Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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In classes of more than 90 students, Thomas Parish ' knows each one. Not only can he repeat names a fter the first day, but within the first six-weeks he strives to relate to each student personally. That first day, I can impress a lot of people with learn- ing names, but I ' m not satisfied with myself until I know each individual, Parish said. Parish approaches each class as a whole new bunch of students I ' m going to be able to interrelate with. I have the opportunity to teach what I love most to students I can really relate to, he said. Parish is an assistant professor of human development in the College of Education. His main teaching assignment is Educational Psychology I. He tries not to lecture as much as discuss and accentu- ate the discussion with humor. He describes this as a blend between relaxed and informative atmospheres. If you can walk into your classes and teach them to be excited about the material you ' re teaching, actually be interested in it yourself, the students will enjoy it more and get more out of it, Parish said. Early in his teaching career, Parish taught at a communi- ty college whose small size allowed him to be close to his students. He expressed hope of maintaining that close- ness with his K-State students. Despite his personal interest in his students, it was the faculty that brought him to K-State. We have one of the more outstanding faculties. They ' re just a bunch of great people. That is what brought me here, Parish said. Probably what will keep me here is the fact that the students are really swell. Since coming to K-State one year ago, Parish has be- come local and state adviser of Student National Educa- tion Association and faculty adviser of Phi Kappa Theta, a social fraternity. Parish ' s enthusiasm isn ' t limited to teaching. He is a Frisbee freak who enjoys dancing, church work and being with his wife and four children. That first day I can impress a lot of people with learning names, but I ' m not satisfied with myself until I know each individual. II you can be excited about the material you ' re teaching ... the students will enjoy it more and get more out of It. We have one of the more outstanding faculties. They are just a bunch of great people. That Is what brought me here. softheyearteachersoftheyea Probably what will keep me here is the fact that the students are really swell. teachers of the year — 27

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once in a while, you ' ll have a student you really feel you ' ve helped. That ' s very exciting to me. The kind of response you get back from students is dependent on how well you make an effort to get to know them. The students here are very much like the people grew up with. If Faye Ann Presnal were not teaching at K-State, she would be a natural for milk commercials. She radiates the wholesome vitality and zip that make milk appealing. Presnal, instructor in the College of Home Economics for four years, teaches Developmental Program-Planning for early childhood education majors, coordinates stu- dent-teaching experiences and directs the child care pro- grams at K-State. During Presnal ' s teaching career, she has formulated a goal of helping students find new possib ilities within themselves. The most rewarding thing is to see a student develop to his fullest potential, Presnal said. Every once in a while, you ' ll have a student you really feel you ' ve helped. That ' s very exciting to me. She credits her success to relatively small classes of 25 to 30 students. She takes advantage of this personalized at- mosphere. The kind of response you get back from students is dependent on how well you make an effort to get to know them, Presnal added. For Presnal, getting to know K is like meeting old friends. The students here are very much like the people grew up with, she said. I have a great bunch of stu- dents. Presnal has wanted to be a teacher since childhood. Both her mother and father are teachers. I followed in my father ' s footsteps. He was involved in teacher-training at Oklahoma State before he retired, Presnal said. Teaching is only one dimension of Presnal. Another is learning. As you learn to be a teacher, you also find out things about yourself and get to know yourself a little better, she said. teachersoftheyearteacherm I followed in my father ' s footsteps. He was involved In teacher-training at Oklahoma State before he retired. 26 — teachers of the year

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