About the CTE

Welcome to Your Center for Teaching Excellence

In the MTC CTE, we recognize that student success is a multifaceted journey, and while it involves many elements, you, as faculty, play a pivotal role as the primary touchpoint in this process. Our mission is to empower and support you by understanding that your effectiveness directly impacts student achievement.  At the heart of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) lies our unwavering dedication to nurturing your growth as educators. As we encounter an ever-changing student body, our mission is to equip you with the tools, strategies, and insights that resonate with today’s learners. We understand that the needs of our students are evolving, and so are the pedagogical approaches that best support them.

We are your partners in this journey, here to support—not dictate—your teaching practices. Our role is to offer a growing toolbox of resources and ideas that align with your goals and the diverse needs of your students. Whether you’re looking to innovate in the classroom, conquer the challenges of asynchronous learning, or refine your current approach, we’re here to collaborate with you every step of the way.

At the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), we're always excited to partner with faculty on ideas that enhance teaching and learning. Our instructional designers are available year-round to assist with course-related needs, whether you'd like to refine an assignment, explore new engagement strategies, improve accessibility, or integrate open educational resources. For broader initiatives, such as course redesigns, multi-section projects, or department-wide efforts, we encourage faculty to share those ideas with their Department Chair. The CTE collaborates each year with Deans and College leadership to plan upcoming programs and allocate resources, and input shared through your Chair helps ensure that your teaching priorities are represented in those discussions. 

Program Coordinators, Chairs, Directors, Deans and other administrators are welcome to reach out directly to the CTE Director or through the AVP of Student Success and Retention for programmatic requests or collaborative planning.  

Together, we continue to foster an environment where both students and faculty thrive!

Get to Know Us!

Meet our exceptional team of passionate educators and experts who are equally invested in your success. With diverse backgrounds and extensive experience, we bring a wealth of knowledge to guide you on your path to teaching excellence.

Luis C. M. O de Almeida, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence
Photo of Dr. Luis C. Almeida

Luis holds a doctorate in Instructional Systems from Penn State University. He is a two-time PRNEWS HBCU Educator of the Year, a scholar-practitioner, and a faculty developer with nearly 20 years of service in higher education. He has a proven track record of supporting faculty in designing more effective courses and promoting student success.

Featured in national outlets including The Wall Street Journal and Diversity in Action magazine for his leadership, Luis brings a strong record of institutional impact and unit refinement. He has published articles in educational technology journals, such as the British Journal of Educational Technology, and TechTrends. 

Luis has designed and delivered workshops for regional, national, and international conferences, universities, and local non-profits across multiple states. An accomplished educator, he has taught in every modality—face-to-face, hybrid, online, and virtual. Luis's career reflects a consistent dedication to empowering faculty, advancing student learning and completion, and bridging technology, leadership, and education to create lasting institutional impact. He is also passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance education and innovation. 

"I’m a faculty developer who listens with empathy and transforms faculty needs into strategic systems that support and advance the college’s mission."

Areas for Consult:

  • Faculty development for teaching success
  • Use of AI Tools for Teaching and Learning
  • Course design for student success and completion
  • Integrating education technology and digital tools into teaching
  • Syllabus and course structure revision and redesign

  • Workshop design and facilitation support 

    luiscalmeida@midlandstech.edu

Claire V. Houle, M.A., Instructional Designer
Headshot of Claire Houle in her office.

Claire has a decade of higher education teaching experience in College Writing and Literature, including as an adjunct for the MTC English Department. Her pedagogical foundation is in the Writing Program at University of Massachusetts—Amherst. As an instructional designer, beginning in 2014, she’s written, designed and delivered in-person and online multimedia trainings for communities and state organizations, all designed to educate and uplift. She wrote and co-directed the award-winning short documentary Come to Know the Catawba about South Carolina’s only federally recognized indigenous tribe. She currently produces and hosts the CTE’s podcast, Instructional Ecology, in addition to her regular duties as a CTE instructional designer.

Areas for consult: 

  • Customized teaching practices for your classes
  • Syllabus and course structure re-visioning and redesign
  • Writing support for professional needs including teaching philosophies
  • Audio/video consultation and producer services
  • Strategic planning for your professional development
  • Faculty development for teaching success
  • A good chat about your work at the college

houlec@midlandstech.edu

Cameron Patterson, M.Ed., Instructional Designer

Cameron PattersonCameron received his B.S. in Middle Level Education and M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology from Winthrop University. He has half a decade of experience in the SC K-12 system which he is able to use to provide alternative techniques and methods to the college and assist faculty teaching Dual Enrollment courses. Cameron has created course specific interactive learning modules, developed and delivered workshops, and has led the Online Faculty Learning Community for faculty here at the college.

Areas for consult: 

  • Implementing educational technology in your classes
  • Accessibility compliance
  • Online teaching assistance
  • Customized teaching practices for your classes
  • Course structure re-visioning and redesign
  • Audio/video consultation and producer services
  • Strategic planning for your professional development
  • Faculty development for teaching success

  • A good chat about your work at the college

    cameronrpatterson@midlandstech.edu

Tericia Sox Eller, M.A., Instructional Designer 
Photo of Instructional Designer Tericia Sox Eller

Tericia Sox Eller is an Instructional Designer at Midlands Technical College with more than 26 years of experience in education and instructional technology. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology Facilitation from Appalachian State University and has designed and facilitated learning experiences for in-person, hybrid, and virtual environments across K–12 and higher education. Her professional background includes statewide instructional consulting, online course development, and professional learning design, with a focus on blended learning, data-informed instruction, and effective use of educational technologies. Born in West Columbia and raised in North Carolina, Tericia maintains strong ties to the region. She is the proud parent of three adult children, including a son, Nathan, a Master Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps stationed in Luxembourg, and daughters Patricia and Sarah, who are pursuing careers in hospitality management and law enforcement, respectively. Tericia is also a grandparent to three grandchildren and shares her home with two dogs, Hazel and Ripley.

Areas for consult: 

  • Help with OER course design
  • Online course development consultations
  • Refining course assignments and teaching strategies
  • Assistance with student engagement strategies
  • Faculty development for teaching success

          tericiaeller@midlandstech.edu

 

 

CTE Guiding Principles for Designing Optimal Learning Opportunities for Faculty to Assist with Student Success and Retention 

Commitment to Faculty Development

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is dedicated to helping faculty become better educators, positively impacting student success and retention. All initiatives are designed to enhance instructional effectiveness and advance the professional growth of MTC faculty across all disciplines. 

Evidence-Based Practices

The CTE advances strategies grounded in research, assessment, and data. Faculty development emphasizes proven pedagogical approaches.

 

Alignment With Institutional Priorities

The CTE’s work aligns with the college's mission, and leadership priorities, while supporting faculty needs.
 

Collaboration

The CTE is a collaborative partner working with faculty to deliver effective professional development.

Innovation with Purpose

The CTE encourages creative, forward-thinking teaching approaches. Innovation is embraced when it improves student learning, strengthens engagement, or enhances instructional design.
 

Practical, Actionable Resources

The CTE offers faculty training, materials, walkthroughs, and job aids that are hands-on, concrete, and useful. 
 

Respect for Faculty

CTE programming is designed to be efficient, flexible, and respectful. High-value development is the standard.
 

Continuous Improvement

The CTE regularly evaluates its own practices, seeks faculty feedback, and evolves programming to remain relevant and effective.

 

Our Services

Faculty Enrichment Opportunities

The MTC Center for Teaching Excellence provides faculty development programs and initiatives that promote best practices in teaching two-year college students. The CTE is committed to ongoing improvement, innovation, and excellence in instruction.

The CTE designs and implements programs for full-time, adjunct, on-campus, and online faculty. We also host faculty-led workshops. For more information about faculty enrichment opportunities, visit our Faculty Enrichment page.

Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs)

Learning communities provide time, space, and structure for faculty to align around a common goal. These types of communities present an opportunity for faculty to share results and learn from each other, thereby improving their ability to achieve rapid yet significant progress.

The first MTC Faculty Learning Communities began as part of the college’s 2010 Quality Enhancement Plan, a required component of SACSCOC reaccreditation. Since then, FLCs have become part of MTC’s culture.

Course Redesign

The CTE offers faculty guidance and consultation on revising course structures and materials within the D2L platform. Faculty receive constructive feedback and strategies to enhance their courses while preserving flexibility for their unique teaching styles. Additionally, the CTE provides support for redesigning courses using Open Educational Resources (OER), promoting accessible and cost-effective learning options

Online Teaching and Learning

The CTE partners with faculty to enrich and innovate the online student learning experience. We strive to provide effective professional development opportunities that are rich in content and practical application based on sound research and best practices. One of our primary goals is to share teaching ideas, strategies, and resources with our faculty in order to enhance student learning. We offer an open and supportive environment for professional dialogue about online teaching. In addition to providing instruction on the effective and efficient uses of the D2L learning environment, we support the use and integration of other educational technologies that enhance student engagement in the online classroom.