In July of this year, Kurt Stroman embarked upon a new journey as a doctoral degree candidate at Jones International University®. Hoping to broaden his professional and personal horizons, Kurt decided that JIU® was the ideal place to accomplish his goals.
Meeting Challenges and Finding Rewards
After 18 years as a teacher, Kurt found himself questioning his decision to return to school. Knowing the rigorous nature of a doctoral degree program, Kurt wondered if the time commitment would interfere with his current career. He was pleased to find, however, that the online environment at Jones International University accommodated his busy schedule, allowing him to study at his own convenience and attend virtual courses from any location. Moreover, he found a supportive community of faculty and classmates at JIU. Many of his fellow students also led busy lives, and Kurt found this a point of bonding with his classmates. His professors were also friendly, accessible, and experienced with teaching working students.
Paving the Way to Mentoring Others
Kurt plans to apply his doctorate degree from JIU to working with and mentoring new teachers in his school district. He feels that his educational leadership classes have focused his thinking and given him new ways to look at the application of educational theories. Kurt has found that the skill sets he is building in his doctoral program are also applicable in his own classroom, to the benefit of the students he works with.
Kurt proves that pursuing an online degree can be a very manageable, practical option for educational and professional growth, even with a busy schedule. "It has been a great personal growth experience for me," he says.
