Ft Worth Times

CC Faculty Focus: Dr. Mary Miller invests in tomorrow’s teachers

Dr. Mary Miller doesn’t miss a beat when asked about her source of inspiration as a professor in the Education Program at Columbia College.

“I take my job very seriously because when I look out at my students, they are my kids’ future teachers,” Miller says. “Nothing could be more important to me than making sure that my kids and everybody’s kids have high-quality teachers who care about them.”

Miller, who received dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri and her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture from Vanderbilt University, joined the CC faculty in 2017. She specializes in linguistics, including early childhood and elementary literacy development.

She received the Deans’ Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022.

She aims to layer on the content she teaches in her Education classes in a way that allows her students to connect their learnings to hands-on practice in the field.

“I try to help create a community in the classroom where we’re all learning from each other’s experiences,” she says. “We like to place students in different levels of schools and types of schools, so they get a well-rounded experience. It’s those kinds of formative experiences we’re able to talk through. We put it all together, and that helps guide students to a path that’s going to be the best fit for them in their future careers.”

Miller credits the supportive environment at CC for fostering a positive, constructive culture where the teachers of tomorrow are built up and equipped for their first job placements.

“CC is a great place to come and pursue your degree in education and certification,” she says. “You will get so much time with your professors in small class sizes and get to build relationships with your colleagues and peers in ways that you don’t have that same opportunity elsewhere.

“We have support built up along the way for our students.”

Original source can be found here