M.Ed. Grad Embraces Role as Instructional Leader

Written byHope Aucoin

In only a few years, Jasmine Jowers has become one of the go-to teachers on her Slidell elementary school campus.

鈥淎nytime anything needs to be done for the grade level, or they have questions about something in the curriculum, I鈥檓 the one they go to,鈥 Jowers says. 鈥淓ven beyond my grade level, any time they鈥檙e looking at the whole school, they come to me because they know that I have a leadership background.鈥

As a 老司机福利网鈥檚 Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction graduate, and current Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership student, they know she has the skills to guide curriculum, school improvement, and strategic planning.

Born to Teach

Educators are drawn to the classroom for a number of reasons. For Jowers, that new-book smell was the first attraction.

鈥淚 remember being so excited to get new school supplies,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd it had to be Crayola 鈥 everything had to be top-of-the-line.鈥

But Jowers鈥 inclination toward teaching 鈥 and leading 鈥 was evident from her first 鈥渏ob.鈥

鈥淲hen I was 11 or 12, I would babysit all the time. I鈥檇 create a schedule of things I wanted to do with the little kids I was working with,鈥 she says. 鈥淎ny time I was helping my cousins with their homework or just teaching them anything, I was just excited that from talking to me or hanging out with me they learned something new.

鈥淚 just like being part of someone鈥檚 success, and I thought education was a great way to do that.鈥

Applying Theory to Practice

UL 老司机福利网鈥檚 M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Specialist concentration, is offered 100% online in accelerated 8-week terms and gives graduates the opportunity to apply for an add-on endorsement from the Louisiana Department of Education.

Jasmine Jowers, M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction online graduateThe program provides a balance of theory and practice and was the first in the state to build instructional coaching coursework into its program.

Jowers says that hands-on collaboration was particularly useful because she hadn鈥檛 begun managing her own classroom yet.

鈥淲e were looking at classrooms, how they functioned, and making a plan of what we would do to further the conversation and figure out the holes in their lessons,鈥 Jowers says. 鈥淵ou were really focusing on what that particular classroom needed, and what that particular teacher needed to push her students further.鈥

Jowers began teaching kindergarten during the final semester of her master鈥檚 program and says she鈥檚 been applying the knowledge she鈥檚 gained since day one.

鈥淭here was a (special education) class that talked about gifted and talented learners 鈥 exceptional learners 鈥 and that was a very useful class,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t talked about ways you can push those higher learners so they鈥檙e not being bored, and I use that now 鈥 I still have that textbook.鈥

Becoming an Ed.D.

In addition to her classroom duties, Jowers is also the lead teacher for her grade level, serves on the School Improvement Plan team, and is the Robotics Club sponsor.

Balancing those responsibilities along with school and family, she says, requires discipline.

鈥淓ven for family functions, I have to bring my computer because I have a lot of school work to do,鈥 she says. 鈥淓very night I鈥檓 either doing work or school work for my classes. There鈥檚 not much time I can sit and relax. Even when I鈥檓 on vacation, I鈥檓 doing work.

鈥淚 know it has to be done; I have to work on something every day.鈥

Jowers鈥 dedication should pay off in 2021 when she鈥檚 hooded as Jasmine Jowers, Ed.D.

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