West Milford, N.J., Resident Linda Kostenko Earns Doctorate in Educational Leadership at College of Saint Eliz

Candidate is Principal of principal of the Academy of St. Francis and Dean of Academics for the Academy of Catholic Schools in Passaic

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West Milford resident Linda Kostenko, principal of the Academy of St. Francis, will receive her doctorate from the College of Saint Elizabeth in May.

MORRISTOWN, NJ (04/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Linda Kostenko of West Milford, N.J., has successfully defended her dissertation at the College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE), 2 Convent Road, Morristown, N.J., to earn her doctorate in educational leadership. Kostenko's dissertation is entitled, "Professional Learning Communities: Impact on Teaching Effectiveness." Kostenko is principal of the Academy of St. Francis, in Totowa, N.J., and Dean of Academics for the Academy of Catholic Schools in Passaic County.

"The experience has had a profound effect on my professional and personal life. The courses were engaging, thought provoking and forced me to stretch and grow," Kostenko says. "I met teachers and professors in my cohort who epitomize servant leadership. Through my journey, I gained new knowledge and insights into my everyday life that have helped me become a better person and educator."

Kostenko, who has taught and held administrative positions throughout the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Administration from William Paterson University.

The doctoral program at CSE, which is dedicated to preparing leaders who are committed to social justice and ethical practice, began in August 2007. "Integrated into all course work and learning activities are the central values and beliefs necessary for school leaders to function as morally purposeful stewards for their school communities," states Dr. John Crews, Ed.D., CSE educational leadership program chair. "This philosophy of servant leadership represents a major shift from the traditional paradigm of school leaders as managers of resources, which is so prevalent in today's practices."

Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, the College of Saint Elizabeth enrolls more than 2,100 full- and part-time students in more than 25 undergraduate, 10 graduate and one doctoral degree programs. For information on other activities or programs, visit the College of Saint Elizabeth web site at www.cse.edu.