanleyDenton\">Stanley Denton<\/a>, Ph.D., professor of education, passed her the baton and encouraged her to develop her own approach for the coursework. The course has been a bit of a full-circle moment for Threet. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pghschools.org\/pbgh\">Pittsburgh Public Schools<\/a> educator and senior policy fellow with <a href=\"https:\/\/teachplus.org\/regional_programs\/pennsylvania-policy-fellowship\/\">Teach Plus Pennsylvania<\/a>, she is an alumna of Point Park\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Business\/DepartmentOfCommunityEngagement\/CommunityPHD\/index\">community engagement<\/a>\u00a0doctoral program, for which her dissertation examined how culturally relevant pedagogy impacts positive racial identity for African American students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3286\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3286\" style=\"width: 215px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3286 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Dr.-Rhonda-Threet-Ph.D.-Point-Park-University-Pittsburgh-PA-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Rhonda Threet, Ph.D., Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA\" width=\"215\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Dr.-Rhonda-Threet-Ph.D.-Point-Park-University-Pittsburgh-PA-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Dr.-Rhonda-Threet-Ph.D.-Point-Park-University-Pittsburgh-PA.jpg 426w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3286\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Rhonda Threet, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI am always marveling about the community engagement program because it is so interdisciplinary, and I was able to bring my passion into it,\u201d she said. \u201cI realized the importance of all these different sectors to make positive change. It gave me the tools and leverage to want to look at policies and the way we\u2019re preparing our future teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Family and Community Diversity, Threet focused on giving her students the tools they need to start the journey of becoming more racially and critically conscious of systems and practices that impact children, families, and communities and to be\u00a0mindful of what it really looks like to work with diverse families or families that are different than their own. She connected their discussions to the recently released Culturally-Relevant and Sustaining Education Program Framework Guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and pushed them to think about those new competencies as they created their lesson plans.<\/p>\n<p>The main textbook for the class is “Courageous Conversations About Race” by author Glenn E. Singleton, which provides a framework for engaging in productive discussions about race. Threet has used it in her work with teachers at Pittsburgh Public Schools. She also incorporated “Building Culturally Responsive Family-School Relationships,” by Ellen S. Amatea into the curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>“For 16 years, I’ve engaged in this type of work, and I\u2019ve seen the benefit and impact it\u2019s had on my life and other teachers from all creeds and backgrounds,” she said. “I\u2019m extremely passionate about how we\u2019re preparing teachers. To dig deep, to have a true, critical consciousness and develop your own positive racial identity \u2013 this work is so important.”<\/p>\n<p>A life-changing aspect of the course for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Undergraduate\/Elementary%20Education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">elementary education<\/a> major <strong>Gabriella Frisco ’26<\/strong> was how Threet established four agreements with the students: Speak your truth, stay engaged, expect and accept non-disclosure and experience discomfort.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am always afraid to ruffle feathers, and I am always afraid to offend someone or misspeak,” said Frisco, an alumna of Wilmington Area High School. “For me, that is where experiencing discomfort comes in. I experienced discomfort more times than I can count in this class, which I am so grateful for because it helped me grow in my racial journey.”<\/p>\n<p>Frisco had a compelling a-ha moment during a class discussion on the representation of different cultures and races.<\/p>\n<p>“As a white woman, I thought we should talk about the hardships, how awful slavery was and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement,” she said. “But the Black students in the class said to also talk about the good, to talk about Black joy. That changed my perspective on how I want to teach and what I want to highlight in my future classroom.”<\/p>\n<h2>Experiential Learning<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3287\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3287\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3287\" src=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Picture1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Point Park University students pose for a photo with Pittsburgh Faison students after facilitating a mini-lesson.\" width=\"267\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Picture1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Picture1-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/02\/Picture1.jpg 917w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3287\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Point Park University students pose for a photo with Pittsburgh Faison students after facilitating a mini-lesson.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At Pittsburgh Faison, students took the many concepts Threet taught them and mindfully put them into practice. Their mini-lessons were well received by the young students.<\/p>\n<p>Cleveland\u2019s group focused on the book, \u201cHair Love,\u201d by Matthew A. Cherry, a touching story about a father, his young daughter and embracing one\u2019s natural hair texture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI read the book to a group of second and third graders, and then they drew self-portraits and got to make their hair out of yarn,\u201d Cleveland said. \u201cMy goal for the lesson was to empower the students and teach them to respect their differences, while also acknowledging that they are all beautiful. It meant a lot to me that I could teach students who look like me a lesson like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Sandwich Swap,\u201d by Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio, a story about embracing cultural differences, was the book of choice for elementary and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/Academics\/Schools\/Education\/Undergraduate\/SpecialEducation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special education<\/a> major <strong>Sarah Rock<\/strong>\u2019s group. After reading to the students, they had students draw and color their favorite sandwiches using sandwich bread printouts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor Dr. Threet to have our class go out and obtain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pointpark.edu\/news-education\/Field-Experiences-Offer-Education-Students-Valuable-Real-World-Training-Opportunities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hands-on experience<\/a> was extremely helpful for me personally,\u201d said Rock ’25, an alumna of Moon Area High School. \u201cI got to see where the lesson plan had its strengths and weaknesses. We put everything we learned and practiced into motion. It was incredibly rewarding to see our lesson in action, creating the impact we wanted it to create. I got to see the fruits of our labor, and the students were so grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rock sees herself using what she learned in the class throughout her career and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>“I learned tools that will help me in my personal life and future classroom,\u00a0and I learned so much from my\u00a0peers just talking about the work we were doing and their personal testimonies,” Rock said.\u00a0“That is something I will hold for a lifetime. Dr. Threet was amazing when explaining the course, and each class she asked us genuinely how we were doing. It opened my eyes to\u00a0another\u00a0way\u00a0to create positive relationships with students.”<\/p>\n<p>Elementary education major <strong>Anani Debose ’25<\/strong> was in Rock’s group and wrote their lesson plan. She said the experience broadened her understanding of how a classroom environment functions.<\/p>\n<p>“I am super grateful that I got to see how fulfilling my job will be and how much of a difference I can make in student’s life,” said Debose, an alumna of Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, New York. “I learned that children love to talk. They love sharing every little detail about themselves.\u00a0One of the key concepts that I took from the class is that everyone and every child is different. Every child has a different background, a different story and goes through their own unique struggles. We as educators need to accept students with open arms and a welcoming attitude. I see myself applying that welcoming mindset in my future career pursuits.”<\/p>\n<p>Frisco and her group planned a lesson around a book called \u201cWhat Makes Us Unique\u201d by Jillian Roberts. It highlights differences in appearances, celebrations, and interests in a positive light.<\/p>\n<p>“We had the kids draw pictures of themselves and talk about what made them unique,” she said. “When they were done drawing, we had them share their pictures and their thoughts with the class. At the end of the lesson, a little girl hugged me and held on tight, and I am just glad I was there to give her that. I think she needed that.”<\/p>\n<p>After their time at Pittsburgh Faison, Frisco said she “knew 100% I am meant to be in the education field.”<\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in continuing your education? Check out Point Park\u2019s <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>education graduate programs<\/strong><\/a><strong> and take your next step today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI think having experiences like this so early in my career is so rewarding because it allows me to become more comfortable in the setting I plan to work in for the rest of my life. It also allows me to create meaningful and impactful experiences for young minds, which I really appreciate.\u201d Tayler Cleveland […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[45,44,10],"class_list":["post-3283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-diversity","tag-experientiallearning","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Point Park University School of Education Students Gain Impactful Field Experience Through Family and Community Diversity Course - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Point Park University School of Education students gain impactful field experience through Family and Community Diversity Course.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/2023\/02\/13\/point-park-university-school-of-education-students-gain-impactful-field-experience-through-family-and-community-diversity-course\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Point Park University School of Education Students Gain Impactful Field Experience Through Family and Community Diversity Course - 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That said, it is more than that. As someone who has completed four different graduate programs, I can say where you are in life matters. Who your support system is matters. What your responsibilities and challenges are matter. And in general, life matters.<\/p>\n<h2>Find the Format\/Timing for You<\/h2>\n<p>My first graduate degree program came almost immediately following my bachelor\u2019s degree program. I was in a place where work was scarce or underpaid, and I did not know what I wanted to do with life. I went through a hamster wheel of pros and cons about whether I should pursue more education. I had a bachelor\u2019s degree. Should I go for more?<\/p>\n<p>At 23 years old, with little responsibility outside of a questionable decision to adopt a puppy the day I graduated from undergrad, I decided to go for it. I applied for a Master of Arts in Teaching program at a Pittsburgh-area university. This program would be an all-in program. I would student teach or intern for forty hours per week and take classes four nights per week. At this point in my life, the work-life-graduate school balance was essentially a physical schedule.<\/p>\n<h2>Using Your Time Wisely<\/h2>\n<p>I learned early that I needed to schedule everything out. I taught until 2:30 p.m. and I had to be in Pittsburgh by 4:00 p.m. for class. Class went all evening, and I met a friend at the gym at 10 p.m. I did this for a year, and received my first master\u2019s degree. Looking back, it was nuts to run my body to those extremes, but what I learned is that with proper scheduling, keeping myself fueled properly, and keeping open communication with those around me, I could be successful.<\/p>\n<p>Several years later, I decided to get another graduate degree. This time, learning from my time management experiences, I did not want to leave home. My wedding would be just after graduation, and I had a new house. I went online for this master\u2019s degree. This was an exercise in learning what I could do and when I could do it. Quite a few time-oriented discussion boards and copious amounts of PDF readings and reflections later, I had another master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n<p>Being a completely different experience, I could do the program, for the most part, on my time. I just had to make the posted deadlines.<\/p>\n<h2>How Point Park University Made This Easy<\/h2>\n<p>I continued this practice into another online graduate certification program. This time, I enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/pa-school-principal-certificate-only\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Point Park University\u2019s principal\u2019s program<\/a>. Again, I was faced with a primarily self-paced, deadline-oriented program where I could learn to be a school administrator. Now, I was working full-time, had a wife and a new baby, and was looking to build a new home. The online program was perfect.<\/p>\n<p>As I continued my graduate school path, I was accepted in Point Park University\u2019s Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration program. This was an in-person, one-night-per-week, and six full-day Saturday session program. I was amped and ready for it.<\/p>\n<p>My family was now living with my parents while we finished our new home, so we had the support of my parents to help with our son and our pets while I could devote an immense amount of time to my dissertation and doctoral studies. The time became about prioritizing and support. My support system of my wife, my parents, and my in-laws helped immensely as I was able to work at Point Park University on my studies in-person with a <em>great<\/em> network of fellow educators.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, as I have pursued several graduate programs, all at different points in my life, I must recognize that it isn\u2019t necessarily about your work while going to school. In my opinion, it is about who you have around you and what challenges outside of school and work that you encounter.<\/p>\n<p>Balancing those with proper scheduling and identifying what medium of education works best for you in the moment is the way that someone can be successful in a graduate program. Good luck, all, as you splash into the deep end of graduate school. Be careful; you will probably enjoy it and learn a lot about yourself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in continuing your education? Check out our <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/point-park\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">education graduate programs<\/a><strong> and take your next step today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Balancing graduate school and work requirements is an important conundrum that one must face as they enter the decision-making process regarding whether they will pursue a graduate degree. That said, it is more than that. As someone who has completed four different graduate programs, I can say where you are in life matters. Who your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[43,10],"class_list":["post-3095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-graduateschool","tag-pointparkuniversity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Balancing Graduate School and Work - Point Park University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Balancing school and work as a graduate student teaching full-time can be overwhelming but Point Park University's program formats help with this.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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