Holy Family Doctoral Graduate a Leader in Early Childhood Education and Literacy

Angela Ashley, D‘24, wants to provide every child with the skills necessary to learn to read and write.

Ashley has spent most of her recent career working as an administrator in early childhood education and English/language arts in the School District of the City of York in Pennsylvania. Over the past five years, Ashley has worked on overhauling the school district’s language arts curriculum to align with research on the Science of Reading, especially among the district’s youngest students.

“The Science of Reading talks about how the brain is not wired to be a reader or a writer, and there's a specific set of skills that need to be taught to children,” Ashley said. “We come out of the womb already receiving language through listening to our parents speak to us and expressing ourselves through cooing as a baby. But when you look at written word in text, you must be taught a specific set of skills to understand it.”

Ashley’s drive to be a leader in improving child literacy is undeniable. So when she decided to take the next step in her career and earn a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Professional Studies, Holy Family University was a perfect fit.

In May, Ashley graduated from Holy Family’s Educational and Organizational Leadership program, an online practice-based program designed to give students the skills necessary to be successful administrators and leaders in the education field.

Ashley arrived at Holy Family with a wealth of experience in early childhood and elementary education. After graduating from Millersville University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Ashley spent six years teaching fourth and fifth grade at Baltimore City Public Schools. While taking some time away from teaching to care for her children, Ashley earned a Master’s degree in Reading Education from Towson University. She then taught a graduate-level class at Towson for two semesters. That experience helped pave the way for the next step in her career.

“It was a very rewarding experience,” Ashley said. “With that, it got me looking at different avenues. So instead of going back into the classroom, an opportunity came up here in York to be a literacy coach.”

Ashley served as a literacy coach in the School District of the City of York for four years before continuing on to Manheim Central School District in Pennsylvania, where she became a Title I Reading Specialist. While at Manheim Central, Ashley earned an administration certificate from Cabrini University. The certificate allowed Ashley to return to the School District of the City of York in 2014 as an assistant principal. She has since worked in various administrative roles in the school district and currently serves as the district’s Pre-K Counts Principal.

Ashley described the Educational & Organizational Leadership program at Holy Family as being impactful from day one. She was able to apply lessons she learned in class both to her doctoral dissertation on the Science of Reading as well as to her job. Even though she was taking the classes online, Ashley also felt a personal connection with both her classmates and the faculty. 

“I was a little apprehensive because I like in-person learning,” Ashley said.  “But the instructors were amazing. They made class engaging, it was interactive and they were available. Working in a school system, we have limited time during the day to meet for office hours. But a lot of instructors would ask if you can stay online a few minutes after class or log on a few minutes before class to meet. The accommodations they made just to ensure success on my end were very meaningful and powerful.”

Two particular classes stood out to Ashley during her time at Holy Family. One was a course on ethics, which she hadn’t taken previously in her educational career, and the other was a communications class she took with Dr. Roger Gee, Professor and Chair of the Doctor in Educational & Organizational Leadership program.

“Dr. Gee travels quite a bit, so he was able to bring those experiences and push your thinking about different ways that people communicate and what that looks like through a leadership lens,” Ashley said.

Gee was one of several faculty members Ashley credits as having a huge impact on her Holy Family experience. Another faculty member whom Ashley described as being a mentor is Dr. Helen Hoffner, Professor of Education and Ashley’s dissertation chair.

“Dr. Hoffner was the professor I had for Introduction to Applied Research,” Ashley said. “I didn't have her again until I was doing my dissertation. But what I thought was really powerful was the fact that she remembered what my lit review was, even though a year and a half had passed. She was always there, giving me opportunities to meet with her and making sure she provided feedback and suggestions.”

Dr. Hoffner said the work ethic and passion Ashley showed during her time in the doctoral program was exemplary. 

“I knew Angela would be successful in the doctoral program because she began her dissertation work with knowledge of literacy instruction, an understanding of state and local policies on educational practices, leadership ability, a strong work ethic, and outstanding academic skills,” Hoffner said.

Graduation in May 2024 is a memory Ashley will never forget. She fondly recalls receiving her doctorate diploma in front of her family and celebrating with three other graduates who completed the same program.

“We have a great picture of the four of us together and then we have one with Dr. Hoffner in the middle,” Ashley recalled. “It was really enlightening to look at that picture and realize that you did this through everything that has happened. I had changes at work, struggles at home and yet was able to accomplish such an esteemed goal.”

“Earning the doctoral degree is just one small step in Angela's journey as an educator,” Hoffner said. “She will continue to guide teachers in providing effective literacy instruction. I am certain that Holy Family University will be proud of the work that Angela does in the coming years.”

Ashley is hoping to use the knowledge and skills she acquired at Holy Family to facilitate the creation of an early childhood center in York. The York school district currently houses children from Pre-K to eighth grade in the same building, and Ashley believes having a school specifically for the district’s youngest students would benefit them in several ways.

“There's a great need to support children at a very young age and give them that solid foundation, not just in literacy, but across all skill and content areas,” Ashley said.

Down the road, Ashley may also consider becoming an adjunct professor. 

“Maybe even at Holy Family,” Ashley said with a smile.