This is a brief departure from the “For the Leader” series. I wanted to document my journey and express my gratitude to those who helped me get here. If you would like to see the pictures from my journey, follow me on Facebook. You can read about the first part of my journey in “The Journey to Here…Where It All Began”
Positioning Myself for My Career Pathway
- In September, 2017, I decided that I wanted to position myself for future opportunities. I started working towards my superintendent certification. In May, 2018, I took the five hour test and received my certification.
- During my internship, I was assigned a mentor. Dr. Kay Shoppa encouraged me to take the next step on my career pathway by getting my doctorate. Never in a million years would I have considered pursuing my doctorate had it not been for her gentle nudging.
- In April, 2018, Steve drove me to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to interview for the doctoral program. Within 30 minutes after we left, I received the call that I had been accepted. And the journey to here began.
To the People Who Helped Me Get Here…
To Cohort XII: Throughout this journey we were told “You’ll be fine.” The good news is that we are more than “fine.” We survived a script we could not have written and, by God’s grace, we have come out on the other side with Dr. in front of our names. I am so grateful for each of you. You were world changers from the beginning, and I cannot wait to see your journey continue and your influence expand.
To Dr. Kay Shoppa, my superintendent certification program mentor: While our time together was brief and mostly spent checking off certification to do lists, I want to thank you for encouraging me to pursue my doctorate degree. I never dreamed that I would be Dr. Ray, but here I am because of you.
To my parents: You fanned into flame my passion for education when you bought me a chalkboard and a multi-colored pen for Christmas. I cannot thank you enough for believing in me.
To my beautiful daughter-in-law, Eleanor: Finally, another female. This dissertation is for strong women just like you.
To my boys, Austin and Tyler: Thank you for always cheering me on and believing that I was meant to “rule the world.” Being your mom is my greatest joy. I love you more.
Finally, to my husband, Steve: I cannot thank you enough for being my chauffeur to UMHB, for making multiple runs to Sonic, for loving me when I needed space to write, and for encouraging me to press on in the middle of a global pandemic and a snowstorm that shut down Texas. Without you believing in me, I never would have made it. It is time to celebrate; you earned this degree right along with me.
Most of all, thank you, Jesus, for being my very life. Your love and grace have carried me every step of this journey. May Your name be made great in and through me. This is all for You.
