Educational Leadership Newsletter

Educational Leadership

NEWS ISSUE 6 | FALL 2016

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE Minnesota State Mankato’s Master’s in Experiential Education Program has deep membership roots in the Association for Experiential Education. In fact, at the 2016 international AEE conference in Minneapolis, a showing of hands prior to the keynote address revealed hundreds of current students, alumni and associates. These hands belonged not only to attendees but also to presenters and conference leaders.

Meghan Babcock

One standout among the group was Meghan Babcock. A current student in the program, Babcock was chosen as one of the ActivatEE speakers. ActivatEE is a special conference-wide platform used to share a transformational story. The event serves to inspire the use of one’s voice and launch inspirational ideas. We’re proud of Meghan’s courage to speak and we are proud that she is one of our students.

The Experiential Education Program also played a key role in the international conference through sponsorship of the keynote event. Richard Louv, renowned author of the international best seller, Last Child in the Woods, served as the speaker.

According to Louv’s website, the book “spotlights the alienation of children from the natural world, coining the term nature-deficit disorder and outlining the benefits of a strong nature connection—from boosting mental acuity and creativity to reducing obesity and depression, from promoting health and wellness to simply having fun.” Louv provided motivation and encouragement for attendees to continue making a difference by increasing children’s connections to nature.

Lastly, as any experienced attendee knows, presentations are not the only valuable feature of the conference. As a way to commemorate the special occasion of an international conference in our back yard, the Experiential Education Program held a reception. It was a fabulous opportunity for dozens of alumni and current students to connect and for alumni from as far back as 1976 and from as far away as Japan to reconnect.

HELPING GRADUATES ACHIEVE GOALS In Fall 2016, the Department of Educational Leadership conducted its annual survey of recent year graduates. The survey aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s degree programs, with specific attention focused on whether degrees from the department promote professional advancement.

A total of 50 graduates responded to the survey (30 females and 20 males, 86 percent white), representing graduates from Summer 2015, Fall 2015, and Spring 2016. Seventy-six percent of graduates reported prior employment in P-12 education, 10 percent in higher education, and 14 percent in other fields.

Respondents approximately represented the annual composition of students across the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (6 percent), Ed.S. in Educational Leadership (54 percent), M.S. in Educational Leadership (32 percent), and M.S. in Experiential Education (8 percent) degree programs.

Most importantly, 71 percent of graduates reported career advancement subsequent to completing the degree, and 83 percent of those graduates attested that the career advancement was the result of earning the degree in the Department of Educational Leadership.

Let us help you achieve your goals! Check out the programs offered through the Department of Educational Leadership.

Did You Acheive Your Goals?

No 2%

Was Your Goal Success Because of The Degree Program?

No 17%

Not Yet 27%

Yes 71%

Yes 83%

NEW FACES Jinger Gustafson A seasoned public education leader with a collaborative style, Gustafson has served as a classroom teacher, building administrator and associate superintendent. Her experience has helped her prioritize resources when dealing with issues—making sure resources of time and effort are expended on the most valuable entities. “In whatever role I have served, there have been commonalities and necessities: people, process, protocols, procedures, policy, and product,” said Gustafson. “On this list, people come first; and the first people are students.”

Gustafson appreciates the talent and dedication of the faculty at Minnesota State Mankato and looks forward to contributing to the common goal. “I am very grateful to be able to work with extremely talented people, in both the Department of Educational Leadership and the College of Education,” she said. “As I enter a new phase in my career, I view this opportunity as a way to influence future leaders, specifically, women and people of color, in E-14 education.”

Bernadeia Johnson After spending many years in Pre-K12 leadership positions—five as superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools—Johnson was interested in staying connected to organizations and institutions focused on education as a common good. “Using my PreK-12 experience to help prepare the next generation of leaders was really important to me,” she said. “However, not any institution of higher learning would do.”

Johnson wanted to work with courageous leaders who “get it” and demonstrate a deep commitment to changing outcomes for Minnesota students. She found that at Minnesota State Mankato. “The College of Education and the Department of Educational Leadership provides an amazing environment for me to continue to grow and develop my own leadership and to pass on the torch to others whose values are aligned to the needs of today’s children,” said Johnson. She looks forward to the opportunity to influence a new group of leaders, especially around the issues of race.

On a side note: Johnson is extremely excited about her new title of grandmother. Join us in congratulating her on this life milestone!

MORE THAN

FAMILY PRIDE

A 2016 graduate of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Minnesota State Mankato, Robbie Burnett grew up in a family that values education. “My grandmother has both her Ph.D. and J.D.,” said Burnett. “My father also holds a Ph.D.” Burnett earned her Ed.D. in December 2016.

Of course, Burnett wanted to make her family proud, but completing a doctoral program takes commitment to more than family pride. As a woman of color working in higher education, she is passionate about unearthing systemic educational inequities and providing ideas of innovative solutions, and she is committed to advocating for change that supports the success of all students and specifically students of color.

The title of Burnett’s dissertation is Missing Voices: Journeys of Pre-Service Teacher Candidates and Graduates of Color in a Predominantly White Teacher Preparation Program.

Dr. Robbie Burnett

When considering dissertation topics, Burnett noticed a gap in literature on the efforts to diversify the teaching workforce.

“Research appeared to highlight deficits, barriers or describe why students of color don’t pursue teaching careers,” said Burnett. “My research aimed to fill the literature gap by examining the experiences and perceptions of teacher candidates and graduates of color.

Understanding their lived experiences has the potential to inform P-12 school leaders and institutions of higher education of what they can do better to attract, recruit, retain and graduate teacher candidates of color.”

Burnett decided on the Educational Leadership program at Minnesota State Mankato because of its focus on preparing courageous racial equity leaders. “Given the current climate of our nation’s schools and specifically Minnesota schools,” she said, “I wanted to equip myself with the knowledge, tools, skills and will to immerse myself in conducting this type of work.”

We have no doubt Burnett is well equipped to serve as an unwavering voice for the unheard, an advocate for marginalized populations and mentor for teacher candidates of color. Congratulations, Dr. Burnett!

A member of the Minnesota State system and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.

This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the College of Education at 507-389-5445 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY).