PHOTO: Jana Willis, department chair in Literacy Library and Learning Technologies. Photo by The Signal reporter Jose Martinez. — Jana Willis, department chair in Literacy Library and Learning Technologies. Photo by The Signal reporter Jose Martinez.

Jana Willis receives National Outstanding Educator award

By Jose Angel Martinez Last updated Apr 16, 2017 241 1

Awards are given out every year to professors from organizations to reward their hard work, dedication to students and contributions to the scholastic society. This year, University of Houston-Clear Lake professor Jana Willis, department chair in Literacy, Library and Learning Technologies for the College of Education, was selected by Project Learning Tree (PLT) as one of five National Outstanding Educators in the United States.

PLT is an organization created in 1976 to supplement instructional materials based on the environment, connect students to nature and build a support network among instructors in America.

Jana Willis professor of instructional technology — Jana Willis, department chair in literacy library and learning technologies. Photo by The Signal reporter Jose Martinez.

“How do I get a hold of that curriculum; that’s exactly what I’m looking for,” Willis asked a colleague after watching her use PLT curriculum material in a class for environmental education back in 2003.

Soon after her discovery of PLT, Willis went on to adopt its guides, becoming a facilitator of the curriculum from 2003 to now. She says she has had the privilege of teaching the material to more than 200 students a year, creating a new relationship that would benefit both Willis and PLT.

Kathy McGlauflin, senior vice president of PLT, and Vanessa Bullwinkle, director of communications, spoke about the relationship they have built with Willis and how it has helped them create a better environmental education curriculum for the future.

“We’re really proud of Texas for recognizing the work [Willis] has done for her school and for PLT,” McGlauflin said.

“It’s critical to get the research that [Willis] has brought to [PLT]; it helps us develop better guides to outreach the information,” added Bullwinkle about the research Willis has provided over the years in assisting PLT.

Bullwinkle is referring to the research that Willis has been recording over the years on the impact environmental education has on her students and the students that go beyond them. As her students are the future teachers of America, they will pass on the education they learn from Willis and give it the youth they teach.

“Helping kids become aware of pollution and conservation is good teaching; it’s teaching them to be good citizens,” Willis said.

Mark Shermis, dean of education, spoke highly of Willis for receiving the honor from PLT stating that having a professor like her in his department is a tremendous asset.

Shermis said Willis is dedicated to her students, and she is known as the “Energizer Bunny” around the College of Education.

Bullwinkle stated that PLT has given this award every year since 1994 based on each states’ nomination. After all the nominees from each state have been submitted, a panel of judges selects five honorees.

“I guarantee you that she didn’t campaign for her to win this award,” Shermis said. “[Willis’ work is] something that was recognized by her colleagues. A result of [PLT] work to highlight the accomplishment of one of their members.”

Willis will be presented her National Outstanding Education award by Project Learning Tree April 24-27 in Louisville, Kentucky, at PLT’s 31^st International Coordinators’ Conference.

“It’s exciting [to win], but we’re all trying to do a good job,” Willis said.

Willis said she is optimistic about the future of her program and where it will go as technology evolves with environmental education.