Author Archives: Derrick D.

17 REASONS YOU MIGHT BE AN Ed.D STUDENT

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Derrick D. | Permalink 1

I know that everyone is working hard on your 360 Reflective Papers and your Program Evaluations. It might be a little stressful right now, but keep pushing forward. We will get everything done. Keep encouraging each other to hang in there.  I thought a little comic relief may be in order. Please enjoy! (Parody of [...]
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The Digital Divide: Getting Apple County School Board to Promote Closing the Gap

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

     Recently, a friend of mind that works in Apple County as a principal informed me that he has been researching other school divisions and their approach to technology access for students.  According to Part D-Enhancing Education Through Technology of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) state and local agencies are tasked with making sure all students graduating [...]
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Educational Policy

704-BLOG POST 3 “THE POWER OF ZERO”

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

  When I was a teacher, I gave my students more than one chance to turn in late assignments.  They would lose points, but I felt that my ultimate goal as an educator was to make sure the student learns the material.  If I gave the student a zero and moved on, he/she would not [...]
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Educational Policy

CAN YOU REALLY FOLLOW KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE?

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

     I was speaking to a principal friend of mine a few weeks ago named Robert.  Robert is employed in a county in the western part of Virginia.  He informed me that his county had established a policy to give SOL type assessments to their students at the end of first semester.  The tests were [...]
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Leadership Ethics

BILL 76- An Administrator’s Nightmare or Saving Grace?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

     There is currently a bill before the Virginia General Assembly to change the contract renewal date for probationary teachers from April 15 to June 15.  It is House Bill 76.  The bill will also change continuing contract teachers’ renewal dates to June 15 if it passes.  A regulatory policy is defined as “formalized rules [...]
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Educational Policy

COMBATING EVIL: EVIL AS BUREAUCRACY

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

In today’s world of so many graphic images being displayed through the media, I never imaged that three simple sentences written in a book could produce such dreadful images in my head. “The Gestapo had to pay for each prisoner shipped by rail to the death camps. Railroad officials billed the SS at third-class passenger [...]
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DOUBT- A REFLECTION OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH MOVIES

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 1

            Last Friday, I watched the movie Doubt with four other students in my doctoral class.  After the movie, we discussed the ethical issues raised in the movie and the implications.  It was interesting to hear the various perspectives of each individual.  John Shanley, the director of the movie and writer of the play stated that [...]
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Leadership Ethics

Ethical Decision

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

     While creating the simulated ethical issue for EDLP 705, I began to question how I would actually respond to the situation if it really happens.  It was very interesting that I went back and forth on my decision.  The basis of the scenario was a new teacher (Virginia Mills) discovered an experienced teacher (Robert [...]
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PENN STATE AND KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

During the Penn State investigation it was discovered that the head coach, Joe Paterno, was told that his defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, was sexually abusing little boys during a football camp. After the scandal broke in the media, the University president was replaced.  The interim president made a statement that in the future, Penn State [...]
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Reflection on Writing Assignment 3

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Derrick D. | Permalink 0

I have noticed a change in my writing after being in the EDLP 715 class.  I am able to focus more on my topic by referring back to the organizational tools.  The most recent one, the GPS for Persuasive Writing, really helped me to organize my thoughts.  I haven’t written a persuasive paper in about [...]
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