M.A. in Educational Administration

The Master of Arts in Educational Administration  program qualifies candidates for a Certificate of Eligibility for the Preliminary Educational Administration Services credential (PASC). This program has a focus on K-12 education using a lens of cultural proficiency and equity.  Candidates also conduct meaningful field experience work in school settings.

Candidates develop skills and knowledge in all aspects of practice related to:

• Leading 21^st century instruction
• Creating a responsive environment and community
• Managing budget, legal issues, and personnel
• Understanding and responding to data
• Engaging in sound theoretical and practical leadership philosophies
• Developing a culture of continual school improvement

What makes this program unique:

• Earn the Master's Degree in just twelve months
• Join a cohort and experience the network of teacher-leaders, just like you, who want to advance their careers
• Engage in action research of your interest to impact your school site

This fully-online program is run through Extended Learning.

Full details are available on the Extended Learning program page.

Program Information & Courses

• Faculty

  Dr. Brooke Soles grew up in rural Wisconsin where she attended public schools.  As an Assistant Professor of Educational Administration and Leadership at the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), she teaches courses in the M.A.Ed. and University of California, San Diego/CSUSM Joint Doctoral Program. She holds a B.A. in Spanish and Education from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, a M.Ed. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to higher education, Dr. Soles served for 15 years as K-12 bilingual teacher and administrator in the San Francisco and Los Angeles Unified School Districts (LAUSD) in both traditional public and charter schools primarily at the secondary level. She also served as a Los Angeles County Office of Education Charter School Office Authorizer. Dr. Soles completed service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras and board member of both the Los Angeles Neighborhood City Council and the Gay and Lesbian Administrators and Allies of the LAUSD. She currently serves on the board for the California Association of Professors of Education Administration. Her current scholarship interest includes culturally proficient educational practices, learning and teaching in educational leadership, and online teaching and learning.

  E-mail: bsoles@csusm.edu | Phone: 760-750-8284

  Manuel P. Vargas, PhD, is a teacher educator with nearly 40 years of experience in P-12 and higher education. He has taught 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th grades and has been a K-8 assistant and school principal at International Baccalaureate (IB) American schools in Mexico. His career in higher education began in North Carolina where he initiated the middle-level educator preparation program for middle school teachers. Soon after, he became a departmental chair, associate dean, interim dean, and dean all positions in the School of Education and Human Performance at Winston-Salem State University, one of the sixteen campuses of the University of North Carolina System. His experience in higher education also includes two years at Sonoma State University, CA, in the multiple-subject program; one year at Appalachian State University, NC, as an associate professor of educational leadership; and an adjunct part-time position (Spanish instructor) at Salem College, NC. Dr. Vargas’s position as Director of the School of Education at Cal State San Marcos ended in 2015-16 AY. Upon conclusion of his administrative duties, he joined the Educational Administration program and the Joint Doctoral Program—the latter a collaborative effort between California State University, San Marcos and University of California, San Diego—where he teaches courses related to leadership and diversity, leadership and organizational change, and access to educational opportunities topics which he previously taught at Appalachian State and Sonoma State universities. His professional goals and scholarly activities focus on working with underrepresented groups in education, especially African American, Native American, and Latino students. He is the author of Navigating the American Education System: Four Latino Success Stories. He is concerned about public education, which seems to leave many children of color behind while others race to nowhere.  

  E-mail: mvargas@csusm.edu | Phone: (760) 750-4314 

  

  Dr. Josie Jackson has served the Perris Elementary School District since 2002.  She has worked as a Classroom Teacher, Projects Resource Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Human Resources Coordinator II, Director of Human Resources, and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.  Josie joined CSUSM in 2017 as a part time Lecturer for the Master’s in Educational Administration Program. Josie’s passion is to serve students in diverse communities, and to provide them with the tools for success through education. She currently works in her position at the district level as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, to ensure and support cultural proficiency for all students.  Her dissertation research focused on “Culturally Responsive Teaching for Diverse Students: Inherent Dispositions and Attitudes of Effective Teachers”. Josie holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from CSUSM and USCD’s Joint Doctoral Program; a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership and Administrative Services Credential from Chapman University; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from CSUSM.  

  E-mail: jojackson@csusm.edu
  
  

  

  Dr. Theresa Meyerott graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, received a M.S. in Psychophysiology and Biofeedback from Alliant International University, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Social Justice from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).  She holds a single subject teaching credential in science and health, a clear administrative services credential, professional development, and special education law certifications. She is currently an assistant professor for Data-driven Educational Leadership at California State University, Los Angeles in the division of Applied and Advanced Studies in Education.  Her research focuses on academic success of students along the education continuum from K-20 and the intersectionality with school culture, cultural proficiency, sense of belonging, and identity.  In addition to her work at Cal State LA, Theresa continues her enjoyment with teaching as a regular lecturer for the Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership with both UCSD and CSUSM and teaches in the fully online Master of Education program at CSUSM. In addition, Dr. Meyerott is a Senior Associate for the Center for Culturally Proficient Educational Practice (CCPEP).    Over the past 23 years, Dr. Meyerott has held a variety of positions in public education ranging from university director, community college director, classroom science teacher, district administrator and state accountability coordinator.  Theresa is an achievement-focused K-16 administrator with a career focused on empowering teachers, staff, and students to succeed. A skilled leader of research-driven initiatives, including professional development, teacher training, special education, curriculum improvement, Local Control Funding Formula, Local Control Accountability Plan, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Title 1, and other State and Federal programs to improve students’ educational development and academic success.    Dr. Meyerott believes all students can learn with innovatively designed programs, curriculum, and instructional strategies implemented to accommodate the diversity of learners today. This successful learning environment can be achieved through high expectations, clear goals, and collaboration with students, educators, and community stakeholders.   

   E-mail: tmeyerott@csusm.edu

  Mr. Bill Billingsley currently serves as the Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Communication with the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.   He is  a second career educator who earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Penn State, obtained his CPA license,  and worked for 25 years in corporate finance. Looking for more inspiring work, he decided to make a career change and follow his wife's footsteps to become a teacher.  He attended CSUSM twice, once in the full-time teaching credential program, then later in the Educational Administration program where he completed his Master's degree.   His educational experience includes working as an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, a Lead Teacher, an Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Student Services working at the District Office, Assistant Superintendent and my current role where I serve as the Associate Superintendent.  Mr. Billingsley has served as an adjunct professor at CSUSM for 4 years, and his passion is mentoring teacher leaders who aspire to become principals and school administrators. 

  E-mail: wbillingsley@csusm.edu

  Dr. Sharill Cortez graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in English and a Masters in Education, received a Masters in Educational Leadership and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Irvine. She holds a single subject teaching credential in English and a clear administrative services credential. 

  Dr. Cortez currently serves as the Coordinator of Student Services in a school district. Her responsibilities include overseeing attendance, chronic absenteeism, discipline, and foster youth. Prior to becoming a coordinator, she served as a site principal for seven years, was awarded with principal of the year two years, and was also nominated for principal of the year in Riverside County. 

  Over the past twenty years, Dr. Cortez has worked in various educational capacities ranging from an instructional aide, high school teacher, department chair, assistant principal, and principal. She has extensive knowledge with the Local Control Accountability Program (LCAP), experience in creating the annual Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), and has lead other district wide initiatives such as AVID, Project Based Learning (PBL), Professional Learning Communities (PLC), Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS), and Multi Tier Systems of Support (MTSS). 

  Regardless of the role she serves in, Sharill’s vision is to provide students with an experience that inspires and motivates them to be caring contributors to education.