Teaching Center

The Nashville State Community College Teaching Center supports all faculty in pursuit of instructional excellence. With a focus on enriching student learning experiences, The Teaching Center creates and curates training opportunities, promotes professional development opportunities, and shares information that positively impacts the classroom.

Nashville State Community College: Upcoming Events & News  

đź“… Event Calendar: Fall 2026 

Date

Time

Event

Type

Location / Link

Details

Tues, Aug 4 

2:00-3:00pm 

Mastering D2L Basics  

Presentation 

Session Link 

Passcode: Fall2026 

 

This beginner-friendly session is designed to get you up to speed quickly on your essential daily teaching tools. You will look at your course through your students' eyes, learn how to post News announcements, and create discussions or assignments that sync perfectly with your Gradebook. We will also cover the exact steps for tracking attendance and grading efficiently so you can focus on what you do best—teaching. 

Presenter: Hannah Hurdle, Instructional Designer in the Office of Online Learning 

Thurs, Aug 13 

1:00pm 

ACUE Pinning Ceremony 

Ceremony 

Nashville State Community College White Bridge Campus H-202 

Celebrate the accomplishment of Nashville State faculty who earned a nationally recognized teaching credential through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) 

Fri, Aug 14 

10:00am-2:50pm 

Fall 2026 Faculty Return Conference 

Conference 

See Conference Program for session links. 

View Conference Program  

Tues, Aug 18 

8:30am-2:50pm 

Fall 2026 Faculty Return Conference 

 

Conference 

 

See Conference Program for session links. 

 

View Conference Program 

 

Tues, Aug 18 

6-7:15pm 

Post-Conference Session: NSCC1010 Training 

Experience-based presentation 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall2026 

 

This is one of two options for the required NSCC 1010 Instructor Training. NSCC 1010 Instructors are required to attend a training, and all interested faculty and staff are welcome to attend. First, I will offer playful strategies to make this short high impact practice engaging in-person and virtually while completing key required activities. Second, I will share updates on instruction and assessment of the Academic Plan as our college website, OER, Degree Works, and degrees evolve.  Learning Objective 1: Recognize playful NSCC 1010 classroom teaching strategies that will engage your students Learning Objective 2: Identify changes to the Academic Plan instruction and assessment. 

Presenter: Jessica Rabb, Professor of Biology & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

Wed, Aug 19 

8:30am-2:55pm 

Fall 2026 Faculty Return Conference 

 

Conference 

 

See Conference Program for session links. 

 

View Conference Program 

 

Thurs, Aug 20 

8:30am-12:50pm 

Fall 2026 Faculty Return Conference 

 

Conference 

 

See Conference Program for session links. 

 

View Conference Program 

 

 

Fri, Aug 21 

9:00am-12:50pm 

Fall 2026 Faculty Return Conference 

 

Conference 

 

See Conference Program for session links. 

 

View Conference Program 

 

Fri, Aug 28 

9:00-9:50am 

Collaborating in the Workplace: A Guide for Building Better Teams Professional Learning Community 

 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall 2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

Fri, Sept 4 

9:00-9:50am 

Collaborating in the Workplace: A Guide for Building Better Teams Professional Learning Community 

 

 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall 2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

 

Fri, Sept 4 

10:00-10:50am 

Teachers’ Learning Community: Active Learning 

Teachers' Learning Community (TLC) 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

 

Fri, Sept 11 

9:00-9:50am 

Collaborating in the Workplace: A Guide for Building Better Teams Professional Learning Community 

 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall 2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

 

Fri, Sept 18 

9:00-9:50am 

 

Collaborating in the Workplace: A Guide for Building Better Teams Professional Learning Community 

 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall 2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

 

Fri, Sept 25 

9:00-9:50am 

Rewiring Resilience: Supporting Gen Z Students in the Age of Anxiety 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenters: Jennifer Goncalves, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education & Teaching Center Fellow and Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor of Communication Studies 

 

Fri, Oct 2 

9:00-9:50am 

Rewiring Resilience: Supporting Gen Z Students in the Age of Anxiety 

Professional Learning Community (PLC) 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenters: Jennifer Goncalves, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education & Teaching Center Fellow and Neely Ann Sheucraft, Associate Professor of Communication Studies 

 

Fri, Oct 2 

10:00-10:50am 

Teachers’ Learning Community: Active Learning 

 

Teachers' Learning Community (TLC) 

 

Session Link 

Session Passcode: Fall2026 

 

See Session Description 

Presenter: Harlan Pease, Associate Professor of Communications and English & Teaching Center Faculty Fellow 

 

📢 Important Action Items & Deadlines 

đź“° News & Resources 

 

Welcome 2026-2028 Faculty Fellows!  

The Teaching Center would like to announce that Yvonne Simmerman, Jennifer Goncalves, and Maayan Ornath will be joining as Faculty Fellows for the 2026-2028 cohort. We are delighted to have them join this community of educators who are committed to advancing excellence in teaching, learning, and student success at Nashville State. 

 

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 ACUE Faculty!  

By earning this rigorous certification, ACUE faculty have strengthened their teaching practice and advanced the learning and success of countless students in their courses. This milestone exemplifies what it means to be a reflective practitioner—someone who continually seeks to refine their craft and ensures that every student has a meaningful and impactful learning experience.   

Thank you to ACUE faculty for your continued commitment and leadership as an educator and for helping to elevate the standard of teaching and learning across Nashville State! 

 

Advanced Certification in Effective Teaching 

Kristen Bradley 

Michelle Gillis 

Mark Helm 

Dara Talibah 

 

Certification in Effective Teaching 

Audrey Cross 

Avan Hamalaw 

David Jehle 

Allie Ndaira 

Shreya Nagar 

Alyssa Nunez 

James Pegler 

John Smith 

Kathy Sugg 

Ruben Saroukhanian 

 

Thank you, 2024-2026 Faculty Fellows, for Your Dedication to The Teaching Center!

The Teaching Center would like to recognize and thank our Faculty Fellows cycling out of The Teaching Center after Spring 2026 semester.

Thank you to Neely Ann Scheucraft, Kurstin Bush, and Audrey Cross for your service to The Teaching Center and your colleagues at Nashville State!

You have spent significant time and energy helping to shape The Teaching Center in positive ways, making it a collaborative space focused on professional development that enriches student learning experiences. We appreciate your dedication and look forward to continuing to work with you in new ways.

 


 

NSCC Faculty & Staff Mini-Grants 

 


 

TBR Newsletter 

 


 

The Teaching Center

Program office

Building Icon

 

Nashville State Community College

TheTeachingCenter@nscc.edu 

W-78, White Bridge Campus  

 

Program STAFF

Profile Icon

Kimberly Leifker 

Director of the Teaching Center 
kimberly.leifker@nscc.edu 

W-78, White Bridge Campus