Cheryl Carter photo by: Cochise Lucas/Whetstone
By Melissa Boyd (Whetstone Staff Writer)
Q: Where were you born? Did you grow up there?
Cheryl Carter: I grew up in Camden, Delaware, but I was born in Long Beach, California. We moved when I was an infant.
Q: Do you like it here?
CC: Oh, I love it here. I retired from teaching English at Lake Forest High School in June 2011; but, I knew I didn’t want to stop teaching. An opportunity presented itself here in the fall as an adjunct teaching college writing, and I took it.
Q: When did you first start teaching, and where?
CC: This is my third career move. I began my career as the principal’s secretary for ten years at Lake Forest. In 1993, I decided I wanted to teach. I wanted to go to college. I got my undergrad at Del. State, taking classes full-time in the evening while working full-time in the daytime. My first two years [after graduation] I started at Woodridge High School. Then I moved and returned to Lake Forest in 2000 and started teaching seventh grade English. One of the admissions counselors [Andrew Lawton] here at Wesley – I have known since he was in 7th grade. I began teaching Andrew in seventh grade and remained with his class until he graduated in 2006. I had him for six years.
Q: What is your new title for the Writing Center and what are your responsibilities?
CC: I am the Writing Center Coordinator. I work with writing tutors and I teach EN201 [the prerequisite for writing tutors]. I maintain Tutor Trac records and the budget. Tutor Trac allows us to see how many students are using the Writing Center. I promote the Resource Center and everything we have available so faculty and students know we are here and offer help for all students of all levels. I want faculty and students to know we are here, and offer help to students at all levels.
Q: Do you have aspirations for the Writing Center and the Academic Resource Center (ARC)? If so, what are they?
CC: My aspirations for the Writing Center are to make it the best it can be. I want the Writing Center to be forethought, not an afterthought. I want students and faculty to utilize the “Center†and avail themselves of everything we have to offer by way of experienced tutors, reference materials, and a computer lab. We are more than happy to work with faculty to establish writing seminars or to visit classes to talk about the importance of writing.
Q: You mentioned training would be a little different this semester than previous semesters. What does writing tutor training now entail?
CC: The tutors are going to work with me for at least 3-4 weeks before they begin tutoring. When they begin tutoring, I’m going to put them with a veteran tutor first.
Q: What are your feelings about being the new Writing Center Coordinator? Excited, a little nervous maybe too?
CC: All of them. I’m most excited about the team – Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. McDermott, and myself – we are working closely together to “beef up†the recognition and reputation of the ARC.
Q: What would you like people to know about the Writing Center and the ARC? How do you want to encourage students to go to the centers?
CC: What I tell my students is that the Writing Center is for everyone, every single student on this campus; especially those who want to succeed. That goes for people on the President’s List [4.0 GPA], and those on academic probation [below a 2.0 GPA]. We encourage and want everyone to come in and we’ll welcome everyone with open arms. We just want to help.
