Teaching Excellence at Lethbridge College
Each year, the Lethbridge College Faculty Association (LCFA), and the Lethbridge College Students’ Association (LCSA) team up to present awards to some of the best instructors at our institution. Students nominate instructors they believe deserve recognition for their contributions in the classroom. This year there were 113 nominations across the College. From those 113 nominations two instructors were chosen as this years award recipients.
The awards are for:
Rookie of the Year - A first year instructor who demonstrates Teaching Excellence within the classroom. Winner: Casey Bellemare
Teaching Excellence - A seasoned instructor who demonstrates Teaching Excellence within the classroom. Winner: Karla Wolsky
Casey Bellemare
Casey completed his Masters of Education with a focus in counselling psychology at the University of Lethbridge in 2016. He has been employed by a local non-profit named Family Ties Association since 2015. His roles within the agency have evolved over the years, starting as a Youth Engagement and Family Preservation Worker, progressing to a Clinician, Behavioral Consultant, and eventually becoming Supervisor of group programs. Currently, he oversees the Abilities Services Program, which supports Family Supports for Children with Disability and Aiyiikakimaop for Children with Blood Tribe Social Development.
Family Ties Association has a longstanding and positive relationship with Lethbridge College's Child and Youth Care program. The organization consistently hosts practicum students within its programs and is aware of the high caliber of students enrolled in the program. When asked to teach in the program, he was enthusiastic about being a part of it. He acknowledges that without the guidance of an exceptional mentor at the college and the support of an outstanding Associate Dean, his success would not have been possible.
Dr. Karla Wolsky
Dr. Karla Wolsky, RN is deeply committed to fostering strong relationships with learners, acknowledging their pivotal role in enriching the learning process. This dedication entails being fully engaged both mentally and physically, establishing an environment where learners feel recognized, heard, and valued.
Dr. Wolsky fosters student success through a multifaceted approach, driven by genuine concern for learners' well-being, continuous professional development, and active involvement in research. Her commitment to student success is not just a professional responsibility but a deeply ingrained belief that guides her every pursuit.
Dr. Wolsky currently serves as an instructor within the Centre for Health and Wellness. Currently, she instructs in the Health Care Aide program (since 2022) and previously taught in the NESA Bachelor of Nursing program (2006-2022). Concurrently, she holds sessional appointments at the University of Calgary, instructing in the Graduate Nursing Certificate Innovations in Teaching & Learning pathway (since 2023); at Algonquin College in the Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) Pathway (BN, PN) as an online facilitator, subject matter expert, and competency assessor; and at the University of Saskatchewan, teaching in the Graduate Certificate of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) (commencing spring 2024).
Dr. Wolsky has held administrative roles as the Chair of the NESA BN programs (2013-2016) and Chair of the School of Health Sciences and Allied Health programs (2016-2019). She recently completed a graduate certificate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) from the University of Saskatchewan (2023).
Dr. Wolsky’s research primarily centers on academic integrity in education, with publication within the Canadian Journal of Higher Education. In addition to this, her scholarly pursuits extend to various topics including student engagement, utilization of humor in the classroom, and understanding the educational needs of health care aide students.
Currently, Dr. Wolsky is collaborating on an applied research CARIF project with Rena Walker and a recent graduate in therapeutic recreation. Their project focuses on determining the optimal duration for engaging clients with dementia in preferred therapeutic recreation interventions.
Additionally, Dr. Wolsky is engaged in a SoTL project titled “Cinema Education: Utilizing Films to Teach Psychological Aspects of Client Care for Health Care Aide Students.” She will be presenting her findings at the upcoming ACIFA conference. Dr. Wolsky will also be awarded the ACIFA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award during this event.