Sharon Jean Stovall Named Graduate Commencement Speaker
Graduate student Sharon Jean Stovall is serving as the Student Speaker for the 2024 Graduate Commencement Ceremony. Sharon Jean Stovall is graduating with her Master of Science in Education – Master Teacher PreK-4 with Certification degree.
During her time in the program, Sharon served as a Non-Term Student Representative on the Mission and Values Committee where she supported the Laurel House for Women & Children Project. She is a member of Kappa Delta Phi, the International Honor Society for Education, and the Pi Alpha Chapter within her program of study.
Sharon conducted a Quasi-Experimental research study design titled “Increase Reading Motivation and Engagement for Elementary Students at Risk for Emotional Behavior Disturbance Toward Reading Achievement.” The goal of the research was to improve reading outcomes for elementary students at risk for Emotional Behavior Disturbance by investigating ways to help increase reading, motivation, and engagement through the incorporation of mindfulness, unique creative atpyical instructional strategies, and developing positive teacher and peer relationships.
Sharon completed her student teaching practicum at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she worked as a second-grade teacher. Sharon established genuine rapports and professional dispositions through the formation of positive relationships with her cooperating/mentor teacher, supervising teacher, peers, students, and their families. She collaborated with several parties to help aid her in the process of helping students reach their maximum potential socially and academically by incorporating Social Emotional Learning in her lessons. With the encouragement of her cooperating/mentor teacher, Sharon created a learning environment that established mutual respect between students and the teacher by fostering a culture where students felt valued, safe, seen, and loved. By managing and utilizing classroom procedures, resources, and student behaviors, Sharon created a variety of fun and interactive lessons to promote student enthusiasm, engagement, curiosity, and safety. As she prepared each lesson, she applied her content and pedagogical knowledge to carefully select instructional goals and modified instructions to be student appropriate and within state standard compliance. Sharon provided further support to her students by leading small groups and reteaching material when necessary. She also presented various opportunities to implement questioning, promote discussion, student participation, and assess levels of understanding in fun and creative ways.
Sharon’s goal after graduating is to step into the role of an Elementary School Lead Teacher of the Second Grade. Her desire is to educate and serve elementary aged students by empowering them with foundational academic mastery, life skills for adulthood and beyond with empathy, pride, dignity, and respect.