Dedication, innovation and caring brought teaching awards to eight surprised Palo Alto College faculty members at the 2006 Spring Convocation.

Both the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Awards and the Starfish Award were presented at the beginning of this semester.

Javier R. Aguirre, the president of the Faculty Senate and Palo Alto History Instructor Professor said the NISOD award is an honor because “it’s from your peers.” These awards are faculty-driven. Palo Alto professors recognize fellow colleagues for making a difference on the campus and in the community. “Just being nominated is an honor,” said Aguirre.

Starfish Winner Renae Quick, center, teaches her students during an American Sign Language class. Photo by Kyle Friesenhahn

The NISOD award is divided into five subcategories. The Teaching Excellence Award for Dedication and Persistence was presented to Elizabeth Tanner, Instructor and Chair of the Mathematics Department, and Rosa Samelson, Associate Professor of Spanish. The Teaching Excellence Award for Innovation and Creativity was presented to Juan Tejeda, Music Instructor, and Joan Osborne, Economics Instructor. The Teaching Excellence Award for Adjunct Faculty – Daytime was presented to Sallyanne Holtz of the English Department. The Teaching Excellence Award for Adjunct Faculty – Evenings and Weekends was presented to Peter Streckfus, also of the English Department. And the Teaching Excellence Award for a Librarian or Counselor was presented to Dr. Rose Zambrano, a Palo Alto Counselor.

“I am just a link in the chain that works together so students can have a better future,” said Samelson. She motivates her students by telling them, “I improved my life due to the foundation I received as a community college graduate.” Samelson is an ACCD alumna herself.

“I have enjoyed working at Palo Alto,” said Elizabeth Tanner, Chair of the Mathematics Department. Tanner was delighted when she heard she received the award. “I hope that my contribution has been a good one.”

“Finding new and interesting ways to help students learn” is how Osborne thinks she has made a difference on the Palo Alto campus.

Osborne was excited to report that she is leading a Study Abroad trip to China this May with Palo Alto professors Karen Mahaffy and Elsa Anaya. Osborne has been a leader in encouraging her students to compile an International Studies ePortfolio, an electronic portfolio of their work.

The Palo Alto faculty members who received a NISOD are entitled to attend the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in May. There, the NISOD recipients will also receive medallions. This conference is hosted annually by the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas.

The Starfish Award was also presented at the 2006 Spring Convocation. This award is given to only one individual who is selected from nominations by students who wish to honor a teacher who has made a difference in his or her life.

The Starfish Award is from the student’s perspective, said Dr. Dan Rodriguez, the Interim Director of Student Activities at Palo Alto College. Forms to nominate Palo Alto College faculty members are available in the Student Activities Center in the Fall semester. Look for announcements.

Eleven faculty members were nominated to receive a Starfish Award for the 2005-2006 year. Adela Alvarado, Clark Galloway, Dallas Hart and Jose Nino were nominated from the Continuing Education Department. Vincent Bradford and Dora Ruffner were nominated from the Kinesiology Department. Robert Hines was nominated from the History Department. Disability support sources Renae Quick, Carolyn DeLecour, and Cakky Brawley were nominated from the Fine & Performing Arts/Speech Department. And lastly, Dr. Antonio Castillo was nominated from the Mathematics Department.

Rodriguez said that choosing the final winner was quite challenging, but this award is generated by the heart of the students.

“If a student believes an instructor has made a difference in their life, they can nominate them,” said Rodriguez. Nominations are sorted through, read and judged by a committee. The nominations are “judged by passion,” said Rodriguez.

In the end, Renae Quick was the one who became “shocked, surprised and very honored” to receive the Starfish Award.

“Her heart is for her students,” wrote a student nominator. “What she does so well is make each and everyone in her class feel how important we all are.”

Quick was nominated by several students to receive the coveted award. She is a Certified Interpreter with the Disability Support Services Center and an adjunct faculty for American Sign Language. Quick truly has a zest for her career.

“Sometimes you don’t realize it, but at times you do see you have made a change for the better,” said Quick.