In the movie �Chariots of Fire,� Eric Liddell said he felt God�s pleasure when he ran. Union University Professor Ann Singleton feels God�s pleasure when she teaches, whether it is in a typical classroom, a special ministries Sunday school class, or a children�s choir. And it�s one of the reasons Singleton was selected as the recipient of the 2003 Faculty of the Year award.

�Teaching only takes place when learning has occurred,� she said. �A good teacher facilitates the process of learning by using a myriad of practices. From an engaging presentation to opportunities that prompt meaningful discussion and student interaction, the emphasis is always on supporting the student�s understanding of the issues.�

Singleton has been a member of the university�s education department for 17 years, seven as department chair. She is the co-author of a textbook, Teaching Mathematics to All Children. Her students say she takes the time to teach rather than just instruct. Others note her ability to combine practical thought with Christian wisdom.

�I want students to leave my classroom with an appreciation for the concepts discussed, coupled with a feeling of empowerment that supports deep thinking about those concepts,� she said.

Singleton is a Union graduate and received her M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Memphis. Having taught in public schools and having served as the supervisor of special education, her teaching at the university level is both relevant and authentic, her peers said.

�Ann Singleton is a model of teaching excellence who has an unbelievable passion for preparing future teachers who will shape students and schools for years to come,� said President David S. Dockery.

Singleton encourages her students to become teachers who reflect upon the best practices of teaching while still maintaining sensitivity to the individual differences found in a classroom environment.