La Salle Education Professor Maryanne Bednar Receives Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching

La Salle University Education professor Maryanne Bednar has won many awards throughout her career; however, few meant as much to her as the 2006 Christian R. and Mary L. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.

“The Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching is such an honor for me. Being a teacher is who I am—it defines me,” says Bednar. “As an Education professor, I not only teach, I teach future teachers, so to me this award is twice as important.”

Bednar has taught many teachers during her 16 years at La Salle and acknowledges she is known as a “tough” professor, but believes her students are better prepared because of it. Even as a tough teacher, she recently received a note from a former student who graduated from La Salle last month. The young woman thanked her for reaching out to her at a time she needed some guidance. Bednar, surprised by the impact she made on the young woman, was moved to tears.

In addition to her time spent in the classroom, Bednar is also the Director of Secondary Education at La Salle. She has served in various teaching and administrative positions over the years and her work has been published in numerous trade papers and journals.

Bednar is a graduate of Temple University, earning her bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. She also has done post-doctoral studies in the Department of Human Development at Bryn Mawr College and is a nationally certified School Psychologist.

The Christian R. and Mary L Lindback Foundation in Philadelphia bestows the Distinguished Teaching Award annually to individuals at area colleges and universities in recognition of outstanding teaching. La Salle’s recipient is selected by a committee consisting of students, faculty and administrative representatives who base their decision on nominations solicited from all the University’s full-time faculty. Bednar’s nomination for the Lindback Award included accolades from colleagues and students such as, “she is the embodiment of the mission of La Salle University,” and “she is the teacher we strive to be.”

Bednar lives in Elkins Park with her husband Jim, a 1969 graduate of La Salle. They have a son and a daughter, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.

--Amy Gardner