About Karen and her Work...I was anxious to graduate high school and get to college, where I figured "real" learning would happen: engaged, passionate, interconnected, and meaningful. I had to transfer through a big name private school, a community college, and a large state university before I found the learning I was looking for at Prescott College, a tiny school that emphasizes experiential learning. It was glorious: I had never worked so hard to learn and had never loved learning so much.
I started teaching full time in 2002, right out of college. A small charter school happened to be down the street and I landed a job there, ignorant of charter schools but very much open to new ideas in education. I have been working in the charter system ever since, mainly at Magnolia Science Academy which is a STEM-focused middle school in San Diego. I was drawn to High Tech High's Graduate School of Education because I saw so much potential and good intentions in the charter movement but a serious lack of experienced leadership. I felt that after two years of studying School Leadership in HTH's experience-based program, I would be able to be a better leader both in and out of the classroom. For my thesis, I combined my interest in developing strong and positive school culture and my experience as a mentor teacher to explore the question:What structures and supports help mentors be successful in their mentor relationships? My work helped me create the mentoring component of Magnolia's recently state-approved intern credentialing program. I am proud of this work and eager to put my Masters in School Leadership to work as I prepare to step into a full-time administrative role next year. |
My Leadership Philosophy
Explore My ThesisLink to Mentoring HubLearn more about the
HTH Graduate School of Education here. |