Teacher pursues third education degree from North Georgia

By Joshua Preston

DAHLONEGA (July 14, 2006) – Amelia Bagwell’s dream was not her own in the beginning, but rather that of her father Edward Farmer, who worked maintenance with Ralston Purina in Gainesville.

Amelia Bagwell, pictured in Switzerland, stays busy in the outdoors kayaking, camping and hiking. She takes advantage of the local Etowah and Chestatee Rivers for her water adventures and challenged herself last year by going skydiving.

Farmer was never able to go to college but did graduate as valedictorian of Lyman Hall High School.  His dream was for his daughter to continue her education beyond high school, but Farmer died when she was only 16 years old. He did not see the ultimate fulfillment of his daughter’s accomplishments or how she has spent her career helping children with their educational dreams.

Bagwell is completing her third education degree – all three are from North Georgia College & State University – and has spent her professional life teaching at Chestatee Elementary School in Forsyth County.

“I teach because I feel I can make a difference with the children I instruct,” Bagwell said. “I try to encourage the students to believe in themselves. Too many students don’t have someone pulling for them so they feel they are incapable.”

Bagwell’s journey started in 1987, when she enrolled in North Georgia to honor the memory of her father. Graduating as valedictorian with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education four years later, Bagwell stayed near home to teach. During her 15-year career Bagwell returned to her alma mater to earn a Master of Education degree.

Now at North Georgia for a third time, she is part of the Education Specialist degree program (Ed.S.) but is having a completely new experience. She’s taking classes in Forsyth County at North Forsyth High School instead of on the main campus in Dahlonega.

North Georgia’s off-campus program in Forsyth County, established five years ago, includes the Education Specialist degree. The Ed.S. program rotates between Forsyth, the main Dahlonega campus and the University Center at Gainesville State College. The four-semester degree program accommodates up to 25 students at a time.

Going through school for a third time has brought new insight for the seasoned teacher.

“It’s not just a bunch of research. It’s applicable to teaching. I had to fulfill an internship for the program at my own school, and that experience made me that much better at my job.”

Bagwell said that she can now relate more to the problems and concerns that school administrators face after she and her Ed.S. colleagues participated in a North Georgia Leadership Conference for educators at Brasstown Valley.

After Bagwell finishes her degree in August, she’ll have gone as far as she can with attaining advanced education degrees at NGCSU. And she has enjoyed taking classes in Forsyth.

“I think it encourages people to go back to school when the location is convenient. It’s also important for K-12 education professionals to get advanced degrees so that they may become better teachers.”

Recently, Bagwell was reminded why she started teaching in the first place.

She tells a story about a very young student with a horrific home life who was withdrawn.

“Trying to get him to believe that someone cared and seeing how his attitude changed when he understood I wanted to help him – that is why I teach. It was very rewarding.”

This page last modified on: Monday, 02 October 2006 03:37:20 -0400 by University Relations    

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