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Doctorate in the Making

By Camille James, Grade 7 Math Teacher
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ~ Mother Teresa

Inspiration is at the heart of this quote; it begs the question: How are we going to create ripples to enact positive social change? The Borgen family has engendered such an effect in the Graland community by providing the opportunity for teachers to pursue academic excellence through the generous gift of a faculty fellowship. 
I must express my sincerest gratitude to the Borgens for providing the support to attain my lifelong goal of earning a doctoral degree and thereby enacting positive social change within the community. 

I was inspired to find an institution that is not only focused on providing quality education, but one that is passionate about enacting positive social change. This led me to enroll at Walden University where scholars are inspired to become transformational leaders. 

My doctoral studies focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment (CIA), a field of study designed for educators aspiring to be curriculum experts who can make a positive impact on student achievement. My classmates and I gain expertise in the latest research and best practices in learner-centered curriculum, instructional strategies, effective teaching, student assessment, program evaluation and teacher professional development. We employ real-life scenarios to critically assess ways to drive innovation and change at the systemic level to shape school systems to meet the diverse needs of students. 

In my program, each course prompts critical thinking to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a curriculum specialist. The foundational course, “Leading Change in Education,” introduced me to the components of conducting research and analyzing case studies and equipped me with skills such as scholarly writing techniques. “Learner- Centered Teaching” has provided me with a plethora of skills that can be employed to ensure that I am empowering my students to become lifelong learners by creating a growth-mindset classroom environment that inspires students’ love of learning. “Systems Perspectives” is another course that has inspired my research topic for my dissertation, which will seek to identify and bridge a gap in educational practice. 

Upcoming terms promise additional education courses to instruct and inspire my future teaching practice. I am looking forward to the learning that will empower my students, my true inspirations. 

Camille would like to thank Josh Cobb for the incalculable support that he provided during the fellowship application process and her students for always asking if she has completed her homework and the reminders that she should not procrastinate.
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Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.