Lance Crawley: A Journey of Persistence and Achievement

For Lance Crawley, education is more than just a profession; it's a calling. With 32 years of service in Oklahoma public schools, Lance's career reflects his unwavering dedication to student success.

Lance began his career as a school teacher, and over the last three decades, he has taught high school English, coached high school boys' basketball, served as a building and office administrator, and most recently, took a position as the assistant superintendent for Muskogee Public Schools.

Dedicated to public education, Lance has impacted the lives of countless students. But even though he had many years of experience as a coach, mentor, and teacher, he still wanted more for his career.

Spending most of his years in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Lance began his higher education journey at a state university, where he met his wife, Andrea. Lance earned his bachelor's in English Education and a Master's in School Administration, but he ran into some difficulties as he reached for his doctorate degree in education.  Lance shared, "In 2004, I started a doctoral program at another university and... I walked away."

The time commitment and structure of the program left Lance unable to complete his doctorate and ultimately frustrated.  "Not having finished the program gnawed at me, and I knew "quitting" was a poor example for my children," Lance stated. Despite his numerous achievements, one chapter still needed to be completed: his doctoral journey.

But that changed in 2020. Inspired by assisting a colleague at Southern Nazarene University (SNU), Lance found renewed motivation to pursue his Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (Ed.D) and to do so at Southern Nazarene University.

Choosing SNU for his doctoral journey proved pivotal for Lance. From his initial interactions with Dr. Stephoni Case and the program staff, Lance felt welcomed and supported.

Lance shared, "I choose SNU because of the professionalism and courtesy shown to me by Dr. Stephoni Case when I inquired about the program. She and her staff could not have been more helpful and positive in those first important interactions."

SNU's Doctorate in Ed. Leadership combined a commitment to academic excellence with a Christ-centered approach which provided Lance with the perfect environment to thrive.

The flexibility of SNU's doctorate of educational leadership program made it possible for this busy father of three to pursue his degree, and as a resident of the Muskogee/Fort Gibson area, Lance was able to take his administration and ed. leadership courses online. These reasons also contributed to his choice of Southern Nazarene University over other higher education institutions.

Completing his doctorate online wasn't just about earning another degree for Lance; it meant closing a significant chapter in his life. Part of his success was in finding a program tailored for working professionals like himself. The unique structure of SNU's program provided the roadmap and support he needed to navigate his academic journey successfully.

Lance credits the care, leadership skills, and caring learning environment with his success in the online educational leadership program.

"I felt that SNU's faculty and staff were truly invested in each course that I completed, not just the instructor of the course. I felt my dissertation advisor and dissertation director were part of the path for my entire course of study, and they were both invested in the steps I was taking all along the way."

SNU's embedded dissertation with an assigned dissertation mentor focused on Lance's completion of his Doctorate degree in educational leadership and helped him build the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in this online degree program.

Lance reiterated, "The organization of the program for the working profession is unmatched in my opinion. Starting with the clear layout and timeline of all the courses, the attention to detail surrounding the embedded dissertation, and all of the available digital support... provided me exactly what I needed to see the finish line and stay on track. "

The program focused on educational leadership roles, servant leadership, educational systems, and leadership theories but did so from the perspective of a Christian worldview, which is sometimes difficult to find in an online doctorate in educational leadership degree.  

Earning his doctorate degree in educational leadership primes Lance to be an even more effective school leader. Lance encourages educational leaders in all settings and those working in educational administration to complete a doctoral degree. He knows firsthand how problem-solving, strategic planning, and effective leadership can transform school districts and help students learn. The online doctorate degree at SNU makes completing the degree not only possible but very doable.

In May 2023, Lance's perseverance paid off. He received his doctoral degree. His dissertation addressed the influences on public school bond elections in Oklahoma and further demonstrated his commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for all students and the field of education.

As Lance reflects on his journey, he acknowledges SNU's role in his success.

"SNU is a Christ-centered program. The acceptance, comradery, and caring -that essential element- adds to a rigorous doctoral program and is difficult to convey in words. However, I know I felt it, and His presence helped me use my talents to ultimately create scholarly research that can add equity to all public school students' educational experiences across our entire state."

Lance Crawley's story exemplifies the profound impact one individual can have on shaping the future of education. He plans to continue making a difference in Oklahoma's education landscape—this time with his doctorate in hand. Lance offers a resounding endorsement of SNU's Ed.D. to aspiring school administrators and faculty members, encouraging them to explore the opportunities provided.

”Dr. Crawley came to us with a lot of successful coursework and precious little support from his previous experience. He jumped right into DEAL, and his productivity was outstanding. To top it all off, his research has been highly impactful in the field of School Finance. I look forward to promoting his study at national conferences as well as within the State of Oklahoma,” said program director Dr. Stephoni Case.

Lance didn't know an online Doctorate in Educational Administration and  Leadership would be in his future, but having earned his Ed. D., he looks ahead to the next chapter. One thing remains certain: Lance Crawley's legacy will continue to inspire future educational professionals.

Interested in learning more about Southern Nazarene University's online Doctorate in Educational Administration and  Leadership program? Reach out to our program director Dr. Stephoni Case or Apply Now.