The Seminar

The 2009 Arizona Master Teacher Seminar has reached capacity. We are no longer taking registrations for this event.

The Master Teacher Movement was originated in 1962 by Roger Garrison at Westbrook College in Portland, Maine. Since that time, it has become a national movement with programs in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia.

Sun, May 31 - Thu, June 4, 2009
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Prescott, AZ

Teachers from all types of secondary and postsecondary learning institutions from a variety of disciplines will gather in Prescott, Arizona during May 31 - June 4, 2009 for an exchange of learning, teaching, and philosophy. The focus of discussion and activities for the entire week will be on innovations and problems of instruction in education.

The seminar is an assembly of dedicated educators. Each participant will be asked to submit ideas to the seminar for discussion. The focus of ideas and teaching strategies will be innovation and excellence in classroom teaching. Seminar staff will lead focus sessions around special interests.

The sole aim of the seminar is the practical exploration of ways to improve teaching. Garrison founded the seminar on the beliefs that:

  • excellent teaching takes place in American education,
  • teachers who are striving toward mastery of their craft have much to share with others, and
  • bringing teachers together in a relaxed, informal atmosphere to share their successes and their experiences will enhance the skills of all.

The Staff


Dr. W. Terry Whisnant

The seminar will be conducted by Horizon Seminars. Dr. W. Terry Whisnant, Executive Director of the seminar, is Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Southside Virginia Community College (SsVCC). A veteran of both national and international teaching programs, he and John Cavan, SsVCC President, founded the Virginia Master Teacher Seminar in 1991.

Dr. Whisnant is also Director of Master Teacher seminars in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Indiana. In addition to those states, he founded Master Teacher programs in New Jersey and at Georgia’s Perimeter College.

Terry was selected by the American Association of Community College Trustees as the southern regional Faculty-of-the-Year in 2001 and was the finalist for the national Faculty-of-the-Year in 2002. Terry will be joined by a staff of experienced faculty facilitators.

“I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have been able to attend and marvel at the amount of talent around me from which I can draw.”
— 2007 Participant, GateWay Community College