Sarah Lee, assistant lecturer in the UW Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, knows better than most how to maintain strong connections in unconventional learning environments. Lee first began teaching online classes more than two decades ago. She continues to find innovative ways to connect to her students, whether she sees them behind a desk or through a screen.
Throughout her time as a teacher, Lee has challenged her students to achieve more than they thought possible. “Not only did Sarah Lee change my life, but she inspired me to want to change other lives as she did mine,” says former student Korlyn Sweeney, who graduated in 2023. “I now am a kindergarten teacher, and I use the methods and knowledge she has passed on to me every day.”
Lee’s holistic support of her students helps them learn skills that apply beyond the classroom. One student credits Lee’s classes with helping her become more open to others’ perspectives, learning to budget her time effectively, and even opening a retirement savings account.
“Sarah is highly adept at building rapport and community among students in the classroom and the online environment,” notes Jill Keith, head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Lee’s students highlight a variety of techniques she uses to stay connected digitally. For example, she implements consistent office hours, weekly email updates, and video recordings. She also teaches students how to effectively use tools like Google Forms, Padlet, and Zoom rooms. And Lee doesn’t just use these technologies herself — she shows students how to take advantage of digital tools to connect with each other as well.
Lee has also helped non-traditional students beyond UW, developing a hybrid online/in-person course for 14 women at the Wyoming Women’s Center in fall 2023. This child development class was a part of the Wyoming Pathways from Prison initiative. Lee went above and beyond to support these students’ learning and create additional opportunities for them to engage in online material.
Lee received an outstanding educator award from the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources in spring 2024. Her students’ testimonies illustrate how deserving Lee is of the recognition.
“It took only a day of class for me to realize that Sarah was something different — we weren’t just little boxes with names to her,” says Christian Pellatz, an elementary education major who graduated in May 2024. “Love knows no bounds, and neither does the will of an educator like Sarah to enrich the life of every student.”
This article was originally published in the 2024 issue of Roots & Ranges, an annual magazine published by the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.
