The Journal

Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jennifer Meinhardt With her handmade scarf around her neck, Webster University teacher and avid knitter Janis Valdes laughs at her husband and fellow teacher Orestes Sept. 23 in the Quad.

Janis Valdes is a self-proclaimed knitting addict.

"I became really involved with knitting as therapy when my younger sister died suddenly and I needed to quiet my head and heart," Valdes said. Valdes, who teaches several media communications courses at Webster University, has been knitting for two years.

"It is one of her many fun quirks," student Ashley Heath said. "Being into knitting is so Janis. It is something totally unexpected, and that is why it is so her."

Students at Webster are drawn to Valdes because of her friendliness and personality.

"I love her sense of humor," Heath said. "I have known Janis a long time, since I was little, actually. She has always been very dramatic and enticing. Her enthusiasm is incredible."

Originally in arts administration, Valdes used to schedule teachers, until she realized that their jobs seemed much better than hers

"They were having all the fun," Valdes said. Inspired, Valdes got her master's degree 10 years ago and started teaching one year later. Her teaching philosophy is to be "funny but learnable." She relies on humor in the classroom and uses it to enhance the learning experience of her students.

"She's fun and energetic," said student Dan Allen. A senior film production major, Allen is currently in Valdes' Political Communications class and enjoys having her as a teacher.

"I know this sounds cliché, but Janis is unlike any teacher I have ever had," Allen said. "She is always in a good mood and always makes you laugh." Valdes is very modest when describing her classes.

"Students come into my classes with all different experiences and backgrounds," Valdes said. "And my job is to meet them where they are and take them through the coursework. The students constantly inspire me by just their interest, and watching them learn new skills."

Clearly, the experience is
mutual.

"We learn so much from expressing our own opinions as well as hearing other students' opinions," Allen said. "I wouldn't have taken her classes so many times and took on Media Communications as a minor if I didn't enjoy the way she taught."

Continued...

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