There would be no back to school without the presence of our tireless educators, who work hard every day to make sure that students succeed. A good professor can make a tedious class interesting, a difficult topic crystal clear, and act as a pillar of support when students need it most. Today, we’re highlighting a few exceptional educators who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

In Kansas City, Missouri, Vanessa Zamzow out of the Metropolitan Community College at Maple Woods is giving back to the educational community by teaching students who hope to be teachers or professors great ways to incorporate technology into the classroom so that they can better educate the students of tomorrow. She also spends extra time outside of the classroom teaching parents how to use the technology available to them so that they can be more involved in their students’ schooling. Read Zamzow’s full story here. 

Suzanne McCray from the University of Arkansas recently received honor from the National Association of Fellowship Advisors who not only created a new award just for her, they named it after McCray as well. This award is called the Suzanne McCray Exemplary Service Award, and commemorates her dedication to the organization, which aims to share strategies for student success and support for advisors across the nation. Read more about McCray here.

From the University of Hawai’i at M?noa, Brett Oppegaard has won an award from the American Council of the Blind for his work making audio description more accessible on mobile devices. He has also worked with U.S. National Parks to improve the audio descriptive services for guests there. Learn more about Oppegaard here.

This sampling of professors who are being recognized for their incredible work is only a small sliver of the amazing teachers that educate our students every day. Thank you, educators, for making a positive difference in the world and impacting your students every day.