Principal Bryant Earns Her Doctorate

Written by Anika Ajgaonkar

February 2024

// credits to Meiqi Tan

Class is in session…for the principal! Principal Bryant recently crossed an academic milestone in her career, earning her doctorate in Education, and we sat down with her to discuss her journey towards the degree, the topic of her dissertation, and how she plans to leverage her newfound knowledge to shape the future of Biotechnology High School.

Congratulations on completing your doctorate! How do you think your research will impact your approach to leading Biotech?

I completed my Ed.D. -  Doctor of Education. I hope to eventually use my dissertation suggestions here in the district. 

If you don't mind sharing, what was the topic of your dissertation? Was there a particular motivation behind choosing to research this topic?

The title of my dissertation is: "Enrollment in New Jersey STEM High Schools: Student Access and Best Practices for Equitable Recruitment, Admission, and Retention."  My motivation for this particular topic came from making sure all students that are eligible for enrollment in BTHS have an equal opportunity to be admitted and have a successful experience here. 

When it comes to education, do you think there is a gap that exists between theory and practice? If so, how can educators and students work to bridge this gap?

In any practical application of theory, there is always some type of gap between theory and practice. In the case of my research, I used previous studies in the literature review as compared to my own data from STEM high school administrators throughout New Jersey to come up with practices that can be implemented to ensure equitable recruitment, admission, and retention of all students. The hope is that these recommendations can be applied practically and create change in STEM high schools in New Jersey. 

What unique educational situations have you encountered or do you believe exist in leading a school like Biotech?

Biotechnology is full of amazing, hard-working students full of potential! BTHS faculty are also working hard to help students find a balance between their academics, extracurricular activities, and fun as well. Our goal is for our students to be physically, emotionally, and academically well. ❧