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Online Education Propels Teaching Career to New Heights |
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August 13, 2006
by Kelly Richardson
First Stop Online Degree Columnist
They key to building your career and improving your employment prospects is to earn an advanced degree. Here's how one determined teaching professional took full advantage of the benefits of studying online to earn an advanced teaching degree while keeping his personal and professional commitments intact.
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Meet professional educator, health and physical education guru, passionate football coach, and brand new husband Corey Richardson of Norcross High School in Norcross, Georgia. With responsibilities of that magnitude, you would never believe that he'd have the time or the energy to earn an advanced degree in his field. Perhaps you're finding yourself in this very common predicament; the need to do more in less time. It's this same conundrum that paralyzes professionals in every industry, keeping them from achieving their goals.
But Corey had his eye on an online degree. He knew that an online education would allow him to continue teaching, coaching, and being a family man, all while taking his professional career to the next level. An online education is rigorous and challenging; it wouldn't be worth the effort if it was anything less. But he took advantage of the benefits of his program by completing assignments from home, interacting with classmates and professors, and utilizing financial aid options to fund his new degree.
Here, Corey discusses his online education and how studying online was as convenient and rewarding as a traditional campus education.
FSOD: Corey, how about starting us off by describing your experience earning an advanced teaching degree through an online program.
CR: My online degree experience was awesome. As a teacher and football coach, the opportunities I had for advancing my career were limited because of my busy work schedule. Then I found out about a fully accredited online program which would allow me to earn a degree in Educational Leadership and Administration on my own schedule. The online professors wanted the work done on time and right. But they were more concerned with us thinking "outside the box" and pushing us to achieve excellence in our work. Being able to work at home and having understanding professors to work with made my online education a real pleasure.
Fewer than 25 percent of MBA students majored in business as undergraduates. Find Schools
FSOD: It sounds like you found your niche in this program. Could you relate a couple of specific experiences that had the most positive effect on your efforts?
CR: During my online program, I had several positive experiences. One was my relationship with my professors. In every class, the professors quickly showed me how much they cared about me. I even had a professor call me at home -- a long distance call that ended up lasting about an hour -- to talk about my career goals. Now that's showing a true passion for students.
Another great experience was learning from the other students in every class. The virtual classroom (student forum) where students can talk back and forth about their educational experiences, situations and problems eased any apprehensions I had about completing my requirements.
FSOD: Describe how earning this advanced degree will improve your professional prospects.
CR: By earning my online degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, I will be able to become an assistant principal, a longtime goal for me. And thanks to this online education, I have the leadership skills that are necessary to lead a school to academic success. While I'm definitely not in this business for the money, my online degree means I'm able to earn more money which will help me to provide more for my family.
Among all schools offering face-to-face MBA programs, 43% also offer online degrees. Find Schools
FSOD: You've mentioned that you'd like to become an assistant principal when you finish your online degree program. What are the responsibilities of this position?
CR: I'll be using a lot of the skills I learned in my online degree program. Stuff like preparing a school budget, understanding federal and state statutes, and implementing a School Improvement Plan.
About 2.35 million students in the United States complete all or part of their degree online. Find Schools
FSOD: I know there are people in every industry and profession that are considering studying online. Why would you recommend the online learning format to others?
Colleges and universities recognize the busy schedule of the non-traditional student. That's why I fully recommend an online program. The classes are set up to meet the needs of the prospective student. Whether you are a full-time parent or a full-time professional like me, the online program allows anyone to pursue their dreams.
Source
Learn more about Online Education
About the Author
Kelly Richardson is a freelance writer is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Policy & Leadership.
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