Peninsula College graduates who teach
Spanning 34 years, Peninsula College instructors share their thoughts about teaching at their alma mater.
Issue date: 6/11/08 Section: Graduation
David Cowan
Graduated from PC in 1981.
After graduation:
I went up to Alaska to work as a mechanic.
How long teaching at PC?
From 1987 to 2000 I worked at PC's location at Clallam Bay Correction center teaching English as a Second Language, GED and English 101 and 102. From there I went to work at the main campus just to teach ESL. In all I have worked 20-21 years for the college.
What do you remember the most about your days as a PC student?
I didn't participate much in social activities, but I especially liked the library and the gym.
Aleilah P. Lawson
Graduated in 1997.
After graduation:
I started my private massage practice and also stayed at PC as an instructional tech for the massage program. I will celebrate my 10th year as Program Coordinator in 2009.
Why did you come to PC to teach??
Never left!
What classes do you teach?
I teach the ethics, communication & business series; the kinesiology series; two of the classes in the movement re-education series; and two of the classes in the hydrotherapy series.? I co-teach the bodywork classes with Robin E. Amestoy each quarter.?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC??
Being grateful that PC had a massage therapy program and I didn't have to travel to Seattle for training.?
What did you like the most back then??
I loved the way the campus felt - it was a peaceful oasis.
Least?
Starting school at 3 p.m.?It was my nap time!?
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here??
The spirit of collegiality among faculty has strengthened greatly.?
Ken Jacobson
Graduated in1978.
?After graduation:
I became the service manager for a large electronic repair firm. I served on the advisory board for the college's electronic program and was offered the chance to teach. I joined the staff at PC in 1978.
?
Why did you come to PC to teach?
I did not have a goal to teach but the need was presented and I decided to take on the challenge. I then utilized Leonard Beil and courses from Central Washington University to gain my vocational teaching certification.
How long have you been teaching at PC? Just completing 30 years.
What classes do you teach? I currently teach basic electronics, computer hardware, operating systems and computer security.
?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC?
Deja vu. The campus was under construction. Lawns were not yet planted. Phil Churchley filling balloons with hydrogen gas and using a candle to explode them over sleeping students' heads.
What did you like the most back then??Least?
The small class size and helpful instructors.
?
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here?
The first 20 years my courses were theoretical and changed very little.?Now they are continually changing and require more time to keep current.
Cheryl McCurdy?
Graduated in 1974.
After graduation:
For the next 15 years I worked in Longview, Olympia, Bellingham, good old Port Angeles, California, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Pennsylvania while attending school in Longview, Bellingham, and Pennsylvania.
Why did you come to PC to teach?
I moved back here because of family (swearing when I left that I would never in a life time return to this town). I was asked to be a substitute and the legendary "one thing led to another."
What classes do you teach?
Nursing. I teach clinical and theory in the 1st and 2nd years.?I have the "odd" classes such as pediatrics, OB, assessments, sexuality.?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC??
Not much as I was so shy, just came for my classes and left again. The campus seemed so big back then, a lot more bicycle riders. Wondering what it was like in the dorms.
What did you like the most back then??
Least? I felt the teachers really had time to help me and were willing to.?The library was a great place to study, could find quiet places.?It was a great first college (or junior college when I was here) experience.
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here??
Some of my original teachers such as Ed Tisch, Werner Quast and Phil Churchley were still here when I became faculty.?At first it was rather strange having your teachers become your peers. Of course the college has grown tremendously in size and what it has to offer students, which is an incredibly positive change.?
Janet Lucas
Graduated in 1998.
How long have you been teaching at PC?
I have been teaching at PC for 5 years plus a summer practicum during my master's program developing the writing center.
Why did you come to PC to teach??
I teach Tidepools, English 101, English 102, English 90, Research and Writing for Criminal Justice, Business Writing, American Literature, and Technical Writing and British Literature at another college.
What is your favorite class to teach?
Favorite....that's hard to say. Let me say first that the students are the best part of all the classes I teach, and I make an effort to get to know them as much as possible. I like all my courses.
What is your least favorite class to teach? Least favorite?
That would not be a specific type of class but a class that doesn't "gel." Rarely but on occasion, I have had a class where the students just didn't seem interested in either the material or each other. They just didn't gel. They didn't want to be there or work together, and they just didn't seem to like each other. I take active measures to prevent such a climate from forming in the first place.
Graduated from PC in 1981.
After graduation:
I went up to Alaska to work as a mechanic.
How long teaching at PC?
From 1987 to 2000 I worked at PC's location at Clallam Bay Correction center teaching English as a Second Language, GED and English 101 and 102. From there I went to work at the main campus just to teach ESL. In all I have worked 20-21 years for the college.
What do you remember the most about your days as a PC student?
I didn't participate much in social activities, but I especially liked the library and the gym.
Aleilah P. Lawson
Graduated in 1997.
After graduation:
I started my private massage practice and also stayed at PC as an instructional tech for the massage program. I will celebrate my 10th year as Program Coordinator in 2009.
Why did you come to PC to teach??
Never left!
What classes do you teach?
I teach the ethics, communication & business series; the kinesiology series; two of the classes in the movement re-education series; and two of the classes in the hydrotherapy series.? I co-teach the bodywork classes with Robin E. Amestoy each quarter.?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC??
Being grateful that PC had a massage therapy program and I didn't have to travel to Seattle for training.?
What did you like the most back then??
I loved the way the campus felt - it was a peaceful oasis.
Least?
Starting school at 3 p.m.?It was my nap time!?
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here??
The spirit of collegiality among faculty has strengthened greatly.?
Ken Jacobson
Graduated in1978.
?After graduation:
I became the service manager for a large electronic repair firm. I served on the advisory board for the college's electronic program and was offered the chance to teach. I joined the staff at PC in 1978.
?
Why did you come to PC to teach?
I did not have a goal to teach but the need was presented and I decided to take on the challenge. I then utilized Leonard Beil and courses from Central Washington University to gain my vocational teaching certification.
How long have you been teaching at PC? Just completing 30 years.
What classes do you teach? I currently teach basic electronics, computer hardware, operating systems and computer security.
?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC?
Deja vu. The campus was under construction. Lawns were not yet planted. Phil Churchley filling balloons with hydrogen gas and using a candle to explode them over sleeping students' heads.
What did you like the most back then??Least?
The small class size and helpful instructors.
?
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here?
The first 20 years my courses were theoretical and changed very little.?Now they are continually changing and require more time to keep current.
Cheryl McCurdy?
Graduated in 1974.
After graduation:
For the next 15 years I worked in Longview, Olympia, Bellingham, good old Port Angeles, California, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Pennsylvania while attending school in Longview, Bellingham, and Pennsylvania.
Why did you come to PC to teach?
I moved back here because of family (swearing when I left that I would never in a life time return to this town). I was asked to be a substitute and the legendary "one thing led to another."
What classes do you teach?
Nursing. I teach clinical and theory in the 1st and 2nd years.?I have the "odd" classes such as pediatrics, OB, assessments, sexuality.?
What do you remember the most about your days as a student at PC??
Not much as I was so shy, just came for my classes and left again. The campus seemed so big back then, a lot more bicycle riders. Wondering what it was like in the dorms.
What did you like the most back then??
Least? I felt the teachers really had time to help me and were willing to.?The library was a great place to study, could find quiet places.?It was a great first college (or junior college when I was here) experience.
How has PC changed since you've been teaching here??
Some of my original teachers such as Ed Tisch, Werner Quast and Phil Churchley were still here when I became faculty.?At first it was rather strange having your teachers become your peers. Of course the college has grown tremendously in size and what it has to offer students, which is an incredibly positive change.?
Janet Lucas
Graduated in 1998.
How long have you been teaching at PC?
I have been teaching at PC for 5 years plus a summer practicum during my master's program developing the writing center.
Why did you come to PC to teach??
I teach Tidepools, English 101, English 102, English 90, Research and Writing for Criminal Justice, Business Writing, American Literature, and Technical Writing and British Literature at another college.
What is your favorite class to teach?
Favorite....that's hard to say. Let me say first that the students are the best part of all the classes I teach, and I make an effort to get to know them as much as possible. I like all my courses.
What is your least favorite class to teach? Least favorite?
That would not be a specific type of class but a class that doesn't "gel." Rarely but on occasion, I have had a class where the students just didn't seem interested in either the material or each other. They just didn't gel. They didn't want to be there or work together, and they just didn't seem to like each other. I take active measures to prevent such a climate from forming in the first place.
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