4 minute read
Student Spotlight: John Michael Dominguez
Program: Educational Leadership M.S.
Hometown: Tampa, FL
When did you first discover your passion for educational leadership?
I started my teaching career during the 2015-2016 school year. That first year, I was in third grade self-contained and started the year out with 13 students. I was excited to start the year and went through many typical first year teacher stresses; however, something I enjoyed the most was looking at the data of my students, and brainstorming ideas to improve our students’ achievement. As the years went on, I noticed that thinking of the school holistically was becoming my normal mindset in the success of my teaching career. In March of 2020, my son was born, and becoming a parent changed my perception of my goals and dreams, and it pushed me to travel this road to educational leadership.
Tell us a little bit about your experience in the program so far.
FSU created a strong educational leadership program. It has increased my pedagogy in education and has opened the door for me to other leadership opportunities in my school.
What made you choose FSU for your degree?
I wanted to attend FSU for undergrad; however, I did not have the financial support to attend. I got a bachelor’s in education from the University of South Florida, and I was able to commute from home to campus. During my senior year, one of my professors approached me about continuing my education for a master’s in educational leadership. I said no at the time, stating that I was done with being a student and wanted to start my career. She went on to say that if I changed my mind later in life, FSU has an online program for educational leadership, and it should be something I considered especially if I had children by then. When I finally decided to apply, I remembered this conversation and went to the FSU website first.
What would you like to do after finishing the program?
My plan after finishing the program is to apply for the Future Leaders Academy in Hillsborough County and eventually become a principal. I have also thought of returning to FSU to earn an Ed.D in Learning Designs and Performance technology, but with the birth of my second son this might be postponed for a while.
What is your favorite part of the educational leadership program?
Honestly, my favorite part of the educational leadership program is a person, Dr. Christopher Small. Dr. Small is an amazing professor and has been a wonderful support person during this grueling program. With it being online, there are already some difficulties that a student would not normally face if they attended in person. Dr. Small was always understanding, kind, and provided the tools that were necessary to be successful. Another reason Dr. Small is so amazing is that he pushes his students to be the best and cultivates learning that holistically considers situations that could arise in the real world. His classes had many readings and assignments but with valid reasons. Many of the readings and assignments I completed in his classes I found myself implementing in my classroom immediately. There are not enough words that I could write to thank Dr. Small, but without his support and mentorship I would not be where I am today.
What advice would you give someone interested in studying educational leadership at FSU?
TAKE THE LEAP! Realistically, with how involved the life of an educator is, especially with a family, it is one of the many reasons that completing the program online should pique our interest. I can honestly say that this program was fantastic; I learned so much information that I can implement before going into leadership, and they definitely prepared me for taking the FELE [Florida Educational Leadership Examination]. Not to mention, when I spoke to other students in educational leadership programs at other schools or administrators, I found that I had more information on administration processes than they did. Needless to say, FSU does a fantastic job at preparing you for educational leadership and is by far the best program for this degree.
