Katy Blatnick-Gagne, Ed. D.

Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer and Family Studies Education.  I hit the teaching road with all cylinders firing.  As a teacher, I encouraged all of my students to participate in a variety of learning activities, including note-taking, group presentations, videos, guest speakers and much more.  I also integrated technology in as many lessons as I could.  Students created electronic portfolios, PowerPoint presentations, and even things as simple as pamphlets.  I created hands-on activities that related to the topics we were covering in class, and my assessments were projects, not just test regurgitation.  I became the teacher I wish I would have had in school. 

 

I have never been one to just sit back and let things happen around me.  You would typically find me in the front of the pack; working diligently, not only to improve myself, but others around me. Although I enjoyed teaching, I wanted to have a stronger influence on other educators.  By 2003, I had earned my Masters of Arts in Education with an Administration and Supervision specialization from the University of Phoenix.  I believe as an administrator one has the opportunity to have great influence on what takes place in a school—this is where the educational revolution will begin. 

 

Nuclear Fusion  (A powerful reaction in which two or more knowledge bases collide at a very high speed and join to form a new type of knowledge.)

 

Leadership involves influence, occurs in groups, and includes attention to common goals (Northhouse, 2013).  I have pushed myself personally and professionally to take on various leadership roles and responsibilities, and to learn from each experience.  I believe that leadership is innate, a skill or style that comes naturally to some, and if given the opportune conditions and environment, some can learn the trade.  I am the definition of the Skills Approach, the Styles Approach and the Trait Approach as defined by Northhouse in Leadership: Theory and Practice.  I combine these approaches, and use them as a Situational Approach leader.  As I move through my doctoral program, I want to become a transformational leader inspiring others to do great things with educational technology and professional development.

 

Creating a Supernova (An educator that has enhanced his/her knowledge in such a way that it shines brightly until a stellar explosion takes place sharing most of the knowledge with others.)

 

As a mother and an educator, I reflect quite often on how we are educating our children.  I know that a student’s schooling experience today should be worlds different from what I encountered.  Our classrooms need to explode with new and innovative teaching—expand student learning by flipping the classroom, experimenting with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), enhancing learning with augmented reality, and by all means, providing professional development for educators that surpasses all expectations. 

 

As educators, we must take the lead in creating state-of-the-art classrooms that incorporate the skills, knowledge and experiences our new learners will need to be successful in managing their home and work lives. Throughout my doctoral journey, I have set short and long-term goals, which are helping me to get one step closer to creating my own Stellar Evolution.

 

Goals

 

Technology Workshops

• Host/present a workshop related to current doctoral studies at two or more education conferences.​

 

Career Experience​

• ​Obtain experience that provides me with a holistic and authentic knowledge base in all realms of education. ​

 

Increase Professional Development

• Continue to build my professional network by attending conferences

• Continue to hold leadership positions in professional organizations

• Continue to work with teachers, school districts, state agencies to improve education as a whole​

 

The Future 

• Work with educators and members of professional organizations that create stellar opportunities for education in the US and across the world.

 

 

Learn more About Me 

Resume 

Presentations

 

 

 

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice. (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publishing.