Professor Cheryl Mott began her teaching career twenty-five years ago when she began teaching Sunday school. She transitioned to teaching high school mathematics for nine years before beginning her teaching career at San Jacinto College where she has been a champion for students for the last fifteen years. Professor Mott graduated from San Jacinto College with her associate degree before transferring to The University of Houston to complete her bachelor?s degree. After graduating from The University of Houston, Professor Mott earned her master?s degree in education from The University of Texas. Professor Mott?s inspiration comes from knowing her students? biggest challenge is the fear of mathematics and wanting all of them to be successful regardless of their fear. She helps them set an end-semester goal of changing their mindset?to change their attitude from ?I hate fractions? to ?I still don?t like them, but I can do it!? Influencing one class at a time is not enough for Professor Mott, and by building larger communities, more students can be helped. What better place to form communities than at a community college?faculty with faculty, faculty with students, students with students, and faculty, staff, and students are just some of the communities Professor Mott has created. The mutual support and collaboration between faculty, staff, and students helps students achieve their life goals. This is what teaching is all about. Highlights of this endeavor include the following: ? A passion to remove student barriers: o by creating just-in-time algebra resources designed to help college preparatory math students and faculty by including vocabulary with hyperlinks to definitions, step-by-step examples of how to work problems, paralleled lecture problems, and student group work. o by creating OER resources to offset expensive textbooks. o by creating workshops for math and college preparatory math faculty to make their course documents conform to the Universal Design for Learning Standard for Accessibility. ? Driven to initiate the Distinguished Faculty Scholarship Ambassador Program that provides a pipeline directly to classrooms that gives students direct access to scholarships. ? Stretching boundaries across disciplines using creative approaches: o connects English, philosophy, art and math professors in teaching a Quantitative Literacy course. o combines English, math, and college preparatory to create a sense of community by shared celebrations such as Pi Day, birthdays, and holidays. o recruits across disciplines for STEM events like robotics, MindTrekkers, and college community and outreach activities. o builds teams willing to jump in to help students be successful?a coach in the corner pulling for students. Having come full circle as a non-traditional SJC student to an innovative and creative SJC faculty, Professor Mott is determined to use the power of collaboration and communities for student success.