SPCC Instructors Win Townsend Press Essay Contest

South Piedmont Community College Developmental Reading and Writing Instructor, Dorothy Morrison of Marshville, won third place in the Townsend Press Developmental Reading and Writing Instructor Essay Contest and received a $1,000 prize. Janet Rouse of Monroe and Nathan Woodson of Marshville were each awarded a $100 prize for their fifth place essays. Each 2,000 to 4,000 word essay had to be based on the experiences of teaching developmental reading or writing.

Morrison is an advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, a two-year academic honor society and SPCC’s literary magazine. Teaching at public and community colleges has been her profession for the last twelve years. She wrote her essay because she loves to write personal narratives.

Rouse, developmental reading instructor, entered the contest to encourage her students to also enter a reading contest sponsored by Townsend Press. She taught middle school classes for 30 years with the Union County Public Schools. “Everyone’s life is unique like a puzzle, and a teacher’s purpose is to help get all the pieces to fit together,” Rouse said. At SPCC, Rouse assists in the Richardson academic support lab. She tutors students in elementary to high school level math and works with home schooled children. In her spare time, Rouse runs a realty business, Janet and Bob’s Foreclosures.

Woodson was spurred to write by his love of teaching developmental English and reading. “The most fulfilling thing is to witness the light in students’ eyes, after they get a topic,” Woodson said. He is involved with the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America and his children’s PTA. Woodson has been teaching at SPCC for two years and has a total of six years teaching experience.