Opportunity Analysis - SNHU 303 final project example (A- paper) PDF

Preview

Summary

SNHU 303 final project example (A- paper)...

Description

1

Kea Lopez April 20th, 2018 EDU – SNHU 303 Professor McHale Opportunity Analysis: Life after SNHU for Education Majors In a little over a year, I will be graduating with my bachelor’s degree in music education. After I graduate in May 2019 and complete my student teaching at Pembroke Academy with Scott Thibodeau, I plan on continuing my education by going to a graduate school. I have not yet decided what area I would like to focus on whether that be an area in music such as composition or if I want to go on for a masters in English. For my assignment, I decided to research and discuss two school districts as well as two graduate schools. I chose to do this because I plan on continuing expanding my education after graduating with my bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. The two school districts I decided to research are close to my home on Cape Cod and are schools I have familiarity with. Working for either of the districts will allow me to continue living at home which will then help pay off my student loans more quickly as I will not be paying any rent. The first district is Falmouth Public Schools, and the other district I chose that is close by to my house is Sandwich Public Schools. The two graduate schools I have decided to research are Gordon College and Southern New Hampshire University. I chose to research Gordon College in case I choose to further my education in music. Southern New Hampshire University is the other graduate school I have decided to research because there would be no transition that would have to be made. It is an environment I am already used to, and can see myself continuing to be in. I will be exploring the salaries/tuition of each school system, benefits, time off, programs offered and what music classes are available for students,

2

and additional opportunities regarding clubs and sports teams.

Falmouth Public Schools The first district I researched was Falmouth Public Schools District. I chose this school system because it is in my hometown, so it is not only a 5 minute drive but it is a district I am familiar with since I attended Falmouth Public Schools up until February of my freshman year of high school. As a music teacher, it is almost always a concern of any parts of the music program getting cut. However, Falmouth has a love of music and the arts as seen by the maroon and white bumper stickers on various cars in town stating, “Music is alive in Falmouth Public Schools” Falmouth schools could be a fit for me because they really care about the classes and students I may be teaching one day. Because I am continuing school after graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I looked at the starting salary for a first year teacher with a master’s degree in Falmouth Public Schools. This starting salary is $50,877 and increases each year with level of experience. For health insurance, two different companies offer plans to Falmouth school employees: Blue Cross Blue Shield and Harvard Pilgrim Health care. Both have $100 emergency room copays, $250 surgery copays, and $20/35 copay for physician visits. The copay for prescriptions are the same for both as well but there are three different tiers. Tier 1 is $10, Tier 2 $30, and Tier 3 is $65. Both insurance companies seem very similar in their costs, it really just depends on the preference of each person who works in the district. Falmouth grants full time employees 15 days of sick time per year and up to 3 days of time off without it affecting pay for bereavement, personal business that must be completed during school hours, and any other reasons that the principal approves ahead of time. At Falmouth High School, the following music classes are offered: band, orchestra, marching band & color guard, wind ensemble, jazz, choir, Repertory

3

Singers, Soulfege, and general music (keyboard, theory, composition). There are two different music teacher positions so one teacher takes charge of the instrumental ensembles while the other works with vocal ensembles. The amount of options given to students for classes is important to me because the more options there are, the more students can get involved and find something they love. Although I could not find any extra pay involved with advising a club or coaching a team, there is a Tri-M Music Honor Society program in the school which is run by the current music teachers.

Sandwich Public Schools For my second district, I decided to go with a district that I know of but am not too familiar with. This district is about 15 minutes from my house which is not at all a bad commute.

4

The starting salary for a teacher with their masters’ degree is $48,818. Sandwich Public School teachers receive 15 days of sick time per year. 10 of these days can be used to take care of a sick immediate family member. Up to 5 days is given for bereavement. I was unable to find any information on the insurance plans offered to teachers in Sandwich Schools. However, after having researched other Cape Cod schools including Falmouth, a common theme tends to be Blue Cross Blue Shield. Sandwich High School offers only a handful of music classes. These classes are Musical Theater, Chorus, Advanced Show Choir, Concert Band, and Music Theory. However, there is the possibility of advising other musical ensembles. There is a stipend of $2,097 per extra ensemble. The ensemble options are Jazz Band for grades 3-6 and 7-12, JV Jazz Band for grades 7-12, and Concert Bands for grades 3-6 and 7-12. Advising just one of these ensembles would bring the total income to being $38 more than the Falmouth Public Schools salary. There is a stipend for show choir listed as $3,800. Sandwich also offers $250 per performance, parade, or concert for PreK-8 band, chorus, special choral, and instrumental and if I were to chaperone a school dance, it would be $90 per dance.

Gordon College I chose to replace my two other “districts” with graduate schools because I plan on continuing onto my master’s degree the semester after I graduate from Southern New Hampshire University in the undergraduate program. I have heard many great things about Gordon College

5

in Wenham, MA especially in regards to working towards a master of music education. Gordon College is a relatively inexpensive graduate school. Many graduate schools are around $1,000+ per credit while graduate credits at Gordon are only $325 each, bringing a 3 credit class to $975. Going to Gordon would not only save money, but it would also bring me back to Massachusetts. The benefits of this school being in my state are that it would allow me to possibly make the hour and fifteen minute commute to classes during the week from my house, or live with a friend in the Boston or Beverly area. Like many schools, Gordon has smaller class sizes so attendance is often taken. A Gordon student can miss no more than 3 classes per semester in order to still receive a grade based on class work and not presence in the class. Although Gordon offers a master of music education, it is only offered in the summer. This is a downside because I really would like to continue school as I have always known it as in having two semesters of classes, and not taking summer classes. Gordon College has over 50 different clubs around campus that I could join whether I lived on campus or commuted. There are also a variety of ensembles I could join to continue being involved in music if I chose a different graduate program other than the summer music education program.

Southern New Hampshire University Southern New Hampshire University was very clearly a choice I need to think about for graduate school. As an education major, I have options of what other areas of education I can receive my masters degree in. Also, because I am already a student here, credits would have no difficulty transferring from my undergraduate to my graduate. The cost per course is $1,881

6

which is almost double the cost of a 3 credit class at Gordon. Southern New Hampshire University is definitely one of the most expensive graduate schools, especially being an on campus student. However, it is a place I am already used to and am familiar with. Like undergraduate, you can only miss a certain amount of classes until it begins to affect your grade or withdraw you automatically from a class. If I were to get my masters here, I would most likely focus on education studies. Although, I have thought about becoming a high school English teacher but do not know what I would need to study and focus on specifically in a program in graduate school to fulfill that idea. Here at Southern New Hampshire University, there are so many ways to get involved as a graduate student just like you can as an undergraduate student. I would also be able to continue participating in the ensembles on campus with my peers and future colleagues. Going to a school where I already have connections would be great and would make a big difference. I would not have to readjust to yet another new environment.

Conclusion After researching two school districts and two graduate schools, I believe that the Falmouth Public Schools would be a better fit for me. The district and town overall really care about the arts which is very important to me as a music educator. Falmouth is also very close to my house which saves time on a commute. I will also save money and pay off my student loans quicker as I will be living at home and will not have to worry about rent and other costs many

7

people face while living on their own such as insurance because I will be able to stay on my mother’s plan for a couple years. The Falmouth school district is also very clear about their benefits which is comforting because Sandwich did not share any of its benefits. Although Falmouth did not share its stipends for coaching and advising clubs, with all the variety of music classes offered, I believe I would have my hands full already. I also do not know how I feel about having the extra musical activities in the Sandwich school district be stipend because they seem like they should go to a music teacher to begin with. As for a graduate school, I am still not sure because I really need to determine what I would like to study for my masters degree. If I were set on continuing in music education, I would absolutely choose Gordon since it is inexpensive and is a great program. However, if I choose something else I may decide to continue at Southern New Hampshire University or perhaps research another graduate school such as the University of Hawaii.

Works Cited Agreement Between the Falmouth School Committee and Falmouth Educators’ Association. Retrieved from https://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx? moduleinstanceid=961&dataid=233&FileName=fea-unit-a-tchrs-16-19-w-hskpng-10-4-17.pdf Agreement Between the Sandwich Education Association and the Sandwich School Committee. Retrieved from https://www.sandwichk12.org/uploaded/school_committee/20152018_SEA_Copy_of_Signed_Contract.pdf

8

FY19 Health Plans Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/cms/lib/MA02215698/Centricity/Domain/501/CCMHG FY19 ActivePlanComparison Approved HMO PPO MHP.PDF Graduate Programs. Retrieved from http://www.gordon.edu/graduate Graduate Programs. Retrieved from https://www.snhu.edu/campus-majors/graduate

9

Appendix A...