The bedrock of education is built on an instructor passing down knowledge to a student. However, for an institution to maintain a high standard, the instructors must update their knowledge occasionally.
The Alvin Community College Foundation recently awarded a $2,000 grant to Nursing instructor Thirty Lacy for professional development for adjunct Vocational Nursing instructors.
“We signed up for the grant for instructors to take specialized training and learn new methodologies,” Lacy said. “We believe students learn better when they’re excited and engaged.”
The grant was awarded through the Foundation’s Innovative Initiative program. The program is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize, and reward innovative and creative approaches to fulfilling the college’s mission.
The grants will be used for the 2024-25 academic year.
The professional development grant will allow ACC instructors to attend the annual Texas Association of Vocational Nurses conference.
“They discuss exciting new things like simulation, clinical strategies, learning strategies, creative teaching strategies which increase engagement in the classroom and in clinicals,” Lacy said.
He said each conference covers different topics that help improve an instructor’s effectiveness as an educator.
“The instructors come from all over the state, and they share their knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practices,” Lacy said. There are a lot of amazing things in clinical and didactic instruction going on right now.”
Professional development is one of the many ways ACC maintains a strong LVN program. Over the past 12 years, graduates have posted a 100 percent pass rate on their licensure exams.
