Student Validation

Over the years I have learned that teaching is very rewarding, although at times you get very little feedback about the impact in which you make.  It is these validations which makes the efforts for teaching for excellence more important.  Below is just a few comments I have gotten related to my teaching efforts.

Email from student:

Hi Art,
I just wanted to email and thank you for being a great teacher and mentor during my Ed. Admin degree.  I took a position as Assistant Principal this year, and find myself reflecting back to a lot of what we learned and discussed in your classes.  Hope this finds you well, and still inspiring educators.
Thanks again.
Beth
 
Beth Schumacher
Assistant Principal
 
St. Joseph's Indian School
PO Box 89 • 1301 N. Main Street
Chamberlain, SD 57325
(605)234-xxxx
Beth.schumacher@stjo.org

Donna Rae Petersen	Dec 12 (11 days ago)
to me

Art:

Good afternoon.  The message of having passed your class brought tears of happiness that I haven't shed in a very long.  I shared my awesome news and tears with family and friends shortly after the warmth of the good news settled with my being.  The fortitude of which you speak was honed by the Unci's of the past I am sure.  Your  professionalism, and Woksapa/Wisdom imparted with teaching excellence I am sure have impacted my benchmark of strength, and preparedness for the future and what I know will be an exciting challenge to prove my position of thought in 703 A and 704 B.  Happy Holidays to you and yours. 

Pilamayaye,

Donna Rae Petersen/Oyate Wacinyanpin Win

---- Original Message ----
From: wayne marek <wbm13@yahoo.com>
To: "afisher@olc.edu" <afisher@olc.edu>
Sent: Wed, Aug 15, 2012, 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: Greetings From A Former Student!!Hi Art!

So great to hear from you!!!

Congrats regarding the Doctoral Program, that is amazing news!!!

I noticed on the OLC website you were no longer listed as Dean of Education, I have heard many times that people end of missing the direct interaction with students and long to be back in the fray, you have always struck me as just such a type. I hope you are much, much happier in the Graduate Studies Department.

You know, I still remember that I was recommended to you by a fellow teacher at OLL and she told me that you were a "true intellectual" and I that would get along great with you, and she was right! You were really one of the best professors I have ever had, you challenged me, you demanded my best and really made me think about pedagogy.

I bet that in so many ways, people are intimidated by your brain out there! You are really on another intellectual level than most and I am sure that makes people insecure and that always brings out the ugliest traits in people with low self esteem, I bet that new Dean felt insecure in the presence of you intellect! :)

Please keep me updated should you ever move on from OLC and make sure I always have your current email address handy, I always like to reach out and do know there is rarely a day that passes that I don't think about all that I learned during my time out there.

You were always very kind and treated me with a tremendous amount respect.

Please do keep me posted on the Doctoral Program, you truly embody the teacher's mantra that learning is a life long process!!

Truly,

Your Student,

Wayne Marek

Morris Plains, NJ

The following emails were sent to me upon my resignation at OLC.  I have hidden the students' names to honor their anonymity: 

Hau Art,

I am sad to hear this.  I really enjoyed your teaching method and how much time and energy you invested into everything you did as a teacher.  I have learned skills (writing, speaking, organizing, leadership, etc...) that I will carry with me the rest of my life.   For that, I am thankful.  Pilamaya Art!  Tanyan omani yo.

-Dallas

glakota5093@olc.edu	Mar 20 (4 days ago)
to me

Greetings Art, so sorry to read that you are leaving as the instructor for the graduate dept., i am grateful that you helped me with my paper and i appreciate it!! I will continue to write this paper because of your direction and guidance, pilamaya! 

Gloria Lakota

Mechelle Crazy Thunder	Mar 21 (3 days ago)
to me

I was very saddend by your e-mail yesterday. I wanted to let you know I had learned so much from you and appreciate the challenge you gave me. I hope your future endeavors bring you happiness.  Thank you