Isabelle Scott Named Outstanding Graduate Instructor of the Year

The English Department’s Outstanding Graduate Instructor of the Year, Isabelle Scott, is planning to continue fostering her love of education post-graduation. 

“USU has prepared me so well for this! During my undergraduate study,” Isabelle says, “my professors helped me significantly with pedagogical preparation and practicing those hands-on skills I would need as a teacher. Then, while earning my graduate degree, my classes helped me go into greater depth in understanding the theory behind the practices in teaching and writing, as well as being able to engage in research and larger scholarly conversations about English teaching.” 

Her experience as a graduate instructor was especially helpful in her current goal: returning to secondary education to teach middle or high school English. 

“I’ve genuinely loved teaching English 1010 and 2010, building relationships with students, and learning from amazing mentors and instructors,” Isabelle reflects. “I’ve also enjoyed various other learning opportunities, such as working as a Co-editor for the Voices of USU student anthology and as a Chair moderating the Emerging Scholars Conference.” 

Besides the physical beauty of Logan, Isabelle’s favorite part of studying at USU has been the relationships she’s formed, between her cohort, professors, and other mentors. She comments, “I’ve also loved the opportunity to work as a graduate instructor while furthering my education in this graduate degree and being able to utilize the theories and knowledge I’m actively learning in classes and directly apply it into my own teaching. My deepened understanding of rhetoric and the interconnections of language, knowledge, and power are some key takeaways that I will definitely continue to think about and bring with me throughout my life and in my future teaching.”

Throughout her time as an instructor, Isabelle has remained committed to her students and their success. Now an alum of the master’s program, she left with some last advice for USU students: Learn how to give your sustainable best. 

“Being able to take care of yourself while also working hard and pursuing your passions is so important and something I am constantly working to be better at,” she explains. “Additionally, some of the best advice I’ve been given as a teacher was from a mentor teaching during my undergraduate studies, whose teaching philosophy was that ‘there should be joy in the classroom!’ Investing in relationships with students has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work and has been a place to infuse joy into my daily work.”