“A very lengthy conversation with my Dad was the encouragement I needed to enter Olivet’s Ed.D. degree program,” says Katelyn Kreis ’19 Ed.D. “We had a heart-to-heart about where I wanted my career to go. He advised me to think about the impact a doctoral degree would have on my future as an educator. He encouraged me to keep going with my own education. I applied to Olivet the next day.”
Katie began her Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership (Ed.D.) degree journey at Olivet Nazarene University on the day she graduated with her master’s degree. She was the youngest person in her cohort. At that time, she was teaching at Grant Park High School in Grant Park, Illinois.
“Being able to learn from those who have numerous years of experience in different fields was transformative for me,” Katie says. “The students in our cohort were already leaders in business, education, nonprofit organizations and the U.S. military. Seeing the impact they are having in their fields reinforced my desire to excel as a scholar practitioner.”
On the Journey Together
Katie has a strong commitment to continuous learning and evidence-based leadership. In Olivet’s Ed.D. program, she found the mindset, skills and confidence she needed to lead thoughtfully and effectively.
“This program helped me grow in my faith,” Katie says. “In my cohort, we were vulnerable with one another. We prayed with and for one another. We got to be who we are as people. I also had strong connections with my professors and my advisor, Dr. Darcel Brady. Coming from a large university background, I admit I was surprised by this intimate learning environment.”
For Katie, one of the most important values of Olivet’s program was the concurrent dissertation process. “I found that applying what I was learning gave me the momentum I needed to do my dissertation research,” she says. “This is a huge aspect of why I chose Olivet’s program. Writing my dissertation became a passion project for me.”
Katie credits Dr. Brady for supporting her throughout her Ed.D. journey. “The mentorship of Dr. Brady, an education professional herself, profoundly shaped me as an educator and a leader,” Katie says. “The lessons I learned from her as I worked one-on-one with her continue to guide me.”
Blazing the Trail for Success
“Having my Ed.D. degree is opening doors for me to facets of education I didn’t even know existed,” Katie says. “I now have the credentials I need to do more in my field.”
Today, Katie is the instructional coach for teachers and a dual credit instructor for students at Crown Point High School in Indiana. She is also an adjunct English professor for three colleges. In 2022, she was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award from Crossroads Chamber of Commerce in Crown Point.
“In my work I’m able to use so much of what I learned in the Ed.D. program,” Katie says. “I’m creating professional development opportunities for educators. I’m helping them gain what they need to implement in their classrooms for the benefit of their students. And I’m seeing how their growth is linking with student learning outcomes.”
As a mother, Katie is also seeing how she can be a role model for her two young sons. “I want them to pursue their dreams, even when the path feels difficult or a goal seems impossible to reach,” she says. “I remember when Dr. Kelly Brown, the director of Olivet’s Ed.D. program, showed us the doctoral regalia during our first class. She challenged us to begin with the end in mind.”
Katie adds, “Throughout my Ed.D. program, I kept reminding myself that I have the resilience, determination and faith to finish what I start. That mindset has extended far beyond the program. Now, I’m modeling that for my sons, my co-workers and my students.”
Learn more about ONU’s graduate degree programs at Olivet.edu/academics/graduate-programs. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
