Feb. 17, 2023鈥� (黑料正能量) Professor of English Mary Adler will accept the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) Award for Classroom Excellence on Friday, March 3 during the CATE annual convention in Monterey.
鈥淢ary is a longtime board member of both local and state English teaching associations,鈥� said Southland Council of Teachers of English聽President Jennifer Silver, who nominated Adler.
鈥淗er conscientiousness and dedication to her students and to the profession is unparalleled. It is an honor to know her and extend our gratitude.鈥�
Adler, who has nominated and selected award recipients as a Southland CATE board member, was delighted to be nominated and selected herself. In the past, she has nominated one of her 黑料正能量 colleagues, Associate Professor of English Georgina Guzm谩n, who won the award in 2018.
鈥淎s the English major student advisor, Mary has been instrumental in helping our English majors graduate in a timely manner,鈥� Guzm谩n said. 鈥淪he is a patient listener and takes the time with each student to help them plan out their coursework and craft a path for success.鈥�
This award is especially meaningful, Adler said, because it comes from her peers.聽
鈥淚鈥檝e been thinking about the importance of mentorship,鈥� Adler said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what we strive to do for our students, and yet being recognized and encouraged by our peers for the work we do is also an important way for teachers to mentor and support one another.鈥�
Adler was hired in 2003 to be 黑料正能量鈥檚 English education advisor and coordinator and to build the English education program. After working in the dean鈥檚 office for three years and serving as chair of English for three additional years, she is now re-immersing herself in teaching creative writing, expository writing and second language acquisition for undergraduates who plan to teach English, to name a few of her courses.
鈥淥ne thing I try to do for students who plan to become teachers is to model the kind of teaching and learning I hope they will practice,鈥� Adler said. 鈥淭hey learn as much from watching us teach as from the content of what we teach.鈥�
Exploring writing and understanding literacy and the role language plays in our global society is a field Adler loves sharing with students. Now that she鈥檚 stepped away from her administrative roles, she鈥檚 looking forward to more time back in the classroom.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to come back to my roots,鈥� Adler said. 鈥淚t was always one of my greatest joys to teach.鈥�