Med Personal Statement Sample

720 Words3 Pages

My name is Karyn Allee-Herndon, and I am applying for the PhD program in Education with a focus on Elementary Education. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education (’93) and a Master of Education (’94) degree from the University of Florida ProTeach program. My major was in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Roughly mid-way through my career, I earned an Education Specialist (’09) degree from Stetson University in Educational Leadership. During my twenty-year career, I have taught in primary grade classrooms in Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) at high-need schools, I have worked in OCPS at the school and district level as a coach and professional development facilitator, and I have worked for …show more content…

I have successfully completed two theses, and therefor I understand the process of research and how to effectively carry out a study. My MEd thesis (Gender Identity in Children’s Literature) examined gender bias and gender representation in children’s literature, and my EdS thesis (Successfully Transitioning from Traditional School Cultures to Professional Learning Communities Cultures in Orange County Public Schools) focused on the necessary attributes and steps for a school to engage in more teacher-centered and relevant professional …show more content…

The program has the faculty expertise to help me reach my goals in becoming an education professor in the future. If admitted to the program, I plan to concentrate my study on a Literacy Education emphasis with an interdisciplinary approach. My research interests align with Dr. Killingsworth’s focus on using literature study groups within methods courses and Dr. Zygouris-Coe’s interests in how children construct meaning and teacher education. Additionally, my interest in increasing educational equity and writing across the curriculum to increase student understanding may allow for interesting collaboration with Dr.