Ed.D. Student and Doctoral Alums Win Professional and Academic Awards
Awards and special recognition have been given to several affiliates of Cal Poly Pomona’s Educational Leadership Doctoral Program during the 2018-19 academic school year.
Marybeth Murray, a current doctoral student, was selected as a Presidential Scholar by University President Soraya Coley. The President’s Scholarship is awarded annually to CPP students based on their academic and co-curricular performance, personal interviews, letters of recommendation and response to the essay questions in the application.
“I was incredibly honored and humbled to be named a 2018 Presidential Scholar,” said Murray, who is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Early Childhood Studies. “The scholarship has supported and inspired me to continue my education and push me outside of my comfort zone. It has helped me realize my own potential in becoming the leader that I am destined to be. I am very proud to say that I am graduating from the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program this semester. Being a doctoral student has increased my understanding of quantitative and qualitative research, strengthened my leadership abilities and boosted my confidence as a school principal.”
Alumna Celia Munguia, principal of Northam Elementary, was named Rowland Unified School District’s 2018 Administrator of the Year for her effective leadership and dedication to ensuring that all students have the necessary tools to succeed.
“Part of my success is due to the training that I received in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program,” said Munguia. “The knowledge that I acquired was invaluable. It enabled me to become a well-rounded individual who sees the world at a macro level. I have also grown stronger when it comes to networking and goal setting, and I learned to love research. I truly appreciate the support that I received from my professors. They were with me every step of the way.”
Alumna Adriana Gonzalez, principal of De Anza Middle School, was presented with the 2018 Schools to Watch Award sponsored by the California Department of Education. The award is given to schools that demonstrate academic excellence, social equity and responsiveness to the needs of students.
“When we first earned the Schools to Watch recognition in 2015, I had just enrolled in the doctoral program. It wasn’t too long after that I was appointed principal of my school, and it became my task in 2018 to ensure that we continue to meet the high standard for this national and state recognition. I am happy to say that our redesignation as a School to Watch was another indication that our ongoing school transformation continues. The skills I learned throughout my time as a doctoral candidate, and now a graduate, certainly helped me to lead a collaborative effort with my staff and community to make this recognition possible.”
While serving as administrators at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, doctoral alums Cathy Cervantes, Gerald Matthews and Patricia Horton completed several papers on student attendance, parent engagement and culturally responsive leadership in high poverty schools. During their studies and application of theory and practice, Lincoln Elementary experienced rapid growth in foundational literacy skills and comprehension. The school was also recognized for declining suspension rates for all student populations; a significant increase in English Language Arts performance; and improved student performance in mathematics.
Cathy Cervantes who served as assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary is now a principal in Colton Joint Unified School District and Gerald Matthews is now an assistant principal in the same district. Patricia Horton continues to serve as principal at Lincoln.
In addition to the accomplishments listed above, alumna Donna Martyn was named Teacher of the Year at her Azusa Unified School District campus; alumnus Tian Gong was selected to participate in Boston College’s 2019 WES-CIHE Summer Institute as a presenter; and graduates Elizabeth Sanchez, Joanna Schiestl and Rica Torbio have been selected to present their research at the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership Conference in July.
“We are so very proud of all of our Cal Poly Pomona Educational Leadership Doctoral Program students and graduates,” said Professor Betty Alford, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership. “Congratulations to all of our current doctoral students and graduates on the wonderful contributions they are making to scholarship and professional practice.”
For more information about the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program, visit https://www.cpp.edu/~ceis/edleadership/index.shtml