Meet Dollye! In May 2016, Dollye will be graduating from Bowie State University with an Ed.D. in Education. Dollye has been employed with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for 27 years and is currently the Assistant Principal at Paint Branch High School. Learn about her journey and her experiences at USG.

Starting from when you began your program at USG, what steps did you take to get to where you are today in your career?

I have been employed with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for 27 years. A few years ago a friend and I were talking about our own educational paths. We got the crazy idea to go enter a doctoral program. We made a bet with each other to see who would actually go through with and stick with it, and from there, we each enrolled in different schools at the same time. In January 2011, I enrolled at Bowie State University in their Ed.D. in Education program. It has been an arduous journey, but now I will finally be graduating in May. My career with MCPS, especially now as the Assistant Principal of Paint Branch High School, has been wonderful. It will be really nice have “Dr. McClain” on my door.

What do you do at your current job?

As an Assistant Principal of Paint Branch High School each day varies. Most days start with morning duty in the halls and once all of the students are in class, I meet with parents of students who may be having issues in school. After talking with our security team and our School Resource Officer I typically meet with the student and the parent together. Then I have lunch duty. I usually get to sit down and eat my lunch around 1:00pm. After lunch I usually have several Special Education (SPED) meetings. Throughout the day I meet with department chairpersons concerning teachers. And, on a few occasions I make a home visit with our Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW).

I work under the direction of the Principal, which consists of assisting with administration and supervision of the total school program and providing educational leadership for students and staff members in an effort to be consistent with the educational goals of the community. One of my jobs includes establishing a climate conducive to learning, planning, and coordinating programs, affecting change, and decision making along with discipline. I prepare a variety of written reports and correspondence — anything from memos about testing, to college recommendations for students. I also assume responsibility for operation of the school in the absence of the Principal.

How did your time at USG prepare you for your career?

As a doctoral student I had to complete an externship. I decided to work with Dr. Genevieve Floyd in the Department of Career and Postsecondary Partnerships. I realized that Dr. Floyd has a small staff but is responsible for many different programs including partnerships with businesses, higher education institutions and Maryland Career and Technology Education career clusters. These clusters include:

• Arts, Humanities, Media and Communication
• Business Management and Finance
• Human and Consumer Services, Hospitality and Tourism
• Education, Training, and Child Studies
• College Awareness, Readiness and Preparation: Accuplacer, GED Prep; JROTC, etc.

It was really interesting completing my externship with Dr. Floyd and one where I was able to gain a lot of experience in several diverse areas of education. It also got me thinking about what I would like to pursue in the next chapter of my career.

What was your most memorable experience at USG?

My favorite memory about USG was the library. I spent a lot of time doing research there and found the staff very accommodating and helpful. The late hours the library was open was especially useful around final exam time. The library also has a lot of wonderful technology — the One-Button Studio is great for recording presentations. There is also the MediaScape where students can collaborate on a document or project. Everyone can connect simultaneously and switch between users to share notes, media and websites. I also used the Bookeye, which is a super scanner that can scan any item and be saved on a flash drive. I hope more students realize and use all the wonderful resources the library offers.

In 140 characters or less, what message would you give to future graduates?

USG is a “hidden jewel.” USG offers amazing resources that allow students to stay in the area and THRIVE academically and professionally.