Essie Childers knows students need a solid foundation to ensure their academic success.
The Blinn College District parallel studies professor recently was honored with the College of Academic Support Programs (CASP) 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for equipping students with the tools necessary to create and sustain this foundation. The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to students and faculty in the fields of developmental education and learning support.
“Professor Childers has been instrumental in ensuring that students have the resources necessary to be successful as they transition from high school to college-level course work at Blinn,” said Pat Westergaard, Dean for the Division of Humanities. “She is an innovative educator, compassionate mentor, and valuable colleague. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition from CASP.”
CASP is a combined effort of the Texas Association of Developmental Education (TADE) and the Texas chapter of the College Reading and Learning Association (TxCRLA). These organizations seek to advance the knowledge and interests of post-secondary educators working in the areas of learning assistance, developmental education, tutorial services, and other academic support programs. The lifetime achievement award is given to nominees with at least 20 years of experience in the field and at least 10 years of membership and contribution to both TADE and TxCRLA.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Childers. “I am passionate about helping students accomplish their goals and it is extremely rewarding to be recognized by my peers.”
An educator for 32 years, Childers has been instrumental in the development of Blinn’s Parallel Studies Program. Courses in this program support students with varied academic needs as they make a successful transition from high school to college-level coursework. Childers teaches integrated reading and writing courses that help first-year students develop their reading comprehension and academic writing skills. In addition, she instructs a learning frameworks course that provides students with strategies to become effective and efficient learners. She designed the first online version of this course for Blinn. Childers serves on Blinn’s Quality Enhancement Plan Development Team and is a senior fellow of the College’s first FutureWorks Academy.
Childers is a past president of the Texas Community College Teachers Association and serves as a board member on the Foundation for Professional Excellence in the Community College. In August 2020, she was selected as a You’re Tops Honoree for her contributions to the Bryan-College Station community. Her other recognitions include Longview Independent School District’s 2018 Distinguished Alumni, the 2017 Carol Dochen Developmental Educator of the Year, the 2014 College Reading and Learning Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the 2014 Blinn Professional Association Outstanding Service Award, and the 2013 On Course Ambassador of the Year Award.
She has presented her work at numerous professional conferences, including the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development and CASP conferences, and published her first book, Packing Tools for Success Beyond Middle School, in 2013. In 2019, she became the founding CEO of Virtual Success Coaching, an organization designed to help students achieve their academic goals.
Childers is a graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler, Abilene Christian University, and Walden University, where she recently earned a graduate certificate in adult learning.
For more information on Blinn’s Parallel Studies Program, visit www.blinn.edu/parallel-studies.
