Cassie Pompa
Staff reporter
Buddy Fox, director of the teacher preparation and advising office, is responsible for placing all education students in their field, organizing student teaching, PACE and POST BAC Programs.
He is accountable for about 400-500 students per semester.
Depending on the semester, Fox may teach a few education classes also.
Fox is a product of the Amarillo area. He graduated from Palo Duro High School, received his undergraduate degree at Wayland Baptist University and then his Master’s in psychology and counseling at WTAMU.
When Fox was a little boy he wanted to do something where he worked with people. He believes that what he has done with his career fulfilled his desire to work with others.
Fox has served WT as a faculty and staff member for five years.
Prior to starting his career at WT, he started teaching for Hereford ISD, where he taught for six years.
He was a counselor, an assistant principal and principal for Amarillo ISD. He was employed as the director of leadership, training and staff support for Amarillo ISD.
He was hired at WT as a director of a grant from TEA (Texas Education Agency) to partnership and assist area high schools in the fields of math and science.
For five years, Fox has seen students come and go in the education department. Every year changes, but his most cherished parts of the job stay constant.
“The favorite thing about my job is watching students grow professionally in their career,” Fox said. “It is wonderful watching students move from developing a degree plan to actually wanting to and making a difference in the lives of others as they become teachers.”
Fox has received many awards throughout his entire career.
He was Teacher of the Year at his school in Hereford for three years. He was inducted into Palo Duro High School’s Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was Principal of the Year in 1994, and received the Bob Ashworth Award in Amarillo ISD for “Outstanding Employee of the Year” in 2003.
Susan Dennis, Fox’s co-worker and director of alternative certification programs, said WT would not be the same without Fox.
“Mr. Fox’s value to WT lies in his dedication to provide future educators with field placements that not only give them valuable learning opportunities, but also benefit the public school students with whom they work,” Dennis said. “Buddy takes a personal interest in every student and will go the extra mile to help each struggling student be successful.”
Every year more education majors walk across the stage to take the next step into their future as teachers.
For Fox, this day sparks a sense of pride for not only him, but for the entire WT education program.
“I am more proud of my job when I see our students walk across the platform and receive their degree,” Fox said. “I always get a feeling that ‘the world belongs to you now…give back to others as others have given to you.”
Fox said he would proudly put a WT education major or graduate up against any other major university.
“I know that the dean, department head, faculty and staff do all they can to make our education majors successful,” Fox said. “With this approach, I then see our graduates doing everything they can in public schools to help their students become successful. My motto is ‘Nothing succeeds like success.’”
As many education majors prepare to graduate, Fox gives future educators some departing advice.
“Find an effective mentor in the school where you will be teaching, listen to the mentor, take suggestions, watch the mentor and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Fox said.
“Be an advocate for the students you teach, keep expectations high for all of your students and teach so that every student in your class can be successful. Know who your students are, where they come from and what they have to offer as a student.”
“Students can bring valuable learning experiences into the classroom. Grow professionally in your career, be an expert on what works and doesn’t work in the field of education. Finally, travel to places you have never been before, learn a foreign language or study a religion you know nothing about, appreciate cultural diversity and for sure apply the appreciation of cultural diversity in your classroom as-well-as your lessons.”