PCC Instructor Named Teacher of the Year by Arizona Language Association
April 9, 2012
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College instructor Dr. Dolores Durán-Cerda has been honored as Teacher of the Year in Arizona by the Arizona Language Association.
The award recognizes teaching excellence and outstanding service in foreign language education.
As a result of winning the award, Dr. Durán-Cerda will represent Arizona at the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching this week in Phoenix. On Thursday, she and eight other state Teachers of the Year will be interviewed to determine the Teacher of the Year from the Southwest region. The winner, to be announced Friday, will compete against other regional Teachers of the Year at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages conference in Philadelphia in November for the title of national foreign language Teacher of the Year.
“I love teaching at Pima,” Dr. Durán-Cerda said. “It’s an honor to be recognized among educators who care about their students’ language learning and global awareness.”
Interim Chancellor Dr. Suzanne Miles praised Dr. Durán-Cerda’s dedication to teaching and called her a worthy recipient of the award.
“We at PCC have long considered ourselves fortunate to have on our faculty an instructor like Dr. Durán-Cerda,” Dr. Miles said. “She is an inspiration and a role model.”
Dr. Durán-Cerda is a member of the World Languages faculty at Downtown Campus, where she teaches Spanish. She is president of PCC’s Faculty Senate, serves as a campus honors coordinator, and is a member of the World Languages Academic Advisory Committee of the College Board.
At the PCC Governing Board’s September 2011 meeting, Dr. Durán-Cerda made an eloquent public comment in support of new admission standards.
“I come before you not only as an involved and active educator, but also as a community member, a Latina/Chicana, daughter of a migrant worker, and wife to a soldier who is currently deployed,” she told the Board. “I am someone who is proud and honored to teach, educate, and learn at Pima Community College.”
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu