Troy E. Spier, Ph.D.

Teaching Effectiveness

 Contents
  1. Feedback from Colleagues
  2. Feedback from Students
 Feedback from Colleagues
Dr. Spier began teaching as an invited faculty member in the MA in TESL program, in which he taught the required 'Structures of English' course. The following August, Dr. Spier was hired full-time to teach undergraduate academic writing and literature courses as well. His students consistently praise not only the rigor of his classes but also his compassion for students and his engagement with their learning, both in and out of the classroom. Notably, many undergraduate students confess in their course evaluations that Dr. Spier’s class made them feel enthusiastic about reading and writing in English for the first time. At the graduate level, most of the students are training to become 'second career' teachers and come to the program with little knowledge of linguistics. In Dr. Spier’s classes they develop a remarkable understanding of and appreciation for the English language that they are inspired to share with their own students once they enter the TESL profession. Dr. Spier has also demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advising and service during his brief time at USFQ. He has directed three applied research 'Capstone' projects in the MA program and served as a reader on an equal number of projects. He has also served as a faculty member on the MA program admissions committee and served as a reader of application letters for our study abroad program. His presence is always felt on campus, whether he is meeting with students during extended office hours or getting to know his colleagues in the campus cafeteria. Scott T. Gibson, Ph.D. — Vice Dean, Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs, Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Troy worked for us at Middle Georgia State University in the Department of English from 2021 to 2022 and helped us navigate our moving of classes online as well as other changes and adjustments related to teaching during the pandemic. We were fortunate to have Troy as a key part of our teaching team here on the Cochran campus of MGA. In a relatively short time he made a very positive and valuable contribution in several areas. He contributed effective teaching and leadership to our access and learning support classes, so important to our goals and mission. In terms of student engagement, Troy started our MGA YouTube channel during the pandemic and organized mini-conferences. It kept some fun scholarly engagement going that was accessible to both scholars and students. Dr. Spier will be a real asset to any department that hires him and will work very closely with colleagues and students alike. I recommend him very highly. Chris Cairney, Ph.D. — Assistant Chair of English, Middle Georgia State University
Dr. Spier is clearly capable of teaching first-year writing in an online environment. Furthermore, the Department of English appreciates the professionalism Dr. Spier exhibited as he dealt with the delays in gaining access to his course and receiving his contract that, though part of the general bedlam occasioned by the COVID pandemic, were nevertheless largely our department's and our university's fault. We are lucky to have Dr. Spier in our teaching pool. Mark Decker, Ph.D. — Chair of English, Bloomsburg University
When I first looked at [his] application, I thought, ‘Who does this guy think he is? A linguist teaching cultural anthropology?’ I put [his] materials aside and came back to them a few days later, looked through the rest of his CV, and saw that he has more than enough field experience than our profession requires. He works with African languages and spent four months in refugee camps. Giving [him] a chance was the best decision I made this semester. Yang Cai, Ph.D. — Chair of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Caldwell University
I observed Troy teaching a developmental English class, and I was quite impressed by both the ease with which he controlled the environment and the unquestionable rapport he had with his students. The class meeting was very well organized and had obviously been thoughtfully prepared. He used various methods and strategies to reach students and to keep them engaged, including using different media/technologies to present information and examine student writing samples, giving brief lectures, calling on different students to ensure wide in-class participation, writing students' responses on a chalkboard, and walking around the room to help students individually with a journaling exercise. He came across as very easygoing and likeable but by no means a pushover or "anything-goes" sort, as one student who arrived to class late summarily learned. In short, what I observed that day was a good teacher at work. It came as no surprise, then, that his pass rates at the end of the fall semester were better than the department average--for both permanent and adjunct faculty. Jackson Moss — Assistant Chair of Communications, Delgado Community College
I assigned Mr. Spier our accelerated developmental courses in English, a set of courses usually reserved for full-time, very experienced instructors. I did so with the full faith that he was not only capable of meeting this challenge, but that he was the best person to teach those courses. I have not been disappointed. Attendance and retention are usually major problems in the twelve week sessions, but Mr. Spier's retention rate was comparable to our most experienced developmental teachers' retention rates. His compassion for students is also quite evident. He advocates for them when they need a strong advocate, such as a young lady who had major surgery at the end of the semester. He gently and constructively prods those who need that extra push, such as a sharp young man who had failed the course multiple times due to his behavior issues. Finding that balance of compassion and criticism is a difficult skill for any instructor, and Mr. Spier mastered this quickly. Shaye E. Hope, Ph.D. — Chair of Communications, Delgado Community College
Mr. Spier is an extraordinarily creative and competent teacher. One of his strengths is adapting course materials to the interests and abilities of his students. He is fully dedicated to getting to know them and tailoring his methodology to make their classroom experience a positive and productive one. Working with students from all over the world has made Troy aware of his incredible affinity for teaching and socializing with multiethnic/multicultural groups. Among Troy's remarkable assets, two of them stand out: his eagerness to expand his knowledge of other fields of study and his ability to adapt to new environments while overcoming their challenges. Furthermore, he has been a very reliable professional who has always fulfliled all of his duties with the utmost efficiency and responsibility. Due to his congeniality and affability, Troy has always worked very well with all other members of our staff. Betty Speyrer — Chair of ASL, ESL, and Foreign Languages, Delgado Community College
I knew when I hired Troy that our time together would be brief but that Troy would leave a legacy with our college. Having spent time working in refugee camps, Troy possessed a worldliness beyond his years. He willingly shared his experiences with our college community in a humble manner that highlighted the plight and courage of the displaced rather than focusing on his own contributions to their survival. And that's how I see Troy in the classroom. He creates a student-centered classroom where the focus is on the student learning rather than on showcasing his own knowledge. As a result, his students willingly become responsible for their own learning; under his guidance, they provide suggestions for strengthening each other's writing; in one-on-one conferences, students control the questioning. Joanne E. Gabel, Ph.D. — Dean of Communications, Reading Area Community College
As the advisor of the school Literary Magazine, I hold meetings every other week for students to share their writing, their voices, with each other in a non-threatening environment. We’ve always been inclusive of students but guarded with our invitations to other teachers. Troy was the absolute exception. My ‘lit maggers’ wanted Mr. Spier to participate, wanted Mr. Spier to hear their unpolished, gritty writing, and our sessions are better for his attendance. As a full-time, dedicated English teacher, adjunct professor, and grad student writing a dissertation, Troy has few moments to spare in his life, but he, without hesitation, gives his valuable time to students, thanking them for inviting him, making them, those who often feel isolated in a school dominated by a majority white demographic, feel valued. Troy’s emphasis on the importance of relationships enhances the learning experience for all students and contributes to an upward trajectory in academic achievement, one that can make the difference between a job and a career, a faint hope versus a dream realized. Maria Rispoli — Teacher of English, Roxbury High School
New teachers face many struggles when they start. They look to others for guidance and resources in order to improve their practice - to be the best educator they can be. Starting out, I’ve looked to many teachers for help. Although he is not my assigned mentor, I turn to Troy for most of my teaching concerns. Troy has shown me what it means to be a compassionate, effective teacher and professional. I aspire to be able to teach with confidence like Troy which he has shown me through his inquisitive lessons. Any time I have a question about the profession, he has been there to help guide me. In addition to helping me professionally, Troy helps me with personal endeavors, too. He has truly shown me what a good neighbor and teammate looks like. At the end of the day, we stop by each other’s classroom and talk about student relationships, lesson ideas, or just about anything. He has helped show me what proper steps I should carefully take when dealing with serious matters with my students. I hope I continue to work with teachers like Troy in the future. Damian LaFauci — Teacher of English, Roxbury High School
In my observations of his teaching, Mr. Spier successfully employed a variety of teaching strategies. He energized class discussions through effective discussion strategies and flexible grouping, in addition to using other active learning approaches. He skillfully employed various forms of technology, including student laptop computers, the Promethean board and high quality Internet sources to enhance his instruction. He also engaged students in meaningful cross-curricular work, incorporating historical, psychological, and sociological background information where necessary. The writing assignments he designed encouraged students to meet high standards of academic rigor. Mr. Spier consistently provided them with thorough and meaningful assessments of their work. In the time he spent at Schuylkill Valley High School with me, Mr. Spier established a positive rapport with his classes, demonstrating an ability to relate to students on their level and according to their interests. Overall, he took a sincere interest in the well-being of his students and their individual intellectual challenges. Patricia Kramer — Teacher of English, Schuylkill Valley High School

 Feedback from Students
  • Thank you for always being encouraging, and fostering discussions where everyone feels heard, and for your attention to making sure every student has a chance to share their perspective. It has truly felt like a safe space where exploration of ideas and even constructive disagreements are welcomed, which I think is rare and incredibly valuable in a learning environment. This has also helped me to build my confidence in expressing my views more openly and learn from the perspectives of my classmates.
  • Dr. Spier is a professor who cares about not only the academic performance of his students, but also their wellbeing. He is very understanding and willing to help students that may be struggling understand the work and help them excel in his class
  • This is my second semester with Dr. Spier and I loved it again. He does truly care for all his students and makes sure that we are engaged and enjoying class.
  • Spier really makes you think, but you'll love him. 3 essays, and he's a pretty tough grader, but he allows for revisions as many times as you want. He's pretty personable. This is a class that you actually look forward to attending. He gives reading assignments before every class and has class discussions every class, so make sure to read.
  • Dr. Spier is a super interesting professor, and he really makes you think deeply about the subjects you discuss. Just know that he has a high standard and will give you the grade you earned, nothing more, nothing less. There is a lot of reading and discussions, do the readings or you will be lost. Not easy but loved his class overall!!
  • I really loved your class. I really, really, really, really loved you class. This is probably the most I've ever learned in English class.
  • Dr. Spier was an amazing teacher this semester he was able to relight the flame in me for English. I love writing again, he was extremely welcoming and genuinely cared about his students. He is someone that you can go to office hours just to talk and it is nice having an adult like that on campus. He is definitely a teacher I'll never forget out of all my academic years.
  • 10/10 Professor!! Dr. Spier is by far one of the best professors I've had. He's very interactive in class and helps us get through our work accurately and time effectively. He's a good teacher and sets high expectations because he believes in his students abilities.
  • Amazing professor, engages with students in and out the classroom through office hours and emails. Taking Dr. Spier's section of ENC 1102 next semester because of how interesting he can make this class.
  • Dr. Spier was an engaging instructor who connected well with students. Despite the demanding workload, he genuinely cared about students' opinions and their well being.
  • Dr. Spier is a great professor that cares for his students. He really takes the time to get to know his students if you let him. I really learned a lot within this class due to Dr. Spier's experience of being a Linguist. Since it is a senior level class, there is a lot of reading, but when it comes to the test he tells you what to expect on it.
  • I took his class for ENC1101 & ENC1102. I highly recommend Professor Spier to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated educator. He truly made a positive impact on my academic experience. He is approachable and responsive. I appreciate how he takes his time to provide detailed feedback on assignments and answers questions thoroughly.
  • You gave us the heads-up with every assignment. We talked about the assignment, we did the proposal, we got feedback on the proposal, we had the draft, we had feedback on the draft, and then we had the final thing, and then we had feedback on that if we wanted to revise it. I want to try to use that format every time I start writing because I never know where to start.
  • I will definitely be coming back to visit you next semester, maybe even next week, because you seem like a nice person just to talk to, like if you're a little lost. I feel like you just keep it straight and really guide.
  • Thank you for being an amazing professor. Not just for being a good professor but helping me break down my writing and avoid my crutches in writing. You were patient and understanding and you helped overall with everything. I appreciate how in class you checked up on me and took time in office hours to ask how my day was, how school was going. I just wanted to say I appreciate that.
  • You taught us how not to just be passive readers and how to actually engage with the text. That's something I developed as a reader in your class. I'm very grateful that I learned to slow down and actually process information instead of just getting things done because that's not really productive.
  • I would say my critical thinking skills weren't very strong. I had to learn the basics of critical thinking to understand why each piece was important. I had to remove barriers like emotions and personal feelings and, instead, focus on the facts, evidence, and purpose.
  • I loved this class. I loved how interactive it was. Most of the time in college most of my teachers me personally don't interact with me, so this is a very good experience and it helped me grow as a person and just being able to interact in class and not feel nervous.
  • It was much more of a mental challenge, like I know I can be better. I feel like I got challenged and pushed for the first time in my life. I'm taking business calculus this semester, and ENC-1102 has pushed me more than that terrible course.
  • I'm 100% gonna miss having you, the teacher that was there to kind of guide me through this first year of college and you're gonna get a lot of emails and random pop-ups because you're just an awesome teacher and you very much helped push me and motivate me.
  • In you class you taught us to like critically analyze everything and like just asking always had you in my head when I was writing. Analyze everything. Explain everything. I want to thank you for being a supportive teacher because a lot of teachers here are not like you, and I love that. I love that you care about your students. You walk up and down four flights of stairs just to get to class.
    • Florida A&M University
  • I remember our very first lesson with you. We were all speechless by the way in which you approached complicated topics in such a simple way. I remember writing in our private cohort group just to find out that everybody else was thinking and feeling the same way. So, many many thanks for being an inspiring teacher and having taught as so much.
  • Dr. Spier is a teacher who is very dedicated to his students and passionate about the subject he teaches. He uses clear and engaging examples to help us understand difficult topics. His explanations of the subject are very thorough and detailed, showing that he has a firm grasp of the subject matter. He grades our homework the same day we hand it in or the day after. He is always available to answer any questions we may have. He makes sure we are clear on what is expected of us in the various activities within the course. At the beginning of each lesson he checks in with us and asks how our week has been. Overall, he is a teacher who shows an outstanding dedication to his craft and his students.
  • Thank you Troy for all your great classes, it has been a pleasure to learn from you. You have given us a new perspective of the world through language, and you have made us learn that there is not only one way of looking at things. Language can be a good tool for communicating, but you showed that it can even be the answer of what was unknown until today.
  • Troy shows mastery in his field of study. The knowledge and skill set I've amassed so far has helped me guide my students in a way that they actually recognize lexical items, and understand constituency in a text. I'm more interested in syntax now because I see how it can improve my own writing and my student's written production as well.
  • Troy is a wonderful and committed teacher. He is dedicated, his class preparation is noticeable during class. It shows. He knows how to convey complex concepts about linguistics. Even though his classes have been very demanding, I have really enjoyed and learned so much from them.
  • I think Troy is an excellent teacher. He explains everything super clearly and is very concious of our struggles. He always makes sure we understand everything we have to and is really aware and ready to help us. I love his analogies, examples and his wide range of knowledge about the subject. I think he not only helps us understand what we are learning, but also develop skills to be able to apply the knowledge. He is super well rounded and has a great sense of humor.
  • Para finalizar, me gustaría decir que la clase me gustó mucho fue dinámica y la interacción entre alumnos fue buena, las clases nunca fueron aburridas y en cada clase se aprendía algo nuevo, sobre todo con las discusiones ya que entendías y escuchabas diferentes puntos de vista y deferentes perspectivas de cada tema. [=To conclude, I'd like to say that I really enjoyed the class. It was dynamic, and the interaction among students was good. The classes were never boring, and we learned something new in every class, especially with the discussions because you understood and listened to different points of view and different perspectives on each topic.]
  • I wanted to thank you for the feedback and for your amazing lessons. I can tell how much work and effort is put in summarizing the chapters for us and being able to share so much information in such a short time. You have no idea how much I have learned thanks to the data sets and to the amount of practice that we have been assigned but this is also thanks to the passion that you put into each lesson. I really appreciate how you managed to turn morphology from a bunch of boring theory books into these intense practice sets that allowed us to understand so many things that were not clear before.
  • Thank you for pushing me even further regarding my writing and reading skills. Also, thank you for helping me boost my confidence regarding reading and writing through your feedback.
  • Troy, es un muy buen profesor, se ve que sabe y le gusta lo que enseña y siempre está dispuesto a ayudarnos en lo que sea que necesitemos. [=Troy is a very good teacher. You can see that he knows and likes what he teaches and is always willing to help us with whatever we need.]
  • Troy is an excellent teacher! I have learned a lot and enjoyed learning throughout the semester.
  • A great teacher, has a lot of enthusiasm in class, he hooks the students in class.
  • He is a good teacher, encourages his students, and is considerate of them. He gives them the facilities to advance in the matter. His class is highly recommended.
  • Wonderful class, greatly prepared. Lots of interesting material and awesome topics of discussion
  • He is always ready to help his students. He is a punctual and understanding person. In addition, he always shows interest in the learning of his students.
  • un docente con excelente rendimiento y además comprensión con sus estudiantes [=A teacher with excellent competence and also understanding of his students.]
  • Troy's class is AMAZING. I thought that writing and rhetoric would be a boring class, but Troy made it awesome. I love to reflect about different topics in his classes and the way in which he teaches. He is very funny, comprehensive, friendly, and kind. He respects everyone's opinions and makes the class a safety place. I love the writing classes even though they are online! Thank you teacher for everything!! Do not change your way of teaching. It is unique.
    • Universidad San Francisco de Quito
  • Dr. Spier was by far the best English teacher that I've ever had. All our assignments had a purpose. He gave great detail while assigning the tasks eliminating any confusion in what was expected in the results. When there were issues, he explained in detail what needed to be fixed.
  • My low grade in the course does not reflect the exemplary talent and empathy that Dr. Spier has for his students. Its not just a job to him and that shows in his teachings. He goes out of his way for his students to provide them with videos and other content to help them more successful. Dr. Spier is a true inspiration.
  • I have never experienced an English class like this one! This class has taught me many things including me learning new things about myself. He cares! If he sees that you are a student that is trying he will be there to help. His goal is to better your writing, not make you feel like a horrible writer.
  • Dr. Spier shows exemplary talent and empathy for his students. Its not just a job to him and that shows in his teachings. He goes out of his way for his students to provide them with videos and other content to help them more successful. Dr. Spier is a true inspiration.
    • Middle Georgia State University
  • Dr. Spier was very helpful in the development of my reading and writing this semester. He gave extremely helpful feedback following an essay or discussion for my benefit. He also responded to emails in a timely fashion and made sure that I understood his plans. He was respectful and thoughtful during this unprecedented time. He reduced the stress and made it more manageable to take a reading and writing course in an online environment. Dr. Spier deserves all the praise for his work in this class. I thank him for all that he did.
    • Bloomsburg University
  • You must buy the textbook! The text itself is actually fun to read since its updated to current issues. Discussion boards are weekly and are easy if you read! Overall, he never gives boring lectures. He keeps everyone engaged and does little things that will keep you awake! Definitely a good elective to take if youre into different cultures!
  • This was my best class ever! I loved every minute of my 2 hour class and never really felt bored. Professor Spier is an amazing professor! He takes care of everyone and takes into consideration the students perspective. His classes are amazing and discussion boards are extremely interesting. I would definitely recommend to take this class!
    • Caldwell University
  • Mr. Spier is an amazing teacher the best teacher I had for the semester.
  • He is very very helpful and understanding. If you need help he will help you, if you need extra credit he will give you some to bring your grade up. He never miss a day.
  • Mr. Troy Spier is an inspiring thought provoking teacher. I highly recommend taking one of his classes. In his curriculum he travels a many subjects and places that unite the class. I highly recommend taking one of his courses! Just make sure to show up and do the work, you’ll want to!
  • Mr. Spier is a very helpful and understanding professor. He really works well with his students in helping achieve good grades. If I had to take another class with Mr. Spier as the professor I would. Great Teacher.
  • He is a very good teacher he helps students when they need it. I would like to take classes with him again. I learned a lot with him.
  • Mr. Spier knows how to teach and he’s a very respectful guy.
    • Delgado Community College
  • Professor Spier was by far the best professor I had. He makes sure all students understand the assignments. He is a tough grader, but also very easy to get along with and will help you with anything. I will deff miss him!
  • Mr. Spier was an amazing professor and I was lucky to have him this semester. He was very clear and to the point with any assignments, quizzes, that was due.
  • Great help. There if you need him. He wants you to pass his course. Very clear on what’s expected. Would definitely take another course taught by him in a heartbeat.
    • Reading Area Community College