Joshua Wilson
Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Leadership
Education
- 2022, William & Mary, Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Leadership
- 2013, Old Dominion University, M.A. in History
- 2006, Luther College, B.A. in History, Minor in Secondary Education
What is your current job?
I'm currently in my second year as an associate principal at Monroe High School in Monroe, Wisconsin.
What are your research interests?
My dissertation at W&M focused on the experiences of veteran teachers who had left a district or school outside of the Midwestern United States after teaching for at least three years before relocating to a public high school in Wisconsin. That research was rooted in my own personal experiences after teaching in Virginia for 13 years before moving to Wisconsin. I'm particularly interested in the experiences of teachers who are coming to new schools after teaching in other districts or schools. My dissertation used the term "experienced-new teachers" and emerged from my own personal experience. I taught in Virginia for 13 years, with 11 at the same high school. In 2019, my family and I moved back to the Midwest, where my wife and I are both originally from, and I began teaching a new high school in Wisconsin. I was curious about those experiences for other teachers and how they moved from a new staff member to a valued and respected member of a school faculty and community. In this era of teacher shortages, I'm interested in understanding what school leaders and administrators can do to keep quality educators in the classroom by supporting and promoting a positive school culture and climate.
Why did you choose W&M?
I chose W&M for a variety of reasons. When I lived in Hampton Roads, I knew how respected a W&M degree was. I never wanted to go to college after high school, but my mom made me go. Needless to say, I struggled in those first few semesters. I started my M.A. and found I really enjoyed what I was reading, writing, and researching. I had initially assumed that I would try and pursue a Ph.D. in History, but I couldn't bring myself to leave my own classroom. With that said, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Education. I had thought of a few programs in the area and reached out to some of the faculty members to discuss coursework and degrees. I met Dr. Leslie Grant and we discussed what W&M had to offer. I took my first class with Dr. Grant in the spring of 2015, I believe. I enjoyed it and decided to apply for full admission. Also, although I grew up in Minnesota, my mom lived in Virginia Beach for a few years as a teenager when my grandfather was stationed at Ft. Story. She had always wanted to attend W&M but never had the opportunity to do so. On nice days when I was on campus, I'd walk around the Sunken Garden and Facetime her. Unfortunately, she was very ill at the time and ended up passing away before she could see me graduate from W&M. But, I like to think that I went there for both of us and she kept me motivated to keep going. I tell people that I am an academic "late bloomer." As someone who wasn't the best high school student or undergraduate, I enrolled at W&M as a way to prove to myself that I could excel in doctoral work at a highly regarded institution. It certainly wasn't easy, and that's the point. Doctoral work should challenge you, it should change the way you think, and it should challenge your assumptions and beliefs. That's what W&M did for me and I've been changed for the better as a result of my experiences at the university. Also, it should be worth noting that the campus is absolutely gorgeous and Williamsburg is beautiful. As a former history teacher, it's hard not to soak in the historic charm of a school when you may literally be walking the same path as a young Thomas Jefferson once did.
What is your favorite thing about the program?
My favorite thing was that I was challenged to think about education and my place in the field much differently than I ever had thought of before. When I began my coursework at W&M, I was a veteran teacher. I felt I knew everything I needed to know about how to run my classroom. I was very wrong. My classmates had backgrounds in counseling, higher education administration, and K-12 teaching and administration as well. One of the great benefits of working with so many incredible and intelligent students is that I broadened my thought in considering the perspectives of my fellow classmates.
How has attending W&M impacted your career to date?
Dr. Gareis especially challenged me to think about curriculum development and implementation. I often left his classes with reading lists of articles and books that I needed to read to keep furthering my own understanding of the material. In many ways, W&M changed my life in making me a more reflective practitioner, but also forcing me to continue to ask questions and challenge myself to dig deeper, to find more information about topics of interest. I guess what I'm saying is that although I left W&M with a Ph.D., I also left with many more questions that need to be answered and the ability and determination to search for those answers. When I began my program at W&M, I had every intention to pursue a career in higher education. But, I'm a teacher at heart. I'm meant to be in the K-12 world and I've especially enjoyed working at the high school level. My life has been transformed by the promise of public education. I remember the wonderful teachers I had as a kid like Mr. Lade at Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota and some of the incredible administrators I've worked under like Mr. Royce Hart at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Virginia and Mr. Shannon Murray at Merrill High School in Merrill, Wisconsin. I'm only in my second year as a school administrator and there's a steep learning curve moving from the classroom to school leadership. I'm grateful that I work with a great team at Monroe High School which is led by a terrific principal, Mr. Jeriamy Jackson. I taught for 16 years before becoming an administrator. My education at W&M has given me the opportunity to grow professionally and to use the skills and experiences I learned while at the university to work to improve student outcomes, staff experiences, and community partnerships. I've enjoyed being an associate principal. When the time is right, I intend to move into the principalship and my time at W&M has given me the confidence, skills, and experiences that I think would be beneficial in continuing to move schools forward in a positive direction.
