Nancy Cooke

Honoree:
Nancy Cooke

Submitted By:
David Test

From the initial lesson, “We are women, not girls,” I have learned much from Nancy L. Cooke. Nancy has been a teacher to many people, in many ways. From a remedial reading teacher, to fourth and fifth grade teacher, to a college professor, she has spent her professional life as a teacher. As a college professor at UNC Charlotte since 1983, she has taught in many ways.

First, she taught undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in traditional classroom settings (although she did learn to use technology to enhance her classroom instruction). In addition, she taught students in other ways including planning, implementing, writing, and publishing classroom-based research with school-age students with disabilities, much of it about teaching reading. Her love of teaching led her to create the Doctoral Seminar in College Teaching. In her eight years as the course instructor she introduced future college teachers to such topics as aligning your syllabus with your philosophy of teaching, establishing a grading system that reflects course goals, establishing course policies that support a positive learning culture, leading discussions that encourage critical thinking, making direct teaching interactive, and supporting struggling students.

In addition to teaching college students, Nancy found particular satisfaction in supporting and mentoring other faculty who are striving to improve their teaching. As an initial member of the College of Education’s peer observation team, she spent many hours observing and working with faculty to improve their teaching. In addition, I know that she was rewarded with many new ideas and strategies from watching other faculty members engage in helping students learn.

This leads me to another aspect of teaching, and that is being a lifelong learner, because to be an excellent teacher, the “teacher” must also be constantly learning. So it is not surprising that she is an avid “NPR” fan and that many of our dinner table discussions start with “Guess what I heard on the radio today…?” Given this history of teaching, it was inevitable that she would end up as a Faculty Fellow with the UNC Charlotte Center for Teaching and Learning supporting and mentoring other faculty and graduate students across campus who are striving to improve their teaching. This opportunity continues to allow her to work, live, and breathe her passion for teaching as she worked with colleagues across campus.

Finally, while not as important to her as the satisfaction she gets from a class well-taught, or seeing a colleague improve their own teaching, she has been the recipient of numerous teaching honors including being a Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence Finalist (2002), and receiving the College of Education Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999), Mentor for the Outstanding College Senior Award (1997), and the Excellence in Teaching Award for College of Education and Allied Professions sponsored by University of North Carolina at Charlotte Teaching Fellows (1994).

In conclusion, I am happy that Nancy L. Cooke has continued to be my teacher, and wife, for all these years. I love you.