Wilson enjoys teaching students skills for the future

Teaching students life skills is what one teacher at Pratt Community College says is the most important part of her job.

“Many of my students, especially in the one course (Communication for the Workplace) aren’t going to go on (to a four year school), so it is important that they learn skills here that will help in their day-to-day life,” said Heather Wilson, instructor.

Wilson said she tries to teach students life skills they will use when they communicate one-on-one and in group settings, along with at work and in relationships.

To help students learn these skills, Wilson said she uses many personal examples from her work and personal life, along with experience she has had with her peers.
“We discuss how to communicate with people a lot,” she said. “With social media a lot of students lack verbal skills.”

Wilson, who is in her fourth year of teaching, teaches Communication for the Workplace, Speech Communication, Public Speaking and Journalism.
Of the classes she teaches, Wilson said Journalism and Speech Communication are her two favorite.

She said she enjoys newspaper because she can get to know the students more one-on-one and likes Speech Communications because she likes the topics they discuss and the information that is conveyed.

“My favorite part of my job is seeing the students grow,” she said. “Many come in as teenagers and with their experiences here grow into adults.”
Wilson said she decided she wanted to teach at the college after getting married and moving to Pratt with her husband.

“I felt like this job fit my skills best,” she said.

Wilson has her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism with a news and information emphasis from University of Kansas.

When Wilson isn’t at the college she spends her time with her two children and loves working outdoors.