District Leaders Complete Doctoral Program Focused on Equity & Leadership

District Leaders Complete Doctoral Program Focused on Equity & Leadership

Six PGCPS leaders recently earned doctoral degrees in School System Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park — an investment in strengthening the district through research, reflection and results-driven leadership.

The graduates, who serve in key leadership roles across schools and central office, completed their capstone studies in collaboration with the university’s Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement, which guides the program through an equity lens and an “improvement science” approach. This model of continuous inquiry helps educators analyze systems, test changes, and scale what works — with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes across entire districts.

Celebrating Our Newest Doctoral Graduates

Dr. Gordon Libby

• Dissertation: “An Analysis of Factors That Promote Teacher–Student Relationships of Alternative Educational Students Based Upon Perceptions of School Climate Data”
• Dr. Libby’s work examines how school climate influences connections between educators and alternative education students — using data to inform stronger, more inclusive relationships.

Dr. Lesma Watkis

• Dissertation: “A Qualitative Study Investigating the Attrition and Retention of Conditionally Certified Teachers in a Large Urban School District”
• Dr. Watkis explores the experiences of conditionally certified teachers, helping to identify what supports are most effective in retaining high-quality educators.

Dr. Trina Hayes, Dr. Courtni Ball, and Dr. Felice N. DeSouza

• Dissertation: “Investigating Principal Supervisor Actions That Support Principal Instructional Leadership”
• This collaborative capstone highlights leadership practices that strengthen principals’ ability to guide teaching and learning. Their joint research focuses on how principal supervisors can be catalysts for instructional excellence across schools.

Dr. LaTanya Sothern

• Dissertation: “Building a Firm Foundation: Identifying the Most Effective Kindergarten to Second Grade Practices That Lead to Third Grade Reading Success”
• Dr. Sothern’s work emphasizes the early years — spotlighting strategies that lay the groundwork for long-term literacy and academic achievement.