Western Heritage instructor Mark Jedrzejczyk named 2018-19 AUS Teacher of the Year

Western Heritage instructor Mark Jedrzejczyk was named the 2018-19 Adult Undergraduate Studies (AUS) Teacher of the Year.

The AUS Teacher of the Year Award is given to a faculty member teaching in the seven-week evening program during the current academic school year. The faculty member demonstrates excellence both in their field and in working with adult students.

Since 2013, Mr. Jedrzejczyk has guided discussion in Western Heritage I and II at Carthage. He has also been an instructor in literature, critical thinking, history, and writing at several other colleges. Mr. Jedrzejczyk spends his days as the guidance director at Christian Life School where, starting next year, he will be the assistant principal of instruction.

Mr. Jedrzejczyk earned his bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and his master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md. He is now pursuing his Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., and hopes to do his dissertation on the correlation between great books programs, the Socratic method, and their capacity to “open minds” through dialogue.

“I believe Mr. Jedrzejczyk deserves this award due to the great understanding of adult students and his passion for teaching,” said a student who nominated Mr. Jedrzejczyk for this award. “His way of leading the classes was very engaging and he always allowed us to share our own point of view and what we believe to be the meaning of the books we read. I truly believe professor Mr. Jedrzejczyk deserves this award due to the passion he shows for teaching students to become people who understand the world more thoroughly by ensuring we are informed or even reflecting before deciding or taking sides.”

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Jedrzejczyk as the AUS Teacher of the Year!