Better Together: Christina and Lucian Xenos’ Joint Pursuit of the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from LSUS

Newsroom | Student Stories Aug. 7, 2025

As a married couple working in K–12 online education, Christina and Lucian Xenos enrolled in LSU Shreveport’s online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (MEDCI) program with a shared vision: to grow as educators, strengthen their partnership, and take the next step in their careers. From being virtual classmates to having joint study sessions, their experience was a team effort from start to finish.

Learn more about their journey with the online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from LSUS!

Meet Christina & Lucian Xenos

Christina

What inspired each of you to pursue your respective degrees in education?
After 10 years in the classroom and a pandemic, I found myself inspired to do more with my life. It has become more and more evident that my bachelor's degree could only take me so far. When I began my search for the right degree, I naturally started with LSUS. It has always felt like home. LSU's online programs aligned perfectly with where our lives were at the time. We could continue to work from home and get our degrees from home. The accessibility of the program really sealed the deal for us.

What was it like pursuing your degrees online together?
We had the unique experience of bouncing ideas off each other and hearing a different perspective in our own home. Since we took the same courses, it was easy to discuss our ideas and opinions. Even still, we both had different approaches as students. We were intentional about not replying to each other's discussion posts because we value the opinions of others and want to learn from a variety of perspectives. Attending class Zoom meetings was fun because we sat in the same living room and could laugh together at the fun moments. Having taught virtually for 4 years, we know what it is like to teach to an empty Zoom classroom. It was great seeing our professor light up and feel energized by real dialogue.

How did you support each other during challenging moments?
As anyone knows, completing a master's degree, working full time, and managing home life can be very difficult. We held each other accountable, proofread each other with tired eyes, and gained inspiration. While we often wrote about different ideas and did independent research, I found that I learned through his work as well. He never stops inspiring me.

What advice would you give to other couples considering pursuing online degrees together?
When you often find inspiration in your partner, it can be tempting to compare yourself to them. It's important to remember your individual strengths. That is why it is important to encourage each other and not to view one idea as "better" than the other.

What was your favorite part of your journey?
The experience was packed with so many wonderful moments. Despite the online nature of the program, we were still able to build relationships. The longer I work in this field, the more I realize that relationships are a cornerstone of education. I felt connected to many of my professors and even made friends with a couple of my classmates.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?
I highly recommend the MEDCI program. Getting it done in one year was very important to us, and this program let us do that. A BIG shoutout to all my professors who went the extra mile to make sure we had what we needed.

Lucian

What inspired each of you to pursue your respective degrees in education?
Over the past several years, we've both been yearning for a change, but we keep coming back to the feeling that our Bachelor's was a bottleneck for us. The more we explore virtual education, the more we want to effect change in other ways. We aim to transition into Ed Tech and/or Instructional Design, and this degree aligns with both fields in various ways.

What was it like pursuing your degrees online together?
We got to bounce things off one another, but we tried to limit that until we'd both fleshed out our ideas fully. Since we both have very strong yet similar personalities, we initially didn't want to submit the same ideas, but we ended up exploring different aspects as the program progressed. Everyone needs support throughout their endeavors, and having someone close to you along for the ride helps them support you by having that insider knowledge in the weeds of everything.

How did you support each other during challenging moments?
We listened and offered advice. Working at a virtual school seems, on the surface, like it'd be easier, but it's not. Pursuing our master's at the same time had many challenging moments, so we made sure we were there for one another in whatever way we could be to make it through. Often, that meant reminding each other that we should give ourselves grace and that it's okay not to be perfect.

How did the flexibility of LSU Online help you achieve your goals as a married couple?
I don't think it would have been possible otherwise. I recall completing my Alternative Certification while teaching years ago, and it wasn't easy to balance in-person classes with my career. There were so many moments that felt completely insurmountable. The experience with MEDCI at LSUS this time also had its challenges, but they were manageable and feasible. Nothing felt impossible, and there was a surprising amount of support along the way.

What advice would you give to other couples considering pursuing online degrees together?
You get out of it what you put in. Be each other's support, not a crutch. We experienced moments when she'd look at something I'd created, and she'd think it was better, but then I'd go look at what she created, and I thought it was miles better than mine. Just remember that you can learn a great deal from one another, and those different perspectives are invaluable.

What are your future goals now that you’ve both graduated?
We're both innovative, passionate learners with strong interests and honed skill sets in educational technology, instructional design, coaching and mentoring, content creation, and many more areas. Our experience over the past several years has led us down the path of virtual learning, and we would like to continue supporting a wide variety of learners and pushing the envelope as far as possible.

What was your favorite part of your journey?
There were so many moments from meeting people at LSUS to the fantastic optional Zoom calls with some of the best professors. I think my favorite moment was at the end when Christina and I got to share our graduation day together.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?
I cannot stress enough the importance of putting in as much as you can. While it's easy to take shortcuts, especially with your own deadlines, there is SO much that you can learn from these programs that can take you a step beyond if you don't take those shortcuts. I highly recommend this program, but as always, LSUS in general. It'll always feel like home to me.

Build Your Future with People Who Care

Christina and Lucian’s story is a lovely reminder that you don’t have to choose between pursuing your education and building a life with someone you love. With the flexibility and support of LSU Online, students from all walks of life—including working couples—can reach their goals without putting their lives on hold.

Ready to take the next step? Explore online master’s in education degrees from LSUS.