Jill

**//How has the last 18 months in the Concordia Graduate Program impacted your work as an educator?//** The past 18 months have been a mix of emotions for me...exhausting, confusing, fun, exciting and everything in between. Regardless, the end is in sight and I feel that I have grown immensely as an educator. I feel that the program as a whole has offered me many opportunities to learn about the world of education from an administrators perspective. Looking through the eyes of an administrator has created a whole new respect for what administrators of a school do on a daily basis. I am fortunate the direct support of my principals who have invested time and energy in helping me practice what I have learned in class and who continue to foster my growth as an aspiring administrator.
 * Allison | Amy | Carrie | Cassie | Eric | Giselle | Jamie | Jill | Laura | Matt | Nate | Stacy | Steve | Zach | | Dr. Lightner | Home |
 * Session 1 Reflection **

It is amazing to me what spending 18 months with graduate level classes can do for a person! I don't even know where to begin when I think about how much I have grown. If for no other reason, it was worth my time and energy to complete this program because I have a more holistic view of how a school is run, what needs to be prioritized and how to be efficient in working with people. I have learned things through my study that have directly related to children in the classroom as I have studied human development. I have also increased my general knowledge of schools, including budget and structure. This knowledge has been extremely beneficial in understanding WHY we do what we do in certain situations. It has also been helpful as the conversations in the general public have been huge in terms of our schools in the state of Wisconsin.
 * //How have you grown personally and professionally?// **

To be perfectly honest, when I started this program, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a principal. I really saw myself getting in to the curriculum end of administration. Throughout this journey, I have had some very exciting opportunities and have even spent a few days as acting principal when both of our principals were out of the building. Having the chance to get some real experiences as a principal through practicum hours has opened a new door for me as I am more excited now than ever because my desire to be an administrator has grown to include the position of principal.

**//What are 3 major criticisms from the Concordia Graduate Program?//** Overall, I have enjoyed the program at Concordia. The biggest criticism I have of the program is the lack of communication. Perhaps they forget about us because we are a cohort in Green Bay and aren't on the campus in Mequon. I honestly feel that if the communication was better that would eleviate a lot of the frustration and concerns with the program. I also struggle with the online format through E-learning. Secondly, all three of the classes I have taken online have been frustrating to me because I do not receive feedback in a timely manner. I wish there was a timeline for the professors to respond. I have a deadline, I wish they did as well. Third, I think there needs to be consistency between courses/professors.

Through the Principalship class, I hope to find more real-life experiences that I can take with me as I pursue the role of administrator. Having the opportunity to be involved in situations we may experience in the future as an administrator would also be helpful.
 * //What do you hope to get from this class?// **