Adam Bontreger knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a teacher, specifically a high school basketball coach. It wasn’t until about 10 years into his teaching career that he began to consider becoming an administrator and subsequently decided to pursue a Doctorate of Educational Administration and Supervision from Ball State Online.

The Influence of Ball State Online Educators

During Adam’s time pursuing his education at Ball State University, he credits Dr. Serena Salloum as one of his most impactful educators. He explains that she teaches in a way that shows she is invested in her students learning the material and encourages student interaction in the online environment to foster collaboration. “It was not a check this box and do this assignment experience,” Adam says of Dr. Salloum’s class. “It was truly a virtual learning experience unlike any I experienced before or since.”

In addition to classroom experience, Adam says his internship experiences helped mold him into a future administrator. The projects in these programs were challenging yet relatable and represented the actual work of school administrators, making them valuable learning experiences. “A few of my superintendent internship projects have even directly impacted the school district I am employed by, which is a nice feeling to know that my work was actually put to use,” Adam says proudly.

“A few of my superintendent internship projects have even directly impacted the school district I am employed by, which is a nice feeling to know that my work was actually put to use.”

The Value of a Ball State Online Education

“I chose Ball State simply because I knew that I could get my post-grad degrees done online at a reasonable cost,” Adam tells us. He is a busy man: a father of four, a middle school assistant principal, an athletic director, and the general manager of a travel basketball organization that serves over 400 youth. Adding a doctorate program to his plate required ensuring the program he chose would allow him to balance these important aspects of his work and life. Ball State Online ended up being a great choice.

“I chose Ball State simply because I knew that I could get my post-grad degrees done online at a reasonable cost.”

Proud Accomplishments

Adam is proud of his athletic accomplishments, including being a two-time state high school basketball champion, playing in national college tournaments, and winning over 200 games as a varsity high school basketball coach. His love of athletics is a key factor in his success as a coach and athletic director. If it wasn’t for that, he might not be where he is today. “Perhaps my greatest personal achievement is completing my dissertation and doctorate while still balancing all the other responsibilities I have in my life,” Adam says.