Hello!

[artisfun]

My name is Jacqui Derby. I use to teach middle school art in a school district that required a masters degree (you had 5 years to complete it after employment). Since I had a young child at home I decided I didn't want to sit in the traditional classroom. I received my masters degree from Grand Canyon University. At the time I went it was a distance learning program (now it is an online program). My degree is a Masters Degree in Education with a specialization in Teaching.

I am now currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Walden University (Education with a specialization in Instructional Technologies). This is an online program but you are required to attend some residencies.

Going back to get a degree has been a wonderful experience for me and my family. I would encourage anyone that wants to do it. My daughter was 4 when I began and she is now almost 11. She knows that school is important because she sees me do my homework. I feel this is one reason she does so well in school.

My step-son was in 10th grade when I began and he has graduated college with honors and is now in a Ph.D. program at Texas Tech University. I think that he has see the dedication and work it takes so he knew what he needed to do in order to be successful in a college environment. I am also glad he is going for his degree before starting a family and working full time.

I am also very lucky to have a supportive husband who has also just begun going back to school. I have now finished my courses and I am working on finishing 2 KAMs before my dissertation. I hope to help anyone that has any questions about the two universities I have attended.

[bkdeane]

Jacqui,

I too have gone back to school. I am scheduled to graduate with a M.Ed.Teaching in June 2007. I would like to go on and get a Doctorate but the cost has me frightened. I already have student loans from Bachelors with AIU (online) and Masters with UTA (also online). I have looked into one doctorate program and it is very, VERY expensive.
Do you have any suggestions?
Tell me about your online program.
Thanks, Victoria

[artisfun]

I wish I did have a solution. I am accumulating student loans. There seems to be some scholarships out there but there were not any that were appropriate for me.

[jillianvaldez]

Hi. I am Jillian. I am new here.