Alumni Spotlight – Andrew Rocco
We caught up with Andrew Rocco, a Sage/CITE alum and graduate who earned his M.S. in Educational Administration, as well as being licensed in Special Ed Grades 7-12. We’re very proud of his successes and grateful to call him an alum of CITE!
What made you decide to pursue your doctorate in Ed Leadership?
As a lifelong civic activist and advocate for children I knew that obtaining a doctorate in Educational Leadership would give me the tools to lead any situation and any organization regardless of resources and circumstance. Having a Ed.D degree allows me to take my passions and experiences into a larger scale system view, and my intent is to impact the lives of as many people possible in a positive way, through leadership and creating opportunities for our students and adults to develop the leadership skills from within in order to grow personally and professionally.
How was your experience taking Sage/CITE courses?
My experiences taking Sage/CITE courses have been terrific I have earned my M.S. in educational administration as well an additional teaching license in special education 7-12 and most recently my Ed.D in Educational leadership all through the CITE program. In each program I was able to network and learn from my colleagues as well as hands on from experienced professors.
Can you briefly describe your dissertation and why you choose that topic?
My dissertation topic was “Experiences of Elementary School Principals Who Have Implemented the Leader in Me Program in a Large Urban District.” I choose the particular topic of character education because I firmly believe in the work of Stephen Covey and the “7 habits of highly effective people” which led to the character education program of “The Leader in Me.” Covey’s 7 habits can be applied to our students education throughout our school environments. I witnessed first hand personally as well as professionally the positive effects on student out comes when schools implement TLIM..
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the future I see myself supporting as many people as possible to make positive change within themselves. I hope to continue to make a difference in American culture of eating unhealthy and a dependence on pharmaceuticals to a culture that reflects a healthy body and healthy mind through incorporating one healthy habit at a time, and changing the course of our nation!
Would you recommend CITE to a friend?
Absolutely, I have recommended CITE to many friends and colleagues throughout the years. Due to the fact that CITE offers” hands on” course build around the schedule of working adults, with professors who have real life experiences.
CITE is the Center for Integrated Training and Education. For over 25 years, CITE has and continues to train TEACHERS (Early Childhood, Professional Certification, Special Ed,Grad Courses, Bilingual courses, DASA); COUNSELORS (School, Mental Health Masters, Advanced Certificate); and ADMINISTRATORS (SBL, SDL, Public Admin, Doctorate) in all five boroughs of NYC, Yonkers, Westchester, and Long Island.
CITE PD offers CTLE-approved in-school professional development tailored to your school’s needs and your vision. Info: citepd.com
