Vonda Morris shares her experiences as a student in the Learning Design and Performance Technology Ed.D. program.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am the youngest of four children born to Mrs. Lula Hudson and Mr. David Hudson (deceased). I love family and spent many hours with my grandparents (John Porter and Emma Gibson - both deceased). I have excelled in Math since I was six years old and often played school with my dolls. I was valedictorian of my high school (1990) and matriculated to the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). My sister, Ivyl Hudson Lesane, was my inspiration because she was valedictorian of her graduating high school class (1982) and attended the University of SC. Furthermore, I even lived in the same dorm my sister lived in. The university was great, and I took on leadership roles with the Black Student Union (BSU). When I graduated in 1994, I worked as a math teacher at High Hills Middle (Sumter, SC) and Mayewood Middle (Sumter, SC), my former high school. I spent three years giving back to the district that educated me. From there, I moved to Columbia, SC, and worked at Dent Middle School, a Blue-Ribbon School (Richland District 2). I married Christopher Morris in 2001, and we moved to Florida. I always wanted to teach at the high school level and was hired at New Smyrna Beach High (NSB). I held various leadership positions during my five years at NSB and gave birth to our eldest daughter, Kiersten (a freshman at the University of Florida). In 2006, when Kiersten was one, I moved to my forever school, Spruce Creek High (Port Orange, FL), and I have been there for 18 years. During that time, I gave birth to our second daughter, Chandler (a 10th grader at Creek).
What made you want to be a teacher?
I vacillated between being a secondary math teacher and a pediatric nurse. However, I realized that biology was not my cup of tea because I disliked dissections and learning phyla and species, but chemistry excited me. Then, when I was a Teacher Cadet in 12th grade, I knew I had found my niche. Teaching was my calling, and the gift of explaining mathematical concepts to others excited me.
Why did you become interested in our Learning Design and Performance Technology (LDPT) program?
Over my 27 years of teaching, I earned a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction focused on mathematics from Concordia University and an Education Leadership master's from Stetson University with Florida Educational Leadership Examination Certification. I knew I wanted to get my doctorate and was applying to another university. When I asked my professor from Stetson, Dr. Lou Sabina, for a letter of recommendation, he told me, "No." I was shocked. He said to me that this other university was not for me. Dr. Sabina asked me to give him time to research, and he would suggest where I should go. I wanted to secure a higher-education doctorate to teach at the College/University level. When Dr. Lou called me back, he said, "FSU is for you, and LDPT is the way to go." Then, he told me he would write me a letter of recommendation for FSU. I had no knowledge of LDPT. After my first two semesters, I still wasn't clear, but I enjoyed my courses, professors, distance learning, and Cohort 3.
What has been your favorite part of the program so far?
My favorite part would be learning the tools to effectively redesign curriculum by integrating technology to ensure the needs of the learners are met. I enjoy designing with Canva, organizing thoughts and steps with bubbl.us, using VoiceThread, storing my articles and notes with EndNote, and coding with ATLAS.ti.
How has the program helped you in your professional life?
LDPT relates to my love of designing curriculum and instruction. Working as the math instructional support, AP Statistics PLC facilitator, and support teacher for student teachers and new teachers, my years of experience, coupled with the knowledge of LDPT, enable me to plan instruction with the goal of the lesson being paramount and suitable for the level of the learner.
You won the 2024 Volusia County Schools’ Teacher of the Year and the Mary J. Brogan Excellence in Teaching Award. What was that experience like?
Winning Teacher of the Year (TOTY) for the Volusia County School District was mind-blowing! Within my first five years of teaching, being the Teacher of the Year at the school level I thought would be cool. I was nominated several times over the years but had yet to win at any of the four schools I was employed in. As time progressed, there were other concerns—being great at delivering instruction for students to pass their high-stakes assessments, sponsoring clubs, writing recommendation letters, rearing children, taking care of my family, and being busy at church and in my community. The thought of being the teacher of the year wasn't on my mind. Therefore, when I was nominated and won Spruce Creek's TOTY, I was honored that my peers voted for me. I was honored to discover I was one of the Top Five Finalists for Volusia County, but I did not think that winning the county was possible. When my name was called, I was so shocked that tears poured from my eyes. Moreover, my 82-year-old mother, whom I often refer to as my first teacher, was there to support me. I was happy the Future's Foundation told all finalists to pen a few remarks in preparation for winning because I would not have been able to speak off the cuff due to the overwhelming emotions I experienced. All of that occurred in January 2023. By July 2023, I was not selected as one of the top five finalists for the State of Florida. Hence, I spent the week at the Florida TOTY Roundtable meeting and learning from the other 73 District TOTYs. I had no idea that other recognitions would be given at the banquet. Therefore, I was utterly shocked when I was named the Mary J. Brogan recipient. I never ever thought about me, this little country girl, being recognized by an entire county or the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). One of my most memorable moments from that night, captured in a photo, was of Julie Caylor (FLDOE) and me running to the stage to accept this award I did not know of. What an exciting year to share these memories with my future grandchildren!
What advice would you give someone interested in the LDPT program?
I advise those interested in the LDPT EdD program to form bonds with their cohort. Working full-time, attending university, and raising a family are challenges. However, the bonds are necessary to maintain sanity and to develop accountability partners. The coursework is intense, but in the calming voice of Dr. Vanessa Dennen, "If this [earning a doctorate] were easy, everyone would do it!" The skills and resources learned by majoring in Learning Design and Performance Technology provide a systematic process to set goals and then make and implement plans to accomplish the main goal and other subordinate tasks.
Anything else you would like to share?
Amid many barriers against educators with mounting responsibilities year after year, there is no nobler profession than teaching. I never liked the adage, "Those who can, do. Those who cannot, teach." I want the world to know, "Those who can, do. However, those who can do it better with passion, patience, and pizzazz, teach!"
