College of Education at University of Texas Arlington - M.Ed program

Before becoming assistant principal at Arlington High School, Jason Fitzgerald attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a bachelor of arts in history. Also formerly the assistant principal at Bailey Junior High School, Jason Fitzgerald holds a master of education in educational leadership and policy studies from the same undergraduate institution.

The College of Education at the University of Texas at Arlington offers undergraduate and graduate programs for students who desire a career in education. The master's program for educational leadership and policy studies encompasses core courses in K-16 educational leadership, along with training to receive a principal certificate or graduate with a degree that incorporates a higher education emphasis. Students build upon their current skill set and expertise through both face-to-face and online teaching methods. 

Through the program, students also learn how to help enhance teacher performance and motivate students towards higher achievement. Out-of-state students are advised to check if the University of Texas Arlington program meets the requirements of their respective state.

Raising Test Scores - Strategies for Schools

As an assistant principal with the Arlington Independent School District, Jason Fitzgerald worked to improve instructional effectiveness and raise test scores. In the 2015-16 Arlington school year, Jason Fitzgerald drove a 5-percent increase in district curricular assessment scores.

Teachers and schools across the country work each day to increase students' test scores. Those who are successful have multifaceted strategies in place, both to improve curriculum delivery and student understanding at the class level and to provide structured support for individual students.

Successful schools use existing data, including prior test scores, to evaluate student retention by class and by student. Principals look for patterns to identify the classes that have strategies that work and provide suggestions to those that need improvement.

Strategies can include increased in-school reading practice and awards for students with the most reading time or the most improved reading comprehension. Many schools encourage classrooms to implement daily reading comprehension practice and emphasize vocabulary as part of classroom routines.

Standardized testing improvement also requires attention to lower-performing students, particularly those who struggle with reading. Schools work to strengthen the skills of these students by providing additional small group or one-on-one instruction. Individualized improvement plans delineate particular interventions and support the use of positive reinforcement to commend students’ success.

Three Things That Buyers Look for in a Home

A former assistant principal in the Arlington Independent School District, Jason Fitzgerald is now a realtor with Keller Williams working in the Arlington, Texas, real estate market. In his work as a realtor, Jason Fitzgerald assists clients in both the sale and purchase of houses, with a focus on first-time home buyers and luxury homes.

People looking to sell their home have a greater chance of appealing to buyers if a house has these modern features:

1. A well-designed kitchen. Due in part to limited budgets that don’t include room for remodels, today’s young home buyers are drawn to spacious, updated kitchens with up-to-date amenities. A kitchen can be especially appealing if it includes features like stone countertops and a gas stove.

2. An open floor plan. Formal dining rooms and compartmentalized home layouts do not appeal to younger buyers as much as open floor plans. Members of the millennial generation especially like homes with open rooms, which make it easier to socialize and entertain.

3. Backyard space. A backyard with a deck and a vegetable garden can be a major draw for today’s home buyers. This focus on the outdoors is in line with the younger generation’s growing appreciation of nature and healthy living.