 Ann McVey, who recently received her doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision, out front of the Bowling Green Schools Administration building. (Photo: Aaron Carpenter/Sentinel-Tribune)
She taught for 18 years. She currently serves as assistant superintendent in charge of student services for Bowling Green City Schools. In August, she completed her doctorate degree at the University of Toledo.
But the tale is not so much about the end result, but the drive that took her on the journey there. By her own count, she has taken 180 hours of graduate courses, “which is like 60 classes.”
McVey earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1980, with a double-major in elementary education and special education, and a minor in music. She started her job with Bowling Green City Schools two days after she graduated, and has been with the district the entire time.
“Then, honestly, I just kept going,” she said of continuing her education. “I just started taking education classes that I was interested in.”
She spent many years earning her Master’s degree, as well as various certificates, including elementary principal and secondary education certificates, assistant superintendent and superintendent certifications.
Earning her doctorate, which focused on educational administration and supervision, in August through a three-year program took a serious degree of focus: “I had to sacrifice, but I tried to sacrifice where it wouldn’t hurt anyone else. I didn’t watch college football for three years.” She gave up her golf game, as well.
To succeed, she worked for the school district Monday through Friday, and tended to family activities and other work issues during the evenings. On weekends, she spent a minimum of 20 hours toward her degree, and used holidays as bonus work days.
“I always knew I would (earn a doctorate),” she said. “It was an elusive degree — that one degree out there that I hadn’t gotten. I knew at one point in my life I would do it.”
And McVey, who lives in rural Bowling Green with her husband Doug, encourages others, including co-workers and her daughters, to continue their own education.
“Do it,” she tells them. “It does take dedication in order to finish, but they can do it and they should do it.”
“I think that’s awesome, said daughter Jennie McVey, who will graduate from Bowling Green State University Dec. 20 — the same day her mother will walk across a stage at the University of Toledo to accept her own diploma. “She turns 50 and I think it’s great that we have the same graduation date and I’m just 21. I think it’s great that she gets to share that day with me and I get to share that day with her.”
“I will definitely be getting my Masters, and if I’m as strong as my mom, I will go back and get my doctorate, but that’s down the line,” she said.
Even though Ann McVey has had her superintendent certificate for several years, she says she has not applied for the position in any district.
“I didn’t get the doctorate for that purpose,” she said. “I am very established in what I am currently doing. Do I know exactly what I am going to do yet? No, I don’t think I really know yet.
“BG City Schools is a wonderful place to work,” she continued. “The community of Bowling Green, with the university and the city schools, all support continued learning.”
But with the accomplishment of her doctorate, will she continue her own education?
“It’s hard for me to say with 100 percent conviction that I won’t go back,” she said. “If there is something out there that really interests me, I might go back.”
Even with more than 27 years of service with the district under her belt, Ann McVey hasn’t even figured out when she will be eligible to retire.
“There’s part of me that would love to teach again,” she said. She has even considered teaching at the university level. That may be the key to the question of whether she will continue her own education.
“There’s no better way to learn than to teach,” she said. “I need to continue to learn to be effective at my job.”
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