Phil Blue

Job Title and School District:

Executive Director of Athletics, Abilene ISD

How has this degree affected your professional outlook? What about personally?

I learned many aspects of educational leadership that I use daily in my current position. I also have a greater understanding and appreciation for what campus principals must do in order to be effective on a daily basis.

What was your single biggest takeaway from the program?

An appreciation for the many requirements and skills it takes to be a campus principal. I think that the high school principal is the most demanding position in a school district.

How much time per week did you spend on your studies?

15-25 hours per week depending on the class.

Describe how having an online option made a degree more accessible for you.

There were two very important factors that made obtaining my master's degree very difficult using conventional programs: 1) finding available time while serving as the athletic director and 2) finding funds since I was already paying for my child's college tuition & fees. The Lamar online program gave me the flexibility to take only one or two courses in the fall semester and then another course or two in the spring semester. It took quite a while for me to take all of the needed courses, but it also allowed for me to plan for paying for the next class.

What was one of the biggest challenges during the program, and how did you overcome it?

Taking a class during football season was extremely challenging, but it helped me grow in the area of discipline and time management. I spent many 10 hour days on Saturdays and Sundays in order to complete the coursework.

How did you hear about the online degree programs at Lamar University?

A Lamar University representative came to our district and gave a presentation.

Why did you choose to earn your advanced degree from Lamar University?

I was already in an administrative position, but I knew that I needed to complete my master's degree in order to open other possibilities if I chose to investigate advancing in education.

What advice would you give to a prospective student who is considering this program?

Don't let time constraints or financial constraints keep you from entering the program. The flexibility of the Lamar University online program is student friendly and the quality of the instruction is excellent.

What helped you get through the program the most? What helped you make it to the finish line?

Unlike most students who complete the program in 18 months, I took longer to complete the program and it never seemed to be a grind. I was always ready to start a new class.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would do it exactly the same. If I were a little younger, I would probably pursue the superintendents program through LU online.