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Faculty Profile
Name: Dr. Terry Simpson
Title: Division Chair, Education; Director of Teacher Education
Courses taught: General Methods and Classroom Management; Instructional Strategies for Science and Social Studies; Sociology of Education; Ethics (J-Term)
Education: B.A., M.S., University of Tennessee; M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ed.D, Texas A&M University-Commerce
At MC since: 1990
Dr. Terry Simpson knew he wanted to be an educator since he was in 7th grade, when he decided he wanted to be a history teacher.
“That’s what I wanted to do,” Simpson said. “The rest of my life I never planned – I never thought I’d be a college professor, and I never thought that I’d be able to live in Estonia for a semester, teaching at the University of Tartu. But one thing I’ve realized is that when the train comes by, you’d better get on it, because it may not come by again.”
He jumped on that train in 1990, when he joined the faculty at Maryville College, and he has never looked back.
After completing his Ed.D. at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Simpson wanted to teach at a small college where he could focus on the classroom.
He found that at Maryville College, but he’s also found much more.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the students,” Simpson said. “I’ve taught some of the finest young men and women that I’ve seen anywhere, and it’s just a privilege to be that much a part of their lives.”
In 2000, Simpson received a Fulbright Scholar award and spent almost five months at the University of Tartu in Estonia. In 2002, he received a Fulbright Senior Specialists grant and spent two weeks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, working with the curriculum development team at the country’s Ministry of Education.
Simpson is now the project director for a $1.8 million Tennessee Department of Education Math Science Partnership grant, which serves 80 public school teachers who are teaching math and science in eighth, ninth and 10th grades in four regional school systems. In 2008, the state of Tennessee announced new curriculum standards in math and science. The grant focuses on effective, data-driven and sustainable math and science improvements in teaching and learning in the public schools.
“The goal is to have students college-ready and/or work-ready when they graduate from high school,” Simpson said. “Partnership grants like this one are aimed at improving the quality of instruction in those math and science classrooms.”
When asked what matters to him, Simpson said he hopes that as a society, “we realize that the most valuable resource we have is our children,” and he hopes his students will have the opportunity to touch the lives of those children.
“I hope that every child who goes to school has at least one positive experience there, and I hope that positive experience is with students whom I’ve taught,” he said. “As a teacher, you can be put in students’ lives at very critical moments, and if, in those moments, you can help students achieve their goals and their dreams, then you’re a part of their lives forever. That’s a great joy of teaching — at any level.”
Simpson said he has “the best job on the planet.”
“I could not imagine being anywhere else, doing anything else,” Simpson said. “It would be ‘less than.’”
Education Faculty
 | Dr. Mardi Craig Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor, Education Education: B.S., M.S.N., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Fayerweather Hall 309 (865) 981-8167 mardi.craig@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Traci Haydu Chair, Division of Education, Associate Professor of Physical Education Education: B.S., Eastern Michigan University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Cooper Athletic Center 172 (865) 981-8295 traci.haydu@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Rebecca Lucas Associate Professor of Elementary Education Education: B.S., Western Kentucky University; Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Knoxville Anderson Hall 114 (865) 981-8107 rebecca.lucas@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Alesia Orren Associate Professor of Elementary Education Education: B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; M.Ed., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ed.D., University of Virginia. Anderson Hall 117 (865) 981-8029 alesia.orren@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Danny Pierce Associate Professor of Physical Education, Health & Recreation Education: B.S., M.S., Ed.D., Oklahoma State University Cooper Athletic Center 172 (865) 981-8016 danny.pierce@maryvillecollege.edu |
 | Dr. Terry Simpson Professor of Secondary Education, Director of Teacher Education Education: B.A., Free Will Baptist Bible College; B.A., M.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville; M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ed.D., East Texas State University Anderson Hall 118 (865) 981-8106 terry.simpson@maryvillecollege.edu |
Education Extended Staff
 | Mrs. Bonnie West Administrative Assistant Anderson Hall Central Office (865) 981-8109 bonnie.west@maryvillecollege.edu |