Teacher Spotlight on Heather Schoenherr

The following interview was compiled by Emily Polacek.

More than anything, I hope students leave my classes feeling seen and supported. Working at a community college has opened my eyes to how important it is to help foster a sense of academic belonging in students so that they will persist in their education to attain their academic and professional goals.

I like to put students in the driver's seat in their education as much as possible.

I love teaching our Writing for the Social Sciences course. In the class, we focus on technical writing and collaboration, which often are topics loathed by students. I like the challenge of growing these skills to the point that students might even say they enjoy writing and collaborating. Additionally, I love this class because it strengthens critical thinking through reading, understanding, and applying scholarly research, a skill we need now more than ever with the abundance of “research” through media.

Helping students make connections, be it with the material, each other, the community, or opportunities, drives me as a teacher. I want to empower students to strengthen who they are as individuals and members of society.

To name one person who has inspired me is impossible. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by inspirational teachers and colleagues who push me to continue developing my teaching skills. Not to mention all the wonderful teachers who share their ideas publicly. My teaching reflects what I have taken away from so many others in the field.

Witnessing students realize their goals is something I cherish. Sometimes, it is when students walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Other times, it is when they have become professionals. I even have had students who have come back to teach at my institution–that is pretty magical.

Be authentic. When you are authentic, students will connect with you and the material. There is no one way to teach, but there is only one you. 

Collaborate with others. Some of the most gratifying experiences in my career have been from unexpected collaborations. Collaborate with others in different disciplines. Collaborate with others from other institutions. Collaborate with community partners.

Teaching is a process and not a product. To this end, there is always room to grow. Fail in the spirit of discovery. Try new things in the classroom to keep the material fresh or the approach to assessment relevant. If something does not work, try something different the next semester.

I truly am honored to be a recipient of the Wayne Weiten Teaching Excellence Award. This award has allowed me to reflect humbly on the vital role of teachers and community colleges. Teaching is not just my profession. It is who I am.