For Stephen Marositz, there was never another path for him other than the career he chose. From early childhood, he always loved everything about school and even used to play “make believe” school with action figures and stuffed animals, with them playing the part of his students.  

“My passion [for education] comes from somewhere deeper in my soul,” Stephen says. “I have been obsessed with the history of schools, their role in society, and the pressures schools shoulder as the lifeblood of communities.” Then Stephen adds, “I don’t know of any other little kid who grew up wanting to be the Secretary of Education, but here I am. It’s a path I’m still committed to and intend to see through.”  

“I don’t know of any other little kid who grew up wanting to be the Secretary of Education, but here I am. It’s a path I’m still committed to and intend to see through.” 

Reflecting on the Ball State Online EdD Program  

During Stephen’s time as an online student at Ball State University, he credits Dr. Mike Shaffer as one of the most influential figures in the Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Educational Administration and Supervision program. After having the privilege of working with him in multiple courses, Stephen considers him an invaluable mentor, resource, and champion of his growth as an educational leader. Of Mike Shaffer, Stephen says, “Teaching is his clear vocation, and his commitment to this mission is exemplified in his service to the field and each individual student. I held him in such high esteem and talked about him so much that when my family came to my dissertation defense, they couldn’t wait to meet him!” 

Stephen says his clinical placements were slightly different from the traditional path because he was already working as a district leader while pursuing licensure. At the time, he served as the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. “My clinical placement was a full-time job,” he explains. “This allowed me to apply what I was learning from my courses in real-time. This also meant the stakes were incredibly high. What I put into practice impacted the learning of 20,000 students.”  

“My clinical placement was a full-time job. This allowed me to apply what I was learning from my courses in real-time. This also meant the stakes were incredibly high.” 

Choosing Ball State  

Stephen’s application to the Ball State Online doctoral program was strategic. “I had done a significant amount of research and vetting programs for about 18 months before beginning my doctoral journey,” he explains. “I knew exactly what I wanted in and out of the program, the kind of faculty and faculty expertise I wanted to learn from. Ball State was the only school that enthusiastically checked all my boxes.”  

“I knew exactly what I wanted in and out of the program, the kind of faculty and faculty expertise I wanted to learn from. Ball State was the only school that enthusiastically checked all my boxes.”  

Because of Stephen’s strong belief that teachers need to “walk the walk,” he wanted to be part of a program that enabled him to work closely with students and schools,  continue working full-time, and offered exceptional preparation for educational leadership. After hearing many horror stories about doctoral programs with absent advisors, he wanted to ensure he chose a program where he would be seen and supported.  

“From my first interaction with the EdD program, Ball State was different. I filled out the standard interest form on the website and was immediately contacted by the program director to discuss my personal and professional goals. In that initial conversation, Dr. Serena Salloum laid out a path specific to me. Personalized support has been unparalleled from the start.” 

“From my first interaction with the EdD program, Ball State was different….Personalized support has been unparalleled from the start.” 

Now that Stephen is fully immersed in his career, he can look back on his time with Ball State. “So much of my practice as a professor is based on how my professors at Ball State approach their courses. From them, I’ve had excellent modeling of instructional design, which centered purposeful focus on linking their to practical application, as well as overwhelming support and championing of my growth and success.” 

“So much of my practice as a professor is based on how my professors at Ball State approach their courses. From them, I’ve had excellent modeling of instructional design, which centered purposeful focus on linking their work to practical application, as well as overwhelming support and championing of my growth and success.” 

Stephen’s Proudest Accomplishments  

As a first-generation student, Stephen is aware of how incredibly difficult this journey has been. He shares the deeply personal aspects of his journey to a doctorate. “A long list of articles and books are filled with stats on how I am not supposed to be here. My family is poor. My dad dropped out of high school. My mom, a high school graduate, died of brain cancer during my freshman year of college. My first job was in 8th grade, and I have held at least one, often two jobs, ever since to support myself and my academic ambitions. And now I have earned a doctoral degree, forever altering the trajectory of my family’s story.”  

He credits the Ball State faculty with their guidance and acceptance as he walked this path, sharing, “I am forever grateful to have had mentorship from faculty who had walked this path and were highly effective district leaders themselves.”