With nearly two decades of experience in education, Lindsey shares her journey from early childhood teaching to special education leadership. She explains why she chose Rockhurst’s Online Ed.D. in Higher Education for its flexibility, supportive cohort model, and capstone approach, and how the program empowered her to grow as an advocate for children and a leader in education.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

My name is Lindsay McGann. I am a 19-year veteran in the field of education. I started my career in early childhood education. I'm a fierce advocate for children. I think that is how I would define myself as an educational leader.

A doctorate of education has always been a lifelong dream of mine. I felt like an expedited approach to the doctoral program was really beneficial that I could in two years get through the program. The more I can educate myself, the more I'm able to advocate. I spent a lot of time canvassing doctoral programs and really trying to pick the one that felt like it was not only the right time for me, but the right amount of support and working within my lifestyle.

I chose Rockhurst because of the flexibility to work at my own pace while still maintaining relationships with professors. Relationships with my cohort was really important to me. I really liked the capstone approach versus the thesis. I think that the capstone allows you to put into practice things that are really important to you, and that I feel passionate already about. I researched the referral rates for students who are being referred to the committee on special education, and so as the director of special education in the district that I'm working in, I'm constantly looking at referrals. It directly aligns day to day with what I do and has really helped to kind of hone in on what I'm seeing in the district that I'm working in.

Coming into the program already as an advocate for students with disabilities and then being able to do research in that area and come out on the other side with new information has really inspired me to continue growing and to continue advocating, continue working with this population of students, and also to inspire aspiring leaders who are coming into the field.

I think leading with courage means that you can lead without knowing what's going to happen. The confidence and the ability to look back now and say like, I did this. If you could do this, you can do anything - you can change things.