GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL – College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is celebrating one of its own as Tina Dean has been presented with the 2021 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award.
ACBSP recognizes individuals every year who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom.
Tina Dean, an instructor of the Office Administration (Distributed Learning) program at CNA’s Grand Falls-Windsor campus, says she was grateful to hear she won the award.
“I was honoured,” said Dean, who has been a dedicated instructor with the School of Business and Information Technology for more than 20 years. “To stand out among my CNA peers and be nominated was enough. But, to be chosen from the applicants across Canada was humbling.”
Each year, the ACBSP accepts faculty nominations for the Teaching Excellence Award. Dean was nominated by a coworker, Sharon Collins.
“She nominated me based on my technical skills in the classroom that allowed me to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic as all faculty were required to shift from teaching (in-person) to teaching online,” Dean explained. “The growth of technology, and the opportunity to utilize new technologies, rejuvenated my desire to provide an exceptional teaching and learning experience for my students. The world has changed, and the classroom has changed.”
As part of the award application process, Dean says she really had to sit down and think about her own teaching philosophy.
“Mine stemmed around the concept of fluidity,” she said. “Nothing in life stays the same and we must, as educators, change to face whatever classroom challenges are presented to us.”
The ACBSP Associate Degree Commission established the International Teaching Excellence Award in 1995 to recognize outstanding classroom teachers. In 2002, the Baccalaureate Degree Commission created a similar award to recognize excellence in teaching at the baccalaureate/graduate degree level.
Dean not only won this award; she is also in the running for an international award. The winner will be announced at a Gala in Miami, Florida; however, due to pandemic travel restrictions, Dean will not be able to attend in person.
CNA's School of Business and Information Technology’s Business and Office Administration programs are accredited with ACBSP. Steve Warren is the school’s Dean and he is proud to know that one of his instructors has been bestowed this honour. It is also a validation of the programs offered at CNA.
“This ensures our programs are held to the highest accreditation standards,” said Warren. “This accreditation ensures that our program is meeting standards on a regular basis for all students who enroll in our accredited programs. We see the great things our instructors are doing every day, and to know that they are standing out on an international stage, especially during a pandemic environment, is phenomenal and we are very proud of that.”
Dean says she is happy she chose to be an educator, and to her, receiving this award is just the icing on the cake.
“It was very meaningful as I reflected on me as an educator. Faculty everywhere give their all to their students. I am so appreciative that my path through this world lead me into the field of education.”
-30-
Media Contact:
Ryanne McIsaac
Content Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7870
Ryanne.mcisaac@cna.nl.ca