EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
The Excellence in Teaching award recognizes superior faculty who go above and beyond the expected levels of delivering instruction and improving educational excellence as demonstrated by student outcomes.
“Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is committed to excellence for our teachers and our students,” said President Spalding.
Each year, the College undergoes a process to identify the best instructors. Faculty, staff and students have the opportunity to weigh in on the nominations and vote for the top instructors. Then, the top nominees are asked to complete an extensive and rigorous self-review process, culminating with an unannounced video observation of the instructor in action in the classroom.
In 2018, the College’s Outstanding Excellence in Teaching Awards were awarded to Jessica Fowler, full-time mathematics instructor, and Leslie Pullen, part-time anatomy lab instructor.
Jessica Fowler has been a faculty member of the mathematics department at Rowan-Cabarrus for three years. Fowler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Education and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition to teaching mathematics, she is a co-advisor for Phi Theta Kappa and a team leader for MAT 143, Quantitative Literacy.
“I became a math teacher to show others how fun and exciting math can be,” said Fowler. “I strive to create a positive learning experience where students feel comfortable asking questions and collaborating with their peers.”
She currently resides in Midland, N.C. with her husband and three-year-old twin daughters. Fowler enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, and hiking.
Leslie Pullen, the College’s part-time recipient, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a Master of Education in Science Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Pullen has been an adjunct lab instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus for 15 years.
“Science is my passion and I want to ignite a fire in my students to be curious and to investigate the unknown,” said Pullen. “I encourage my students to also seek a career that they too can be passionate about.”
Students initiate the nomination process for this award annually by recommending their top instructors. Students then help narrow that pool of candidates by voting for their favorites who best represent the College’s instructor of the year. Final nominees are then required to submit an extensive portfolio, letters of recommendation and submit to an unannounced, filmed observation.
“Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has a long and proud tradition of hiring highly qualified and dedicated faculty in all of its academic programs,” said Dr. Michael Quillen, vice president of academic programs. “The faculty members selected for this year’s Excellence in Teaching Awards certainly are representative of this tradition. These faculty members, and many others, do a wonderful job of providing high-quality instruction to the students at Rowan-Cabarrus.”