Welcome Back! Reflecting on Teaching Excellence for Student Success

As we reconvene for another spring semester, let’s celebrate the fresh start it brings. This period marks more than the commencement of academic sessions; it’s a time to rekindle our collective commitment to nurturing student success through innovative and empathetic teaching. Here, teaching excellence and student success are not just institutional goals but a shared journey of discovery and growth that impacts us all.

Last March, I posted an article contemplating the meaning of Teaching Excellence through my experience of playing tennis. Though I will never be an MVP of tennis, I still can become an excellent tennis player as I strive to grow, fail, and learn. Similarly, the path to teaching excellence has the power to transcend traditional boundaries, blending knowledge with understanding, and instruction with inspiration. It’s about creating an environment where students not only learn but thrive. Now, consider student success: Is it defined solely by academic metrics, or does it encompass a broader spectrum of personal and intellectual growth? Our teaching methods, the environment we create, and the relationships we build in the classroom serve as catalysts for this expansive view of success. How do our interactions in the classroom resonate beyond its walls, influencing not just the academic but the personal landscapes of our students’ lives?

As we embark on this semester’s journey, let’s reflect on these questions. How will we, as educators, define teaching excellence and student success in the coming months? What new paths will we explore to ensure that our teaching not only informs but also transforms? Your insights, creativity, and dedication are the keystones in this endeavor. Together, let’s inspire and be inspired, shaping a semester of meaningful learning and enduring impact. Let’s begin to define student success that shapes and informs our path to teaching excellence.

Thank you for being you,

Jessica