I Can Do Hard Things

Sonia Rodriguez | October 18, 2025

As an educator and district coordinator, I’ve always believed in the power of hands-on learning and student engagement.  It wasn’t until I experienced the COVA model: Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic learning (Harapnuik & Thibodeaux, 2023) through the Applied Digital Learning (ADL) program at Lamar University that I truly understood what authentic learning feels like.

The Aha Moment: Learning by Doing

Early in the program, I was tasked with creating an ePortfolio which is something I had never done before.  I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and completely outside my comfort zone.  Through trial, error, and a whole lot of research, I began building my portfolio piece by piece and something incredible happened.

As I exercised choice in how to present my work, took ownership of the learning process, and expressed my voice in the final product, I realized I was experiencing exactly what we hope our students experience: authentic, meaningful learning.

That moment changed everything for me. It was more than just checking off an assignment; it was an invitation to own my growth.  This allowed me to create a Growth Mindset Plan. 

When it came to designing my ePortfolio, I had full creative freedom, which I loved!  I wrote a blog post of all the learning that took place as I reviewed other ePortfolios.  I explored different layouts and themes, each reflecting a part of my personality whether it was a calming, minimalist design or a vibrant, bold theme.   That freedom to personalize deepened my connection to the learning.

The journey wasn’t easy, there were long nights, steep learning curves, and moments of doubt.  Every struggle and feedforward helped me build confidence.  I proved to myself again and again that I can do hard things as a self-directed learner, and that persistence truly pays off!  It was such a rewarding feeling that I even wrote a blog post about how COVA impacted my learning!

From Learning to Leading: Sharing the COVA Model

Armed with this knowledge, I felt compelled to share it.  I started working on my implementation outline and did a Literature Review about online learning.  I began implementing my Innovative Project, an Online Blended Coaching Strategy designed to increase math leadership across our district.  I quickly learned that leading organizational change requires more than passion as it takes patience, strategy, precision, influence and preparation.  

At first, not everyone was ready to jump in.  Over time, I saw my team begin to shift.  Instead of the typical one-and-done professional development sessions, we now focus on extended learning, ongoing support, and hands-on engagement based on my Call to Action.  It’s been exciting to watch others embrace the COVA mindset just by watching me model.  As Rachel Cruz often says, “More is caught than taught.”  

By modeling what I’ve learned instead of just talking about it, I’ve helped others see the value of authentic learning.  The Influencer Strategy and Installing 4DX provided an action plan to lead organization change.  Taking time to reflect on becoming a Self-differentiated Leader allowed me lead with clarity.  

Cultivating Math Leaders: A District-Wide Impact

My innovative project isn’t just a one-off initiative, it's a movement.  As a district math coordinator, I’m committed to empowering educators so they, in turn, can empower others.  As a collective we can be part of the change.  

Our goal? To build a district of curious, resilient, and critically-thinking mathematicians who see mistakes as opportunities and view math as a tool to solve real-world problems.

We’re moving beyond rote instruction.  Through authentic learning experiences and productive struggle, we’re helping learners gain both skills and confidence.  Technology has become a powerful ally, helping students and teachers alike see and do the math in engaging new ways.  I even wrote an article that explores how video technology makes coaching more personalized, engaging, and accessible within a blended learning framework.  Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) and Instructional Design of Online learning has provided a strong foundation.  

References