Lewis-Clark State College English Instructor Kimberly Tolson was recently recognized as one of Idaho’s outstanding faculty members during the annual General Education Summit held in Boise, Idaho, hosted by the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE).
Six Idaho faculty members were recognized during the convention that took place Oct. 10-11, and each was awarded a $500 honorarium from CapEd Credit Union. Faculty members were recognized for their innovative approaches to general education, according to a release sent out by the state board last week.
Tolson is in her eighth year with LC State. She has served as both an adjunct professor (2011-2015) and has been in her role as an English instructor since returning in 2020. She currently instructs both humanities and general education courses at the college.
“I try to make the method of delivery flexible enough to encourage creativity, innovation, and critical thinking,” Tolson said. “If students associate the act of learning as a positive experience – fun even – they are usually more willing to take pride in their studies and in their overall education. Essentially, my curriculum encourages them to have a stake in their learning experience.”
Other faculty members recognized alongside Tolson were from Boise State University, College of Western Idaho, Idaho State University, and College of Eastern Idaho.
“The passion and way these instructors find ways to connect general education and their students to real-world experiences is impressive,” State Board Executive Director Joshua Whitworth said. “These instructors had students learning about artificial intelligence while applying it to their writing or experiential learning techniques in A&P that engage students in driving their own learning. All of these innovators produced an environment that enabled their students to connect learning to highly sought after durable skills, and in the end, competitive advantages in the workforce.”
“It’s very important to me to know that I’m making a difference in my students’ lives and educational journey. Earning this award encourages me to remain optimistic in my endeavors and continue innovating in the classroom. As the world changes, so does the classroom and so does my curriculum,” Tolson said.
Faculty members were also invited to give a presentation during the summit about their classroom methods and improving instruction.
