All the sudden I felt a huge need to challenge myself, to combine my passions, expertise and experiences in a new way. I, for a long time, thought that I would continue working as a part-time instructor teaching future teachers. Ray: It has been smoother than we could have imagined. WACOAN: After seven years of studying and teaching, how was your transition to full-time work? My students aren’t high school or college-aged - there are all types of students. I’m working with instructors who teach classes that are artistic and challenging. This position was new and interesting because it combined everything I’ve done into one piece. I saw myself in the field and in the classroom setting. Ray: I’ve always felt called to teach teachers. WACOAN: Did you ever see yourself in a position like this one, in community education? I didn’t start the program with career aspirations. I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ The moment class started, it felt right. I remember the first class I went to was a research course. Ray: Go for it! They say it takes a village, and I think your village forms when you take on a challenge. WACOAN: Do you have any advice for a mother, or for anyone, who wants to go back to school? But I had a group of students in my cohort who would join me in writing retreats. I didn’t feel like an island until I started writing. When I was in the program, there were always students that reinvigorated me. It was challenging, but I always had someone I could collaborate with. Because of the sense of community, I felt encompassed in support. I made wonderful friends and had mentors.
WACOAN: How did you stay motivated while you were in school? I got to teach, write and research - it was a real taste of what being a faculty member is like. But I was also teaching quite a few classes at Baylor. I had to research to collect data, interview, do the transcriptions and analyze data. My coursework went smoothly, and my dissertation took two years. WACOAN: How long were you in the program at Baylor? I’m sure people thought I was insane, but it was right for our family. I had Leighton in the middle of the program. It was a family commitment from the beginning. I was taking car seats to Lee’s office so I could get to class on time. The first year I was in the program, some of the classes began at 5 p.m. WACOAN: Even as a part-time student I’m sure it was a challenge to raise a family and earn your Ph.D. Lee supported me to do the program on a part-time basis, so I could still be a mom to my kids. My husband, Lee, encouraged me, and things lined up at Baylor. But just like anything in life, if you wait for the perfect time, it’s not going to work. I thought it was bad timing for the program. When we moved, Aiden, my oldest, was starting kindergarten. Ray: No, my husband was recruited here for work. WACOAN: Did you move to Waco for the doctorate program at Baylor? But it was fun because it was done in community. I thought getting my doctorate was just a dream. I have a good friend and mentor who recruited me to get my doctorate at Baylor in curriculum and instruction. I’ve always been drawn to educational leadership.
I got my master’s from Tarleton in education administration. Ray: When I graduated from Tech, I wanted to stay in school. WACOAN: Did you study education after undergrad?
JUST 18 MAGAZINE BRANDI HOW TO
There’s a strong pedagogy for how to teach and do it well. That’s something I’ve worked do to while Baylor - infuse our field with professionalism.
I think it removes the professionalism from teaching. My high school counselor’s reaction stuck with me. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that was my calling, but I didn’t find that path until graduate school. I went to Texas Tech for communications studies and comparative literature, but I kept going back to teaching. She was surprised and told me I should go to law school instead. Ray: When I was in high school, I told my school counselor I wanted to be a teacher. WACOAN: Have you always been drawn to the education field? “You don’t have to take off one hat and put on another.” “There’s a connected nature in everything I do,” she said.
Rather than striving for a balanced life, Ray, a mother of three, works for connectedness. in education at Baylor University - but her job also sends her out of the office, seeking ways to fill the needs of the community. She’s comfortable in the academic atmosphere - she spent seven years earning her Ph.D. She enjoys connecting people with resources, which is a major component of her current position. Brandi Ray, community programs coordinator for Continuing Education at McLennan Community College, calls herself a connector.