EvCC English instructor Josh Searle wins teaching and learning award

Press Release

Release Date: August 21, 2017

Contact: Katherine Schiffner, Director of Public Relations, 425-388-9554; kschiffner@everettcc.edu

EvCC English instructor Josh Searle wins Anna Sue McNeill award

Photo: Josh Searle teaching in 2012.

EVERETT, Wash. – Everett Community College English instructor Josh Searle is a recipient of the 2017 Anna Sue McNeill Assessment, Teaching and Learning Award.

He was recognized for his “extensive contribution to both teaching excellence and leadership” for creating interdisciplinary learning, English assessment and research. 
Searle is a founding faculty member of EvCC’s Ocean College Research Academy (ORCA) program and has taught at EvCC since 2002. In addition to English, he teaches humanities and political science.

“Josh epitomizes powerful teaching and learning. Students leave his courses empowered to ask critical questions and reflect on their own understanding. His ability to help students and colleagues ‘tell a story’ through writing is impressive,” said ORCA executive director Ardi Kveven.

In his 15 years at ORCA, Searle has focused on ways to engage students in writing effectively and reading critically. His work also centers on disciplinary integration, portfolio assessment and preparing undergraduates for independent research.

Searle has led the EvCC’s assessment committee for the past four years, coordinating the instructional effort to redevelop a systematic program review process, and co-authored a chapter in a book about undergraduate research in community college.

“Josh Searle has brought his students to a level of ability that is admirable and enviable for any undergraduate classroom (and these students are still technically in high school),” said Eugene McAvoy, EvCC Dean of Communication and Social Science. “Not since my time as a graduate student have I witnessed a discussion about literature that was as insightful and well-informed as what I witnessed in Josh's classroom. He models a critical process that has resulted in truly exemplary performance on the part of his students.”

Searle was one of three Washington state community and technical college instructors honored at the May Assessment, Teaching and Learning Conference in Spokane.