Middle Georgia Technical College

Joi King Named Instructor of the Year at Middle Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins - Joi King, team leader for Instruction and Curriculum for the Adult Education program, has been named Instructor of the Year for Middle Georgia Technical College. She will go on to compete in the district level competition with other winners from the East Central consortium of Technical Colleges July 31 in Macon at Central Georgia Technical College.

King, who was nominated for this honor by her peers, was selected from a group of three candidates. Other nominees for the award were Debbie Wrenn, Dental Assisting program chair, and Bob Dunbar, Electronics Technology program chair.

Candidates were judged by a panel made up of community leaders and MGTC staff. Judges for the competition were Therisa Patton, Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce; Marsha Buzzell, Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau; DeAnn Dent of MidSouth Federal Credit Union; Craig Jackson, MGTC vice president for Student Affairs; and Dick Farnan, director of Evaluation and Planning for MGTC.

"Joi King is a model instructor," said Brenda Brown, vice president for Adult Education at MGTC. "She consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty to teach, reach, and ensure the success of her students."

King, who began at Middle Georgia Tech as a volunteer instructor for family literacy in 2002, served as an adjunct instructor for three years before becoming full-time at MGTC in 2005. Currently, she is a member of the State Adult Education Curriculum Committee and has been instrumental in statewide curriculum revision, local committees, providing staff development, and assisting students with successful transition from earning their GED to the Technical College System, the military, or other post-secondary educational environment.

"I chose to teach in a technical college because I want to be a part of an organization that makes a difference in people's lives," said King. "One of my greatest joys is to witness the transformation as a student begins to believe that success is really possible. Each student success means that one more family is stronger and better equipped to impact our community and compete in today's global economy."

In 2004, King was selected as Instructor of the Year for Adult Education Department at Middle Georgia Technical College. She said she is especially pleased when she has over 100 GED graduates in a year.

"I have had a couple of 100-plus years during my time at MGTC," she said. "To personally have an impact on that many students really helps you realize your purpose as an instructor."

She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Speech from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is married to Willie King, and they have two children.

In September, King will attend the Lighthouse Institute, held at the Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites, where six consortium winners will be announced. The state winner for Instructor of the Year, who will receive the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction, will be selected from these six.

Lighthouse is a professional development conference hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia that provides outstanding instructors an opportunity to share their effective teaching techniques and gain exposure to national innovators in teaching.

For more information on Middle Georgia Technical College, please call 478.988.6800 or log on to www.middlegatech.edu. Fall Quarter begins September 30.

Joi King, Instructor of the Year at Middle Georgia Technical College