Nov. 9, 2004 issue

I love teaching every single day. The students at EMU remind me how blessed I am to be a teacher. In Teacher Education, students are extremely dedicated to their goal of becoming a teacher. I feel inspired by their passion to be the best possible teachers they can be. They are eager to learn, eager to understand, eager to think and reflect on developed skills. Compared to other institutions, EMU students have a better sense of why they are here and their commitment to continuing their education is stronger.

In addition to my students, I am grateful for my colleagues in Teacher Education. The faculty are outstanding teachers and scholars who devote their time to EMU and districts around the state. The administration is supportive, encouraging, helpful, and collectively committed to excellence. They are some of the finest people I have ever met.

The culture at EMU supports three aspects of the teaching profession including teaching effectiveness, service to community and scholarship. Balance between these aspects is very important and meaningful. Other institutions I have been at have emphasized scholarship to the detriment of teaching.

I was the 1999 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award. In addition to it being the single proudest moment of my life, it humbled me. There are so many deserving faculty. The award was the pinnacle of my life and I try every day to meet the high expectation the award sets. My students' judgment is the most important thing to me.

 

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