Organization and Navigation

At the bottom of this page you will find three sections: Artifacts, Other Required Documentation, and My Final Learning Summary. Click on the appropriate course or documentation and you will be taken to that specific blog. From there click on the word "comments" under the picture(s) and it will take you to my learning reflection for that artifact.

Educational Platform Statement

To change someone’s life, to have a huge impact - that is my motivation! I joined the Navy with a GED and started at the bottom of the rank structure and because of a few leaders I had along the way, I was able to find the courage to break out of my comfort zone and dare to aspire. Some of the leaders who inspired me were magical individuals, while others were bitter tyrants. The former lit a fire that the latter could not extinguish. Because of my motivation, I believe that I tend to be a transformational leader. I feel I challenge Sailors to fulfill their potential, whether that means making Chief, getting a commission or becoming a better military parent. I can honestly say that I have been there and done that and so can they! These leaders gain immediate respect and as long as others believe you have not forgotten where you came from, will strive to do two things. First, try to ensure your success as a supervisor and secondly, emulate your behaviors. It is important for others to see that “it” is possible, whatever their “it” may be.

Once when my office was directed by the Commanding Officer to paint over the weekend everyone was demoralized. Even as the Administrative Officer over the department, I had little say in the matter. One of the junior Sailors asked me if they could complete it during the week after working hours. Even though this plan seems sound, remember, we have to be up and running first thing in the morning. Furniture, faxes, copiers - everything must be in working order. After talking it over with everyone, it we decided to tackle it after work during the week. I guess the entire officer assumed that I would not be sticking around; maybe because I was the only officer, I am not sure. What I am sure about is that when I stepped out of my office and took pizza orders there was a buzz in the air. They all knew that at one time or another, I had buffed floors, cleaned heads and stood duty. Nevertheless, that was in the past and had nothing to do with them. By staying that evening, it proved many things, but the most important one was that I cared and valued their time and effort. The bond that was produced that evening led to not only the success of our office, but the individuals that ran it. We had more Sailors of the Quarter, rank promotions and degrees in progress than any other department in the building. What we built as a team in those five hours sometimes takes five years to achieve. It was a humbling and moving experience. Because they knew I cared about them and their success, they ensured mine.

My philosophy on effective leadership is based on the premise that everyone wants to succeed - whether that is in the classroom or conference room. I believe that it is my responsibility to facilitate their desire, which requires the utilization of all resources available. As a leader, it is essential to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. In addition, it is imperative to voice your belief that everyone is an intricate part of the management team or the classroom. If you can do this, everyone form the lowest ranking Sailor to the Commanding Officer to ultimately the Navy will meet their goals, both individual and organizational. “The transformational leader builds relationships with followers through interactive communication, which forms a cultural bond between two participants and leads to a shifting of values by both parties toward common ground” (cited in Flumerfelt, 2006). All involved will experience powerful growth and profitable results.

In conclusion, one must treat individuals as individuals and genuinely care about their hopes and aspirations. Believe that they can achieve what they set out to do, whether that is, make the next rank or acquire a commission. Finally, to be the most effective leader you must be comfortable in your own skin. You must believe in the individual and the mission and be able to articulate this in a positive and genuine way every day.

Professional Growth Plan

The completion of this degree in Educational Leadership is the first step of my strategic action plan for my career. Although, in the past twenty years, the goals of the Navy have been synonymous with my own, retirement will bring many changes. First and foremost in my mind, is my own personal education - this degree, as stated earlier is the first step in backward mapping for life after the Navy. In conjunction with this, will be my last two duty assignments, which should help cement my successful transition into the civilian sector of education. Fortunately, even as a junior Sailor, I was given many opportunities to work within the education realm of the military. With two tours as an instructor, the training I received along with the podium time, will serve me well in the years to follow. Little did I know that even then a plan was in the works!

In the identification of an ideal work environment, I am looking forward to becoming an intricate team member in a Naval Education Department. I feel the selection of my last two tours will be pivotal decisions. During these subsequent duty assignments after graduation, I hope to gain valuable attributes and positive characteristics in both leadership and education.
I hope to grow in leadership by incorporating a variety of styles - not just the transformational form that I seem to use a great deal of the time. In addition, to the four different types of frameworks discussed in class, I believe I would place my managerial style into the Human Resource framework. Because of my late commission, after previously being an enlisted member for thirteen years, I believe that my leadership style needs to be more objective than personal. This is hard for my type of personality - I want everyone to like me. I believe it would decrease confusion and provide a more professional work environment. I aspire to create a work ethic of excellence for my department based on trust, empowerment and vision. Others tend to trust me easily and in turn, empowerment of them is second nature. Vision, however, is harder for me to grasp unless it is based on specific goals and criteria. I think I need to work on my visionary leadership skills - to be able to envision it myself as a leader and not follow someone else’s vision for the future.

Another aspect of my work environment that would make it unique and distinctive in the military would be to concentrate on people during the advancement of technology. Because of my current leadership style, this is not difficult. Nevertheless, I believe to ensure the teams success, I may want to let the Senior Enlisted assume this role, which historically is how it has been. I could still continue to be available and could stress the importance of self-improvement through my philosophies and training. I feel this will help not only in the day-to-day operations, but it will also encompass our customers in future endeavors. Because our primary objective is to meet the educational needs of Sailors and Marines, we ensure that our vision serves the common good of those we serve as far as personal growth and career progression. The opportunity that we have to enrich the lives of our fellow shipmates and ourselves is an easy vision to align with. The personal satisfaction to make or change policies that will facilitate life-long learning is a true passion of mine. I hope that my enthusiasm will rub off. Here is one opportunity to flaunt my transformational leadership tendencies! Along with these career enhancements, come the opportunities to teach a wide variety of subjects in a unique military setting

I hope by the end of my Military career, which at the time of my retirement will be over twenty-six years of service, to have made lasting contributions to Naval Education through educational advancements and curriculum enhancements for “Mobile” Sailors and Marines around the world. Continuing education programs for doctors, nurses, medical service corps officers, and enlisted personnel need to be de-mystified and presented in a way that conveys confidence and attainability. Sailors, specifically, need to understand the procedures that will allow them to fulfill their personal goals and provide the Navy with fruits of their labor - their past years of leadership coupled with advanced educational degrees. This is a win-win situation and my team can bring this ideal to fruition.

Lastly, in this, the first draft of my strategic plan, is the successful transition into the civilian educational sector. I have considered many options for this next journey. For example as a Health Care Administrator, there are a variety of jobs that I could choose from - but, even though the money would be better than in the educational field, I don’t want that kind of high pressure job after nearly three decades in the Navy. Hence, the pursuit of this sub-specialty at San Diego State. With that said though, I still have not yet decided how I would like to infiltrate the civilian educational field. I have entertained the idea of teaching K-12, only because I would like to coach soccer at this level, which is another passion. Also, if I went this route, I could possibly become a ROTC Coordinator, which would help because the money is very good - some school districts even match your retirement-but, the amount of time may be too much for me. I am looking forward to being one of those grandmothers that is always available and this job may not be conducive to that personal aspiration. From a teaching aspect, I believe I would be happier at the Community College level where I can continue in the adult education venue and have more autonomy with my curriculum. Which brings me to another possibility - to work exclusively with the curriculum either at a community college or within a technical program.

I am looking forward to honing my leadership skills in the twilight of my Naval career and am happy that it will conclude in the field of education. Which ever road I decide to travel and explore, I know one thing for certain - education will be at the heart of it!