2006 Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award Winner
Dr. Karen Bosch, Batten Professor of Education, was awarded the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award at the 2006 Commencement ceremonies.
"I feel honored and humbled to have been chosen for this award," Bosch said. "This award will always remain most dear to me because it represents recognition by students for a job well done."
Each year full-time faculty members are nominated for this award by students, faculty and administrators. Selection of the award recipient is made by a broad-based student committee that examines the following criteria: evidence of effectiveness as a classroom teacher; demonstration of creative activity within or pertaining to their classes; demonstrated influence upon students in their development of interest and positive attitudes in the nominee's academic field; and concern with professional identity as a teacher, demonstrated by professional activity on and off campus.
Bosch earned a degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University. She then obtained her master's in Adult and Community Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. in Urban Studies with an emphasis in Education Leadership from Old Dominion University.
Bosch came to Virginia Wesleyan in 1993, where she was an assistant professor in the education department. Today, she is also the director of teacher education and coordinator of the education department.
"It's a wonderful place to work," Bosch said. "The people are great. Students are fantastic. I love the friendship and sense of community that the people of VWC have given me."
In her spare time, Bosch enjoys writing. She has written three books to date. These include The First Year Teacher (1994, 2000), Planning Classroom Management for Change (1999) and Planning Classroom Management (2006). She has also published over 25 articles in journals such as Middle School Journal, Current Issues in Middle Level Education and Clearing House.
"My interest is writing, and that includes writing two more education texts and one children's book," Bosch said. "I have proposals pending for the two education texts. The children's literature book is a story that I started telling my children when they were very young and over the years, it has developed into a real 'tale of tales.'"
Bosch has also presented research at national and state conferences on issues involving redesigning field experiences in teacher education, classroom management, and lesson planning for improved student learning. When she is away from her school responsibilities, she also enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, children and grandchildren.
"My husband Gordon, a friend since I was 16, keeps me stable and sane," Bosch said.
Bosch also has a 36-year-old son, Ryan, who is a physician and Director of Internal Medicine at George Washington Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Her daughter-in-law is an attorney in D.C. Bosch has two grandkids, Carter, who is six, and Cassidy who is four years old. Bosch smiled and said, "Being a Grandma is, indeed, one of life's greatest pleasures." Her daughter, Morghan, 24, works as a special education teacher in Norfolk. She is also the assistant volleyball coach at Virginia Wesleyan College. "I love seeing Morghan on campus," Bosch said.
Bosch travels to Michigan as much as she can to spend time with her mother, who is 92.
"She is my inspiration to be the best that I can be." said Bosch.
"My life is very full and busy!" she said. "I take my life and my profession seriously and work with conviction and energy. When anyone mentions teaching, I proudly say that I am committed to making a difference in the teaching lives of Wesleyan's education students."