Instructors earn exceptional faculty awards
06/16/2009
Physical education instructor Janet Guenther and basic skills instructor James Polley have earned 2008-2009 Echelbarger/Sherman Exceptional Faculty Awards. The Edmonds College Foundation presents this award to one or more full-time faculty each year.
Recipients are selected by a committee chaired by the vice president of instruction. Guenther and Polley will be honored during Fall Kick-Off Week. Last year's recipients were math instructor Paulette Botley and paralegal instructor Mike Fitch.
Guenther and Polley are being recognized for exceptional service to their program or discipline; dedication, knowledge, and expertise; outstanding teaching skills; and superior service in the classroom.
"The commitment and effectiveness demonstrated by these two excellent faculty is reflected in the high numbers of successful students they have taught and mentored," said Marty Cavalluzzi the college's vice president for instruction.
Guenther has been teaching full-time at the college since 1978. In addition to teaching physical education, she herself has demonstrated award-winning levels of personal fitness. She has won 11 body building championships over the last four years, including the Vancouver Natural Open “Overall Champion” in which she was pitted against women 25 years her junior. She can often be found in Seaview Gym, helping and correcting students with their weight-lifting routines, eating habits, and attitudes.
Polley has been teaching in the Washington State Reformatory Unit and the Minimum Security Unit at the Monroe Correctional Facilities since 1998. He teaches Basic Skills and has had many successes in an environment that is incredibly tough to teach in (e.g., limited access to students, students transfer to another facility before completing the class, students have had limited engagement in education prior to his classes).
When the Minimum Security Unit was selected to house parole violators (who stay for only three weeks), Polley immediately created an intense abbreviated program and to provide instruction to these students. Some of these students even earned their GED during that time.