The Launch Point: How Wake Forest SPS Alum Rachel Udasin Schwartz Moved from Teacher to Dean of Students

The Launch Point is a series where we check in with Wake Forest SPS graduates after graduation to learn more about their careers, successes, and the impact of their degrees.

When Rachel Udasin’s daughter was born during COVID, she stepped back from the classroom. Her passion for teaching was still strong, so she asked herself: Where else could I make an impact in education?

She started browsing job boards out of curiosity and came across a director role at Ivybrook Academy, a preschool-kindergarten program outside Charlotte. Soon after, she was hired. Rachel fell in love with the admin role, working with teachers, and seeing her reach extend beyond a single classroom. Naturally, she started thinking about getting her principal’s license and saw an ad for Wake Forest School of Professional Studies (SPS).

Right away, she knew it was the program for her and started in January 2024. Less than two years later, she graduated from Wake Forest SPS with a Master of Educational Leadership.

We sat down with Rachel to hear about the program, her path, and what she’s learned along the way.

From the Classroom to the Office

Wake Forest SPS: How has your graduate degree helped shape your career trajectory?

Rachel Udasin (RU): My long-term goal is to be a public school principal, and I could not have gotten here without this program. It’s given me the knowledge, the hands-on experience, and the connections that are directly applicable to what I’m doing every day. The program put me in touch with the right people and gave me valuable fieldwork opportunities.

Wake Forest SPS: Tell us about the biggest professional milestone you’ve hit in the past year.

RU: Getting hired mid-year, that was an unexpected surprise. I had quit my job in June, fully committed to the 500-hour internship at a public school in Waxhaw. I thought I’d graduate in December and spend the first half of the new year networking and waiting for summer hiring season. Instead, the school I interned at created a position for me, and hired me as Dean of Students. The school district has also accepted me into their assistant principal pool. Hopefully I’ll be stepping into that role this summer.

Wake Forest SPS: What’s one lesson from the program that has stuck with you?

RU: I think the biggest thing I’ve learned throughout this program is the importance of networking and building relationships. Effective leadership isn’t about having the best ideas, it’s about investing in people; building trust, navigating relationships, and understanding how people work together. Great leaders build relationships rooted in trust.

My view of professional networking has also shifted. As much as we don’t want to admit it, getting a job is more about who you know than what you know. I don’t mean this in the sense of your uncle or your cousin handing you a role. It’s about putting yourself in the room where decisions are being made, going out of your way to introduce yourself, then maintaining those relationships, so that when an opportunity arises, people think of you.   

Wake Forest SPS: How did the program prepare you for the real challenges of your current role?

RU: A few professors brought in guest speakers from every corner of the field. One of my favorite courses was Foundations of Leadership with Dr. Kate Kieres, where we heard from speakers who talked about every aspect of education, from human resources to school budgets. This gave me a better understanding of the systems at play, and bridged the gap between theory and practice. These speakers, as well as our professors, presented real challenges we might face, and explained the behind-the-scenes decisions that keep a school running smoothly.  

Wake Forest SPS: What would you tell someone who is just starting the program?

RU: My biggest advice? Go all in! The professors mean it when they say they are here to help you succeed. If I had a question, I knew I could call, text, or email any of my professors. When I told Dr. Adam Dovico that I was nervous about an upcoming interview, he immediately hopped on a call to help me prepare. 

I also highly recommend connecting with your classmates outside of class sessions. I was worried about feeling disconnected in a virtual program, but we all took time to connect off-screen. Whether it was a group chat or phone call, my classmates were always there to help each other out, vent about work, or celebrate our wins.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn.

Take the next step in your career and learn more about the Master of Educational Leadership and the Independent School Pathway from Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies. Request information today.