A Little More

Karen Phelan is an educator through and through. She began teaching at AACC in 2002, first as an adjunct instructor, and then full time beginning in 2014. As chair and associate professor in the Teacher Education and Child Care Institute, Phelan prepares the next generation of K-12 teachers.  

“What I most enjoy about teaching at AACC is the students,” she said. “They are so inspiring! They come from many different circumstances, but each one is there to learn and grow and impact their life. Of course, since I train K-12 teachers, I feel a double joy knowing that I can help my students, and by extension, their future students as well.” 

Phelan also has completed AACC’s Engagement Coaching program, which means she can offer one-on-one coaching to her students and engage them in a different way inside the classroom. 

But her students aren’t the only ones who benefit from Phelan’s expertise in teaching. She’s also co-facilitator of AACC’s Learning College. In this role, she onboards and trains new faculty.

“For me, this is a fulfilling extension of the work I regularly do at AACC, which is to train teachers,” she said. “However, in Learning College I am supporting college teachers instead of K-12 teachers. It is a privilege to be one of the people that welcomes and guides our new faculty.”