Teaching Excellence Award

History teacher Mark Weber has been honored with this year’s Cuesta College Teaching Excellence Award.

The Cuesta College History department is designed to permit students to transcend their own cultural limits through the study of different societies during different ages. Mark Weber motivates students with his passion, excitement and caring.

The praise Mark Weber receives by students and colleagues is no surprise, because of his dedication to both his students and profession. Colleagues nominating Weber for the Teaching Excellence Award had this to say about him, "He is a truly excellent teacher, one who has emphasized student learning and student accountability for learning well before they became fashionable." Also, "he treats his students respectfully; he memorizes all of their names and addresses them each by name." And, "His student's chances for long-term success are greatly enhanced by their intellectual growth, academic skill acquisition and sense of responsibility that (he) fosters."

Some of Mark Weber’s students praised his teaching style and enthusiasm, "he is really able to get your interest and make class lively" and "his passion for whatever topic he is lecturing on easily rubs off on you.  His class is demanding but extremely informative." One student summed up how Cuesta College feels about Weber with this quote, "Mr. Weber rocks!"

Mark Weber received his B.A. from Humboldt State University and a M.A. from Vanderbilt University. Weber started teaching at Cuesta College in 1989 and has been a favorite of students, co workers since. He has also co-authored two editions of widely used political science textbooks.

Sponsored by the Cuesta College Foundation, the Teaching Excellence Award recognizes faculty who show leadership in course organization and presentation while also keeping current with educational methodology. Recipients must be a current, tenured or temporary full-time or part-time instructor who has taught at Cuesta College for a minimum of five years, and has fulfilled at least three full-time equivalent years. As this year’s winner, Mark Weber will receive a gift of $500 from the Foundation.