Back to the books

Luci Nell Simpson is going back to school to be a better teacher to her students.

Simpson, who teaches microbiology and anatomy and physiology courses at South Texas College’s Starr County campus, is enrolled in the college’s nursing program in McAllen.

Simpson said she always looks for ways to make the subjects she teaches easier for her students to learn. Since most of her students are enrolled in nursing and allied health programs, she wants to show them how the material from her classes applies to their respective career paths.

She thought about studying dental hygiene until a fellow instructor, Maria Tijerina, told her she was going back to school for nursing to better teach her students. So she decided to follow suit.

“Nursing makes more sense,” the 34-year-old said.

She already feels the pressure many of her students feel. Simpson balances teaching three classes in Rio Grande City with attending nursing school full time at the McAllen campus.

“If I did not already have my background, I don’t think I could do this,” said Simpson, who has taught at STC for 5 years.

She said she admires how her students who have families and work full time are able to attend college full time as well.

“Because they have to study (more),” she said.

Taking nursing classes has made Simpson realize she’s on the right track with what she is teaching her students, but she sees more things she can incorporate into her lessons. For example, Simpson said her students need to know appropriate levels of sodium and glucose in the blood. While her classes discuss glucose and sodium in the blood, she hadn’t mentioned what those levels should be, so she might start to do so now.

Simpson said she plans to work in nursing once she receives her degree and certification, but she does not want to stop teaching. In fact, she’s hoping to eventually become a nursing instructor.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.