Suzie K. Oh
Principal
Third Street School
Los Angeles Unified School District

Earning a doctorate has been a life-long dream for me. For virtually my entire professional life in the field of education, I have felt somewhat shortchanged, especially as an educational leader and consultant.

Frequently, I am asked to speak on educational issues or matters relating to Asian Americans. On an experience basis, I never felt particularly credible, simply because I had not yet earned a doctoral degree. Because I am surrounded by such highly qualified colleagues in education, who had also earned advanced graduate degrees, it was incumbent upon me to pursue my goal if for no other reason to insure that the students in my charge and the educational community I serve received the highest possible education available to them.

As a life-long learner and an educator with 26 years’ experience in Los Angeles Unified School District, I have never been satisfied with the status quo. Realizing that a successful life is one filled with continuous challenges, three years ago, I enrolled in the U.S.C. School of Education doctoral program. The challenges of combining doctoral studies and a fulltime principal’s workload have produced much fruit in a short length of time.

The U.S.C. projects, class discussions, and readings have indeed had direct relevance to my work at Third Street School. Studying the latest research on educational leadership, organizational theory and instructional improvement has enabled me to reexamine my educational career from a deeper, more insightful perspective.

The doctoral professors have also provided invaluable guidance and inspirational examples of educational leadership. In particular, my advisor who has also served as dissertation chair has motivated me to dig deeper into myself and this field to ultimately improve the quality of education for all students.

Combining running a school and pursuing a doctoral degree has been challenging, if not daunting at times. However, it has been also exciting and energizing. I hope to continue to learn so I can provide more effective and inspirational educational leadership. The U.S.C. doctoral program is enabling me to keep "raising the bar" of professional and personal success.

Now, after three years of academia, I have finished my dissertation and am preparing for the oral defense next week; and I will graduate in May, 2001. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel if one is persistent, regardless of her/his age!

(Suzie K. Oh can be reached by email at sko1212@aol.com or by FAX at (323)256-1765.)