About Aubrey
My History and Educational Journey
Although I was born in Flint, Michigan, I spent the majority of my childhood in southern Indiana. After losing his job at General Motors in the early 1980s, my father decided to enter the ministry and attend seminary. I became a competitive fast-pitch softball player while there - a passion of mine that continues to this day. I greatly enjoyed the education I received in southern Indiana and formed a love of language when I took Latin. My family relocated back to the Flint, Michigan area the summer of my Sophomore year of high school. It was a huge culture shock for me, going from being in the country where you had to drive 45 minutes to hit a mall to being in a rather large city where I seemed to be the only person around with a southern accent. I made it through high school fairly unscathed, but I was ready to go back to southern Indiana where I felt I really belonged.
Cockrum Hall
Oakland City University
B.A. English and Elementary Education
M.A.T.
I chose to attend Oakland City University located in southern Indiana. It is a private, Christian university founded by the General Baptists. Both of my parents attended OCU while I was in elementary and middle school. My parents inspired me to return to this campus to receive my higher education. I spent a lot of time on campus with my parents meeting many of the professors I would study under myself years later. Oakland City University is known in the states surrounding Indiana as the Preacher-Teacher school. If you want either of these professions, OCU is where you would choose to go. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Elementary Education in 2001.
Pictured above is Cockrum Hall on the campus of Oakland City University. One of the founding families were members of the Underground Railroad helping those in slavery to escape. It has been recognized as a national landmark. It is refreshing to know that the founders of my university were in the business of saving those who were in the bond of slavery.
A beloved professor approached me about a month prior to graduation about staying at the university for another year to teach as a graduate assistant while earning a Master of Arts in Teaching with a Curriculum focus. Although hesitant at first, I made the decision to stay, teach and learn. I have never regretted a second of staying for another year. While teaching Composition I and II, Masterpieces of World Literature, and Introduction of Shakespeare, I earned my M.A.T in August of 2002.
I moved back to Michigan in 2002 to be with my family and begin my middle school teaching career. I was hired by Center Academy in Flint, Michigan where I spent five years before moving to Richfield Public School Academy where I am served through 2016.. I have taught middle grades (4th-8th) for the majority of my time in education. Although at times I was self-contained, I spent most of my time in a middle school Writing and Language Arts classroom. Students in middle school are by far my favorite kids! I had the opportunity to be an instructional coach and principal for four years before choosing to return to the classroom.
bioeconinst.msu.edu
After teaching for ten years, I decided it was time to become a better role model for my students and begin learning again. I wasn't ready for my doctorate yet and was really interested in technology. I decided to get my feet wet by beginning the certificate program in technology offered at Michigan State University. I fell in love immediately and set forth to earn a second master's degree. I graduated in December 2015 with a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from MSU. Continuting my learning at MSU has been one of the best choices I have made in a long time.