Sandra Kerr, is one of several instructors at Schoolcraft College who took ‘the long road’ to teaching, though she did start in the right place, Schoolcraft College, where she earned her associate degree in the mid-80s. Sandy got an early taste for teaching by working as a tutor and a faculty facilitator in the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) while attending Schoolcraft.

She took her associate degree and headed off to the University of Michigan where she earned a a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering. It was while she was working as a research assistant, attending graduate  school and working toward a master’s degree in mechanical engineering that she discovered that she wasn’t having any fun and that maybe engineering wasn’t the best fit for her.  She switched majors mid-stream and completed a master’s in mathematics from Wayne State University with the goal of teaching at a community college in mind.

It was Sirrka Gudan who was director of the LAC at the time who offered the life changing advice that Sandy should be teaching and sent her off to see Candy Martin who assigned Sandy an algebra class to teach. That was in 1991. In 1994 Sandy became a full-time member of the faculty.

“I view every semester as a fresh start, for the students and for me,” said Sandy. “It’s a chance for me to try new things and new ideas for presenting information, and each student starts my class with an A. Math is a tough subject for a lot of students. I treat them all respectfully and with an expectation that they can learn this subject and I continually plant the seeds of hope and possibility.”

One example she likes to share with her current students is that of a former student, who started out where they are now, mastering the basics, learning new skills, etc., That student is now Sandy’s family’s pharmacist and the story serves a reminder for current student that they can do it, too.