First-year education professor Dr. Nicole Lofton resigned rather suddenly on Jan. 13. Lofton’s Blackburn email account was promptly removed from the server and she could not be reached for comment. Some students in the education department were not happy with Lofton’s teaching style. That, coupled with the suddenness of her departure, led some to believe that she had been formally dismissed. Provost John McClusky dismissed these rumors as false. “We aren’t trying to hide anything. We were surprised and very disappointed that she decided to leave,” said McClusky.
In an interview with The ‘Burnian before the holiday break, Lofton said, “One of the biggest things that I try to instill in the students that I work with is to be self-directed learners, because they can’t rely on their professors or their administrators to give them all the knowledge…if they can learn to take advantage of the resources that are available for them to learn on their own, then they’ll just be that much more successful.” Lofton’s style forced her students to be more independent, with which some of them disagreed. However, senior elementary education major Erin Huff defended Lofton: “I thought she was an insightful professor that gave up a great deal just to educate us. Did she do things I didn’t agree with? Absolutely! But it was her first year teaching at a college level and I hope people wouldn’t judge me off my first year of teaching! I think students were WAY too hard on her and she deserved a fair chance. I think some students borderline “bullied” her into leaving, and it’s a shame. Students were fueled by so much hate that they couldn’t even see all she was trying to do for us. As a teacher and teacher candidate I think we need to be empathic and be slow to judge.”
I think some students borderline ‘bullied’ her into leaving, and it’s a shame.
It remains to be seen if Lofton’s absence will affect the education department although students and staff seem confident that it will not. For now, the remaining education professors and adjuncts will teach the classes that Lofton was scheduled to teach. McClusky said, “A search is going right now for her replacement…We’ll have someone here by next fall. Some of the preliminary looks at applicants show some good, strong candidates.” When asked if the resignation had affected her at all, Interim Chair of Education Dr. Cindy Rice said, “In regard to other staff, I am not comfortable with discussing this with anyone. I defer to Dr. McClusky and thank you for asking me.” Students, however, were more direct. Huff said, “I think Dr. Lofton’s resignation will not affect the education office. Throughout the years we have lost and gained many professors. In fact, I have had a new professor every year for at least one of my classes, so I am used to the change. The education office is strong and the professors still with us care a great deal. They have always made sure we are the top priority, even if they are short-handed.”