Teaching From Guam

Lenoir Community College Early Childhood instructor Kimberly Simpson knows the meaning of a classroom without walls. She teaches Early Childhood classes for LCC while living in another country, Guam.
Simpson left the area last year with her family when her husband was transferred with the Department of Justice. "We didn't know anything about Guam when we first arrived," she recalled., "but we love it. It's beautiful here."

Kim Simpson

Simpson recently traveled the more than 20 hours from her home in Guam to visit the area. Her children, Olivia, 3, and Daniel, 5 made the long plane trip with her. "They did great," she said. "They seemed to enjoy the flight."

A full time second grade teacher, Simpson continues to teach classes at LCC through distance education. "It's a good balance," she said referring to teaching elementary children and college students. She said program head Jane Gridley encouraged her to teach the classes and she was excited about the opportunity. "I was skeptical at first because it is a 14 hour time difference," she said. "That's probably been one of the greatest challenges for my students. I have to remind them when they call me sometimes it's 2 a.m. in Guam. "They had to get used to not being able to stop by my office for help," she laughed.

LCC Early Childhood graduate Kim Dean said taking distance education courses from an instructor in Guam wasn't too difficult. "She (Simpson) was good about responding and sending examples to go by," Dean said. "I liked taking distance education classes because I was able to be at home and at work. Mrs. Simpson is a very good instructor."

Dean recently was employed by the Lenoir County Public School System as a third grade teacher's assistant at Southeast Elementary. "My distance education experience gave me the opportunity to co-op while going to college. Co-op (Cooperative Education) is so good because it gives you a chance to see if this is what you want to do and also allows (in my case) the teachers a chance to get to know me and my work."

The LCC grad said she would recommend distance education classes and cooperative education to anyone thinking about college. "It's good experience."

Simpson is teaching three Early Childhood internet classes this fall for LCC. She not only teaches internet classes, but she is also a student. "I'm taking classes through distance education and I've learned so much," she said. "I can help my students by being a student. I get these ideas and I'm so excited to share them."

For more information contact LCC Distance Education Coordinator Lee Wetherington at 527-6223, ext. 500 or visit the website at http://sun2.lenoir.cc.nc.us/~disted .