Alumni Spotlight: Scott Staron, M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction

Q: How did your path lead you from military service to education?

It was a long, circuitous path! I experienced many roles in education and training throughout my career. During military service I taught courses to NROTC students at The Ohio State University. In my career as a maritime consultant and contractor I had many such opportunities, including developing computer-based training courses, managing ship handling and navigation training simulator projects, and teaching in corporate settings. Since these were always my favorite roles, and since I wanted a solid foundation for future efforts of that type, I chose to pursue a master’s degree in education.

Q: Why did you choose to enroll at UVA for your master’s degree?

Since I work full-time, I needed an online program with asynchronous flexibility, and UVA’s curriculum & instruction program seemed to best fit my needs compared to other Virginia schools I considered. This is such a great state for education and there are many excellent options available. UVA offered the type of well-organized program that usually appeals to those with a military background.

Q: If you had to choose one thing that was a particularly impactful part of your experience at UVA, what would that be and why? 

That is an easy question. As an academic advisor, Dr. Ann Jewett was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. As the instructor for one of my first classes, Dr. Jewett was head and shoulders above all of the other instructor staff in my curriculum, though there were many good ones. It would have been a different experience without her guidance, and she was also an excellent model as an educator.

Q: How did you manage taking classes while working full-time, and what do you plan to do next?

The main factor that made the UVA M.Ed. program so workable for me in my current position was the project-based nature of nearly every course. I was able to develop a performance improvement plan for my business unit in one course and then implement online courses as training performance interventions for that plan in following courses. The UVA curriculum dovetailed quite nicely with my day-to-day work, and I think many other professional working students would also find that to be the case.

I have not yet transitioned from my current position as an executive in a defense contracting company to a pure educational role, but I look forward to doing so in the next year or so.  I have high hopes that the UVA M.Ed. program will be an advantage in working toward that end.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a transition from military service to education?

I think that success as an educator requires commitment and discipline, which tend to be defining characteristics of most individuals with a military background. But I also believe it takes an intense interest in a subject or topic and a willingness to share it with others. So for those with that kind of passion and the military drive, pursuing a career in education may be the right next step for you!