Excellence in teaching
Teaching genetic for campus winner
by Diana De Leon, Feature Editor

   Four faculty members received the highest teaching award given by Tarrant County College, the Chancellor’s Award, at the May commencement.
   The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment and dedication to the ideal of teaching.
   Started by founding Chancellor Joe B. Rushing in 1986, the award is given to one instructor from each campus annually.
   Winners are determined by an anonymous committee who closely scrutinizes the attributes and qualifications of each nominee.
   This is the second in a series profiling the winners.

   A mentor and a creative teacher, Catherine Bottrell believes in encouragement.
   An associate professor of government on SE Campus, she is a former student of TCC and has been teaching for five years.
   “Some people are supposed to be teachers, she said. “I think it is genetic; my parents were teachers.”
   Bottrell also has degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Tulsa, where she earned her law degree.
   This is the first time Bottrell was nominated for the Chancellor’s Award, and she is thrilled to have won and proudly displays the plaque in her office.
   A former lawyer, Bottrell taught part-time at night and loved the job so much she made it her full-time job.
   “It’s not really work; it is fun,” she said. “I am amazed that they pay me for this.”
   David Price who just stepped down as interim division chair, described Bottrell as an excellent teacher who deserves the award.
   He explained that as chair he had to evaluate Bottrell, and he also sat in on her classes to watch her teach.
   “She is a dynamic teacher and has a great rapport with her students,” he said.
   Bottrell has received high marks for her teaching from her students. She says she measures her success as a teacher by the success of her students.
   Nick Pugh, a former student, said that students respond positively to her creative and distinct classroom method and demeanor.
  Another former student, Jennifer Cohen, said that Bottrell has the ability to relate to younger students.
  “She has students who have gone on to play roles in government,” Elizabeth Carrington, instructor of microbiology on SE, said.
   Carrington explained that Bottrell is one of those rare teachers who not only mentors but frequently goes out of her way to help a student.
   Bottrell believes that little victories help to motivate students into the bigger successes.
   “A little encouragement goes a long way,” she said. “I love to watch the light bulb go off in a student’s head.”
   Bottrell tries to make the subject interesting, entertaining and fun so students learn the material.
   She holds mock courts and brings up hot topics that other teachers shy away from. All her students participate.
   Carrington said Bottrell can put humor into government and protect people’s opinions and beliefs.
   “I know most students are in my class because it’s required,” Bottrell said. “Most people don’t love government like I do.”
   Bottrell explains to students why government is important and gives them the knowledge they need to go out and make a difference.
   “By luck, students get her as a teacher,” Carrington said, “It gives them confidence to go forward.”
   A big proponent of the community college system, Bottrell believes she received a strong foundation from TCC.
   “It offers so much to everyone in the community because it is affordable and easily available,” she said.
   She is the faculty sponsor for The College Democrats, who sponsor voter registrations around the area, recruit new students and promote TCC.
   Active in the community as well, Bottrell serves on the board of the Green Oaks School in Arlington, a school for children with Down syndrome.
   Bottrell works hard to help raise awareness and helps with fund-raising for the school.
   She also volunteers at the Arlington Life Shelter, which is for homeless people.
   Bottrell has been recognized by the Who’s Who of American Teachers and has twice won an award from UTA. The Transfer    Achievement Award is given by UTA to teachers who foster student academic achievement.
   Another criteria of the Chancellor’s Award is publications, and Bottrell was the co-author of a textbook used by TCC and UTA, American Government; A Core Approach.
   Bottrell has put the cash award in her savings account.
   Bottrell explained that she hated being a lawyer, but she loves being a teacher.
   “Teachers make a difference,” she said. “It is the greatest impact you can make.”