FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Coastline Official Gets National Honor

Linda Kuntzman, instructor coordinator and project director at Coastline Community College, has received an Outstanding Community College Chair award, one of only four given nationwide.

The award was announced at the recent Third International Conference of Community College Chairs, Deans and Other Instructional Leaders in Phoenix.

Coastline recognized Kuntzman at an award ceremony and reception Friday at the College Center in Fountain Valley.

Kuntzman, who has a doctorate in linguistics, was chosen for the award because of her commitment to excellence in teaching and for her contributions to the college’s program in English as a second language, officials said.

The ESL program was established in response to the need of Orange County’s growing non-English-speaking population, said Judith Valles, Coastline’s consultant to the chancellor.

“The program continues to grow because of the dedication and teaching excellence of faculty like Linda. She inspires and empowers those who work with her,” Valles said.

More than 3,000 students are enrolled in Coastline’s ESL program this semester.

Kuntzman supervises a staff of 53 instructors and sets the curriculum, which includes satellite classes for Vietnamese-speaking residents held in Westminster’s Little Saigon.

Kuntzman said the program’s reputation is “built on the work of our individual instructors.”

“A program like ours wouldn’t be possible without consistent administrative commitment and support. And we’ve had that all along,” she said.