On Dec. 18, UW–Madison will celebrate its Winter 2022 Commencement. We reached out to a few of our students who are graduating from programs in the School of Education to learn about their favorite UW–Madison memories and future plans. Following is a Q&A with Sherri Cyra, who will be graduating with a PhD in educational leadership and policy analysis.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Manawa, Wisconsin, but have lived in Dane County since 1992 and in Middleton since 2013.
Why did you decide to pursue graduate studies?
I was fortunate to have great mentors over the course of my career. When I was a first-year teacher in the Elmbrook School District, my principal talked to me about starting my master’s degree and encouraged me to consider educational administration. I only worked with her for one year, but she had an impact on me. I left that job to return to McFarland, where I had been an intern. My cooperating teacher when I interned had earned his master’s degree in educational administration at UW–Madison and spoke highly of the program. When I decided to pursue my master’s degree and administrative license, I looked at options in the Madison area. UW–Madison’s local reputation and national ranking as a research university drew me to apply. I attended and graduated with my master’s 1994-1996, and through 1997 to add my principal and director of instruction licenses.
I have always enjoyed learning and been curious. I was interested in studying leadership, educators, and education, and learning with and from others in the field.
I returned from 2001-2004 for my doctoral program. I was working as an elementary school principal at the time. During the 2005-2006 school year, I had my now 16-year old and made the decision not to continue work on my dissertation. However, I’ve always wanted to return and finish my degree. I re-applied to the Graduate School in 2020 and repeated Advanced Research Methods to reorient myself to the work. I had literally jumped from using microfiche to access journal articles in the CIMC (now the Merit Library) and the first bibliography software on a disc, to complete remote access to almost all sources I needed. I have thoroughly enjoyed being back in the university and learning, researching, and writing.
Tell us about your research or your research interests.
My dissertation research focused on white educators’ perceptions of anti-racist professional development and its impact on their racial identity development, understanding of racism and the white racial frame, and anti-racist ideology and pedagogy. The education workforce is still predominantly white, and our students are not. While we work to diversify the workforce, which must be a high priority, we must also work to create schools and classrooms where all of our students see themselves in the classroom and curriculum, feel a sense of belonging, and discover their genius as learners through rigorous expectations. If we as school leaders, researchers, and practitioners are not intentional about that work, we will fail our mission to serve all of our students. We know that our country and its systems and structures were built on slavery and racism. Previous studies have shown that white educators who understand their own racial identity and who have examined whiteness and privilege are more likely to effectively engage in culturally responsive or anti-racist practice. I’m interested in understanding how school and district leaders can create and accelerate the conditions and professional development that support those three things: racial identity development, understanding racism and the white racial frame, and anti-racist practice. Our schools continue to produce inequitable outcomes for students of color; white educators must play an integral role and have a responsibility to change that.
"We lean in to lift each other up through this hard but meaningful and important work. There is a special connection or camaraderie that forms through this intense level of learning."
What was your most meaningful experience at UW–Madison?
I honestly don’t know that I can choose one. My first summer in my master’s program (in the mid-1990s), we had a large group project to do over the course of the class. Our group took the project very seriously and met weekly after class to work for a few hours. After our work session we’d walk over to Paisan’s at the old University Square for pizza, porta salads, and sangria. We hadn’t known each other prior to that class, but through our shared work, curiosity, and inquiry we became a community of learners. Two of them later attended my wedding.
When I returned to the university in 2020 to re-enroll and complete my dissertation, I found the same thing with fellow students and the professors on my committee. We lean in to lift each other up through this hard but meaningful and important work. There is a special connection or camaraderie that forms through this intense level of learning.
What class or professor had the greatest impact on you, and why?
Educational Leadership 825: Advanced Research Methods, with Dr. Rachelle Winkle-Wagner. Coming back to do my dissertation after 16 years was a big stretch. Taking 825 again with Rachelle was absolutely the best thing I could have done to get back into the work and get started on my proposal (because I was starting over). She and the class, the way she structured it, and the collaboration with fellow students in the class was key to my success. I must add that connecting with Dr. Anjalé Welton, who has served as my advisor and committee chair, was equally impactful. AJ encouraged and supported me and my work every step of the dissertation process. She is an inspiring researcher, writer, and scholar herself, and I can honestly say that I am a better researcher, writer, and scholar for it.
What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started your graduate studies?
I honestly don’t know. Even knowing how long it is now after I finished my coursework, I don’t know that I would go back and do it differently (except for the pandemic). Who I am as a leader influences who I am as a researcher, and if I had finished this 15 years ago, it would be a different study and story. I would tell my younger self to stay curious, and to speak up and stand up sooner and more often.
What’s next for you? What are your plans for the future?
I currently serve as the deputy superintendent in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District and will continue in that role. I also serve as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Educational Leadership program at Viterbo University and thoroughly enjoy my work with future and current K-12 leaders. I would like to continue to research and write as well and could see myself in a clinical faculty role in a postsecondary institution in the future.
You’re a UW–Madison expert now. What’s one thing every Badger should experience before they graduate?
I can’t possibly pick just one — I’ve lived in the area for 30 years!
- A sunny afternoon on the Memorial Union Terrace with friends
- Lunch from a food cart on the Library Mall
- Listening to the UW Marching Band at Union South before a football game
- Babcock Hall ice cream
- Learn all you can while you’re here and once you leave; stay curious!