NSU Horizons Fall 2010

19 horizons VICKI FOLDS, M.S., Ed.D. in Leadership/Education/Technology Vice President of Education and Professional Development, Children of America Vicki Folds proves earning graduate degrees in education can bring success in the corporate world. Her slogan: education is power. She knew earning her Ed.D. would open doors for her, and NSU allowed her to fit the program into her schedule, through distance learning and graduate classes on weekends. “My degrees have solidified me as an expert in my field, allowing me to be heard at boardrooms and at conferences,” she said. A working mother, Folds changed to a career in education because she wanted a job to match her children’s schedules. After working in early childhood programs, she became an assistant principal. In 1991, she entered the private sector as vice president of education for Tutor Time Child Care Centers, where she developed child- hood curriculum for more than 485 child care centers. Now, Folds is vice president of education and professional development at Children of America in Delray Beach, Florida, which operates 42 schools that provide early childhood education and development programs nationwide. An adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College, Folds also established a National Training Institute for profes- sional development. “With [Fischler], you don’t have just one corridor to go down,” she said. “The school opens many corridors to a variety of options. I was able to travel through those options because of my education.” MELANIE BAZARTE, Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education Author, lecturer, teacher, parenting expert known as “The Parent Doctor” Melanie Bazarte taught more than 3,000 students in preschool, Head Start, and first and second grades, but it wasn’t until she started workshops for her classroom parents that she had an epiphany: working with students was not enough. Good parenting, she realized, begins before birth. That idea grew into Bazarte’s business—teaching educational classes to parents and children at South Florida’s West Boca Medical Center and Boca Raton Community Hospital. Her classes range from Parenting 101— a one-day workshop for expectant parents—to Sibling classes—a 90- minute class to prepare children for a new baby in the family. She also has written books on child development including Parenting 101 , Nurturing with Nutrition , Let’s Pretend , Finger Plays , and Discipline 101 . “I teach practical tips,” she said. “That’s what my books are famous for. People say they are easy to read. There is no fluff.” Her Parenting 101 book was a clue on the television show Jeopardy! Although Bazarte had a master’s degree in elementary teaching, she knew she needed additional credentials for her new career. What attracted her to NSU’s Fischler School was the graduate degree program’s flexibility that allowed students to continue working while going to classes. Bazarte attended classes on Saturdays for three years to earn her doctoral degree. “My doctorate opens many doors. Now I’m known simply as Dr. Melanie,” said Bazarte. VIKTOR J. JOGANOW, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Superintendent, Passaic Valley Regional High School, New Jersey Viktor J. Joganow, an educator for 40 years, has never tired of teaching. “I will be 61 this year, and I don’t see myself walking away anytime soon,” he said. “I still have a passion for it.” That passion began when he was a high-school student at Passaic Valley Regional High School. After graduating from college, he returned to his old high school to teach. He went on to become superintendent of two different school districts before returning to his home town in 2001. He credits much of his success to NSU’s innovative graduate school programs at the Fischler School, where he earned his Ed.D. in Edu- cational Leadership. Two years ago, Joganow and two other Fischler School graduates, Dominick A. Potena and Theodore A. Jakubowski, were honored as Super- intendents of the Year. “There is no question NSU was a leader in the off-campus structure,” he said. While at NSU, Joganow worked on a model for establishing a foundation to generate revenue for school districts. His concept is being used in his school district and two others. Joganow said a degree in education does not limit a graduate to teaching. A background in education can prepare a person for other fields of work. “It gives you practical experience in dealing with data and analyzing information, which puts you in a better position to make decisions in any field,” he said. n