Opportunities for students to better themselves throughout high school are constantly created by staff members. Teachers and specialists are taking a page from their students, and expanding their horizons of opportunity by pursuing their masters or doctorates.
Staff members Linda Collins, Lindsey Hogan, Jerald Holtorf,  Tyson Ostroski, Courtney Weber and Joel White have or are just beginning their pursuit of achieving a higher degree.

Library media specialist Lindsey Hogan is a staff member who is simply hoping to gain knowledge with these added letters to her name.
She started her program called the Library and Information Science at Emporia State University this summer. While this may sound like a mouthful, its focus is on how students find information and utilize it.
“It’s called ‘information seeking behavior,’” Hogan said.
Although Hogan already has received her B.S. in Education and Masters of Library Science from Appalachian State University, she has always wanted to get her Ph.D.
“I have always been interested in how people learn, share, and accept new information,” she said. “I’m only in my second semester and I’m learning so much. I hope to stay at BVSW for a long time, so it really will not affect me professionally.”

With a doctorate following his name, English teacher Tyson Ostroski is interested in the possibilities outside of the classroom. His transition from high school teacher to the possibility of working at the college or district level has had the support of both his colleagues and his wife.
“My wife has been the most supportive and encouraging in this process, because sometimes I get a little whiny,” Ostoski said.
Eventually those possibilities will be explored, but for the time being, Ostroski is just enjoying his accomplishment.
“It feels pretty dang good,” he said. “I don’t like to talk about it normally, but nobody in my family has ever gone to college. Ever. So this is kind of a big deal.”

Biology teacher Joel White has created a support system with his wife during the last 18 months. They are both pursuing higher degrees while raising their daughter Riley.
“We have had to help each other by balancing out our time with chores and entertaining Riley when we know the other has homework,” White said.
White has unaccomplished goals in the classroom that he wants to continue working toward at this point in his career. However he is not naïve about the possibilities that he has access to.
“With getting my masters, more administrative and chair positions become possible,” White said. “However, at this point and until my daughter gets older, I want more time in the classroom.”
While climbing another rung on the ladder of education does take up quite a bit of time, White is positive that the success is worth it.
“I would just encourage kids to be lifelong learners and to follow their dreams. Education can never be taken away from you, and if you chase after it, the possibilities are limitless.”

Special education chair Courtney Weber has had the support of her colleagues, including Ostroksi, in working toward her Ph.D.
“I hope to finish the program in the next three to three and a half years, which is actually very hard to do,” Weber said.
Although Weber is currently unsure what route she will take with her doctorate once she earns it, she is confident it will help her get wherever she wants to be.
“I truly love learning and want to open as many doors for myself in the future as possible,” Weber said. “I am not sure if I truly want to be in administration someday, but [I] know this would help me get into that field if it is something I chose to do.”

Math teacher Jerald Holtorf is hoping to  accomplish his lifelong goal of a doctorate within the next three years.
Although Holtorf has approached this challenge with enthusiasm, he admits it is quite demanding.
“It has been a little of a butt-kicking with having four hours of class, and anywhere from two to three hours of homework per hour of class,” Holtorf said.
However, it is the doors of both leadership and college-level teaching that drive Holtorf to continue on this long road.
“If you set your mind to fight at it and do the best you can, then it will all fall into place.” Holtorf said.

While some staff members have ambitious dreams in correlation with their higher degree, Linda Collins has different goals following her doctorate.
“I hope it will impact my students and my peers more so than just my career,” Collins said. “I am not ambitious about getting a new position; I want to use my degree to be able to help students on a deeper level. I am especially interested in doing more research on twice-exceptional students and students who have learning disabilities. I’m curious about how all students learn.”
In addition to exploring the different ways students learn, Collins expresses interest in teaching at the college level while continuing to teach at high school. Collins’ past experiences in education, as well as her family support, motivated her to continue onward in her doctorate pursuit.
“I have published some articles and have been presenting at the national level for about 10 years,” Collins said. “I have seen the need to have several more letters in back of my name. The doctorate carries more clout than my master’s degree does in the academic world.”
Although earning her doctorate is very time consuming, she thinks earning those letters will be worth it.
“It feels like something that I should be doing, even though my life is very busy right now,” Collins said. “ It’s worth it if I can make a difference in a student’s life.”