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Faculty Profiles

Matthew Witmer, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
School of Education
Phone: (626)387-5792
Fax: (626) 815-5416
Email: mwitmer@apu.edu
Profile
Matthew L. Witmer, Ed.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership. He has had in-depth school leadership experience as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. He is a private leadership consultant, and has assisted schools and districts in California and other states on topics ranging from school improvement strategies and leadership development to curriculum and assessment alignment. His most recent research has included in-depth analysis of selected California schools in relation to transformational leadership, teachers’ commitment to change, and effective schools’ characteristics.
Education
Ed.D. – Educational Leadership, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
M.A. – Educational Administration, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
B.A. – Biology Major/Chemistry Minor, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, California
Professional/Scholarly Presentations
Presentations
State Presenter, California Educational Research Association: Relationships Among Transformational Leadership, Family Background, Teachers’ Commitment To Change, Effective Schools’ Characteristics, and Student Achievement In California Public Comprehensive High Schools: A Structural Equation Model, November, 2007.

National Presenter, The Broad Center for the Management of School System’s The Broad Superintendents Academy: School System Alignment of Curriculum and Assessment, March, 2006, Long Beach, California.

State Presenter, Schools Best Practices Institute: Developing Learning Community Reflective Practices, June 2005, San Jose, California.

National Presenter, The Education Trust National Conference: Best Practices of Garden Grove Unified School District (Awarded the 2004 Broad Prize for Urban Education), November 2004, Washington, D.C

Publications
Witmer, Matthew L. Relationships Among Transformational Leadership, Family Background, Teachers’ Commitment To Change, Effective Schools’ Characteristics, and Student Achievement In California Public Comprehensive High Schools: A Structural Equation Model. UMI Dissertation Services. Ed.D. diss., Azusa Pacific University, 2005.

State Presenter, California State Superintendent’s High School Summit Conference, Best Practices of Garden Grove Unified School District (Awarded the 2004 Broad Prize for Urban Education), October 2004, Sacramento, California.

Professional Involvement and Accomplishments
Associations, Boards, Committees
Founder and President, Ascend Leadership and Learning, LLC (an educational consulting firm)
Member, California Educational Research Association
Special Interests and Activities
School Leadership
School Improvement and Culture Change
Curriculum and Assessment Planning, Development, and Alignment
Note: This information is current for the 2007-08 academic year. To view 2008-09 program information, visit the Academic Catalogs page. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
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