Bethany Dowdy is an instructor in the College of Education, the director of the Living Learning Community for the College of Education and the sponsor for SLAECA which stands for Student Lead Louisiana Early Childhood Association.
Dowdy teaches Foundations of Literacy, Introduction to Education, and Books and Related Materials for Children and Young Adult Literature.
When asked what she loves about working with the students at Southeastern, Dowdy said, “I love the diverse personalities and backgrounds that they bring to the classroom. They can learn so much from each other through conversations, discussions, and presentations. Our students are the best.”
Dowdy encourages all her students to make personal connections to all their assignments and loves when they are vulnerable and share things about their passions and their dreams.
She moved to Hammond in 2010 and peaked into the windows of the Lab School at Southeastern and immediately knew that she wanted to be a part of that. She started her career as a Kindergarten teacher for the Southeastern Lab School and then 14 years later moved up to the college level.
She said, “When I walk into the Teacher Education Building it feels like home, and I can not imagine working anywhere else. It brings me so much joy, and I am proud of all of the accomplishments of my colleagues.”
She truly enjoys her time as the sponsor for SLAECA and is trying to find even more ways to serve the children in our community.
As part of being the sponsor for SLAECA she goes around to all the libraries in town and provides them with all sorts of books. “Besides donating books to local libraries, we are currently brainstorming ways to grow in service for the Fall semester,” Dowdy said.
Dowdy participated in the Once Upon A Time in the Park with the school system as did many of the students. She is looking forward to being the director of the College of Education Living Learning Community in the Fall, and trying to find out about events they can participate in as well as things she can do to support education students in their freshman year.
To her being a woman in academia means empowering others! “I remember when I was young and looking around thinking … I can do that too! I share with my students on a regular basis that they are capable of doing so many great things, and you just have to go for it!”
“Make connections, do the work and stand proud for all of the things you are passionate about. I think it is so important to show all of our students that they can be vulnerable, and the more they put their heart into their work, the more powerful they become! Combine research and facts with heart, and you get amazing results,” said Dowdy.
