Being a teacher means you’re constantly going back to school; it’s just a necessary evil. And, for me, it wasn’t just about fulfilling the necessary credit hours or achieving a certain certificate level. I wanted to go back to school so that one day I could possibly switch to more of an administrative role as Principal or Vice Principal. Making that decision was fairly easy. The hard part was trying to balance work, school and family. I found an online program through a local university and decided to take my chances. I had never experienced education in an “online” setting before, but heard about how great it was when trying to fit it in to your busy schedule.
So, just about three years ago I signed up for my first course. It actually ended up being an easier undertaking than I had first assumed and the flexibility was incredible. Twice a week I would take my course work to work with me and, on my lunch break, I would eat at my desk and complete my readings or any research needed for that week. Then, each night after putting the kids to bed, I would devote about an hour to any assignments that needed to be completed. This let me spread out my weekly assignments over the course of the entire week but didn’t jeopardize the time I needed and wanted to spend with my wife and kids.
Three years later, here I am – two practicum away from earning my masters degree in Education Administration. It was a lot of work, but being able to do the work on my own time when I had a few spare minutes made things so much easier and helped me to maintain a balance. I know my wife and family are extremely proud of my accomplishments and I honestly attribute my success to online learning. But, that’s just one man’s life experience.
How do you maintain the delicate balance between work, family, and continuing your education?
Contributing blogger - Rich D.