After more than two decades away from the classroom and years of professional experience, Patty Jensen decided she wanted to make a change. She enrolled in the Master of Science in Education program at Southern Oregon University where she found a supportive community and a mentor who helped her rediscover her confidence. “I chose this program because I wanted to learn more about adult learners and how to help them facilitate learning,” Patty said. “The program taught me about myself, how I want to teach, lead, and partner in the community.”
Dr. Amy Belcastro, instructor in the education program at Southern Oregon University, recognized Patty’s potential and gave her the guidance she needed to succeed in academia. “For an adult to come back to college, it’s a commitment and a risk, and we have to honor that,” Dr. Belcastro said. Using her own experience to make classwork interesting and accessible to students is one of her top priorities. “I pull from my work in agencies and communities to make learning as real-world as possible. Often, we use current events instead of textbooks because things change so quickly.”
Dr. Belcastro’s own education provided the foundation for how she teaches others. “I finished my doctorate at UC Davis in education policy and organization and taught in California public schools and community colleges,” she said. “I also worked in the Department of Education on research projects. Being the first in my family to graduate gave me a strong foundation for wanting to provide equity, access, and quality education for all learners.”
For Patty, returning to school was initially a challenge. “On the second day of my first class, I panicked and thought I’d fail,” she said. “I called Dr. Amy and left a tearful message saying I couldn’t do it. Within 20 minutes, she called back and said, ‘Do you have time? Can we Zoom?’ She literally changed my life.” This was the start of a fruitful partnership that persisted throughout Patty’s academic journey. “I didn’t believe in myself, but she believed in me. She didn’t negate my fears; she talked through them and helped me see my value. That moment kept me in the program.”
Helping students succeed and seeing them through the program from the first day to the last has been a fulfilling aspect of teaching for Dr. Belcastro. “I think of our program as bookends; I teach the first class and the last class. It’s incredible to see where students start and where they finish,” she said. “We’re not just teaching content; we’re building leaders. That’s what makes this program special.”
Both Patty and Dr. Belcastro recognize that even though the education program at Southern Oregon University is both asynchronous and fully online, it maintains a level of intimacy and community. While originally skeptical, Dr. Belcastro has been won over by the format. “I think the biggest surprise for students is the sense of community they find here. They expect isolation, but they discover connection,” she said.
Patty agrees with her mentor. “I was skeptical at first about online learning because I love face-to-face teaching,” she said. “But now I see benefits for busy working adults, more reflection time, more access to dialogue, and opportunities for growth. We focus on growth mindset: we don’t expect perfection at the start, we expect progress.”
Take Your Next Step in Education
Southern Oregon University’s online Master of Science in Education program is designed to build the knowledge and skills you need to prepare for leadership roles within educational settings and beyond. In this program, you will apply theories of adult learning to the workplace and higher education, design strategies to engage adult learners, develop strategies to foster creativity and innovation, and gain an understanding of group dynamics, communication, leadership, diversity, and more.
This program is fully online and built to be flexible, so you can fit coursework into your busy schedule. SOU’s experienced faculty will be there each step of the way to help you succeed as a student and prepare you for your future career in education.
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It’s never been a better time to explore Southern Oregon University’s Master of Science in Education degree. Learn more and apply today!