For Rebecca Willis, who graduated from Southern Nazarene University in December 2025, her journey to earning her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL) was about more than professional growth. It involved perseverance, purpose, and stepping into a new season of life in more ways than one.
Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2016, before beginning her career at Piedmont Public Schools. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to teaching 5th and 6th-grade science, shaping minds in the same community that helped shape her. This full-circle journey speaks to her commitment to students, education, and her community.
While continuing her work teaching in the classroom, Rebecca felt called to grow as a leader. When Piedmont Public Schools partnered with Southern Nazarene University (SNU) to offer an expanded pathway for educators to participate in their MAEL program, she saw it as the perfect opportunity.
“I was excited to be part of a pilot program that expanded higher education opportunities for educators,” she shared.
Through SNU’s program, Rebecca discovered a learning experience that proved to be both practical and deeply collaborative. She valued the opportunity to learn from university professors and local administrators alike, gaining insight from seasoned leaders who understood the realities of her day-to-day work.
“It was especially meaningful to gain diverse perspectives from both collegiate faculty and local school administration,” she said.
But Rebecca’s journey took on even greater significance during the program.
In March 2025, she welcomed her “lucky charms,” twin girls, into the world.
Balancing graduate studies, a full-time teaching career, and life as a new mom of twins is no small feat. Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder that determination and support can make anything possible. Her experience reflects the kind of flexibility and encouragement that allows adult students to continue pursuing their goals, even in life’s busiest and most transformative seasons.
Earning her Master’s in Educational Leadership has already made an impact on Rebecca.
“It broadened how I view my role as an educator,” she explained. “It strengthened my instructional practices, while also helping me understand the systems and leadership decisions that support schools.”
Today, she is equipped not only to lead in her classroom but to contribute more thoughtfully and effectively to her entire school community.
Looking back, Rebecca describes her time at SNU as both meaningful and supportive; an experience grounded in collaboration, reflection, and real-world application.
As we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, Rebecca’s story stands as a beautiful example of dedication: to her students, her profession, and her growing family. Her journey is a reminder that even amid life’s biggest changes, growth and purpose can thrive.