From Neighbor to Mentor – Amber Carithers’ Journey to HutchCC

By Hayden Hackney
Staff Writer
Email: thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com

Straight from the high school next door neighbor, Hutchinson Community College welcomed a new English instructor, Amber Carithers, this fall.

Carithers, residing in Hutchinson, is welcomed with open arms to her first on-campus semester teaching English. This isn’t her first year working at HutchCC however, as she has been teaching online courses for the last four years.

Before coming to HutchCC, Carithers has gained more than 11 years of experience in teaching English, on a variety of different teaching levels. In fact, at one point in her career she worked at Friends University, Baker University, Hutchinson High School, and HutchCC all at the same time. Specifically, she worked at these places teaching English and working as an adjunct instructor for teacher workshops.

It’s not just the experience that makes her qualified however, as she was nominated and is considered a 2022 Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year, where she was one of eight teachers in the state of Kansas selected.

The biggest thing that caused the jump to HutchCC wasn’t a need for more, in fact it was something else entirely.

“I was looking for a more flexible schedule.” Carithers said. “I just had a baby and he had just turned a year old at the end of last school year and this position opened in April.”

Being a family-oriented person, she wanted the ability to spend more quality time with the people who mattered most.

“They’re young and I want to be able to go to their school and do things with them and have flexibility and this job gives me that,” Carithers said.

Thankfully, the new environment has been treating her well so far.

“I love it, I really do love it,” she said, “I have a lot more creative freedom as an instructor.”

The newfound freedom in the workplace lets Carithers teach on a more broad spectrum, allowing her to teach things more according to her philosophy.

“I started implementing more projects,” Carithers said. “Students want to get up, they want to be interactive and do things.”

However, she did keep some important philosophies from the high school, as she said, “I still care deeply about people, so that will never change.”

Carithers goes on to explain her care for the students, and the impact she wants to make.

“I just think building those relationships and finding those things we have in common just really helps.” Carithers said. “I just want to get to know who they are as people.”

As well as teaching, Carithers has also taken charge of some programs, such as the Tulgey Wood, HutchCCs annual student-published literary magazine.

“It’s more than literary arts,” Carithers said, “anything that a student has created, and they want to submit it.”

The list of possible entries includes art, poetry, music compositions, photography, digital art, and much more.

“It’s a great way to showcase our students and their talents.” Carithers said.

Tulgey Wood is taking submissions until April 1, and hopes to publish the booklet by the end of April. If you’re interested, you can contact Carithers at carithersa@hutchcc.edu, or visit her during her office hours at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. in  Lockman Hall, Room 208C.

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