Five of the region’s most dedicated educators will add a new credit to their already impressive resumes this week: Doctor of Education. The graduates earned their doctoral degrees from Manhattanville College, which launched the program in partnership with Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES’ Center for Educational Leadership nearly four years ago.
At a pre-graduation reception held earlier in the week at the campus’s Reid Castle, the graduates were celebrated and recognized for their extraordinary achievement in the face of heavy work responsibility and, for some, significant family events.
Dr. Cheryl Hubbard Champ completed her dissertation, which addressed New York’s Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), while serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Sewanhaka Central High School District in Floral Park, NY.
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Dr. Timothy Conway, currently serving as Interim Superintendent of the Brewster Central School District completed his work titled “Perceptions of Virtual Learning Policies and Practices that Foster Increased High School Course Completion Rates and Achieve Common Core Goals.”
Dr. Ronald Hatter defended his dissertation examining tenure and longevity of superintendency in New York State while serving as Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Eastchester School District.
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Dr. James Filippelli, Sr., an English/performing arts teacher in the Lakeland Central School District and adjunct professor at Dominican College examined the topic of Developing an Exemplary Fine Arts Program; and
Dr. Joseph Phillips, Director of Music for the Carmel Central School District, defended his dissertation examining ELA achievements of fourth grade Hispanic students.
“I stand in awe of your accomplishments,” said Dr. Jon Strauss, President of Manhattanville College addressing the graduates who he said, “spent the last few years juggling real life with school life.”
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership is designed for mid-career professionals who already have leadership experience. It involves a three-year program of study that tightly integrates coursework, field experience, and applied research.
To accommodate the busy schedules of working educational leaders, classes are held at BOCES’ Yorktown campus during the fall and spring semesters, while candidates go to Manhattanville during the summer. The class schedule is also arranged around the public school schedule, with classes meeting during after-school hours.
“This program would not be as strong as it is without its partnership with PNW BOCES,” said
Renee Gargano, the program’s coordinator of applied research and field work. “It has been the machine behind the our ability to offer such an innovative and rigorous doctoral preparation”
Lynn Allen, assistant superintendent of BOCES, said “The PNW BOCES partnership with Manhattanville College shone brightly at the pre-graduation reception, and we were extraordinarily proud of all of the amazing accomplishments of our newest doctors of education.”
The candidates praised the structure of the program and the support they received throughout their doctoral journeys. “It’s a committee that just won’t give up,” said Dr. Hattar. Dr. Champ agreed, adding, the program is “designed to get you across the finish line.”
Dr. Champ was awarded a special recognition for her contribution to the doctoral program. In presenting her with the Outstanding Service to Professional Community award Ms. Gargano said, “Cheryl is a consummate educational leader who exemplifies what it is to be a lifelong learner.”
Commenting on Dr. Champ’s dissertation, Manhattanville professor Dr. Robert Monson said that of the 84 dissertations he has read, “This one is easily in the top 5%. There’s a wide audience who will be reading this.”
