K-State professor receives exemplary teaching award from Sigma Lambda Beta

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Sources: Kay Ann Taylor, 785-532-6974, ktaylor@k-state.edu;
and Jose Estrada, 785-395-2288, jestrada@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

K-STATE PROFESSOR RECEIVES EXEMPLARY TEACHING AWARD FROM SIGMA LAMBDA BETA

MANHATTAN -- Kay Ann Taylor, an assistant professor of secondary education at Kansas State University, has received an exemplary teaching award from Sigma Lambda Beta, a fraternity at K-State.

Taylor was nominated by two of her students: Jose Estrada, a senior in pre-professional secondary education from Liberal, and Robert Gomez, a sophomore in pre-professional secondary education from Shawnee.

According to Estrada, members of the organization are asked to nominate a teacher who they feel has made an impression on them in some way. The members are then asked to describe their reasons for choosing that teacher to other members. After hearing about all the nominees, the members vote on who they feel deserves the award. Estrada said he nominated Taylor because of the impression she has made on his life.

"Not only is she an expert in her field, but I feel she goes above and beyond her role as just a teacher," he said. "When I walked into Dr. Taylor's classroom, I felt really comfortable speaking up and expressing my opinion because Dr. Taylor had established an environment where students could freely speak up without the fear of being rejected. Not many teachers have accomplished this in their classrooms."

Larry Scharmann, professor and head of the department of secondary education, also had praise for Taylor's work.

"I am not surprised that she received this award," Scharmann said. "Last fall, I had the occasion to attend a session of her undergraduate course. I found the material rigorous, relevant and presented with a great deal of passion. She makes a wonderful connection with her students."

Taylor, who has been at K-State since 2005, teaches courses on the foundations of education and multicultural education. She is a K-State Tilford Fellow. Her research is primarily historical research in education with a focus on the experiences of African-American teachers. Taylor also is a member of the American ethnic studies faculty.