Professor selected as Educator of the Year by occupational therapy association

Cindy Poole

Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy Cindy Poole won the 2020 Educator of the Year award from the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association.

She is the first occupational therapy professor from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to be chosen for the award.

“I am humbled and proud that their advocacy for statewide recognition of our OT department and UTC included me, as part of an excellent faculty team,” Poole said.

In its statement when Poole’s award was announced, the TNOTA noted that named as Educators of the Year are nominated by a student ““and show outstanding commitment to the personal and educational development of his/her student.

“The student that nominated Dr. Poole noted that extra time was always allotted for mentoring sessions to ensure quality discussion, and that she was quick to check in and follow up with her when unexpected life events happened. Educators like Dr. Poole make an impact on their students beyond the classroom and should be celebrated.”

The change in classes due to the pandemic was one of her main focuses this summer, Poole said, so winning the award was not even on her mind.

“Being selected as the 2020 Tennessee Occupational Therapy Educator of the Year came as a huge surprise, especially since I was also responsible for finding or replacing 48 (12-week) clinical education sites this summer, in the midst of mass cancellations and placement delays in the face of COVID-19,” she said.

“A change in plans is not always easy or well-received, but our OT department has a tradition of clinical excellence and student professionals who meet challenges as advocacy leaders.