M.S. Florida State University

B.S. Florida State University

A.A. Tallahassee Community College

My interest including swimming, biking and running.

My Teaching Philosophy

“Remember, if it were easy, anyone could do it”

Capt. JR Cullison

These words of wisdom from Captain Cullison are my mantra when approaching the tasks associated with education, training and life. It is essential to be prepared for all the trials and tribulations that follow. So I must be prepared and willing to meet all the challenges ahead.

I am presently teaching classes in Critical Reading and Thinking, Reading Techniques I and  II with laboratories.  During the past year, I have taught Critical Reading and Thinking and Reading Techniques I and II along with their associated laboratories. I have had the opportunity to teach at the Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg/Gibbs campuses as well as SPC Downtown and SPC Midtown. I also developed and taught a summer Reading class for the Title III program.

 Before joining the faculty at St. Petersburg College, I was an Adjunct Instructor at the College of Southern Maryland. I taught at the La Plata, Waldorf, Calvert and Leonardtown campuses for over 20 years. As an Adjunct for the college I taught classes in Introduction to Sociology and Issues in Social Problems. I also was on the faculty at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship where taught basic to advanced technical/vocational classes in seamanship. The classes I taught required students to pass U.S. Coast Guard administered exams. These courses included Lifeboat Man; Able Bodied Seaman; Towboat Operator; Ships Master, 100 Tons; Celestial Navigation; and Pilot, Inland Waters.

My philosophy of education is to provide students with the learning tools necessary for them to be successful not only in their college endeavors but in life as well. This would include an environment that is supportive of learning.

The tools needed for success are not just the academics of the course and of the college, but also the intrinsic values that make learning a meaningful and rewarding endeavor. While many students may have not shown a love for learning and knowledge in the past, it may be due to the fact they have not had the opportunity to experience it. Now they will be given that chance.  

The course is presented as a means for students to achieve success and continue on their course of academic study. The means to achieve that goal is to employ effective teaching strategies.

These strategies would include teaching actively, speaking actively and caring actively.

This learning environment may include but is not limited to a safe and friendly atmosphere where learning can be conducted in a non-threatening setting free from outside interference. Students and instructors both need to be aware of this. In this type of setting, effective learning can take place.

Students should know that their ideas and responses to questions are valid and will be taken seriously. They can question without fear of ridicule by other students or reprisal from the instructor. This open dialogue is necessary for a healthy learning environment. This environment will foster respect for each other and themselves. All students are to have the understanding that in this environment, learning is open and available to all students with equal access for participation in all activities for all students. This will help foster the concept of the effective student.

I will employ a variety of teaching methods and activities for my course. Students will engage in group discussions, group activities and projects. Students will not only use their text book, but also computers, handouts and workbooks for various class activities. Students will have many opportunities to demonstrate their ability to master the materials with a series of test and quizzes. These exercises are designed for acquisition and mastery of all the skills necessary to take and pass the Reading state exit exam.

My multimethod approach to the classes is used because not all students learn the same. Some students find using the text book sufficient for learning the material while others prefer a lecture approach. I have found during my 20 plus years as an educator that a variety of approaches works best for the class. I refer to this method as the “MTV” approach. Like the videos on Music Television that change every 10 to 15 minutes, so should the class activities. With this method, neither the students nor the instructor will get bored with the material being presented.  Moreover everyone will find an area in which learning is comfortable.

My educational approach has also been proven viable as demonstrated in the success rate of the students taking this class and passing the state exit test. In the past two years, over 99 percent of my students who successfully complete my class and all the associated course work have successfully passed the state exit exam in Reading.