STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: M.A.

International Education Program

Kaitlin Schluter
Crumbling concrete floors, cracked windows and too few desks; there weren't enough
textbooks for the forty students eagerly awaiting my instruction. Students did not have pens,
paper, or in some cases, shoes, but all were present. Forty faces looked up at me, eager to
learn. As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I recognize first-hand education’s power to bridge
the cultural, linguistic, and geographic barriers existing around the world. I want to utilize my
passion for education to design and evaluate programs that help bridge those barriers while
improving access to quality education. George Washington University’s Masters of Arts in
International Education Program (IEP), Development Stream, interests me as I pursue a
career focused on the design, assessment, and measurement of education programs,
specifically programs focused on gender parity and improved access to both academics and
STEM training (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). By selecting George
Washington University’s IEP Development Stream, I am actively seeking a program that builds
upon my existing assets for an impactful career within international education.
I recently switched from a career in civil engineering to a career in education, a change
that started with Peace Corps’ Education Program. As an engineer, I conducted research,
wrote project proposals, and completed cost-benefit analysis. Engineering expanded my
creative problem solving, and it tested my ability to be flexible in the face of unknown
constraints. Peace Corps Namibia—a 27 month experience of full cultural immersion—
enhanced the skills developed through my engineering degree and provided experience in
both international development and education. Fieldwork proved that education solutions are
gray and require an understanding of the technological, social, and cultural factors involved
when approaching a situation. Peace Corps taught me to adapt my course of action based on
those factors and to seek input from the local community.
Upon my return to the United States, I began an education residency program through
Johns Hopkins University that combined classroom teaching with masters coursework related
to secondary math and special education. My coursework provided a strong foundation in
effective STEM instruction, culturally relevant pedagogy, and methods of assessment.
Although this experience solidified my passion for education, it also unveiled my desire to
return to the international education sector, specifically focused on assessment, testing, and
measurement of education programs. The vast range of education related knowledge gained
from the residency program, paired with the skills I mastered through engineering and Peace
Corps, provide the tools necessary for a career within international education, a career I hope
to continue at GW.
As a master’s student within GW’s International Education Program, I will embrace all
IEP course content, seek new perspectives from program colleagues, and share my
background with others. My combined experiences from engineering, Peace Corps Namibia,
and M.S. Educational Studies coursework provide valuable insight into problem solving,
project analysis, and the vast world of education. Those experiences uncovered my desire to
work cross-culturally within the field of international education—a field that celebrates
diversity, opens dialogues and creates opportunity.