2018 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Stephanie J. Gardner-Walsh, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Special Education Services, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2015)
Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching is a lifestyle, not a job.

The most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is

Seeing students hit a point where grades are meaningless and solving a problem is everything. Students have been trained to care about a grade, but I know learning is really happening when that care
vanishes and is replaced with a desire to solve a problem, no matter the outcome.

The three most valuable methods that I bring to my teaching practices are

Constant reflection and revision of content to reflect current practices.

Personal relationships and an openness that allows teacher candidates to see my experiences, my strengths and my weaknesses.

A desire to effectively serve children who are deaf and hard of hearing by preparing the best teachers in the United States.

Best compliment that I've received from a student

Was a call for help in the middle of the night, in tears, fearful over a situation that they felt unsafe in. It had nothing to do with my content, but had everything to do with the trust that was
established.

photo of Stef Gardiner-Walsh — “I'm typically so set on what I can do better that I forget to be proud of what I'm doing... I am most proud of the long-term relationships I have had with families and students both from my Pre-12 experiences and from ISU.”