Courtney Angelo Patone graduated from OAESA with Concordia University Chicago with an M.A. in School Leadership with Principal Licensure degree and currently works as a fourth- grade teacher in New Mexico but hopes to utilize her degree after her next move to improve education for the district her and her active duty Air Force husband are living in. As an educator who has had to move with her graduate program and career, we asked Courtney to tell us about her time pursuing her master’s degree at OAESA with Concordia University Chicago.
Why did you want to work in education? What inspired you?
My grandma was a teacher, so I always listened to her stories growing up. Her students often visited her and sent her mail, and I really wanted to be that kind of teacher. I’ve always had the desire to help people and make their lives better, and I felt working with children I could do exactly that.
Why did you choose OAESA with Concordia University Chicago for your School Leadership degree?
I heard from a friend how great the program was and how helpful the professors were. I wanted to learn from people I knew could make me a better person and teacher, and in talking with the staff involved, I knew this was the place.
What skills did you gain or sharpen through your program at OAESA with Concordia University Chicago, and how do they benefit you in today’s educational climate?
I loved all of the experiences I was able to learn from both my professors and classmates. There is no better teacher than experience, and having those conversations really helped open ideas for me as an educator. Simple things like thinking outside the box with a lesson or not being afraid to take on a leadership role made me better.
How has your School Leadership degree impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future?
My dream has always been to be a principal. I love teaching and working with the kiddos every day, but I felt becoming a principal would allow me to do more for my families in the grand scheme of things. My husband is waiting on orders, so we will be moving soon, but I am hoping to utilize my degree at our next location to improve education for the district we are in.
What was a challenge you faced during your School Leadership degree program, and who or what helped you overcome it?
Life hit me hard during this program. One of my students I was very close to had passed away, and then I decided to move across the country to be with my husband. A lot of trauma and changes were experienced in a short time, but the professors did not let me give up. They talked with me and gave me the grace to do what I needed to do. Dr. Hornberger was my saving grace; even with my move, she allowed me to finish the program because she believed in me, and I will forever be grateful for that.
What was the biggest takeaway from your School Leadership degree program?
Put the kids and their families first. Rules matter, protocol matters, professionalism matters, but at the end of the day, we need to use our education and experiences to do what is best for our kiddos.
What would you tell (or what advice would you give) prospective students considering the School Leadership program at OAESA with Concordia University Chicago?
Take the leap of faith! Do not let things like money and time stop you from furthering your education. It is the greatest tool we can use to change the future.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Just that I am so grateful to have completed a program with the kindest professors who taught me so much about life and being a leader. I am so glad I took the leap of faith and signed on for the program. It’s truly helped me be better.