College of Education
Northern Illinois University
Graham Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: (815) 753-1948
Fax: (815) 753-2100
cedu@niu.edu
When Dana Higgins was just 2 years old, she would play "teacher" with her mom. As she grew older, her love of knowldge and drive to help others followed her throughout high school and into college. Today Dana is studying to be a learning behavior specialist in NIU’s special education program, where she has found that knowledge and drive aren’t the only two ingredients that make an excellent teacher. For Dana, the inherent teaching ability of Professor Laura Hedin is another.
Hedin is always prepared and knowledgeable about her course topics, Dana explains, and she makes learning fun by employing various teaching methods and activities. In this way Hedin instructs on many levels, presenting her students with interesting material while simultaneously providing a real-world simulation of different techniques. “I am learning to be a teacher, and it is great to see good teaching techniques in play,” Dana says. “It helps remind me what is appropriate for my own future classroom.”
Her expertise, however isn’t the only gift Hedin bestows upon her students. While she may seem tough at first, Hedin invests much of herself into the excellent teachers she helps produce. Her students describe her as very kind and always willing to help. They say Hedin is open to hearing everyone’s thoughts, does not judge opinions, and always assists students in finding solutions. What’s more, Hedin shows her students this tremendous support both inside and outside the classroom. Dana, a board member of the NIU Best Buddies Student Organization, specifically remembers Professor Hedin attending a fundraiser for the group. “It really meant a lot to have a professor invested in an organization I care about and work so hard for,” Dana recalls.
In her search to fulfill a lifetime dream, Dana will tell you that Hedin has made a wonderful difference in her NIU education. “Professors have to be great people before they can be great teachers, and Professor Hedin is just that,” Dana says. “She deserves to be honored for all the hard work and dedication she shows her students. It is easy to work hard for a teacher who works hard for you.”