Determined drive and thorough preparation propel doctoral graduate to earn state accolade
**Grand Canyon University Honours Distinguished Alumna: Amy Uchacz**
Amy Uchacz, a seasoned educator with over 22 years of experience, has made a significant impact in the field of educational leadership. Her journey culminated in a remarkable achievement when her dissertation received the Higher Education Division's Dissertation of the Year award from the Arizona School Administrators (ASA).
Uchacz embarked on her doctoral journey at Grand Canyon University six years ago, navigating through the challenges of the COVID pandemic, the loss of her father-in-law and father, and raising a family. Despite these obstacles, she successfully defended her dissertation in March 2024.
Her dissertation, titled "A Case Study: K-8 Principals' Job - Embedded Learning on Skills and Efficacy in Instructional Leadership," aimed to provide insights into the benefits of job-embedded learning for K-8 principals. This approach to professional development integrates learning opportunities into their daily work, enhancing their ability to manage schools effectively.
Uchacz's research highlighted the effectiveness of contextualized learning, a method that caters to the specific needs and challenges faced by principals. By applying new knowledge directly to their current roles, they can improve their leadership skills and, in turn, potentially influence student outcomes.
Moreover, her work emphasized the role of collaboration among principals, teachers, and other stakeholders in fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within schools. This collaborative leadership approach could be instrumental in shaping future professional development models for principals.
Uchacz's dissertation also contributed to the broader body of research on leadership development, particularly in how job-embedded learning can be a critical component of principal training. It offered implications for policy and practice, suggesting how educational systems can better support principal development through job-embedded learning.
Throughout her doctoral journey, Uchacz worked in sizable school districts in Mesa and Maricopa County. Her passion for leadership and supporting administrators shone through, and she credits Dr. Karen Lackey-Wince and GCU professors for their engagement with her work.
After completing her doctorate, Uchacz continues to make a difference as a talent development leader for Plexus Worldwide. Her senior writer can be reached at [email protected] for further information about her work and its implications for educational leadership.
- After her doctorate at Grand Canyon University, Amy Uchacz continues to make an impact in her role as a talent development leader for Plexus Worldwide.
- Uchacz's research on job-embedded learning for K-8 principals has implications for policy and practice, suggesting how educational systems can better support principal development.
- In her dissertation, Uchacz emphasized the importance of collaboration among principals, teachers, and other stakeholders for fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within schools.
- Uchacz's work on education leadership, including her role at Grand Canyon University, reinforces the importance of online education, education-and-self-development, and continuous learning in shaping future professional development models.
