Ashley Thomas didn’t wait for permission to take her next step—she made the decision to invest in herself. In this episode, she shares how she went from high school chemistry teacher to doctoral candidate, all while balancing work, life, and the emotional weight of the dissertation process. We talk about what it really means to bet on your future, why group coaching changed everything, and how she learned to ask for help without shame. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth it to invest in support—Ashley’s story will show you what’s possible when you do.

Dissertation Information

• Qual Scholars Community: https://qual-scholars.circle.so/
• 10 Pages In 2 Days Writing Retreat: https://qualscholars.com/10pages/
• The Finish Your Dissertation Institute: https://qualscholars.com/theinstitute/ 
• Qual Scholars Website: https://qualscholars.com/ 
• Qual Scholars’ Instagram: https://instagram.com/qual_scholars/

Ashley Thomas (She, her, hers)

I am Ashley Thomas, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. I have been a teacher for 19 years in the DeKalb County School District, with nine years in the middle school setting, teaching all sciences and ten years at the high school level, teaching general and accelerated chemistry, AP chemistry, and forensic science. I earned my B.S. in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana, master’s from Keller Graduate School in information systems, and an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in instructional technology from Kennesaw State University. I am a firm believer in leveraging my technology expertise to support my fellow peers while developing my students’ skills. I have facilitated various professional development initiatives over the past decade. I have also presented at multiple levels, including both instructional technology and educational research conferences, at the local, state, national, and international levels.

 

During my tenure in my local school district, I was named Star Teacher in 2019, Stephenson High School’s Teacher of the Year 2023- 2024, and the DeKalb County School District’s High School Teacher of the Year 2023-2024. I have been granted the Explore Learning Leadership Award for Implementation in 2015 and 2016. I also earned the KSU’s Bagwell Scholar Award in Spring 2022 while earning my specialist degree. I was also honored in the Georgia Senate with a Resolution for Stephenson’s Teacher of the Year in 2024. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Kennesaw State University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout my studies.

 

In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to an eclectic array of music, spending time with my family and friends, and traveling whenever possible.

 

I was affected by Hurricane Katrina and had to take my last semester classes at Spelman College and Georgia State University. I must give credit where it’s due. I successfully completed my BS while navigating that bump in the road, and I also pursued a doctoral degree while experiencing the loss of my sister and, subsequently, my father within 18 months.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

02:50 Meet Ashley Thomas: A Journey in Education

05:42 The Decision to Join the Program

10:28 The Value of Community and Support

15:04 Navigating Personal Challenges

19:01 Experiencing the Writing Retreat

24:02 Investing in Your Future

24:31 Investing in Yourself

25:22 The Power of Community and Support

27:28 Planning for Success

30:31 The Importance of Outcome-Driven Goals

32:03 The Value of Group Coaching

35:19 Embracing Support and Vulnerability

39:08 Commitment to the Process

42:55 Taking the Leap: Just Do It