2021–2022 Presidential Award for Outstanding NTE Faculty: Service

Betsy Crites

Betsy Crites, lecturer and educational liaison at Wright State’s Lake Campus, received the 2021–2022 Presidential Award for Outstanding Non-Tenure Eligible (NTE) Faculty: Service for her service not only to both the Dayton Campus and Lake Campus but also schoolchildren from prekindergarten to 12th grade.

Crites is a highly valued member of the teacher education program, her colleagues said. She serves as the education liaison, meeting monthly with the faculty and staff at the Dayton Campus to schedule classes, schedule conferences with students and encourage collaboration between the campuses.

As the education liaison, Crites oversees the Elementary Education and Middle Childhood Education programs at the Lake Campus and works collaboratively to ensure that both campuses improve their performance and maintain proper accreditation.

Crites reaches out to practicing teachers and administrators in west-central Ohio to build relationships that benefit Wright State’s education program and students who seek field placements and employment when they graduate. She also organizes and implements mock interviews for all Lake Campus education students.

Along with her service to the teacher education program, Crites serves on multiple college and university committees, including the Educator Preparation Appeals Committee, TED Curriculum and the Library and Technology Committee. In the past, she has served on the Faculty Affairs Committee and as a STEM coordinator for local schools.

Since 2011, Crites has organized STEM Day at the Lake Campus, which connects second-grade students from two local school districts with Lake Campus education students.

Throughout her time at Wright State, Crites has received several grants, some worth up to $10,000, such as the First Inspires Jr. Grant, which enabled the Lake Campus to host the Junior First Lego League from 2017 to 2020. Her most recent grant was a $3,500 Students First Grant for the Mometrix eLibrary, which would enable licensure testing support for education students at both the Dayton and Lake Campus.

Mindy Fulks, a middle childhood education instructor, said that Crites has a wonderful sense of community and shows high devotion and care to those she works with and teaches.

“Crites has enriched the lives of our faculty, staff, our students and our pre-service teachers,” Fulks said. “Five gold stars!”