“All the information that Enid Public Schools (EPS) gave me, I took in,” Luckinbill said. “Any PLC leadership class that I could take I wanted to, so I could be the best for my students and the best for my school, just do the best that I could coming in without the traditional pathway to education.”
In July 2023, Luckinbill passed the OSAT (Oklahoma Subject Area Assessment). Luckinbill now had a decision to make – not only financially but where to spend her time. To complete her alternative certification requirements, Luckinbill still needed to complete some additional college coursework or professional development hours and the PPAT (Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers).
“I was looking at a ton of different universities, online courses,” Luckinbill said. “What does that look like financially on our family? What does that look like time wise? Because I feel like sometimes time is more expensive than money is. How much more of that did I want to put into it because my daughter is starting Pre-K this year, and I’m not going to get these little moments back.”
That opportunity came with the GEER funded IMPACT (Innovation and Meaningful Preparation for Alternatively Certified Teachers) Program. Dr. Jen Oswald, chair of the Northwestern Division of Education, reached out to Luckinbill through the EPS system about the program.
“I just immediately was like, ‘Oh my goodness, how amazing would this be?’ So, I sent my contact information to Dr. Oswald. She was so swift with providing information, and it was just very easy to understand and get signed up.”
Coursework is a part of Northwestern’s Master of Education curriculum and instruction degree and is 100 percent financed with federal money. Zero percent of the total costs of the program is financed by non-governmental source. Federal funds used for this program total $550,000.
To be eligible for the IMPACT program, individuals must be employed as an Oklahoma Pre-K through 12th grade teacher for the upcoming academic year, hold a non-education bachelor’s degree, and be emergency certified or fulfilling alternative certification requirements through the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).
Luckinbill encourages anyone interested to not be intimidated.
“The classes themselves are 100 percent online, and they were very manageable,” Luckinbill said. “I learned so much. The information, while it is very dense, the professors make it very easy to follow along. I was excited to open up my book and read the next chapter to receive more information.”
Luckinbill said she feels blessed for the opportunity to learn more about the teaching profession. She also appreciated the Northwestern Division of Education giving her a clear path forward.
“They really do all the hard work for you and give you a clear-cut plan and pathway to reaching your goal,” Luckinbill said. “It has given me the tools and the resources to be at the same level as some of my colleagues that have gone through a traditional pathway of education. I have learned so much terminology, jargon and things that are going to help me and my career. You feel more confident because you do have that vocabulary, knowledge and theories for why we do what we do as teachers.”
Luckinbill also gives huge credit to the EPS system and her mentors employed there: Artman and Luckinbill’s previous colleagues at Hoover Elementary; Sherri Hendrie, previous Prairie View Elementary principal; and Mary Withey, current principal, along with her mentor Dana Misner and teaching partner Ashley Martin.
Luckinbill also applauded the faculty and staff at the Northwestern Enid Campus.
“I also find that the Enid campus, even though it is smaller, there’s a sense of family. If I needed to, I could walk in, talk to registration and ask, ‘Hey, I just need a quiet place to study.’ They have that, and they provide that.”
Luckinbill praised the Northwestern Division of Education faculty and staff.
“Dr. Oswald was just so welcoming and so supportive,” Luckinbill said. “I have emails where she’s written, ‘I am so proud of you. You can do this.’ There is so much support from the education faculty. Things that are modeled in a classroom management program like saying, ‘Use words of encouragement with your students, make them feel important, make them want to learn.’ That’s what the division of education has done for me.”
Luckinbill is excited to be back for her second year in the kindergarten classroom at Prairie View Elementary. She is planning on completing her PPAT training on her way to being certified by next year.
“One thing that I taught my kindergartners was a quote from Maya Angelou, ‘When you know better, you do better,’” Luckinbill said. “I feel like now that I know better, I’m going to come back better as an educator. I just want to thank the partnership between Enid Public Schools and the Northwestern Division of Education for this amazing opportunity. A burden has been lifted off my family. Now I can focus on meeting my goal and being the best that I can be.”
For more information about the Northwestern Division of Education, visit www.www.nwosu.edu/school-of-professional-studies/education or contact Oswald by email at jdoswald@nwosu.edu or call (580) 327-8451. For more information about the GEER-Funded IMPACT Program, visit www.www.nwosu.edu/school-of-professional-studies/education/alternative-certification.
For more information about the Northwestern Graduate Studies Program, visit www.www.nwosu.edu/graduate-studies or contact Melissa Brown, Graduate Studies Enrollment and Retention Coordinator, at mbrown@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8410.
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CONTACT FOR RELEASE:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
sjdoherty@nwosu.edu | 580-327-8480