Graduate School Musings

[hsfamfun]

I am a homeschooling parent who graduated all of my students.  I teach violin in my home and am a homemaker and my in laws have some health challenges,so it is good that I am available to help, but am thinking of what is next for me.  My 50th birthday is in 2019, so there is that, as well!

I have a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling that I earned the year before my oldest son was born, but I never directly used it in the workforce. I have also taken all of the Poetry in America courses that were offered so far, and am currently enrolled in the two courses for the Spring semester beginning in January.  

So, my thoughts on what is next involve trying to become an Adjunct faculty member at my local CC or a small college nearby.  I will have 20 hours in Poetry in May, but have considered supplementing that with a course in Teaching Writing, because that is where the need is usually at a CC.  I have also considered pursuing the ALM in English at Harvard Extension School.  However, we have been living on one income for 20 years and although we are very frugal with our money, we have one son in college and one looking at Graduate schools.  So, cost is a HUGE barrier. 

Another thought is of a school here in Kentucky that has a PhD program in Leadership, University of the Cumberlands.  This may be a good fit for my interesting combination of Educational experiences.  Their online tuition is $375 per credit hour,and is roughly half of the University of Kentucky, and they may accept the HES courses.  

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice?  I have discovered while homeschooling, that I love teaching!  I taught for years in a homeschool co-op setting and loved it.  I have also considered going back to become a certified teacher at the High School Level.  However, since I already have a Masters, it is easier to qualify to become an adjunct.  

Basically, I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.  I do know that only I can do that.  I have also discovered that I could happily be a professional student.   

There are also the Micromasters programs from EdX that may be a good fit for me cost wise.  The Leading Educational Innovation and Improvement is the one that interests me the most.