James Taylor Receives OATE Outstanding Supervisor Award
James Taylor, an instructor at The University of Findlay, received the Ohio Association of Teacher Education Outstanding Supervisor Award for the State of Ohio on March 22.
Taylor was nominated for the award for his continuous role in teacher education field supervision; his ability to demonstrate effective modeling, coaching and conferencing techniques; and because he has been identified by education students, school personnel and peers as “outstanding.”
Since 2003, Taylor has served at the University as a social studies methods instructor, student teacher field supervisor and an adjunct history and political science instructor. He retired in 2002 from Riverdale High School, where he taught and coached since 1978. Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Findlay and a master’s degree from the University of Dayton.
Taylor approaches his supervising duties “not as a job, but as a ‘labor of love.’ Field experience students deserve a supervisor willing to commit the time and effort to serve as a mentor, role model, adviser and vital link to the College of Education … Teaching is such a noble profession. A teacher never dies; he lives on in the many students he has influenced in the classroom. It is very fulfilling for me to witness student teachers grow into outstanding educators.”
“His enthusiasm for teaching and students is as vibrant as the teachers entering the field …,” said Julie McIntosh, Ed.D., dean of the University’s College of Education, in a recommendation letter for the award. “He immediately started supervising our junior field placement teacher candidates and students teachers. He spends a tremendous amount of time helping these teacher candidates reach their potential.”
Amber Johns, a former student of Taylor’s, said, “As a supervisor, Mr. Taylor coached me to become the best teacher I can be with the understanding that teaching is a continuous learning experience … I was impressed with Mr. Taylor because he was always there when I needed him.”