While many graduate students navigate the rigors of advanced degrees solo, local teachers Paul and Emily (Dauer) Sawyer found their greatest academic asset right at their own dining room table. This May, the married couple will cross the commencement stage together, each earning a Master of Education degree from Worcester State University.
Both full-time teachers in the Worcester area, the couple spent five years pursuing their degrees part-time. Paul, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Sullivan Middle School in Worcester, and Emily, a chemistry teacher at Douglas High School in Douglas, Mass., adhered to a “one course per semester” philosophy to ensure they could maintain their high standards in their own classrooms while excelling in their studies.
“Tackling one course per semester allowed us to give 100% effort to our students and our own studies without being overwhelmed,” said Emily Sawyer. “Our advice to any couple or colleague is to just start. Don’t postpone it – just keep steadily pecking away at the work.”
The impact of their coursework was felt immediately by their students. The couple credit Worcester State faculty for modeling digital structures and differentiated instruction that they have since integrated into their teaching. Paul now utilizes structured collaborative student groups with defined roles, while Emily has implemented rigorous digital rubrics that increase student ownership in her science labs.
The journey was defined by mutual support, from shared study sessions to talking to each other through “crunch time” deadlines.
“The professional dialogue between us has deepened so much,” said Paul Sawyer. “Having someone who understands the workload – someone right there at the table with you – makes all the difference. We talked to each other through the difficult courses and celebrated the small milestones.”
As they look toward the future, both see their new degrees as gateways to leadership. Paul is taking on increased responsibilities at Sullivan Middle School with an eye toward department leadership, while Emily is expanding her role at Douglas High School, where she also advises the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
Graduating together is a point of pride and a testament to the manageable, supportive environment provided by the university for working professionals for both Emily and Paul.
For the Sawyers, the journey was long but finishing it together as part of a historic university milestone makes the achievement even sweeter. Their message to other working professionals is simple: the support is there, the pace is manageable, and the results are transformative.
“Whether you do it together or by yourself,” Paul said. “It’s a goal that reshapes your career and your classroom at the same time.”