“Any questions, comments, concerns, snide remarks?”
That’s how Robert Stansberry closes all of his lectures, and he will soon be saying it for the last time at Carroll. Stansberry will be retiring from his role as the department chair of education this May. After working at Carroll College for 18 years, he touched the lives of hundreds of students and many Carroll staff and faculty members.
His leaving ends an era in the education department.
When it comes to his students and classes, he puts a lot of thought and effort into his lessons. He is passionate about what he does and always tries his best to ensure that the class is engaging and memorable for his students. In addition, he enjoys telling stories and firsthand accounts of his teaching experiences, giving his students case studies, and showing videos to give his students perspective of what it is like to teach in real life.
“He puts a lot of thought in how he teaches and tries to make it (the lessons) fun,” says Leslie Hagengruber, a science teacher at C. R Anderson Middle School who also teaches Elementary Science and Social Studies alongside Stansberry. “His biggest asset is connecting with his students. Everyone is sad that he is leaving. He is passionate about teaching and likes to try new things. He is also never condescending to his students and treats them with respect.”
Stansberry has contributed to Carroll College in multiple ways over his 18 years of employment. As head of the education department, some things he achieved were developing a new major in broadfield science education for secondary students, writing the teacher education program handbook, coordinating Telescopes in Schools with the Keck Observatory, and developing an opportunity for education majors to study abroad in Nepal.
“It may be silly, but the achievement I am most proud of is renovating the education offices and classrooms,” said Stansberry. “Most of the things that I have done here will change often, but the education offices and classrooms will not. [The rooms] used to be a dump and were used more for storage. No one wanted to teach in them. Now, everyone does because it’s spacious, and there are whiteboards that wrap around the room. Also, opening up the conference room in the education office has made the workspace less stuffy, claustrophobic, and more work-friendly.”
Stansberry will also be remembered for his kind and bubbly personality. He is always approachable and easy to joke around with. Stansberry has mutual respect for his students and tries his hardest to build relationships with them. He makes an effort to personally know each of his students, along with their strengths and weaknesses. He is compassionate, and it can be easily seen when he is around his students.
Students describe him as easy to talk to, gives insightful advice, and wants to see his students succeed and become impactful teachers in their community. When it comes to his student advising for next semester’s classes, he tries to pick courses that his students will enjoy and succeed in the most.
Mariah Hurd, a senior majoring in broadfield science education for secondary, said, “He created my major, and I am the first in it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. He is always helpful with any questions I have and with planning my schedule. I can stop by and see him anytime when I am feeling down. I feel comfortable around him, and we like to poke fun at each other.”
Not only is Stansberry a great mentor to his students but also to his coworkers. He is easy to connect with and has the same goals for the education program as everyone else in the department. He is passionate about Carroll and loves his job. In addition, his diverse background makes him remarkable to come to for teaching advice. He is understanding, a team player, respectful to others, and a positive role model, making him an outstanding colleague.
“Dr. Stansberry has a sense of humor and has nerve made me feel less of an equal,” said Hagengruber. “He sees me as a fellow colleague and makes me feel comfortable. During Covid 19, it was difficult to go online, but he was always there to help me. He makes it easy to teach.”
“One of my favorite things about my position is making positive changes,” said Stansberry. “Especially with helping teachers do their job well to produce quality graduates.”
Although Stansberry is just one person, he has made a rippling effect here at Carroll. In all of his years of teaching, he has impacted each of his students in one way or another. Those students move on to do great things, some going beyond Helena and leaving Montana. They then pass his knowledge on to their students, and the cycle continues each year.
“Although my job can come with headaches due to so much planning and be frustrating at times, there are so many good things that outweigh the bad,” said Stansberry. “There were so many fun experiences, and I loved working with the faculty and the students and being involved in the community. One of the best things about my job is watching the students grow into exceptional educators. Even the ones who are not certain at first when they start taking education classes. But then grow and mature throughout the years and become wonderful teachers.”
