Teacher Focus
Jon Thompson
Merry Ellis
Issue date: 10/23/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Born and raised in Grayling, Jon Thompson teaches English here at Kirtland Community College. His classes include developmental writing classes and English Composition I and II. He has also taught Literature a couple of times.
Thompson has been teaching for 12 years here at Kirtland. He really likes it here since he grew up in Northern Michigan.
"I really like the small college atmosphere," Thompson said about Kirtland. "I like the students we get," he said about the variety of students that a place like Kirtland attracts. "I went to Alma College; there were a lot of rich kids there, and they were spoiled."
Thompson received his Bachelor's Degree from Alma College, and his Master's and Doctorate from Central Michigan University.
"I've always liked to write," said Thompson about what interested in his career. Thompson used to be an editor for the Crawford County Avalanche, but decided to change careers when he saw an advertisement for a part-time writing instructor at Kirtland. He applied, got the position, and found out he really enjoyed teaching.
"College students like to have fun while they're learning," Thompson said.
If he wasn't teaching here, Thompson said he would like to teach at Northern Michigan University. He would like to teach there because first of because of the environment, and also because like Kirtland, Thompson likes the type of student that goes to Northern Michigan University.
On his own time Thompson enjoys basketball, canoeing, running, lifting weights, skiing, and playing tennis. He competes in the annual Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Race, where his best finish was fourth in his age division, and in 2006 Thompson and his partner Brian Royce finished 21st overall with a time of 15:55.29. The winning times was 14:33.50.
Thompson is a teacher that truly enjoys what he does. He wouldn't want to do anything else.
Thompson has been teaching for 12 years here at Kirtland. He really likes it here since he grew up in Northern Michigan.
"I really like the small college atmosphere," Thompson said about Kirtland. "I like the students we get," he said about the variety of students that a place like Kirtland attracts. "I went to Alma College; there were a lot of rich kids there, and they were spoiled."
Thompson received his Bachelor's Degree from Alma College, and his Master's and Doctorate from Central Michigan University.
"I've always liked to write," said Thompson about what interested in his career. Thompson used to be an editor for the Crawford County Avalanche, but decided to change careers when he saw an advertisement for a part-time writing instructor at Kirtland. He applied, got the position, and found out he really enjoyed teaching.
"College students like to have fun while they're learning," Thompson said.
If he wasn't teaching here, Thompson said he would like to teach at Northern Michigan University. He would like to teach there because first of because of the environment, and also because like Kirtland, Thompson likes the type of student that goes to Northern Michigan University.
On his own time Thompson enjoys basketball, canoeing, running, lifting weights, skiing, and playing tennis. He competes in the annual Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Race, where his best finish was fourth in his age division, and in 2006 Thompson and his partner Brian Royce finished 21st overall with a time of 15:55.29. The winning times was 14:33.50.
Thompson is a teacher that truly enjoys what he does. He wouldn't want to do anything else.
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