Leading by Example: Educator Returns to the Hill to Show Her Students What Is Possible

When Ashley Hicks crossed the stage at Seton Hill University's commencement ceremony in May 2026, she completed a journey that had begun nearly two decades earlier.

After graduating from high school in 2008, Hicks enrolled at Seton Hill in January 2009. Although she enjoyed her classes and time on campus, personal challenges led her to withdraw after a few semesters. She briefly attended community college before realizing she wasn't in the right place to continue her education and instead entered the workforce.

Over the years, Hicks worked in a variety of positions including retail, casework, and in-home caregiving. She worked hard, paid her bills, and built a life for herself. But as time passed, she began to question whether she had achieved everything she had hoped for.

"I had a job and was able to pay my bills, but I saw that my friends who had continued their education were doing increasingly better," Hicks said. "I began to think that maybe I wasn't doing as well as I thought I was."

After becoming a mother, Hicks found a position as a paraeducator in a life skills classroom in the Sto-Rox School District. What began as a job that fit her family's schedule soon became a calling, connecting her with students, colleagues, and a community she deeply values.

Through this work, Hicks has become determined to help the students in her district build better futures. Many of her students face financial hardships, instability, and challenges outside the classroom – circumstances she understands from her own experiences.

She wants her students to see that success is possible, even if the path isn't straightforward.

But there was one question she struggled to answer.

"They would ask me, 'Miss Ashley, where did you go to school? What was your degree in?' And I couldn't answer that," Hicks said. "I wanted to set an example and be able to tell them that I finished my degree."

Encouraged by colleagues, Hicks began exploring the possibility of returning to college. After exploring options in the area, she found herself drawn again to Seton Hill.

"I always felt supported at Seton Hill," she said. “I started as an education major, and by the time I was considering returning I had come full circle and was working in a school.”

So Ashley submitted her previous transcripts along with a letter explaining why she had left school. Given her academic record, she was advised to start slowly with just two classes.

Another program helped ease Hicks’ transition back to school. She was eligible for Seton Hill’s Parent Pathways program, which offers scholarships and specialized academic counseling to parents of dependent children through a state grant.

And it didn't take long for Hicks to find her footing as a student.

Once she committed to finishing her degree, she set an ambitious goal: complete it as quickly as possible. She enrolled in as many as seven courses in a semester, supplementing her Seton Hill coursework by picking up a few classes at CCAC – all while continuing to work full-time.

Her schedule was already packed. In addition to her job and family responsibilities, Hicks coaches track and cheerleading and volunteers in the Sto-Rox community. Rather than put those commitments to the side, she simply added being a full-time student to the mix.

With the support of her husband, she pushed forward.

"I told myself, 'You are going to be tired regardless, so be tired and get it done,'" Hicks said.

Along the way, she found encouragement from her family, her colleagues, and her students.

After changing her major to behavioral health, Ashley completed her required internship with colleague Pamela Clawson in the life skills classroom where she worked.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to complete my internship with people I work with every day,” she said. “I was able to get real feedback from people I respect and learned more about different roles that I might want to pursue in the future.”

Hicks's five-year-old daughter has witnessed how seriously her mom took her return to school. In the evenings, the two would sit side by side doing their "homework" together.

And her daughter wasn’t the only one who saw her dedication to earning her degree.

"I love my kids," Hicks said of her Sto-Rox students. "They were my cheerleaders."

Her students followed her progress closely and were invested in her journey. While her students were enjoying their prom, Hicks was celebrating the completion of her degree at commencement.

As she neared graduation, Hicks chose to present at Seton Hill's Career Readiness Summit, where students reflect on the experiences and skills that have prepared them for their careers. The decision helped her recognize abilities she hadn't fully appreciated in herself.

"I don't like presenting in front of people," Hicks said. "But I learned that I am more prepared than I think I am."

Hearing about Ashley’s journey made an impression on Renée Starek, Director of the
Career and Professional Development Center at Seton Hill.

“For Ashley, participating in the Career Readiness Summit became an opportunity to reflect on how her life experiences, education, and professional work had shaped who she is today,” Starek said. “As a behavioral health major working in a Life Skills classroom, the experience helped her recognize her strengths and gain a clearer understanding of how prepared she is for the next step in her career journey.”

Looking ahead, Hicks is considering pursuing a master's degree in special education or counseling. For now, she is proud to have accomplished something she once wasn't sure she could finish – and is grateful for everything she learned along the way.

"My education was worth it," Hicks said. "This experience matured me in ways I didn't expect. Even in the liberal arts courses, I found connections to the work I do every day. It helped me fill in the blanks."