January 13, 2006 :: No. 110
by Mimi Ko Cruz

Frances Kay Krausman and Carole Shelby share a passion for teaching. Because of their commitment and enthusiasm for their profession, the two Orange County teachers and Cal State Fullerton alumni also share an honor: the CSUF College of Education Titan Education Excellence Award.

Krausman and Shelby "demand high academic performance from their students, who they challenge to engage in critical thinking," said Carmen Dunlap, associate dean of the College of Education. "They are compassionate and care deeply about both their students' learning and their students as people. They inspire their students to exceed even their own expectations. They are subject matter experts, leaders among their fellow teachers and change agents in their schools and school districts."

The women will be feted Jan. 21 at the college's inaugural Honor A Teacher ceremony. Each will receive $1,000. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Titan Student Union. Harold Greene, a news anchor on CBS-TV, will be master of ceremonies.

Krausman, who retired from the Fullerton School District as an elementary school teacher in June, now works as a mentor for a beginning teacher at Beechwood Elementary School in Fullerton. She also is developing a botany curriculum for third-grade teachers to teach their pupils at the Fullerton Arboretum and she consults with teachers at Maple Elementary School in Fullerton, where she helps teachers teach science.

Her teaching career began in 1978, when Krausman was hired by the Fullerton School District. She received various honors over the years, including the 2004 Project Tomorrow Science Teacher Award and a 1990 Teacher of the Year award from the Fullerton School District. The CSUF alumna earned a bachelor of arts degree in American studies and a teaching credential in 1975, then returned to her alma mater to complete a master of science degree in education with an emphasis in elementary curriculum and instruction in 1988.

"The excitement and joy students of all ages exhibit when gaining mastery of new knowledge challenges me to continue to grow in my profession and share my learning with others," Krausman said. "Knowing that you are a part of personal growth for others and the impact it may have in the future is humbling and, personally, highly motivational."

She said a former Cal State Fullerton professor once gave her this advice: "Some of us are 15 watts, some are 50, 75 or 100 watts. Remember that more information that can be used in many years by scientists was sent back to Earth from Mars on just 15 watts of power."

In essence, Krausman said, "all of us can, and do, make a difference."

She said she will donate her award money back to CSUF's College of Education to be used for scholarships.

Shelby teaches English at El Modena High School in Orange. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English from CSUF in 1975 and a master of arts degree in music and music ministry from Hope International University in 1994. She received her teaching credential in 2001.

" I teach because I want to make a difference in the life of a child," Shelby said. "I teach because adolescents today need good role models and mentors. I teach because I love to learn new things and want to instill this love of learning in the youth today. I want to teach them to become lifelong learners."

Seeing a student in her class have an "aha" moment, makes teaching worthwhile, she added.

Shelby said she plans on investing her award money on books and supplies for her students to use.

"Teaching is a profession that makes a difference," said Ashley Bishop, dean of the College of Education, adding that the Honor A Teacher event was created to bring positive attention to those who toil as teachers.

He said that in addition to awarding the Titan Education Excellence awards at the event, members of the college's advisory boards and faculty will present certificates of appreciation to teachers who touched their lives.

"Teaching is an important, positive and honorable profession," Bishop said. "We want our students to make society a better place and for that to take place, people in society have to make good decisions and have to have a rich knowledge base. What we do in education is make sure students come out as informed decision makers.... We produce people who can make all the difference in the world."

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