School of Education

My first experience with Brandman* was when I was a special education teacher when my district paired up with them for an autism certificate.  I liked it because I was able to still work and do everything else I needed to do.

The MAELA program was beyond invaluable. So much of what I was asked to do was relatable to my job. The people affiliated with the program know what works in education.

I started the program because I knew I wanted to lead with a job that had more responsibility and would have more impact. I've reached my goal. Five years later, I am a Doctor of Education, a better leader and person and my school districts and students have benefited from my improved leadership.

One word that comes to mind in thinking about my educational journey at UMass Global is 'self reflective'. My courses in the Early Childhood Education program provided me with vast knowledge from intentionally including children with different abilities, supporting dual language learners to using data to make informed decisions for best practices, and much more. No matter what course I took, self-reflection was always included as an aspect of each course. I was provided opportunities to consistently reflect on myself, my values, my beliefs, my education, my practices and the field of early childhood education as a whole. What was interesting and captivating about this is that I was always evolving. The more knowledge I gained from my courses, my professors, ,my classmates and my experiences, the more I began to see myself as a knowledgeable, competent professional who has much to contribute to the ever-evolving field of early education. I look forward to furthering my education at Umass Global and continuing this exciting journey in a field that I am extremely passionate about.

My academic advisor was a great support system. He was my advisor throughout my master’s program and he took the time to learn about me personally so we could make the best schedule to accommodate my life.