Caron Westland begins all her courses by explaining her education philosophy to her students:
Tell me, I might forget
Show me, I might remember
But involve me, and I will understand
Westland’s philosophy and the outstanding teaching ethics behind it have garnered her the School of Education & Human Development (SEHD) 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award.
"Caron not only acts as a leader and mentor, but most important as a motivator of independent thought and practice," writes student Rachel Shakowski. "She encourages students to think outside the box, focusing on the big picture and how it affects all individuals and their abilities and disabilities."
In her sixth year at UCDHSC, Westland teaches a full load and then some as a senior instructor in the Initial Professional Teacher Education program. She acts as a site professor for the field-based portion of SEHD student programs and is faculty sponsor for the Student Council for Exceptional Children. The organization has moved forward in its collaborative efforts by teaming with Metro State students and bringing well-known speakers to campus every spring.
Westland earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California-Los Angeles, her master's from San Francisco State and doctorate from Cornell, all in educational psychology. In admitting that she wasn’t the perfect student, often causing grief for her teachers, she has used experiences from school to ensure the teachers she educates are engaging enough to make students stay in class and on-task.
"As a leader, Dr. Westland has always maintained professional ethics and responsibilities while encouraging the same of her students," notes SEHD colleague Anne O. Davidson. "She has shown a quality of instruction that is unparalleled by other professors, by embodying all the best practices, strategies and roles. Dr. Westland is a natural leader who earns the respect of her students by respecting them."
Adds student Anne Haas of Aurora Public Schools: “I cannot think of any other professor who I would recommend more highly for this honor. She has not only helped me complete a lifelong goal of becoming a teacher, she has helped me become a leader and scholar in the profession I love.”
Westland is quick to counter that it is she who benefits from her students and her teaching experiences at UCDHSC. "What a great career I have!" she says. "I can teach in my field of expertise and impact not only the students in my classroom but their future students. It’s mind boggling."