DOTHAN – When it
comes to class
projects and
assignments, Teacher
Tracy Bergmann has
no trouble relating
to her preschoolers
at Fort Rucker
Primary School. When
the bell rings at
the end of the day,
the Ozark woman
gathers her
textbooks and heads
to class at Troy
University.
In her thirtieth
year of teaching,
Bergmann is working
toward Education
Specialist
certification in
Educational
Administration at
the Dothan Campus.
“I would like to be
an assistant
principal for a few
years, and then a
principal,” Bergman
said. “I feel like I
could affect more
children leading a
school.”
The Ed.S. provides
educators with the
skills and
credentials
necessary to become
leaders in a variety
of capacities within
school districts,
according to TROY
Educational
Administration and
Leadership Assistant
Professor Dr. Rodney
Davis.
“This program,” Dr.
Davis said, “is for
someone who wants to
have a significant
impact on the
education of 21st
century kids.”
Troy University Ed.S.
graduates have gone
on to become
principals,
assistant principals
and school
superintendents,
according to Dr.
Lance Tatum, interim
dean of the College
of Education.
“From our earliest
beginnings, Troy
University has
prepared educators
and school
administrators for
systems around the
Wiregrass,” Dr.
Tatum said. “Today,
we are committed to
developing
professionals who
can impact their
local schools as
well as think from a
global perspective.”
Troy University
offers Ed.S.
sixth-year
certification in
Educational
Administration,
Early Childhood
Education,
Elementary
Education, School
Counseling and
School Psychology at
the Dothan Campus.
Each program
requires successful
completion of
between 33 and 39
credit hours. To be
admitted, Ed.S.
candidates must hold
a master’s degree
and Alabama teacher
certification.
Bergmann’s
educational
credentials are
impressive. In
addition to
bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in
Elementary Education
from Troy
University, she also
received a Double A
in Educational
Leadership and
master’s level
certification in
Elementary Education
and Educational
Leadership.
“I’ve been going to
TROY basically since
1977,” Bergmann
noted. “I keep
coming back. I feel
like I am getting a
quality education.
My instructors are
excellent.”
Bergmann’s
instructors have no
doubt she will
succeed.
“Tracy is the type
of student we
endeavor to produce
at Troy University
and in the Ed.S.
Program,” Dr. Davis
said. “She is
passionate about
education and
reflective. She is a
leader in the
classroom, and she
wants to take
leadership to the
next level within a
school.”
At 50-years-old,
Bergmann believes
her studies keep her
young.
“I’m having more fun
going to school now
than I did when I
was younger,”
Bergmann reflected.
“I really look
forward to my
classes.”
For more information
about the Ed.S.
Program, contact Dr.
Rodney Davis at
(334) 983-6556, ext.
1-365.
Troy University
student Tracy
Bergmann is enrolled
in the Education
Specialist
sixth-year
certification
program at the
Dothan Campus. The
long-time teacher
hopes to become a
school principal.
Photo by: Inga
Oberst/Troy
University
