Faculty Spotlight

The Joys of the Work

Dr. Paul Crutchfield advises students to “be prepared for the joys of the work.” was his comment when asked for advice to those thinking about entering the education field.

Dr. Crutchfield should know something about the joys of the work as he has been a professor for 30 years in the Department of Education here at Flagler College. “I really look forward to coming in every day,” he says reminiscing over some of his favorite moments. Dr. Crutchfield has taught many students, but what he most enjoys at Flagler College is the personal relationships: the people he meets and the friendships he builds with his colleagues and students.

He is extremely proud of the education department for how it prepares students for teaching in today’s classrooms. An example comes from his Applied Linguistics course where graduates of the Department of Education are expected to know how to serve students whose first language is not English. In this class students design teaching strategies that Dr. Crutchfield feels will certainly assist Flagler graduates move into their own classrooms and graduate schools.

Dr. Crutchfield advises students majoring in Art Education, Deaf Education and Secondary Education. He is also an advisor for the Spirit Club, a member of the Advancement Committee and the Academic Discipline Committee.

“Be prepared for the joys of the work. It is a gratifying experience when you get into the profession. But it is also a considerable amount of work,” says Dr. Crutchfield as we close out the conversation. The Department of Education at Flagler College is truly an excellent department with many students going onto wonderful careers in the public and private sectors as well as attending graduate schools across the world. All of the programs are state approved and all graduates are eligible for certification after graduation. “This is important,” jokes Dr. Crutchfield, “because you cannot teach without a license.”

For more information on Dr. Paul Crutchfield