I'm inspired to continue my education because of my own children. I want to learn as much as I can about educational leadership and instructional management so that I can be the best possible advocate for my kids as they begin to navigate school. Furthermore, I'm pursuing this next chapter in my career as a professional educator so that I can support more stakeholders on a broader scale. I strive to become an administrator that always remembers the day-to-day needs of classroom teachers. Supporting and advocating for teachers is supporting and advocating for kids. I feel especially ready to take on administrator work now since I have the added perspective of being a parent. Working mothers face myriad obstacles, all of which stem from the intrinsic drive to put the needs, best interests, and well-being of our families first. The biggest obstacle I've navigated in the recent past was a job I took after welcoming my second baby. I felt like I needed a break from teaching in order to parent the way I wanted to, so I took a job as a research administrator at a local university. I was new to the field and had a lot to learn. I was ready for the challenge, but the manager I worked for was not a good trainer or leader. Because of that, I struggled to hit any kind of stride. I was determined, though, to make it work because it was a remote job that allowed me to work at home and it provided a good level of flexibility in caring for my very young children. But, the job never got better or easier; I feared for my job security. As the bread-winner and carrier of insurance, I made the decision to return to teaching where I knew I would be capable and confident. I started this school year late which made for a slightly bumpy reentry, but it has been worth it. I realize now that something was pushing me back to education and I do not regret making the decision to return. Being back working in schools has made me a better mom in the sense that I am once again passionate about my career. I've regained my joy by putting myself back on this professional path. I feel that I'm setting a good example for my kids by getting up, getting ready, and heading off every day to do meaningful work. I maintain balance by completing work during work hours and by focusing on being present for my family once I'm home. My profession fills my proverbial cup and inspires me to be the best version of myself for my kids. In pursuing this MBA in Educational Leadership, I hope to not only be an excellent advocate for my children and students, but to also model a love for continuous learning for them. This scholarship would be an amazing boost to help me along in my leadership journey. It would be an honor to receive this. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

I am pursuing this MBA in Education Leadership because I’m ready to move into administrative roles in my district that allow me to support teachers and students on a larger scale. I’m intensely focused on fostering a positive and engaging school experience for both students and educators and by extension, the community I serve. I feel that this is the best program to prepare me for the type of leader I want to be. High-level training in decision making and process improvement are crucial for administrators at both the building and district level. We have reached a point in educational leadership where new approaches and perspectives are necessary to enact meaningful change. The program I'm applying to addresses those needs by requiring Educational Leadership students to take graduate business classes, and to have those classes be mixed with traditional MBA students and engineers. The business core in combination with the big-picture consideration of educational systems stand out as timely and compelling. I hope that by obtaining this degree, I can leverage my expertise to collaborate with peers across Wisconsin and beyond to drive research-to-practice implementation for educators and instructional outcomes for students. I want to help kids become culturally literate, empathetic, critical thinkers who approach life and work with curiosity and excitement, and I want to give teachers what they need in order to make that happen. As an administrator, I would prioritize achievable literacy initiatives that prepare students for the society they live in. For teachers, I would design professional development and working environments that help them excel in their roles by eliminating obstacles that lead to bitterness or burnout. I’ve worked hard over the past ten years to become a successful teacher leader. I switched careers to pursue teaching–I put myself through school while working full-time on an emergency license. I then put myself through a graduate program while working and starting my family. My hope is that in pursuing this degree, I can continue to set a good example for my own children and my students. I want to inspire them to pursue education that speaks to their passions. I’ve served as a district department chair, brought community organizations into my classroom, and created new courses and curricula. I’m ready for this next challenge. I intend to work hard through this program in order to take my professionalism to the next level. In doing so, I hope to be an outstanding representation of a modern leader. I believe that good listening, strategic communication, and focusing on what can be done to lift others up are the most important aspects of leadership in any sector. I want to build on these attributes obtaining this MBA. Receiving this scholarship would be an amazing boost to kick off this next chapter and would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.