Amber Gresham lives and teaches in Columbus City Schools. She has one daughter, Laila. She dreamed of being a teacher since the second grade so she could continue the family tradition of teaching like her grandmother, Mary Ann. She enjoys making people laugh, creating excitement, and bringing energy to the classroom. When she is not teaching, she likes spending time with family and friends, baking, watching movies with her daughter, sewing, coaching (cheerleading, miming, acting, dancing), and participating in the media ministry at First Church of God.
Amber shares her story about pursing her master’s degree at OAESA with Concordia University Chicago.
Tell us your background and education career history.
I started out teaching in a daycare while finishing up my undergraduate degree. After graduating, I began my official teaching career at a charter school. I taught third grade there for three and a half years, serving as grade- level team leader for most of those years.
I moved to Columbus City Schools and taught a year of kindergarten, and then I joined the Lions at Livingston Elementary to teach second grade (one year) and third grade (three years). I ended up taking on more leadership roles by being in charge of my team’s teacher-based data team meetings and the after-school program. This year, my ninth year of teaching, I will teach third grade.
How did the OAESA with Concordia University Chicago program become part of your story?
During my second year as a teacher, I saw a letter in my school mail about a master’s program. Getting my master’s was on my checklist, especially since I thought it would be a requirement for teachers in the future.
Since there was a great opportunity with the master’s program at Concordia, I decided to enroll. I ended up doing really well in the program and learned a lot. About three years later, I received a lot of emails about earning doctorate degrees from Concordia. I felt motivated to get my Ph.D., not only because I would be the first in my family to do so, but also because I remembered the great experience and support I had with my master’s program. I thought to myself, if I can earn a 4.0 with my master’s, maybe I could do the same with my doctorate degree. So I applied, took the test, and now I am toward the end of the program.
What appeals to you about leadership?
You know? It’s a funny thing. If I were to tell myself 20 years ago that I would be leading others, I would have laughed or denied it because I was very shy. Since my junior year in high school, I was placed in leadership positions for sports, which ended up preparing me to be a leader in other areas of my life, including church.
Being a leader is a humbling experience. What appeals to me about leadership is the ability to help others in creative, fun, and effective ways. I love helping others, and acknowledging that gift has allowed me to make a huge impact on my peers and students. What I truly like about leadership is that I am learning about myself while I lead. I learn about the way I approach things, but also I am in a position where I can learn from others.
Has the OAESA with Concordia University Chicago program had an impact on your leadership capacity? If so, how?
Absolutely! The OAESA with Concordia University Chicago program has opened up opportunities for me to use my God- given gift. I appreciate and love the advisors and professors that have helped me during my master’s and doctorate experiences. The people that I speak with throughout this program are very helpful and responsive to my needs. I really like the guidance with the program. I trust those in charge to lead me on the right path so that I can succeed.
That type of leadership has also helped me develop a clear mindset and create a clear path for my own choices, whether it’s in my leadership role as a student or teacher.
What’s the end of your story? How do you see yourself leaving a mark on the world of education?
I feel like my story has just begun, and I am just starting to test the waters. Throughout this experience, I have been blessed to be in leadership positions at my job and be able to apply what I have learned in my current job. Being able to lead teachers with data and just helping them perfect their craft has been an amazing experience so far. So what does the road look like in the future? The end of my SAIL story would be me finishing school and earning a doctorate degree with honors. After that, I will continue to perfect my craft as a general education teacher. Eventually, I would like to become a master teacher, using my degree to travel around the world as a teacher consultant or become a college professor to lead future teachers.
In the world of education, I want people to think of me as a great, energetic teacher leader who is a team player. I want to be known as someone who helps everyone I interact with achieve their highest potential.