Chancellor's website utk.edu

 

2010 Outstanding Teacher Awards

Robert French
Robert French, assistant professor in the College of Architecture and Design, considers himself to be a student at heart. For him, education is a lifelong process, and he shares this with his students, urging them to never stop learning. French insists students work alongside each other in the design studio, giving them a chance to share ideas and thoughts, ultimately learning from each other. He respects the personality of each student and makes an effort to know students as individuals. During every class, he discusses individual projects with students, not only pointing out what needs improvement, but giving recognition to all that is praiseworthy.

Gregory Kaplan
Gregory Kaplan, professor of Spanish, recognizes that using technology in the classroom can be the key to a stimulating learning environment. Using images and text in PowerPoint presentations gives his students the opportunity to see what they’re studying, something essential in a course taught entirely in a foreign language. He also promotes small-group and paired activities, even within large lecture courses. Experience has taught him that if he’s patient, even the shyest students will open up and participate when encouraged to address their peers.

Kristin Rearden
Kristin Rearden, clinical associate professor of elementary science education, is responsible for educating our future teachers. Alongside her students, she explores ways of channeling children’s curiosity and integrating science with math and literature. Her commitment to students goes well beyond the classroom. Mentoring teaching interns means responding to text messages at 6:30 a.m. when they are taking a sick day, visiting them in the classrooms as they teach, and brainstorming ideas for successful lessons in the evening. Rearden’s model for excellence in teaching has an obvious impact on her students well beyond their time at UT.

Richard Townsend
Richard Townsend, associate professor of accounting, knows that a professor’s enthusiasm toward what he’s teaching can have a profound effect on students. Townsend’s students know that he cares whether they understand the material, and he encourages them to get involved in class discussion. He knows that the more they get involved, the more they learn. While some students may never have Townsend’s enthusiasm for accounting, thanks to his dedication, they can see why knowing the basics is important.