7 Questions With Dr. Stacie Zdrojewski, WilmU’s Clinical Studies Chair in the College of Education & Liberal Arts

Before joining Wilmington University, Dr. Stacie Zdrojewski spent 29 years as an educator and administrator in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, becoming one of the first mentor teachers in WilmU’s Year-Long Residency Program. Now chair of clinical studies in the College of Education & Liberal Arts, she oversees that and other initiatives. 

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in education?  

I was actually a business major for my first year of college. I was working at the YMCA in their before- and after-school program, and I loved it. I was not loving my business program, even though I was maintaining a high GPA. One day, I realized that my love for working with children should be my career. I changed my major and never looked back.  

Q. What exciting projects are you working on within the College of Education & Liberal Arts (COELA)?  

I am working a lot right now on strategic partnerships. I am involved in developing strategic staffing partnerships with many of the school districts in Delaware. These partnerships are a means through which districts are able to reallocate resources to support stipends for Year-Long Residents. These partnerships allow our students to be paid while completing the residency. The stipends that are generated through this work open the door to residency for students who would otherwise not be able to take off of work for a year to complete the program.  

Our residency students benefit because they get paid and get to work with highly qualified mentor teachers for a year, essentially coming out of the program with a full year of teaching experience. The districts benefit in that the student is available for hire as a teacher of record following completion of the residency.  

Q. How does WilmU’s Office of Clinical Studies (OCS) help students?  

As the chair of the Office of Clinical Studies, I am responsible for the curriculum and adjuncts in the clinical courses. I also supervise student teaching and the residency program. The Office of Clinical Studies also supports students by locating placements for their clinical experiences within a range of diverse public school settings.  

Our clinical coordinators, Mrs. Theresa Carter, Mrs. Amanda Shenton and Ms. Keira Potter, support students by guiding them through the process of applying for the clinical courses, obtaining the necessary clearances, and finding them placements with high-quality teachers and counselors. Dr. Sandra Countley guides students through the process of obtaining criminal background checks. The OCS team works very hard to ensure that the application process is as stress-free as possible.  

Q. What do you find most rewarding about working with our COELA students?  

I love the fact that I get to see students grow and progress as they move through their clinical courses. It is so wonderful to see students achieve their dreams of becoming educators, especially during a time when the public narrative around education as a career is often negative. Our students remind me that there is hope for the future of education in this country and that there are still people who are truly passionate and want to be educators. 

Q. You’ve been an educator for many years. What qualities or practices help educators stay motivated and passionate in their work?  

I think that it is very important for educators to always remember why they went into the profession. It also is important to remember that there will be hard days, but it is essential to focus on the good things that are happening in their schools and classrooms. It is also vital for educators to surround themselves with positive, like-minded people who put students at the center of their work.  

Q. What do you love about Wilmington University?  

I love the people that make up Wilmington University. My co-workers are amazing people who care about our students and their success. I also love that we are encouraged to see students as individuals and that we are given the flexibility to meet student needs. In the three years that I have worked full time for the University, I have made so many wonderful friends and truly feel that I am part of a special community. 

Q. What’s something most people don’t know about you?  

This is a hard question because I am pretty much an open book. I think that most people don’t know that my stepfather (who has been my father for 43 years) is going to officially adopt me and my sister in the coming weeks. Our mom passed away suddenly in December, and we all want to make our relationship official. I never thought I would be adopted, let alone be adopted at the age of 54, but it is wonderful!