Spartans of UD: Katie Boyer
Mar 7, 2018
Spartans of UD highlights what makes University of Dubuque special – the people who live, work, and study on campus. Katie Boyer is an assistant professor of education at the University of Dubuque. She has worked at UD since fall 2012.
KATIE BOYER
Assistant Professor of Education
1. Why did you choose to work at the University of Dubuque?
“I went to the University of Dubuque for the 1998-1999 academic year. I played volleyball and basketball, and I also ran track. From 2005-2008, I coached men’s and women’s cross country and women’s track for the Spartans. After I earned my teaching endorsement from UD in December 2008, I taught at East Dubuque High School in East Dubuque, Illinois. In 2012, Debra Stork, PhD, head of the UD Teacher Education Department and professor of education, called to ask if I was interested in coming back to UD. So I feel UD chose me and I am meant to be here ... I keep coming back. I am passionate about youth health and health literacy. I am working on getting my doctoral degree through National Louis University, and my program evaluation revolves around education for elementary teaching majors and the health literacy topics."
2. What do you enjoy most about teaching future educators?
“I had a hard time leaving East Dubuque High School, because I knew every day I was giving 200 students the outlet to live a healthy lifestyle. But when I thought about it, coming to UD and teaching 150 future educators to reach 200 or more of their students, I could be promoting health and wellness to that many more young lives.”
3. How has technology changed the way you teach students to teach physical education?
“Heart rate monitors have completely changed assessment and accountability – not only by our educators but by the students. I quote one of my adjuncts, mentor, and dear friend, Jon West, ‘The heart rate monitor is working; it is your student who is not.’ So students are now accountable to get their heart rate in the zone every day for class, but the teacher is also responsible for giving them the opportunity through a well thought out and planned lesson.”
4. What is your teaching philosophy?
“My teaching philosophy for college students differs from my teaching philosophy for high school students, as well as from my coaching philosophy. But they all share these messages: lead by example, communicate your expectations, always give the ‘why’ in your lessons/practices, ignore bias, start fresh each day/don’t hold grudges, have passion for what you do, and live with integrity. My philosophy revolves around the whole student/athlete reaching his/her cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains through teaching lifelong lessons.”
5. Why is it important to you to teach a fitness class every semester through UD’s Wellness Program and group fitness classes at the Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA?
“The reason I want and enjoy to teach these classes goes along with my philosophy. I want to share my passion for wellness. While I enjoy working out and creating workouts for others to enjoy, the social aspect of meeting new people, faculty, staff, and students contributes to the affective domain that we often overlook in our lives. I also love taking classes and learning new fitness trends to share with my physical education students.”
