Crazy for You: Couple Earns Online PhDs Together

When Byron Howard, Sr. and Janet Brown-Howard decided it was time to earn their PhDs in education, they knew from the start that they wanted to do it together. Literally together. They chose the same school and the same degree program. They started on the same day, took every course together, went to every residential colloquium together, and finished their final conference calls for their PhDs at the same time. While working this closely may have driven some couples crazy, Byron and Janet say it is why they are PhDs today.

The couple, who have been married for 21 years and live in Hoschton, Georgia, (a suburb of Atlanta) both recently completed their PhDs in K-12 Education Leadership from Capella University, which is an accredited online university that focuses on master’s and PhD students. The couple said they specifically sought out a reputable online university so that they could continue working full time while pursuing a doctorate. Byron is assistant principal at Cedar Hill Elementary School, and Janet is a 7th grade science teacher at Lilburn Middle School. The couple are also the parents of a teenage son who is a senior in high school.

Persevering for their PhD Degrees

The couple, who moved from New Orleans to the Atlanta area just months before Hurricane Katrina, also opened their home to several family members who lost everything in the disaster. Even that traumatic event and upheaval in their lives did not derail them from their path toward earning their doctorates, which they finished in just over two years.

“When I would get a little discouraged, she would push me. And when she would get discouraged, I would push her. But we really fed off each other’s ambition. We finished sooner than we would have if we had done it alone,” Byron said.

“If it was us working individually toward our PhDs, it would have been so much harder,” says Janet, who refers to herself and Byron as a “dream team.” As an example, she recalls how her husband took on all the household and family responsibilities when she was laid up with a herniated disc in her back midway through her courses, ensuring her progress toward her degree was not interrupted.

Byron says his wife was equally supportive of him, even if she could be a bit “overly motivating” at times, he says jokingly.

Find Online Education
Explore these links for online & distance learning resources:

- Online Degree Programs
- Online Courses & Training
- Career Training Programs

- Importance of Accreditation
- US Accreditation
- WWL Quality Assurance

Need More Help?
Explore the links below for more information:

- Learning Library
- Career Pathways
- Education Resources
- Site Help
- Site Map

"Your big opportunity may be right where you are now."
-- Napoleon Hill