Dr. Raymond Lauk Awarded 2020-21 Critical Thinking Award
Dr. Raymond Lauk was recently awarded the 2020-21 Critical Thinking Award. This award recognizes outstanding faculty members who have had substantial positive effects on developing their students’ critical/creative thinking skills. Dr. Lauk is an assisant professor in EKU's Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education and the coordinator of the Educational Leadership programs.
The student who nominated Dr. Lauk said “He does an exceptional job of creating opportunities that allow his students to think critically in scenarios and situations we are likely to encounter in educational leadership. The challenges are presented in a very practical manner in job embedded scenarios. We are forced to think critically and to think outside the box. I am a better educator because Dr. Lauk challenged me to think critically.”
For example, in EAD 839: School Superintendency, Dr. Lauk invited speakers from across the state and nation to his class who have different and unique perspectives on leadership. His students had conversations on organizational leadership with Jim Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents; David Negron, owner of the national superintendent search firm, SchoolExec Connect; Jean-Claude Brizard, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools; and John Rice, retired Vice Chairman of General Electric. “Online virtual learning has given my students the ability to have frank, honest, and ‘no holds barred’ conversations with local, national, and international leaders,” said Lauk.
“Critical thinking is essential for superintendents as their communities and school staffs look to them for leadership, inspiration, and good judgment. The pandemic highlighted the need for superintendents to think critically as they look at novel challenges and develop creative strategies and solutions that are best for the girls and boys in their districts,” noted Lauk. Even when we are past the pandemic, superintendents face challenges daily that require fresh, inspired thinking.”
Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education Interim Chair Faye Deters said, “Our department is very fortunate to have Dr. Lauk leading and teaching in our school/district administration programs. His background and extensive experiences in leadership inform his teaching, but it is his passion and dedication to the field that set him apart. I am very proud of his accomplishments in his first year of teaching at EKU and am confident that this is just the beginning of many more accolades to come for Dr. Lauk.”
Published on April 12, 2021