School of Education and Human Services

SEHS graduate programs empower teachers, administrators to succeed

icon of a calendarSeptember 23, 2021

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SEHS graduate programs empower teachers, administrators to succeed
Christopher Delgado
Dr. Christopher Delgado, superintendent of the Farmington Public Schools district. Delgado earned an Education Specialist degree from OU in 2012, and a Doctorate of Education Leadership in 2016.

Through its graduate programs, Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) empowers teachers and administrators to enhance their communities, shape the future of their professions and touch the lives of thousands of learners.

“Education is one of the most influential and rewarding careers that you can go into,” said Dr. Christopher Delgado, who earned an Education Specialist degree from OU in 2012, and a Doctorate of Education Leadership in 2016. “It’s one of the few careers where you can really feel and see the difference that you’re making with children every day. It’s very fulfilling work.”

Delgado was appointed as the new superintendent of the Farmington Public Schools district in May after serving as the deputy superintendent of schools at the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools district for 10 years. He says that the education and experience he received as an SEHS graduate student helped prepare him as he moved up the ranks in his chosen profession.

“The professors at OU are so supportive,” he said. “It was kind of ‘your success is our success’ and ‘you’re going to work hard and you’re going to have to earn it, but we’re going to be there to support you.’ And they really were. Every single one of the professors I had was always ready and responsive. All of them were just super supportive and available. That really made a difference in the Education Specialist and Ph.D. programs.”

The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is a 34 credit, cohort-structured, post-master’s degree program designed for individuals who are looking to further their education and aspire to positions in education administration. The curriculum is relevant — aligning instruction with the true experience in leadership — and connects with current issues in K-12 education.

“The Ed.S. program at OU is one of the best programs around,” Delgado said. “It was the most practical degree that I’ve done. The program was tailored so specifically that by the end of those two years I was really prepared in a very practical sense to go into central administration.

“As deputy superintendent, I could directly apply what I was learning in the Ed.S. program to my job,” he added. “I dipped my toe in human resources, worked with business officials, and worked with curriculum instruction and assessment — it was incredibly practical for me to apply that and it helped me be really successful in the deputy role, which led me to current role.”

The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program is designed to develop individuals who can provide leadership to educational practice in the 21st Century. Graduates will be prepared to play roles in public and private schools, higher education administration, or research and teaching about educational policy and practice at the college or university level.

“The Ph.D. coursework was also very meaningful,” Delgado said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It’s like running a marathon and saying you enjoyed every step, but I really did. I’ve always loved school and I was really inspired by the professors at OU.”

Prior to earning his Ed.S. degree and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership at OU, Delgado earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University. He began his career as a high school and middle school Spanish teacher in Colorado, then returned to Michigan as a high school Spanish teacher in Birmingham. He has served more than 18 years in administration including as a high school associate principal, middle school principal, and deputy superintendent.

After being appointed as the new superintendent of the Farmington Public Schools district in May, Delgado joined a growing list of OU alumni across the state of Michigan — including Steven Tunnicliff of the Genesee Intermediate School District, Philip Jankowski of the Anchor Bay School District, Davita Colbert of the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) — who have gone on to become superintendents after earning their degrees in SEHS graduate programs.

“OU has really evolved into a quality university with a wonderful School of Education,” Delgado said. “I know pretty much all of the professors there and many of them have been longtime practitioners — principals, superintendents, teachers, etc. — and they’re in it for the right reasons. They’re committed to your success and I felt that throughout my program. I know that in speaking with colleagues who teach in the undergrad program and the students who are going through it that OU is an excellent, reputable school that will help them achieve their dream of becoming a teacher or administrator.”

To learn more about the degree programs offers in OU’s School of Education and Human Services, visit www.oakland.edu/academics/#SEHS.

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