Congratulations to Dr. Debbie Crocker, who was inducted into the College of Arts and Sciences Academy of Outstanding Teachers and also named Teacher of the Year at a ceremony last week.
An alumna of Appalachian herself, Dr. Crocker has taught math and math education courses at Appalachian for many years, and also serves as the coordinator for the secondary education concentration. She has guided many students through the process of becoming math teachers.
From a former student and now colleague:
“From my first course as an undergraduate student, she has pushed my peers and myself to improve our understanding of mathematics and better ways to deliver it to our students. She emphasized the importance of always looking to improve, learn, and find more ways to reach our students. This notion has pushed me to always look for better ways to engage my students in ways that they feel valued and feel they can contribute.”
A former student nominee noted:
“She was one of my favorite teachers I had while I attended Appalachian State. . . she was very influential in my success as a student and now as a current Math Teacher. She wasn’t a favorite teacher because her classes were easy or non-challenging, but she was a favorite of mine because of her dedication to her students. She was always very helpful in class, always had our best interests in mind, and always worked to make sure we were prepared and ready to become successful teachers when we graduated. I truly believe Dr. Crocker is a great candidate to be selected for the Academy and sincerely hope this nomination helps portray just how outstanding she is at her job.”