"How are we going to get permission slips for my students to ride around in the BMW I promised?"
—Annette Lee, a Ph.D. in Education student, who was named the Beaufort County [S.C.] School District 2007-08 Teacher of the Year, quoted in the Beaufort Gazette. The award comes with the use of a BMW for one year, courtesy of a local dealership. Before winning the award, Lee had joked about letting her students drive it if she won. Lee teaches special education students at Bluffton High’s Freshman Academy.

“Peer consultation and professional mentoring allow you to connect with other professionals who have paved the way through similar experiences. Once you understand who you are and what you want to do, you have a good framework for accomplishing work and personal goals.”
—Dr. Savitri Dixon-Saxon, interim associate dean of the School of Counseling and Social Service, quoted in an Essence magazine article “Lessen Your Stress.”

“I answer a student’s question, and everyone can see it online. When you get to this level in education, you have become a self-actualized learner. You need interaction with colleagues.”
—Dr. Joe Ann Hinrichs, faculty member in the College of Education, quoted in “The Online Doctorate: Flexible, But Credible?” published in the August issue of The School Administrator.

“We hope to use the data to inform us how to best protect children and their families.”
—Dr. Angeleque Akin-Little, faculty member in the School of Psychology, quoted in the Aug. 27 Mental Health Weekly. She and her husband, Dr. Steven G. Little, received a Faculty Excellence Fund Grant from Walden University to study resilience in children in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

November Ponder front page