Professor Spitler has pushed to ensure that his programs and knowledge stay up to date, and that his students are offered meaningful learning experiences. While at Sandhills Community College, he has added to his educational background, earning an A.A.S. in Surveying Technology in 2004, and a M.S. in Geospatial Information Science and Technology degree from North Carolina State University in 2012. Professor Spitler has also obtained instructor credentials from Project Lead the Way through summer classes at Duke University, and he has incorporated hands-on learning materials as part of a unique pilot project between Project Lead the Way and Sandhills Community College.
Professor Spitler also believes in student success through excellence in teaching and learning. He worked with the administration to create a unique community college faculty rank system, and he has moved through these ranks along with so many other motivated and talented faculty throughout the years. He participated in creating a new assessment model at Sandhills which is now utilized by all of the Sandhills programs, and he has mentored other faculty in this area. The Experience Engineering Project which he started give students experiences that often redefines the realm of what is possible in their professional careers and personal lives. These experiences require the unselfish devotion to students, taking him away from home and family several times in academic years, yet he has continued to serve his family in all ways.
Professor Spitler has supported the college mission by serving as a faculty member and program coordinator since 1997. He has also supported the college Foundation efforts. In 2003 and 2004, Professor Spitler presented “Engineering Wonders and Disasters By Design,” and in 2014, he presented “3D Printing” at the Sandhills Community College Foundations annual Return to the Classroom events.
Professor Spitler has served the college through two terms as the Alumni Association president as this organization was being revived. While president, he helped to install the annual Alumni Homecoming event, and he provided the vision for the Alumni Graduate Circle and the newly installed Alumni Graduate Walk. Since 1997, he has helped with FunFest, and since 2010 he has grown the even to a great day of collaboration between the college and Moore County Schools. In 2010 he had the vision to create the Engineering Technology Summer Camps, and he has offered this educational opportunity to kids in the local community ever since, inspiring the next wave of future engineers and technicians.
Professor Spitler has been appointed, and is currently representing the North Carolina Community Colleges on both the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University Geomatics program Advisory Committee, and based on the recommendation of the Chief of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey, and his selection by the Secretary of North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the NCGS Advisory Committee. These committees are vital to the well being of these important programs and department, and the extra efforts that he takes on will benefit his community, students, state and educations system from which he is a product.