You could call me a late bloomer. In 1984, I finished a long delayed undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Individualized Studies) from George Mason University. I was 42. A decade later, while working full-time, I returned for an M.Ed. degree from the College of Education and Human Development. No one said it would be easy, and they were right.
One snowy night I found myself trudging across the parking lot wondering if this effort and expense would all be worth it. I had no idea of the long and winding road that lay ahead. The best part? It continues to this day – some 32 years later.
While I’ve never been a traditional classroom teacher within a school system, I’ve conveyed a wide variety of educational experiences via adult training and instructional design. As a consultant or employee, I’ve developed training manuals, plus classroom and online instruction, while working with the federal Department of Transportation, a major automobile manufacturer, a flight training firm, a public-private engineering partnership, and Medicare (CMS). After 9/11 there was a nationwide downturn in hiring. It was my graduate degree that led me to a five-year tenure as a preschool director. The leadership component of this degree has continued to be valuable in both volunteer and corporate groups, mental health agencies, children’s literacy organizations, church boards, and community activities.
At 84 years young, the story is not over! This month, I have published my third interactive storybook for preschool and kindergarten early learners. How did that happen? When schools opened after the Covid shutdown, these 3–4-year-olds were thrown into a world for which they had little preparation. Too many children were shut down; they were nonparticipators in a classroom setting. Combining my educational understanding with my preschool director’s experience led me to develop interactive stories for these early learners. With stories that reflected their feelings, these children found a safe space to contribute their own ideas and experiences. Teachers gained additional tools for assisting with language development and social emotional learning.
Today, my books, Robbie Roadrunner’s New Friends and Robbie Roadrunner’s Big Race give 3–6-year-olds a chance to make funny faces, wiggle their tailfeathers, and share their understanding of how to make friends or how to be a good sport even if you lose. (What a joy it is to read these books in local classrooms or bookstores. The excitement of having “a real author” in their midst is heart-warming as they participate by eagerly responding to the book’s embedded questions.
My advice to future educators? It’s never too late and you’re never too old! Look far and wide for the infinite variety of possibilities that a degree in education can provide. Well-qualified teachers are vitally important for the future of our country. It is a calling that is challenging and requires dedication, grit and perseverance. As my journey illustrates, education doesn’t just happen in a traditional classroom. The time and dedication necessary to complete your degree can be employed in any number of diverse fields. Go for it!
My question about whether the struggle to complete two degrees at GMU would be worth it has long been answered. You bet it was! Thank you, George Mason University, for providing this life-long-learner the education and the vision to help make this world a better place.
Sincerely,
Janet M. McCormick
CEHD Class of 1994