When you walk down the halls of Baugh Technology Center on the Trinity Valley Community College's Athens campus, you might be surprised to encounter a professor dressed as a Teletubby or a giant ear of corn. But for Tyler Hebert, this unconventional approach is all part of her mission to breathe new life into the campus and connect with her students in meaningful ways.

Hebert, who teaches computer science at TVCC, didn't initially set out to become a college professor. After spending five years teaching high school, she felt drawn to the community college setting, having experienced the challenges of being a non-traditional student herself.

 "I went to a community college, so I know what it's like to be that student who's working full time with a baby and going to school,” Hebert explains. "I understand the struggles that some of our students face, and I wanted to be able to make an impact on their lives."

That desire to connect with students is what led Hebert to start wearing a different costume to class every day during the month of October. What began as a joke quickly turned into a campus-wide phenomenon, with students eagerly anticipating her daily transformations and even using the costumes as a reason to attend class.

 "I had one student tell me that she only came to class because she remembered I was wearing one of the costumes that day," Hebert says. "It's been a great way to bring some fun and excitement to the building."

But Hebert's commitment to engage her students goes beyond just the costumes. As a self-described "people person," she strives to make her computer science classes as interactive and entertaining as possible, incorporating games and activities to keep her students engaged.

 "I don't want to just stand up there and lecture," she says. "I want my students to be excited about what they're learning, and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

Heber’s approach is working, as Hebert has noticed an increase in both attendance and consistency among her students. And it's not just the students who have taken notice – Hebert's colleagues have also been impressed by her ability to bring energy and enthusiasm to the campus.

“I love all the creative ways Tyler makes learning exciting for the students,” Academic/Workforce Advisor Christy Seibel exclaimed. “Plus, this has been good for retention; especially when students are reporting they really wanted to skip class but just had to see what getup was on the day's agenda!”

As Hebert looks to the future, she's excited about the opportunity to continue building up the excitement on the Athens and Palestine campuses. While the costumes may be a temporary addition, her commitment to creating a dynamic, engaging learning environment is here to stay.

"I just want my students to remember me as that one teacher who really cared," Hebert says. "If I can make a positive impact on even one student's life, then I'll consider my job a success."