I have served as principal of South San Francisco High School for the past ten years. Affectionately referred to as "South City", the school has been in existence for almost 100 years. The demographics and the school have changed significantly over the years. Many people know the community from its designation as "The Industrial City" seen from Highway 101 near the airport. A definite misnomer in that the only real industry left in town is the very white collar Bio-tech industry. The school is very diverse with 40% of the 1600 students being Latino. About 35% of the students are on free and reduced lunch, and 12% are English Learners. I taught English and special education at the school for fifteen years before becoming principal. Currently, professional development is focused on developing curriculum and pedagogy that includes backwards planning, common assessments, benchmark assessments, and the identification of best practices.
Why a Doctorate
I chose to pursue a doctorate in L&I because I am interested in how learning takes place. While working with a diverse student population my entire career, I want to explore how different socioeconomic and emotional issues affect learning. I would also like to develop expertise on how to enhance learning for all students. I hope that the knowledge I gain will allow me to be a stronger curriculum leader.
Possible Project Topics
This is difficult decision. However, I think I would like to investigate a topic in the realm of instructional approaches. I am particularly interested in Project Based Learning. I believe that this approach to instruction is designed to maximize student interest, motivation, and success.
No comments:
Post a Comment