Pascack Valley History teacher and Girls Soccer Coach Leah Jerome has spent the last eleven years as both a student and a teacher of history and graduated with her Doctorate Degree from Drew University in May of 2024.

Jerome has graduated with a Doctor of Letters with a focus in historical studies. A [D.Litt] is an interdisciplinary degree that allowed Jerome to take a variety of classes throughout her postgraduate journey

Jerome began her history education with a degree in American Studies from Fordham University and has been studying history since then.

“My undergraduate degree was also interdisciplinary,” Jerome said. “So all my academic work has been interdisciplinary, even though I always focus on history. I just feel like it makes me a better thinker.”

As a history teacher, Jerome has always focused on the humanities. She emphasizes how important it is to value the humanities as a part of being a well-rounded student and person. She felt Drew University’s program allowed her to explore all parts of history and the humanities she desired.

“I took a diverse course load,” Jerome said. “I took a course on the Civil War. I took a course on 19th-century reformers. Then, I also took a class on conflict resolution and a class on sports culture and history. The diversity of course offerings was really interesting to me.”

Jerome would divide her time between her dissertation on the Civilian Conservation Corps and working as a teacher for her World and United States History Classes.

“[The program] was very teacher-friendly,” Jerome said.“They encouraged teachers to do it. The class times were conducive to my schedule.”

Jerome’s experience taking classes and working on her dissertation has also allowed her to learn new ways to teach topics and grow as a teacher.

“I often looked at how my professors approach their teaching, and I pulled from what I learned and brought that into the classroom,” Jerome said. “Anytime you’re a student you’re pulling from what you’re learning, whether it’s content or how to approach teaching, or how to approach different interpersonal skills, you’re always learning.”

Not only has her experience brought her more knowledge as a historian and teacher, but it was also a personal accomplishment that displayed her dedication to herself and her education.

“Anybody can take courses, but the question is, can you commit to a 200-page dissertation?” Jerome said. “It’s all about putting your mind to something and getting it done.”

For Jerome, receiving this degree has allowed her to become more involved in the historical world and become a historian herself.

“I wanted to do this because I wanted to be a historian teaching history,” Jerome said. “I wanted to be somebody who had engaged in historical research as a teacher of history, and now, I really feel like I understand what that entails. I feel like it gives me credibility in the field of historical research.”

In the future, Jerome is hoping that this degree will help open doors professionally and allow her to speak at engagements and participate in more academic research.

“​​In the future, I’d love to find opportunities to work at the college level,” Jerome said. “I’d love to teach teachers but always in addition to being a teacher at Pascack Valley.”