Faculty of Education alumna, Taylor Keith, reflects on her growth as a leader
A double alumna from the Faculty of Education at ULethbridge and now in a vice principalship at Wilson Middle School, Taylor Keith (BSc/BEd '17, MEd '24) reflects on how the Master of Education (Leadership) program transformed her as a leader.
This program significantly expanded my understanding of leadership and gave me the confidence to navigate my role as a vice principal. Gaining the skills needed to think critically and pursue avenues that interest me has allowed me to become more curious and build depth to myself as a leader.
Taylor was drawn to the program by the option to complete her schooling in 24 continuous months, the internship requirement that would allow her to apply the teachings in practice and the courses within the program that incorporated indigenous perspectives—an element she had not seen elsewhere.
“I think when people hear about educational leadership, they assume you have to be a vice principal or a principal, but I think the greatest thing about the Ed Leadership program is that it's designed for leadership in any education field that you are passionate about.”
Having been accepted into the program three days after learning she was going to be a first-time mom, Taylor looks back and appreciates the flexibility the program provided, which allowed her to delay her start and make arrangements to commence at a later date.
“When I got into the program, I found that all the professors and staff were really good at reminding you that your life, family and career are important, and that they will be there when you are ready. They really make you feel their belief in you and the value that you have.”
Two faculty members who had a significant impact on Taylor were Kii Nitsikainaakii (Sunwoman) Annette Fox-BruisedHead (BSc ’00, BEd ’02, MEd ’10), former Indigenous Education Consultant, whose profound insights reshaped the way Taylor viewed the world, and Dr. Kevin Wood (BEd ’99, MEd ’06), assistant professor in the Faculty of Education. Taylor worked with Dr. Wood during a graduate assistantship in the first year of her program.
“Working under Dr. Kevin Wood was really eye opening in seeing the different avenues that you could take leadership and how you can take theory and put it into practice with living, beathing people who have their own unique perspectives and differences.”
The Master of Education (Leadership) program enables students to engage in graduate level scholarship, personal transformation and professional certification.
“During Taylor’s graduate assistantship in educational leadership, we studied how school divisions across Canada develop plans to bring learning to the forefront of practice. Taylor was a committed member of the team, offering both a practical and theoretical lens to the research project,” says Wood.
Taylor credits much of her positive experience in the program to the 16-person cohort with whom she completed her graduate studies. Dubbed the 'Masters of the Universe' by the group, she continues to stay in touch with her cohort members after graduating and now considers them lifelong friends.
“Some of my biggest learnings, teachings and memories from this program came from interacting and having conversations with all the people in my cohort. They taught me just as much as all my classes did. They each provide so much perspective in various contexts that you may not have considered or don’t have experience in. It’s like a big family, I couldn't have done it without them.”
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