Program Success September 2014 | Page 18

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CYNTttlA OLYEMPttlA ASIA

INSPIRATIONS & ASPIRATIONS

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WHAT CAUSED YOU TO BE THE LEADER YOU ARE ?
My mother , the late LeeElla Gwendolyn Gam�le Asia , was my first role model in leadership . Growing up in a home that was highly structured , but yet a very comfortable and loving home had a great impact on my life and career . I observed my mother and father , the late Napole � n Benjamin Asia , working closely together in managing our household . Organizing everything from household chores to weekend trips , summer vacations out-of-state , serving and volunteering at church , on their jobs , etc . Always , including my sisters , Alicia Beverlyann and Gwendolyn Jeffie Lee Asia-Holley , and me in order that we have life experiences that would influence us as adults .
I was a Senior Girl Scout and a member of the Civil Air Patrol as a student at Central Academy High School . I earned several leadership badges in both . As a student at Bethune Cookman College , I was selected by my Acade � ic Advisor and Dean of the Elementary Education Department , Dr . Roan , to represent the college in the Southern Student Teacher Intern Program at the University of Rochester . Its purpose was to assist in integrating the Suburban School Districts of Rochester , NY . Dr . Roan met with Dr . Richard V . Moore and recommended me . She said if I agree to participate , I would select three other students to participate . Participants were informed that we would live with a white family , intern in an all-white public school , would be placed in different school districts and our final grade for the semester will be given by the University of Rochester .
My first teaching job was as a fourth grade teacher at Browning Pearce Elementary School Campus # 2 in East Palatka , Florida . I was named the Grade Level Chairperson during my second year teaching . I was named teacher of the year during my 5th year by my peers .
Cynthia Olyemphia Asia Educational Administrator Extraordinaire Palatka , Florida September 2014
Cynthia 's parents , the late Napoleon B . and LeeEl / a G . Asia , retired from the Putnam County School District , Palatka , Florida .
My interest in leadership began to surface during my third year of teaching . I began to assess and compare my experiences from my internship in New York with my experiences as a full time teacher . There was a drastic difference in resources for the classroom , a lack of interest in futuristic thinking from school and district-level administrators . I began to feel that I was in a time-machine and was put in a classroom 10 years in the past . I began to talk with my grade level peers and principal about my experiences from my internship but their responses were signs of doubt and hesitation to make changes . I knew my students deserved a different mind-set than from the current leadership and I should not have to leave the district to implement a more student focused approach to teaching and learning . By the end of that school year I made a decision to enroll in graduate school with a major in Administration and Supervision at Florida A & M University , Tallahassee , Florida . This proved to be one the best decision I made . With my new degree , my career has been forward ever since .