Julie Swaggert

Doctoral Graduate
Educational Administration & Leadership Doctoral Program
St. Cloud State University

"All of the educational leadership programs at SCSU, masters, licensure and doctoral programs, allow for collaboration and a sense of collegiality in a challenging and relevant course environment. Professors are approachable, knowledgable and work with you to create outstanding practitioner learning experiences. The resources at SCSU for research are first class and readily available to students. Take advantage of these well respected programs and start building your administrative network. You will not be disappointed!"

Julie Swaggert

Anne Chelin-Anderson

Doctoral Student
Educational Administration & Leadership Doctoral Program
St. Cloud State University
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Anne is married with four grown children and soon to be seven grandchildren. She lives in Holyoke, Minnesota. She is employed at St. Cloud State University as a Graduate Assistant.

Lowell Haagenson

Doctoral Student
Educational Administration & Leadership Doctoral Program
St. Cloud State University
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Lowell is married with six children and is employed as the dean of student services and special education director at STRIDE Academy in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Sarah Mittelstadt

Doctoral Student
Educational Administration & Leadership Doctoral Program
St. Cloud State University
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Sarah lives in Fairmont, MN and is married with two children. She is the director of the Southern Plains Education Cooperative which provides services to five school districts in Southern Minnesota.

Lori VanderHeiden

Doctoral Student
Educational Administration & Leadership Doctoral Program
St. Cloud State University
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Lori lives in Hutchinson and is married with two children. She is the assistant principal at Park Elementary in Hutchinson.

"I have found the EDAD K-12 Principalship Program at SCSU to be an eye-opener in the administration field. The courses provide real life situations, applicable assignments, and open dialogue between classmates and instructors. The program at SCSU allows both social and professional relationships to develop. With classes conveniently located in St. Cloud and Maple Grove I was able to take all of the classes I wanted and complete the program on my schedule. I would recommend the K-12 Principalship Program at St. Cloud State to anyone wanting a high quality education from profession proven instructors."

Dennis Abernathy

"As a student in the EDAD program at St. Cloud State I have had the ability to grow as a person and a student. The facility has always made themselves available to assist me with any needs I have. I have really enjoyed the ability to work with the staff as they have helped me evolve towards success in the academic and professional worlds. The EDAD program has helped prepare me for the rest of my life and the staff have also demonstrate a willingness to help and guide me after graduation."

Tyson M. Crockett

"The Educational Administration Department at St. Cloud State University is the epitome of putting research and theory into practice. The faculty are some of the most knowledgeable and respected practitioners in their field. They open their classrooms to experts in every field of educational leadership and promote networking by providing students with exceptional professional contacts. The faculty lead by example, always staying current on educational trends and provide opportunities within all classes for students to explore new educational trends."

Dan Gregory

"The support and guidance provided by the faculty and staff has been helpful in developing a program that is meaningful and well-rounded to fit my needs. I feel fortunate to have professors who have many years of experience in the topics they are teaching. They bring their highly successful careers into the classroom through examples and personal experiences while staying current with the research and trends that administrators are presently facing."

Darla Harstad

"Enrolling in the Education Administration and Leadership program at St. Cloud State University has given me the opportunity to learn from some of the most outstanding educational leaders in the field. All faculty members have unique educational leadership experiences and areas of expertise to draw from, which provides for a complete and well-rounded administrative licensure preparation program. The curriculum is rooted in best practices and the latest educational research. The Education Administration and Leadership program at St. Cloud State University has provided me with an exceptional education at an extremely affordable price."

Luke MacLean
Education Administration and Leadership Master’s Degree (December, 2009)
K-12 Principal License and Community Education Director License (Summer, 2010)

"I am currently in the "Sixth Year" program and LOVE it! The professors are very real people with vast amounts of knowledge and have been in education for a long time! I am currently taking 14 credits, working full time and I am still able to be an awesome wife and mother. This program is challenging but achievable!"

Jill Marohn

"Completing the Educational Administration program at St. Cloud State University has dramatically shaped my outlook on education. Before investing in the program, I was about to change careers and leave education altogether. Instead, I have rediscovered my passion for working in schools. The EDAD program assisted greatly in allowing me to form a new path within education. The current Educational Administration instructors are responsible for my newfound excitement in becoming a leader within education. They have created a program of excellence in which I walk away from feeling well prepared for the difficult challenges we face in education today. I am current with issues and full of courage. I am ready to bring the magic back to schools!"

Todd Norholm

The Educational Administration and Leadership program at St. Cloud State University was an exceptional learning experience.  The course work was relevant and provided me with a solid foundation before beginning my career as a school administrator.  The faculty was superb.  It was an environment where experienced leaders were invested in creating new leaders.  In class we were also provided opportunities to learn from guest speakers, where their ideas integrated into the class lectures and enhanced learning.  In addition to speakers and lectures, being given the opportunity to research and discuss educational issues with classmates was invaluable.  My former classmates are now part of my professional network and have become my friends.  I am fortunate to have participated in the Educational Administration and Leadership program at St. Cloud State University and would highly recommend it to individuals seeking a career as a school administrator. 

Sara Derby
Assistant Director of Student Support Services
Stillwater Area Public Schools

The Saint Cloud State University Educational Administration (EDAD) Program prepared me for both the challenges and the celebrations of being a K-12 Principal.  Looking back over my seven years of being a principal at both the middle and elementary levels, I am proud of the decision-making process that I have applied on a day-to-day basis. The best road to making good leadership decisions and succeeding in a new position always starts with preparation.  Saint Cloud State (specifically, the EDAD program) prepared me to be a successful administrator with a combination of professors who were strong in practice and professors who made you think using a global theoretical approach.  These people linked learning from course to course and everything I learned was applicable to what I have used during my tenure as a principal. I speak highly of the program because I appreciate that the rigor used during my administration preparation has matched the demands that I have faced while on the job. I continue to learn every day, but I am thankful for beginning my new profession with a strong foundation.

Eric G. Olson
Pinewood Elementary K-2 Principal

The program, support, and rigor of the Educational Administration and Leadership program at SCSU gave me the tools I needed to secure an administrative position and be successful in the leadership role.  The professors offered real-world content that was based on best practice and strong pedagogy.  Dialog with colleagues as well as leaders in the field allowed for rich discussion and tremendous professional development.  I would recommend the SCSU Educational Administration and Leadership program to any leader who is interested in educational administration.

Nate Rudolph
Rice Elementary Principal
District Assessment Coordinator

The EDAD program at St. Cloud State has provided me the opportunity to expand my knowledge, work with outstanding professionals, and increase my opportunities for advancement in the field of education.  The professors put forth a great deal of effort, not only to bring students the most up to date research and practices in education, but also to spend time getting to know each student at a personal level.  Classes are always relevant and geared towards bettering the students' impact in their area of education.

The program itself has provided me the opportunity to meet outstanding professionals who are working hard to be future leaders in education.  A great deal of class time is spent in collaboration with active professionals seeking to further their knowledge and skill.  Ultimately, the final goal of any EDAD program is advancement in the field of education.  The EDAD program at SCSU has a high level of respect from schools districts across the mid-west.  I have personally gained from this program and would recommend this program to many of my friends and colleagues.

Steve Gibbs
Assistant to the Principal/Activities Coordinator
Isanti Middle School/Minnesota Center

The best!!  If future administrators want a supportive, challenging and dynamic program they should enroll at SCSU.  Tomorrows administrator needs to be prepared for an ever changing school environment, the EDAD program at SCSU will successfully prepare you for the next step in your professional career.

Sara M. Johnson

I strongly recommend the Educational Administration and Leadership program at St. Cloud State University to anyone interested in a career in educational administration.  The faculty contains some of the most experienced, well respected, and accomplished school leaders in the field.  The faculty served not only as instructors, but also as mentors.  Each of the academic courses challenged me to expand my knowledge, skills, and mindsets on topics pertinent to school leadership.  I received outstanding support and guidance during my rigorous field experience, which allowed me to gain first-hand administrative experience.  The Educational Administration and Leadership department at St. Cloud State University contains all the components of a highly effective educational administration preparation program.

Luke MacLean

Being a student pursuing a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, I was interested in Educational Administration and leadership.  When I first took an elective course, namely K-12 Principalship, from the EDAD department, I just wanted to have a taste of what it was like and whether I was into it.  However, the well-structured framework and practical usefulness of the course within short amount of delivering time impressed me a lot and I happened to take 4 electives from the EDAD department out of 5 electives that I had to take for my program.  It seemed to me that all the courses that I took from the EDAD department were designed to fit into individual needs ensuring quality and applicability.  Most importantly, I was touched by caring of the instructors and was impressed with their expertise.  I did not feel inferior or incapable at all during the courses despite that fact that I was the only international student without much background knowledge about American education system and Educational Administration.  I felt accomplished and well-equipped with the required knowledge that can propel me further for my working context. In short, I have an impression that the personalization of the program and, the balance between theory and application of the program engage students, and empower them to be ready to go forward in the real world of their professionalism.

Chaw Kalayar