BBCC Instructor named WEA CTC Educator of the Year

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College tenured faculty member Dawnne Ernette was named the Washington Education Association Community and Technical College Educator of the Year.

“Dawnne is an outstanding faculty member focused on helping students be successful as they get started in college,” said Tyler Wallace, BBCC Mathematics Faculty and Faculty Association President. “College can be overwhelming for new students, but outstanding faculty like Dawnne open up opportunities for students beyond their imaginations. She truly believes in her students and motivates them to accomplish more than anyone thought possible.”

Dawnne has worked at Big Bend for nearly 10 years and has made a huge impact in that time. A couple of the many things she has done to support students includes helping redesign BBCC’s placement process for precollege English to make it more inclusive and accessible, as well as creating an annual writing contest for students to express their talent.

Each year, every community and technical college faculty association in Washington State nominate one of their members for the WEA CTC Educator of the Year award. From those nominations, only one person is selected for the award.

“She is very deserving of this award and we are very proud to have unanimously nominated her from our local union membership and proud that she was selected out of the many qualified nominees from across the state,” Wallace added

This award recognizes Dawnne’s outstanding contributions to the field of higher education, unwavering dedication to her students, and exemplary work as a union leader and member advocate.

“Dawnne Ernette exemplifies teaching with students at heart. Her devotion, care, and dedication to our students has made a world of difference to them. She is an exemplary member of our faculty,” said BBCC President Sara Thompson Tweedy.

In her award letter sent by the WEA, Dawnne is described as dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also states this is evident through her efforts to create a welcoming classroom environment for students of diverse backgrounds, including English language learners, non-traditional aged students, and students with disabilities.

“I have been so impressed by Dawnne’s passion and dedication for students as I have watched her over the years continue to make changes to her courses, English placement practices, and English course sequences in an effort to make a college education work for students,” said Bryce Humpherys, Vice President of Learning and Student Success. “She believes in students and their ability to succeed in her classes and is always working to adapt and improve what she does as a teacher to help address their learning needs. I am inspired by her dedication and heart for students.”

Dawnne will be presented with her award at the WEA Representative Assembly in Spokane this April.