Denise Hatcher of Aurora, Aurora University professor of Spanish and chair of foreign languages, recently published Spanish readers and teacher’s guides.
“El Primer Trabajo de Nayeli” (“Nayeli’s First Job”) and “La Quinceanera de Nayeli” (“Nayeli’s Quinceanera”) were published by Teacher’s Discovery, a leading U.S. supplier of classroom teaching materials.
Hatcher said, “I used their (Teacher’s Discovery) materials when I first started (teaching). My goal has always been to give back to new teachers the way that those who published before gave to me.”
She has published previously, presented research papers at international conferences and won AU’s prestigious Marcus and Mark H. Trumbo Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008.
Based on student nominations, the Trumbo Award is finalized by a faculty committee. The recognition includes a monetary award, a plaque and an engraved name plate on the Marcus and Mark H. Trumbo Award for Excellence in Teaching achievement board.
Recipients provide remarks at a Spring honors convocation and support student learning across the University through facilitation of faculty development sessions.
Since its inception in 1976, the Trumbo Award has recognized the finest work of Aurora University full-time faculty members in their roles as teachers, mentors, and transformative scholars.
The prestige and value of the Award is recognized by the University community and has a positive impact on the teaching practice of faculty colleagues, making Aurora University an institution of higher learning that provides opportunities for students to thrive academically and developmentally.
Hatcher holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from Northern Illinois University, a doctor of education degree in adult and higher education, with specializations in Spanish phonetics and second language acquisition; a master’s degree in Spanish language and literature and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and secondary education.
—Al Benson