INA — The Illinois Community College Trustees Association announced Thursday the 28 nominees for its 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award. Among them, Rend Lake College Professor Shari Carpenter.
"Great teaching comes from the heart, and the nominees for ICCTA’s 2016 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award embody all the attributes of great teachers. Congratulations to our nominees!" the ICCTA release stated.
RLC's Dean of Applied Science and Technology Chris Nielsen presented Carpenter with the 2016 RLC Faculty Excellence Award earlier this month.
"She sets a good example, worthy of emulating," said Nielsen. "She can do online instruction ... credit hour compliance ... assessment. She can go from one department to the other and talk to everybody. And I think that is well worthy of emulating."
Carpenter, a resident of Sesser, splits her time at RLC as the Title III Instructional Designer and Computer Science Professor. She marked her 21st year with the college on March 6. She’s served in many different positions throughout her two decades at Rend Lake. After being hired as an administrative assistant for the Non-Traditional Student Support Services Grant — a position that no longer exists — she moved to Title III as an administrative assistant.
One day, she said, there was a shortage of instructors to teach one-day computer workshops in Mt. Vernon. Ever the volunteer, Carpenter embarked on a teaching career that has spanned the better part of two decades. She was hired the next year to teach part-time and was hired full-time in 2000.
“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing that light bulb in my students’ faces. I like to see students learn. That’s what my job is and I want to help them with their goals in life,” she said. “If they’re learning, then I’ve done the job right.”
Currently, Carpenter teaches a number of computer classes, such as Intro to Computers and the Microsoft Office classes covering Excel, Access, and many others. She also splits her time teaching Instructional Methods and Strategies, and providing training for RLC faculty.
“My student is whoever is in my class — traditional student or faculty member. I love helping people learn, no matter the topic or level,” said Carpenter. “When I found out I won, I was so surprised and totally set back. I had no idea. It’s quite an honor to be nominated by your peers and it means a lot to me.”
