Dr. Amy K. Anderson
Program Improvement Coordinator
New Mexico Higher Education Department
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
All I wanted to be was a band director. I completed my undergraduate degree and became one!!
Band directing did not go well with single parenthood. I had to make tough choices after my husband left the family.
I moved my family to another state to be closer to our extended family and took a position in elementary music so I could have more time for my daughter.
I enrolled in an online masters program and was the first person to complete that program completely online.
I encountered an extremely negative person who completely devalued my life's work. She had a doctorate. She was a negative role model, but I figured if she could do it, so could I!!
I enrolled at Walden University and completed my required coursework. I was unsure of the direction of my doctoral study until I received positive feedback at an international symposium.
I completed my doctoral study and attended commencement in 2013. I was disappointed when the opportunities in public education I had hoped to pursue were not available to me, even with a doctorate.
I left K12 education to accept my current position which allows me to continue to help people change their lives through education. I am working on a graduate certificate so I can move back to K12.
Education
High School
Clear Lake
Clear Lake
Certification/License
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Western New Mexico University
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Western New Mexico University
Career
Program Improvement Coordinator
We oversee adult education programs throughout the state.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Government
Helping People
Day to Day
Adult Education is so much more than people think. We not only help individuals who lack a high school diploma complete their high school equivalency, we also help people who have finished high school get college ready, help college graduates ramp up their academic skills for graduate school, and help people get on Career Pathway tracks to a better life. Adult Education changes lives and I am proud of the work we do to make our communities better by helping individuals.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
"I was a music specialist in a public school setting. An administrator told me that it was nice that our school had a music teacher but since the students were not tested over it, it really wasn't important. "
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Single Parenthood
