Central Lakes College Instructors Named Outstanding Educators

Porter (left) and Otto (right)

Central Lakes College instructors Dave Otto and Kate Porter have been named 2019-2020 CLC Board of Trustees Outstanding Educators. Otto serves as a welding instructor and advisor to the Welding Club and Porter teaches English and advises the Phi Theta Kappa Club on campus.

“Kate and Dave bring passion and innovation to their classrooms, they are constantly looking for new ways to make content real and touch the lives of our students, in this way, they embody our strategic direction to ‘inspire learning,’” said Dr. Hara Charlier, President of Central Lakes College.

“I try to learn about each one of my students and support them in achieving their goals, it’s my goal to guide each of my students through their time here at CLC and help them be successful,” said Otto.

“I work really hard to make my course content relevant and applicable to students regardless of their program or path, teaching has actually transformed my life and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, it is an honor to be nominated and I am truly grateful,” said Porter.

Otto and Porter will represent CLC at the BOT Award ceremony in St. Paul later this spring and will be under consideration for selection as Minnesota State BOT Educator of the Year.