Holly Batty, LAVC English Department Chair
For Holly Batty, teaching is not only about delivering information. It is about creating a space where students feel safe, welcomed, and connected. Growing up, she always loved English. Reading, discussing literature, and connecting with others through ideas felt natural to her.
After enrolling at Valley, Holly started working as a tutor at the Writing Center, where she discovered how powerful it felt to help someone understand something for the first time. Her journey continued from tutor to coordinator then English professor, and finally to chair of the English Department. She describes this journey with one simple word: “Roots.” For her, Valley is a place where she planted herself and grew over many years.
One of the most meaningful parts of her work was coordinating LAVC’s Puente Program. Through this experience, she learned more about many students’ struggles, which changed her perspective and teaching style. Instead of focusing only on rules, she focused on people. She saw that connection and support are not extra things in education, but they are essential. It is her belief that teaching must adapt to better accommodate students.
Holly believes strongly in the power of community colleges, describing them as “warm, caring spaces where students are not just numbers”. Faculty and staff work hard to understand students’ backgrounds, challenges, and needs in order to create a sense of family and belonging. This is especially important for first-generation students, who may feel lost at the beginning of their academic journey.
Today, she emphasizes skills such as critical thinking, research, and the ability to form strong arguments. In a world with AI and easy access to information, she believes students must learn how to question, analyze, and think independently about the information they are receiving. Whether in the classroom, through programs, or in one-on-one support, Professor Batty continues to create spaces where students can grow not only academically, but also personally.