Teaching the teachers while being a student.
As assistant principal of instruction, Suzanne Conquest is responsible for being both a student and a teacher. She must keep up to date on the latest developments in secondary education while simultaneously planning and executing professional development activities for the district's teachers.
Suzanne turned to Penn State's online master of education in curriculum and instruction for the confidence to play both roles and the convenience to take classes after the regular school day had ended. "What I'm learning provides a sound foundation that I can use to make instructional decisions," she says.
The administrators at Suzanne's school were so impressed with her progress and Penn State's credentials as an accredited institution that they promoted her to her current position before she had even graduated. "I am making important decisions now, and that is a direct result of being enrolled in Penn State's program," she says. "The reputation of Penn State is easily recognized and my promotion is a testament to that. Once the administration found out the programs credentials, they knew I would be well prepared for this job."
One of Suzanne's favorite parts of her new job is sitting in on classes while observing her curricular decisions play out between students and teachers. "Even though I'm an administrator, the students still know me and I still feel like I'm playing a direct role in their education. I love the fact that I can be working with students one minute and then meeting with the school board the next," she says.
Suzanne also plays the role of teacher at home, but instead of "Mrs. Conquest," she goes by the name "mom" to two boys, ages 7 and 8. She can keep in touch with her professors and classmates from anywhere—even at basketball games or soccer practice. "It's great being able to log into my classes at night, and I can even take work with me to my sons' sporting events," she says. "Between sports, scouts, and church, we have a lot going on and that makes the flexibility of Penn State's program even more valuable to me."
"Penn State's reputation is impeccable. My district realized that and gave me a promotion before I even finished my degree."