Fowler's teaching career fueled by desire to make a difference

A driving force throughout Dr. Lisa Fowler’s life has been her desire to make a difference.

She has carried this sentiment throughout her 29 years in education and never let it waver, from teaching sixth graders for 16 years to preparing University of Alabama teacher education students to lead their own classrooms.

“From a very early age, my goal has been to feel like I impacted someone’s life in a positive way,” Dr. Fowler said. “I hope that my time here has enabled me to do that, because if I can feel like I helped make the world a better place than what I found it, I believe my job is accomplished.”

During her nearly 13 years at the Capstone, Fowler, a clinical full professor of elementary and science education, has strived to make sure her students feel valued, supported, and heard.

Since she started teaching at UA in 2011, Fowler has helped undergraduates explore what type of educator they want to be through her Teaching Early Childhood and Elementary School Science course. The class gives students an opportunity to make decisions regarding educational assignments and activities, allowing them to develop that sense of agency before they go out to teach in their own classrooms – a vision Fowler and her colleagues share.

“We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zone and give some control to the people we are teaching so that they can give voice to the future generation of learners, even at the youngest and most vulnerable age,” she said. “That is how we develop problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and world-changers.”

Over time, the methods course has evolved into more of a workshop-style approach, with Fowler and the other professors taking the time to listen to the students’ needs and revise the course as needed while providing support and building relationships with them.

“I feel that my journey at UA has been one similar to that of our undergrads,” she said. “I had to find my place, my voice, and become an advocate for myself to help teach my students to advocate for what they need in their educational journey.”

As coordinator of the Elementary Clinical Master Teacher program, Fowler also works with in-service teachers, and she teaches master’s students, one course during the summer and one in the fall. She also serves as executive director of the Office of Interdisciplinary STEM Education Research (ISER) and has been collaborating with the Saban Center, providing her professional knowledge and helping procure the center’s STEM exhibits.

Growing up in a rural Alabama farming community, Fowler said some of the very traditional beliefs that she was taught didn’t set well with her, which led her to rebel at times.

“If you told me, ‘Girls can’t do that,’ then I was going to show you I could, and sometimes that got me into a lot of trouble,” she said laughing.

She even recalls one of her high school teachers telling her she would never amount to anything. But years later, when Fowler accepted her first teaching job after becoming a first-generation college graduate, she found that the very same teacher was now one of her colleagues, which was a rewarding feeling.

“I spent the rest of my life after that moment proving to her that I would (amount to something),” she said.

Her pursuit of a teaching career started a little later than some as she was married with a 2-year-old son and an 11-year-old stepdaughter. There were decisions being made at her stepdaughter’s school that worried her, so she expressed her concerns to the principal. His response was that if she didn’t like it then she should earn a teaching degree and do something about it, which is exactly what she did.

“I knew that day in that moment that, yes, I can come up here and complain every day, but nothing is going to happen, or I can go and do it differently and show others how to do the same.”

Fowler earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from UNA – at times working two and three jobs to do so and help support her family – and discovered that she was meant to teach. That is when she developed habits of a lifelong learner, and she completed Educational Specialist Degrees and her doctoral degree at UA, while teaching full time in North Alabama. She often left school at 3 p.m., drove three hours to Tuscaloosa, attended class from 6-9, then drove back to North Alabama in time to teach the next day.

“The great opportunity we are given as educators should never be taken lightly. There is not a career in the world that isn’t impacted by education,” Fowler said. “What we do as educators matters very deeply to the success and change needed in our country. It not only impacts the people who are in front of us but those who will follow for many, many years.”

On June 1, Fowler will bring her 13 years at the Capstone to a close, retiring from her 29-year career as an educator. But she said she plans to search for other ways to continue teaching, inspiring, and impacting others, particularly helping amplify the voices of women and young students as well as encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM.

“I've just been fortunate to have two dream jobs in my life,” she said. “It will be hard to turn in my keys and walk out that door, but I’m leaving (the College) in good hands and have great hope for our future.”

Hunt for adventure led Curtner-Smith to field of sport pedagogy

Dr. Matthew Curtner-Smith’s search for adventure led him from one chapter in his teaching career in the U.K. to another as an educator here in the U.S. and, eventually, as a professor in the College of Education at The University of Alabama.

For 33 years, he has taught at the Capstone in the Department of Kinesiology, dedicating his professional life to preparing pre-service physical education teachers, physical therapists studying to become physical educators, and sport pedagogy graduate students as well as has conducted and published award-winning research in the realm of sport pedagogy.

“I was incredibly lucky to have landed the job to be honest with you,” said Dr. Curtner-Smith, professor of sport pedagogy. “I have quite a few friends that I went to school with in the U.K. who have retired, and a number of them, even though they did quite well financially, didn't really ever enjoy working. But it was always enjoyable for me. My teaching career, working with the students – I've certainly enjoyed being here.”

In 1983, Curtner-Smith earned his honors Bachelor of Education in physical education and educational studies and history in the U.K. at the University of Exeter in England. The same year, he began teaching physical education and history at a secondary school and did so until 1987 when he decided to take a sabbatical and earn his master’s degree. This was a decision he did not make lightly as he loved working with the secondary students and the other teachers.

Curtner-Smith came to the States that same year, earning his Master of Science in exercise and sport science from Colorado State University in 1988 and staying on as a teaching and research assistant. He received his Doctor of Education in sport pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado in 1991, where he worked as a teaching and research assistant from 1988-91.

As he taught, he couldn’t help but notice differences in the U.K. and American school climates. Some teachers in the U.S. seemed to not rely on their colleagues as much as others tend to in the U.K., making him realize just how much he relies on his fellow educators, he said. 

“Teaching can seem like an individual sport, but it’s a team game. A school is only as good as the collective and how everyone works together,” he said. “I got a good feeling when I came (to the University) for my interview.”

Curtner-Smith flew to Tuscaloosa in 1991 to interview for his position within the Department of Health and Human Performance, now Kinesiology.

“I’d never even heard of Tuscaloosa,” he said. “I remember being in the airport on the way to the interview. I sat next to a fellow who asked me what I was doing, and I told him and asked, ‘Do you know it?’ He had actually played football here. He asked if I had ever heard of (Coach Paul) 'Bear' Bryant, and I said ‘Never.’” Curtner-Smith laughed then said, “I guess the rest is history.”

Curtner-Smith has been with the department and the University for 33 years now, meeting and marrying his wife Dr. Mary Curtner-Smith along the way. Mary also taught at UA as professor emerita of human development and family studies.

“She was teaching a class on human development at the time, and she usually asked another professor to come and talk to her class about physical development,” he said.

This time, that professor was unable to make it, so Mary asked Curtner-Smith if he would fill in for him. He did so, somewhat reluctantly, not knowing how significant a decision that would be.

“I tried everything I could to get out of it because it was one of those huge lecture classes,” he said. “But I did go along, and that’s how we met.”

In September, Dr. Curtner-Smith will be retiring from his position as professor of sport pedagogy. Throughout his career, he has earned several honors, including being awarded Winner of the 2019 Paper of the Year in PESP by the Southern District SHAPE America Scholar Award in 2020 and receiving the Nellie Rose McCrory Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching from the College of Education. He also was ranked in the top 1% of the most cited scientists in the world across disciplines, top 2% of cited scientists across disciplines from 1966 to 2020, and No. 3 among the most cited sport pedagogy researchers based in the United States, all in 2020.

Curtner-Smith could have retired earlier in the year but chose to stay longer to get his doctoral students as far along as he could, an act that shows the passion he has for his job and how much he cares about his students. More than anything, he said, he will miss his students and his colleagues, taking many good memories with him as he leaves.

“That’s what makes it,” he said. “Without that camaraderie, it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun. … I hope whoever replaces me or comes after, that they have half as much fun as I did and that they’ll enjoy it.”

Carroll reflects on 20 years with College as she prepares to retire

Margie Carroll’s colleagues in the College of Education are more to her than co-workers and work friends. They are her family.

As Carroll’s retirement approaches, she looks back on her career at The University of Alabama and cherishes the memories made and the community built.

“After you've worked somewhere for almost 20 years, you've seen a lot of people come and go, but you always hold a special place in your heart for them,” she said. “This isn’t just a ‘work family.’ In Student Services, we are a family."

In July, Carroll will retire from her nearly 10 years as administrative assistant, and though she will miss her family within the College and working with students, she is looking toward the future with excitement.

With her husband Terry having retired from his career as an officer and investigator at the Northport Police Department five years ago, Carroll said she is eager to spend more time with him and their young grandchildren. Being able to start her retirement during the summer is another bonus.

“I’m convinced now more than ever that it’s my time,” she said. “Children stay little for such a short time. I want to enjoy that and be able to help out.”

Carroll laughed, admitting that she is a little jealous of her husband getting to take the grandkids to and from school.

 “I have done that a good bit, but just being able to see them when they are all excited at the end of the day, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”

Having earned her business administration certificate at Shelton State Community College, Carroll first worked in a law office as well as at the First National Bank, which became AmSouth Bank in 1988, and Phifer Wire before coming to the University in February 2003. That is when she became administrative assistant for the Department of Education Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies, continuing her work until 2005 when she briefly left for a private company.

When she returned to the College four months later, she spent 10 years with secondary education, as it and elementary education had not yet merged into Curriculum and Instruction and were still separate at the time.

“I have always loved education,” Carroll said. “Even when I felt like it was time for me to move from Curriculum and Instruction, I waited until something opened in the College. I didn’t want to leave because I love working with students who are going to be teachers. That is one of the most valuable jobs that someone can have is to be an educator. Teachers change lives, and what kept me here were the people and their ethic of wanting to help, wanting to teach.”

In 2015, Carroll began her current role as administrative assistant in Student Services where she is often the first person people meet when they come into the office. She enjoys being able to interact and assist new students, current students, faculty, and staff or anyone else who stops by.

Throughout her time in the College, Carroll said, she has had the chance to work with many great educators, Dr. Albert Miles, Dr. Dave Dagley, Dr. Liza Wilson, Dr. Harold Bishop, Dr. Kathy Shaver-Wetzel, who she has known since she was young, and others.

“(Dr. Bishop and Dr. Wetzel,) those two really gave me the values that I think everyone should have and that is to service the students and service the people you work with,” she said.

As she looks back on her career, Carroll said being able to work with those who prepare our future teachers has given her a new mindset regarding school and education.

“Working with future educators is so important. Having kids and grandchildren, I know what an impact our instructors and faculty members can make,” she said. “I have great respect for teachers and the responsibility they are taking on when they work with our littles. I know I will always put a greater value on education and educators, and it will be evident with my grandchildren and their teachers I meet over the years.”