Source: Melinda Sinn, 785-532-5888, sinnpio@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.dce.k-state.edu/education/leadership/administration
News release prepared by: Jared Betts, 785-532-2529, betts290@k-state.edu
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
K-STATE'S EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS ARE HELPING TO LEAD STUDENTS TOWARD SUCCESS
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Division of Continuing Education, in association with K-State's department of educational leadership, offers degree programs in educational administration to meet the pressing demands of education.
K-State's educational administration master of science and doctor of education programs provide students with newly designed courses that take a broad view of leadership beyond the traditional training of school administrators. The programs help to meet individual professional goals that lead to district, building and program-level licensure as public school leaders.
Cari Barragree, Salina, completed her master's in 1999 and her doctor of education in educational administration in 2007. She said the structure of both programs is what led her to success.
Barragree, a first-generation college student, decided to continue her education beyond her bachelor's degree in education. K-State's educational administration master's and doctorate programs allowed her to work full time.
"I was looking for a way to chase my dreams while not traveling as much to attend classes," Barragree said. "I realized that some of the courses in K-State's master of science and doctor of education in educational administration were offered online. The online offerings are what made it possible for me to work during the day and then study for my course work in the evenings and on weekends."
After earning her master's in educational administration, Barragree accepted a job in Elizabeth, Colo., as assistant principal at Elizabeth Middle School in 2002. She later returned to Salina when Kansas State University at Salina hired her as the academic services coordinator for Upward Bound in 2003, becoming the director in 2005. Barragree began pursuing her doctorate in educational administration in 2006 while still working full time.
"I had knowledgeable and caring professors throughout my course curriculum with the K-State educational administration and leadership department," Barragree said. "Gerald Bailey, my adviser and a professor of educational leadership, was instrumental in providing a rigorous and motivational learning experience during my course work. The flexibility of online classes coupled with the understanding of nontraditional students and their needs from the faculty and staff in K-State's College of Education were of utmost importance to my success."
Once Barragree graduated with her doctorate in 2007, she started teaching two online graduate courses, EDADL 885 and EDADL 986, for the College of Education, along with COT 299 for K-State at Salina.
Barragree recommends the K-State programs in educational administration not only because of their structure and flexibility, and the knowledge and compassion of the faculty, but because of the same rigorous standards that are set forth in each and every class, whether it's online or on-site.
More information about the K-State educational administration programs is available at:
http://www.dce.k-state.edu/education/leadership/administration
For a listing of all available distance education programs, contact the K-State Division of Continuing Education at 1-800-622-2578 or informationdce@k-state.edu. More information also is available online at http://www.dce.k-state.edu
