UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Distinguished Teacher

1995 - Lee Karnowski

Lee KarnowskiLee Karnowski, professor of elementary education, was named Distinguished Teacher for 1995. Karnowski becomes the 32nd recipient of the most prestigious award presented by the university to recognize excellence in fulfilling UWRF's primary mission of undergraduate education. Selection for the award is through polling of graduating seniors and recent graduates..

New alumni who nominated Karnowski cited her teaching abilities in the classroom, knowledge of her field, and a personal touch when dealing with students in the classroom and teachers in the field.

Wrote one recent graduate: "She not only assists current students but has assisted non-students in the area of writing. She also keeps current on research areas and modifies her courses ased on that research."

Another related: "She was ahead of the times with her ideas for teaching elementary students. Her ideas are now just getting into the schools for use by experienced teachers."

Lee Karnowski joined the UWRF teacher education faculty in 1985 after completing her Ph.D. in Curriculum at Miami University of Ohio. She earned a B.S. degree from California State University-Northridge and an M.S. from the University of Colorado, both in elementary education. Her university teaching was enriched by her considerable experience teaching pre-school through 6th grade in Ohio, Colorado, California and in Belgium, England and France. Lee’s research interests and published articles interests covered a wide range of education issues, including writing and reading pedagogy for elementary students, models of learning, teaching gifted students, and developing literacy through multicultural literature. She examined integrated learning models in British teacher training during a 1994 sabbatical.