EdD Alumni Profile: Karl Meyer
The EdD program provided me with the skills and perspectives needed to tackle big issues in education along with refining my practice as an educational leader. The findings from my dissertation, Why Dads Matter: The Importance of Father Involvement in Middle School Education, helped my school develop a better understanding of father involvement and will lead to changes in practice.
I am currently a seventh grade English Language Arts teacher in Pittsburg, CA. I also teach seventh grade AVID, which is a college readiness system of support for 1st generation college going scholars. I am also the school AVID coordinator.
The EdD curriculum provided me with a framework for exploring the many questions and concerns I was recognizing over the course of my teacher career. Though I was happy in the classroom, I knew that there were bigger issues and challenges that I was not equipped to address. Through the EdD program, I was able to develop the knowledge and skills to tackle big issues in education along with refining my practice as an educational leader.
The dissertation process was one of the highlights of the EdD program. I was able to apply all of the skills developed through the years of classroom study. The findings from my dissertation have helped my school to develop a better understanding of father involvement and will lead to changes in practice that will increase education involvement.
On a personal level, the EdD program helped meet the need I had to develop my own knowledge of research and academic inquiry. The bonds formed with my cohort have lasted far beyond the classroom. Having a group of likeminded peers to support each other through this process was essential to our success. I cannot imagine having the same experience or the same level of success without the time in the classroom working closely together with so many outstanding educators.
The EdD program at Saint Mary's has provided me with the skills and perspectives needed to take the next steps professional and personally. My time in the EdD program have been the most meaningful of my academic career.