Illinois Community College Trustees Association - Outstanding Faculty Award
This award is presented each year to a faculty member who displays teaching excellence and an ability to take personal interest in students, contributes to students’ total educational and personal development, inspires enthusiasm for the subject area taught, and serves the college apart from classroom responsibilities. The faculty selected for this award are recognized at the annual ICCTA banquet and are eligible for the ICCTA’s statewide outstanding faculty award.
Brian Dalpiaz - ICCTA Outstanding Faculty Award - 2009
SRC Mathematics instructor, Brian Dalpiaz was selected as the 2009 recipient of the Spoon River College Illinois Community College Trustees Association, Outstanding Faculty award.
In the nomination, it stated, "Brian CARES about his students’ performance in Math, about his ability to help them understand the subject matter and develop confidence in working the problems and the process of solving math equations. He does this by constantly examining their performance on coursework and his performance in delivering instruction; by exploring new methods to provide math concepts and options on delivery of those concepts to meet various learning styles. He is always geared toward continuous improvement of his excellence as a provider of learning and his students’ excellence in becoming effective learners!"
Along with his teaching responsibilities, Dalpiaz also has served as the president of the Spoon River College Faculty Association, and has been involved with several officer and leadership roles with that association working with state issues and the state’s faculty association. He also has been involved with mathematics meetings and conferences, and with articulation and teaching meetings and conferences, particularly with Western Illinois University.
Do
uglas Okey, ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2008
English instructor Douglas Okey was selected as the 2008 recipient of the Spoon River College Illinois Community College Trustees Association, Outstanding Faculty award.
Okey began teaching English at Spoon River College in 1989. During his time at the college, Okey has led many initiatives. He was one of the first instructors to teach online courses at the college. Okey provided leadership in developing an open learning center at the Rushville campus which enabled the college to combine courses and increase enrollment in English courses. In 2004, he received a NISOD Excellence Award, which recognized his teaching methods that encourage participation and interaction, and promote student involvement so that the learning experience is reinforced and often exceeds what an individual student expected.
He is the faculty sponsor for the Spoon River College Kaleidoscope the college's literary magazine which features the writings of students and has been involved in many theatre productions in the roles of participant, assistant director and director.
Jan Hardy - ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2007
English instructor and Honors Program coordinator, Jan Hardy was selected as the 2007 recipient of the Spoon River College Illinois Community College Trustees Association, Outstanding Faculty award.
Hardy has been teaching English courses at the college since 1983. Hardy’s accomplishments include the development of the SRC Honors program, which includes the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies. A major component of this class is the “Starfish Project” that requires students to complete a service learning and leadership project. Hardy has provided leadership and service learning in many capacities at the college. Hardy created the college’s successful annual Multicultural Dinner, assisted with the College’s Title III grant project, and the College’s Portfolio Development Initiative.
In Fall 2006, Hardy assisted in creating and implementing the “One Book, One Play, One Community” event, which gave college and community members the opportunity to read and discuss the book “Of Mice and Men.” The SRC drama department then presented the theatrical production in the spring.
Hardy retired from Spoon River College in December 2007.
Tamatha Sc
hleich - ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty - 2006
Nursing instructor, Tamatha Schleich was the 2006 recipient of the Spoon River College ICCTA Outstanding Faculty award. Schleich has been working in the SRC nursing department since 1998, teaching full-time since 2004.
Schleich was recognized for her knowledge of nursing and healthcare; her problem-solving skills and creativity; and her rapport with students. She serves as an integral team member of the nursing faculty as well as on numerous college committees. Schleich has a keen understanding of the many and diverse health care issues in the region. Students cited her ability to put the needs of students before her own, treating students and staff with dignity and demonstrating superior professional and personal integrity.
Susan Barnhart, ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2005
Health science instructor and Title III coordinator, Susan Barnhart was selected as the 2005 recipient of the Spoon River College Illinois Community College Trustees Association, Outstanding Faculty. Barnhart has been teaching health science courses for Spoon River College since 1995. She earned her RN from Franciscan Medical Center School of Nursing, her Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University, Masters of Science from Western Illinois University, and Masters Degree of Online Teaching from the University of Phoenix.
The nominations noted Barnhart’s strong desire to help others, to teach and encourage students, and to assist Spoon River College to be the best community college in the area. Barnhart is also active outside of the classroom serving as Title III coordinator, co-chair of the college's accreditation team and a member on various college-wide committees.
Barnhart retired from Spoon River College in May 2009, but continues to teach part-time.
Diane Taylor, ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2004
English instructor, Diane Taylor was the 2004 recipient of the Spoon River College Illinois Community College Trustees Association, Outstanding Faculty Award. Taylor has been teaching English courses for Spoon River College at the Macomb Center since 1995. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Western Illinois University, and a Master Online Teacher Certificate from the University of Illinois Online Network.
The nominations noted her excellence as an instructor and her ability to keep classes fun and engage her student. They also recognized her personal interest in students, and her dedication to helping them build confidence in their abilities to succeed. She was recognized for her service to the college through her work as advisor to the Macomb Center Phi Theta Kappa students, chairing the College Senate, and organizing students in a variety of community service projects. The nominations also noted that she was one of the first instructors at the college to develop courses to be taught online through the Internet.
Taylor retired from Spoon River College in May 2008.
Michael Maher, ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2003
Sociology instructor, Michael Maher was selected as the 2003 recipient of the Spoon River College ICCTA Outstanding Faculty award. Maher earned his Bachelor of Arts from Western Illinois University, and Master of Art from Western Illinois University, and has been teaching sociology courses for Spoon River College since 1999.
The nominations noted the strong desire to help others, to teach and encourage students, to assist students with expanding their thoughts. Maher is also active outside of the classroom serving as past chair of the faculty association and college senate and is advisor of the Spoon River College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
Dr. Jeanine Standard, ICCTA - Outstanding Faculty Award - 2002
Psychology instructor, Dr. Jeanine Standard, was selected as the 2002 recipient of the Spoon River College ICCTA Outstanding Faculty award. Standard has been teaching psychology courses for Spoon River College since 1985. She earned her Associate of Arts from Spoon River College, her Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University, Masters of Science from Western Illinois University, Masters of Art and Ph.D. from the Fielding Institute.
The nominations noted the strong desire to help others, to teach and encourage students, to assist Spoon River College to be the best community college in the area. Jeanine is also active outside of the classroom, previously serving as chair of the faculty association, past advisor of the Phi Theta Kappa, and advising the college’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
