Paige Lilley Schulte

Professor Earns Reputation as a 'Teacher of Teachers'

From the time she was six years old doodling on her chalkboard, Paige Lilley Schulte had the desire to teach.

“I often played ‘teacher’ by myself  with an imaginary class and with friends,”  said Schulte, the 2016 recipient of the Southeastern President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Called by her colleagues a “teacher of teachers,” Schulte is an associate professor of education, having arrived at Southeastern in 2001 after spending years as an instructor in elementary and secondary schools and on the faculties of the University of New Orleans, Holy Cross Middle and High School and Delgado Community College. Having earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies at UNO, she continued there, gaining a master of arts in science teaching and later her doctorate. She also holds certifications in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and in earth science.

“She is a master teacher at the top of her game, and she models for our students best practices in teacher education” said Shirley W. Jacob, interim dean of the College of Education. “She is so powerfully dedicated to student success and her own growth as a teacher that she is a role model for all of us on the faculty.”

Recognized internationally for her employment of a variety of techniques to encourage active learning and student engagement, she has visited schools and worked with teachers and children around the globe

An avid international traveler for pleasure, she felt compelled to bring her professional zeal for teaching along on her trips. She submitted a proposal to conduct an educational program on the prevention of bullying in Moscow. Since then, she has presented on bullying and teaching techniques in China, Mauritius, the United Kingdom and Canada. She also participated in educational programs in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan and India.

After volunteering to teach English to five-year-olds in Lima, Peru, and helping prepare teachers to work with Hispanic students, she traveled to California where she received additional training in ESL.

“Once I taught the adorable children in Peru, I knew I wanted to get certified so I could continue to do this,” she explained. “I became extremely passionate about providing effective education for Latino children and those in other cultures.”

“I have always been passionate about teaching, and it has been a dream come true to meet my goals in the field of teaching and learning on a national and international level,” she added. “The activities I develop are geared to addressing the different learning preferences of students, encouraging higher order thinking, and meeting the social-emotional needs of learners. An effective teacher provides experiences that challenge and build on students’ existing ideas in order to guide in the development of conceptual understanding.”

Schulte coordinates Southeastern’s apprenticeship program with the St. Charles Parish School System, an intensive training experience for select teacher candidates allowing them to spend more time with an experienced mentor teacher in their classroom.

“Instead of one semester of student teaching, the apprentice teachers begin working with their mentor teachers in the classroom all day, every day, for an entire school year,” she explained. “They participate in all school functions and professional development and co-teach with the mentor teacher. The students get the benefits of two teachers in the class, and the apprentice teachers learn about the real-world of teaching. This has created a strong partnership between the university and the school system.”

Her former students praise her dedication to the field of teaching and her effectiveness. Former student Misty McCarthy recalls telling her mother – who had also been taught by Schulte – that she, too, would be taking one of her courses with Schulte.

“I will never forget my mom’s words of wisdom then,” said McCarthy. “She said, ‘You will work harder than you ever have and ever will in any other class, but Dr. Schulte will change your life as a teacher.’  I can truly attest to those words being accurate. She is eccentric, passionate, brilliant, experienced and authentic in her character as a person and an educator.  She has impacted my life and I guarantee I am part of a long list of teachers who have testimony after testimony of her contribution to their craft as an educator.”

“I cannot remember when I haven’t been a teacher,” Schulte said. “It is the major lens through which I see and participate in the world. My work consistently focuses on improving teaching at all levels.  I am thrilled that I have been able to make an impact on teacher candidates at Southeastern.”