Outstanding Teaching

In December 2023, just at the end of the semester, I was working with students and a colleague on learning how to document their work from their time at Penland, and celebrating all they’d accomplished. Late in the afternoon, I apologized, and tore myself away to go to what I thought was going to be an opportunity for free food and to see a few of my colleagues: the “College Celebration of Excellence”. I was in studio clothes with shaggy hair, and not at all expecting to find myself honored with the award for Outstanding Teaching. I was surprised by how moved I was by the honor. I’m not teaching in order to get awards, and I’d always though of that sort of thing as being extra. And yet, in that moment, I was truly honored, and proud of my work. And then I dashed back to my class, with my medal tucked in my coat pocket.