Aspiring teachers dive into college life through PIRATE
Faculty spearhead effort to address rural mental health
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor
Writer/Photographer
Dr. André M. Green
Kristen Martin
Kristen Martin
ADMINISTRATION
Chancellor Provost Dean
Associate Dean For Academic Affairs & Graduate Education
Associate Dean for Research
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs & Educator Preparation
Assistant Dean for Faculty & Staff Development, Wellness & Engagement
Chair for Educational Leadership
Chair for Literacy Studies, English Education & History Education and Interim Chair for Elementary Education & Middle Grades Education
Chair for Interdisciplinary Professions
Chair for Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education
Chair for Special Education, Foundations & Research
Dr. Philip Rogers
Dr. Robin Coger
Dr. André Green
Dr. Scott Glass
Dr. Dan Dickerson
Dr. Holly Fales
Dr. Janeé Avent Harris
Dr. Marjorie Ringler
Dr. Elizabeth Swaggerty
Dr. Allison Crowe
Dr. Tony Thompson
Dr. Christopher Rivera
Introducing InspirED: A New Chapter for the ECU College of Education
Welcome to the First Edition of the East Carolina University’s College of Education Magazine – InspirED!
shape the future of learning.
It is with great excitement that I introduce the inaugural edition of our College of Education Magazine. This publication marks the beginning of a new chapter for our college, as we celebrate the stories and achievements that define who we are and what we stand for. For over 100 years, the College of Education at East Carolina University (ECU) has proudly served North Carolina by preparing dedicated graduates who inspire, lead, and transform communities across the eastern region and beyond.
In this first edition, we highlight the extraordinary experiences at the core of our mission. You’ll read about our students’ transformative summer study abroad programs, where future educators immersed themselves in new cultures and educational practices, gaining invaluable perspectives that will shape their teaching careers. These experiences reflect our commitment to equipping students with the skills and global mindset needed to thrive in today’s diverse and interconnected world.
We are also excited to feature the return of the Teaching Fellows program to ECU, showcasing exceptional students driven to make a difference in education. These aspiring teachers embody the passion, resilience, and dedication that our college is known for, and we are honored to support them as they prepare to
Additionally, this edition spotlights the impactful work of our faculty in improving mental health literacy in rural communities. Through innovative and sustainable international partnerships, our educators are addressing critical needs by providing mental health education and resources to underserved populations. Their efforts exemplify our commitment to public service and to fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
We also celebrate the success of the PIRATE symposium, where high school students from across the region were welcomed to our campus to explore academic opportunities and experience the vibrant spirit of ECU. This event is more than an introduction to college life—it is an invitation to dream big and envision themselves as part of Pirate Nation.
As you explore this first edition, I hope you are inspired by the stories of our students, faculty, staff, and community partners who are making a difference every day. At the College of Education, we are committed to attracting the best students, providing access to an ECU education, and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. This magazine represents not just a celebration of our achievements, but a glimpse into the heart of our college— where innovation, dedication, and community come together.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We are future-focused and innovation-driven, and your support helps us continue to transform lives and shape the future of North Carolina and beyond.
Sincerely,
Dr. André M. Green, Ph.D Dean, College of Education
Our alumni
• currently work in all 100 North Carolina counties
• have served more than 9 million children in North Carolina schools
Top 20% among nation’s best graduate programs in education, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report
A+ ranking
216 undergraduate degrees were awarded for the 2023-24 year and 348 graduate degrees were awarded
ECU produces more educators in North Carolina than any other university
Graduate students complete an average of 145 hours of field-based experience
for our elementary education literacy programs from the National Council on Teacher Quality
Approximately $22 million in active research funding for the 2022–2023 academic year
$681,000 awarded in scholarships (2023–2024)
Undergraduate students complete an average of 720 hours of field-based experience
98% pass rate on the edTPA performance assessment for undergraduate elementary graduates in 2022–2023 (surpassing state rate of 92% and national rate of 72%)
From the Desk of...
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education
Graduate Enrollment
As with all universities, maintaining a consistent graduate student enrollment is critical to the success of the College of Education. This past year the COE engaged in a number of program-specific and college-wide recruitment events. Faculty members from across the college attended those events and engaged with numerous potential students interested in pursuing advanced degrees. Early results from the current academic year suggest those recruiting events were successful, as the COE’s enrollment numbers are slightly up this year compared to the same time last year. If you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree from the COE, please reach out to the Associate Dean of the COE (glassj@ecu.edu) and we will make sure you are connected with your program of interest.
Global Teaching Partners
Global Teaching Partners (GTP) is an organization that brings international teachers into NC to teach in our public schools.
Dr. Scott Glass
These teachers are typically working in NC for approximately 5 years. GTP reached out to the COE to establish a partnership that would allow their teachers to pursue a graduate degree while they are teaching in the state, as a degree from a U.S. institution is often valued in their home countries.
GTP was intentional about connecting with the COE because of our strong reputation for distance learning and established history of producing quality teachers. This program provides a pathway for these qualified international teachers to earn a degree, and the College of Education is honored to be engaged in this partnership.
Associate Dean for Research
I am pleased to share some exciting accomplishments regarding the College of Education’s (COE) research activities. As we look back at the 2023-2024 academic year, the efforts of our faculty, staff, and research teams are clearly yielding outstanding results. Below are some key highlights.
Research Expenditures Up
By the end of FY 2024, our research expenditures had reached $5,379,539.00 according to the IPAR Productivity Metrics. This represents a 53.1% increase over last year’s total of $3,514,514.00, and a 34.4% increase compared to our previous three-year average. This trajectory reflected the hard work and dedication of our faculty in pursuing and securing grants, which positioned us to surpass our highest expenditure metrics since FY2020.
Innovation at the Forefront
• 1 Product launched on the market with 38 downloads
• A commercialization assessment for SBIR/ STTR potential
Dr. Daniel Dickerson
This year has also marked significant milestones in innovation. COE innovation included an array of groundbreaking initiatives, including:
• 1 U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Filing
• 3 Innovation Disclosures
• A business model innovation assessment
Research-Centered Activities
Through the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), we have organized multiple researchcentered activities to engage and support faculty, such as:
• Sip and Learns offer opportunities for faculty to share their work with their colleagues
• Grant Writing Workshops assisted faculty in preparation of competitive grant proposals
• New Faculty Research Meetings helped integrate and support our recent hires
• Listening Sessions gathered feedback to help improve our services
Looking Ahead
While we have made excellent strides in our research endeavors, there is always room for improvement. Expanding our research infrastructure will be essential in sustaining and increasing our future research expenditures. I am confident that with continued collaboration and support, we will not only maintain but also accelerate this momentum in the coming years.
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs & Educator Preparation
The Office of Educator Preparation continually strives to support the ECU College of Education’s transformative efforts across North Carolina. This year, our initiatives have expanded to new heights, reinforcing our commitment to building strong educator pipelines, forging impactful partnerships, and supporting future educators on their professional journeys.
A core focus has been cultivating “Grow Your Own” pipelines with partner districts and community colleges, creating opportunities and removing barriers for aspiring educators in our region. We are proud to serve as the educator preparation program for initiatives such as Project LEAP, in collaboration with Lenoir Community College and the counties of Lenoir, Greene, and Jones, as well as the Franklin County Early College High School T.E.A.C.H. program.
paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, and other district employees to earn their teaching degrees while maintaining their current roles. By working closely with districts across the state, Partnership Teach has created a pathway to certification that benefits both aspiring teachers and their communities.
Dr. Holly Fales
A vital piece of this work is Partnership Teach, a highly successful pipeline that exemplifies our collaborative commitment to accessible education. Now in its 22nd year, this program has enabled community members,
Additionally, the growth and success of our Educator Residency Program has been remarkable as this program enters its fifth year. Offering an alternative pathway, the residency program is quickly becoming a cornerstone of our educator preparation efforts, helping to prepare high-quality teachers who can meet the challenges of today’s classrooms across the state. Our initiatives, whether through building educator pipelines, enhancing residency opportunities, or recruiting future teachers through strategic programs, are all aimed at one goal: to ensure that North Carolina’s classrooms are led by passionate, well-prepared educators dedicated to student success. I look forward to the opportunities and progress this year will bring as we grow and innovate together.
Assistant Dean for Faculty & Staff Development, Wellness, and Engagement
As we continue fostering a culture of care, belonging, and opportunity within our community, I am excited to share some of the initiatives and events that from academic year 2023-2024.
Here are a few highlights:
Wellness Wednesday: Faculty and staff came together for a meaningful Wellness Wednesday event. We connected, shared resources for well-being, participated in mindfulness and self-care activities, and reflected on affirmations to support our mental health. This event was a true collaboration, supported by the Counselor Education program and the McClammy Counseling & Research Lab, highlighting the strength of partnerships within our college. We also hosted a special Wellness Wednesday edition for our ECU Community School, ensuring that our amazing community school staff also receive the support they need for well-being and success.
connection, gratitude, and delicious food! We look forward to making this an annual event.
Dr. Janeé
Avent Harris
Staff Appreciation Breakfast: To celebrate the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff, we hosted a Staff Appreciation Breakfast. It was a wonderful morning of
COE Faculty and Staff Book Study: We hosted a book study for faculty and staff to come together, exchange ideas, and grow both professionally and personally through literature. We engaged in insightful discussions and formed a greater sense of community.
iCare Reciprocal Exchange Project: I am also proud to share that our office recently participated in the International Collaborative Action For Rural Education (iCARE) Project in Nigeria, sponsored by the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Fellowship. Through this initiative, we focused on mental health awareness and education, collaborating across borders to share knowledge and build mental health literacy globally.
It’s incredibly uplifting to see how these initiatives are building community and enriching our collective experience. I look forward to continuing these efforts as we create spaces for development, wellness, and engagement.
Science education faculty member Bonnie
takes a photo of an orca during one of the study abroad trips she co-led to
Glass
Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Summer study away experiences
by Kristen Martin
Engaging with cultures outside of eastern North Carolina is important for the personal and professional growth of future teachers and education leaders.
Spending their summers in different countries is nothing new to East Carolina University science education faculty Dr. Tammy Lee and Bonnie Glass.
The two have led study abroad trips to Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland and, more recently, Mallorca, Spain. This course focused on how human have connected with and impacted the ecosystems of Mallorca, one of Spain’s Balearic Islands of the Mediterranean. The seven-day trip was filled with experiential learning through the terrestrial ecosystems of Mallorca, including salty and humid zones, mountainous areas, gorges and cliffs.
“My favorite part of the last day was swimming in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, which is something I never though I would be able to do,”
said Allison Schaefer, a graduate student in science education. “Jumping off the boat into the crystalclear turquoise water and the beautiful backdrop is something I will never forget.”
A few highlights of the trip included visiting the Palma Aquarium and seeing injured/rehabbing sea turtles, exploring Cabrera Island, snorkeling in the blue cave, visiting the villages of S’Arraco and Valldermossa, hiking through the Serra De Tramuntana mountain range and visiting the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation.
“This was a great trip, especially for my first time leaving the country!” said Megan Campbell, a graduate student in science education and current teacher. “I learned a lot and had a lot of fun experiencing so many new things.”
Ten students joined Lee and Glass on the trip, including three undergraduate elementary education majors and four current teachers who are obtaining their master’s in science education. Of these, Schaefer has traveled with the duo before on a study abroad trips to Ireland and Belize.
“These trips have been absolutely amazing with Dr. Lee and Mrs. Glass,” she said. “They are so much fun to be around, and even when things may not go our way, such as when our flights got delayed from Belize which caused us to miss our connecting flight, they always make the best of the situation. On these trips, they are our biggest advocates. They make a huge effort to make the trip the best it can possibly be, keep our spirits high, and help us learn about nature. I think that the most interesting thing about these trips is that though they are faculty in the College of Education, there have been people from a variety of majors on these trips, and they really do find something for everyone to get out of it.”
Lizzie Phipps, a recent Honors College graduate with degrees in biology and neuroscience, is one of the non-education majors who has traveled several times with Lee and Glass. She participated in the Belize and Ireland trips.
“Studying abroad during college is definitely one of my top highlights of the past four years,” she said. “I was able to have life changing experiences, and bond with fellow students in unimageable ways. I am still good friends with my roommates from both trips, the bonds you make while navigating a new place and new people are so special! Not to mention, I have become very close with Dr. Lee and Mrs. Glass. They have seen me at my worst and best on these trips and have listed to me talk hours on end about all the nervousness and excitedness I have for the future. They have been a part of my life for half of my college experience and I truly rely on them for guidance and advice.”
Lee and Glass have first-hand experience with how valuable study abroad and place-based learning is for students in general, and especially future and current teachers.
“I traveled out of the country as a beginning teacher with the Museum of Natural Sciences and went to Belize and Canada and other place-based experiences, like in the mountains of North Carolina,” Lee said. “As a young educator, it was impactful for me and was impactful for me to bring back to my students. At that point in my career, I always said if I had the opportunity to take students places and allow them to be immersed into a place, that was what I was going to do.”
Phipps and Schaefer both agreed that studying abroad helped them become comfortable with being uncomfortable and become better at being adaptable to changing circumstances, a skill that can serve teachers well.
Lee and Glass note that having the chance to experience other cultures is beneficial for educators. Their study abroad trips have a running theme centering on the effects of climate change.
“We’re also trying to build in our students to be advocates, to be scientifically literate and literate about the issues that are approaching us as a society so they can make informed decisions
when they’re in their next job or place and they can understand that they need to look at things from all perspectives,” Lee said. “There’s not one answer or solution to everything, and we want to give them a wider perspective.”
They have found the impacts of the trips are far-reaching. Students have remained connected to nature and continue to participate in activities such as kayaking or hiking that they may have first experienced during their study abroad experience.
Educators can also bring these experiences and the valuable lessons learned during their trips to the classroom.
“As future educators or educators in the field, being able to bring back these types of experiences to the classroom is invaluable,” Lee said.
Glass agreed: “It changes you and how you see the world, so it will in turn change how your students see the world.”
European Living-Learning
Twelve East Carolina University education majors experienced a sampling of the culture that Europe has to offer during a summer study abroad trip this May.
During the 12-day trip, education livinglearning community students visited England, France and Italy.
Students experienced nature in Mallorca (top left) and important monuments, such as the Roman Colosseum (above) during these trips. They also had the chance to interact with schools and educators in the countries they visited (left).
Throughout the journey, they had tour guides leading them on bus and walking tours to see sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Roman
Forum, the Colosseum, Pompeii, and several palaces, churches and museums.
“This trip was one I will never forget,” said Annie Greene, a history education major. “As a kid growing up with a single parent on a teacher’s salary, these places were places that only existed in movies or in textbooks to me. I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to travel abroad, much less with some of my best friends.”
Students also had the chance to visit a public school in Florence, Italy, where they spoke to a fourth-grade class and learned some of the major differences between American and Italian schooling.
“We were able to ask questions,” said Taylor Buck, an elementary education major. “This allowed me, as a future educator, to learn how to incorporate multicultural education into my future classroom and showed me some things that I would love to bring in my classroom, such as the teaching of multiple languages.”
For elementary education major Aspen Hardin, visiting the local elementary school was one of the highlights of her trip.
“I got to hear about the many different projects they do, languages they learn and all about the school’s process,” she said. “I have always had a passion for learning about other countries and their culture, so adding education and teaching to it was that much more fulfilling.”
For many of the students, this trip brought new and exciting experiences.
Several students had never flown internationally before or traveled without their families, like education major Kaitlin Cook. She noted that while she was nervous at first, it was an amazing experience.
“The places that we went to that I enjoyed the most were Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri in Italy,” Cook said. “As an education major, it is important that I embrace different cultures so that I can embrace my future students’ cultures.”
Students embraced every moment of their trip and took time to explore the areas they were in during free time. One experience that several students cherished was the opportunity to get last-minute tickets to see Taylor Swift perform in Paris.
“I can speak for all of us when I say that none of us thought we would ever be able to see her perform, let alone in Paris!” Greene said.
“That was just one of the many once-in-a-lifetime experiences this trip gave us.”
As they reflected on the trip, students began planning ways to incorporate their experiences into their learning and future classrooms.
“I am able to use this experience to bring back ideas to my own classroom, such as focusing time on projects to build the classroom community and developing relationships with the extending community around the school,” said Leah Carr, an elementary education major.
Aspiring teachers dive into college life
Summer programs like the PIRATE — Pirate Institute for Regional Aspiring Teachers and Educators — Symposium help high schoolers see themselves on ECU’s campus as education majors
by Kristen Martin
More than 70 rising high school sophomores, juniors,, seniors and graduates spent three days on East Carolina University’s campus to learn more about teacher education programs and college life.
This is the third year that the Pirate Institute for Regional Aspiring Teachers and Educators (PIRATE) symposium or a similar program has taken place on campus. For many participants, this was their second or third year in the program.
“This was my second year in the program,” said Zacchaeus Jones, a rising senior at Lenoir County Early College High School. “I returned because I liked the program last year and the information that we learned. I enjoyed the program so much that I have already recommended the program to others at my high school.”
Throughout the three days, participants were able to learn more about ECU, the fundamentals of teaching and resources available to them —
such as the Teaching Resource Center (TRC) in Joyner Library.
For White Oak High School rising senior Cheyenne Bruening, the TRC’s production room was the most surprising part, as well as the size of the university campus. In the TRC, students and alumni are able to borrow and create materials for their classrooms. PIRATE symposium participants learned how to make buttons and also used materials as they worked together on the lessons they would teach on the program’s second day.
“One of my most memorable activities I participated in was getting the chance to lesson plan and then teach to my peers,” said Topsail High School graduate Trinity Mummaw. “Planning out what you’re going to teach, making posters, picking out a book if we used one, and then getting everyone involved.”
Mummaw has wanted to be an educator since she was a child. She plans on attending ECU in the fall and noted that hearing from the panel of
This experience reinforced my commitment to becoming an educator and highlighted the importance of fostering a supportive learning community.
Olivia Stoots
Current ECU education major & former PIRATE symposium participant
education alumni was eye-opening.
“Growing up having a family that was mostly educators made it easier knowing more about teaching and what it might be like,” she said. “However, it was nice to hear from a panel of teachers who have taught for numerous years giving insights to their own experiences — both bad and good — when it comes to teaching.”
Jones was another participant who has grown up around educators and felt that his experience at ECU solidified his decision to pursue a future in education.
“I have always loved to help others and have gained more interest in the teaching field by tutoring my favorite subjects to others,” he said. “I also like working with teachers after school to help them in any way they need.”
A standout experience for him was also coteaching a lesson.
“By working together and actually teaching to other students, we learned a few more skills that we will use in the classroom, such as classroom management, lesson planning and collaboration,” he said.
Leadership In Action
The participants weren’t the only ones to benefit from the experience. Current education majors served as event leaders and coordinators. This event served as another way to gain experience working with students as well as a way to share their love of ECU with potential future students.
“One of my favorite moments during the camp was watching the students form connections with their peers and the leaders throughout the duration of the camp and how that allowed them to feel more confident when co-teaching their mini lesson,” said Isabelle Vernon, a rising senior majoring in secondary
history education. “As a current education major, specifically with the intention of teaching high schoolers, this experience supplemented my other practicum experiences greatly. I was able to learn more about different group dynamics, how to accommodate students’ particular needs, and how to interact with students in a manner that is both professional and encourages rapport and reciprocity.”
Rising senior secondary history education major Annie Green also said that this experience built upon skills learned in her practicums.
“It also allows me to build connections with the other PIRATE leaders, including those who have graduated and are already in their first or second years of teaching,” she said. “This connection, along with the time and classroom management skills practiced at camp, will benefit me and my future classroom greatly.”
For Olivia Stoots, a rising sophomore elementary education major, being a leader at the PIRATE symposium was a full circle moment. Stoots had attended a previous PIRATE program, which solidified her decision to attend ECU.
“I was driven to help high school students see firsthand why ECU is the best choice for pursuing a degree in education,” she said. “Working alongside the amazing and supportive staff, I found it incredibly rewarding to guide and mentor participants, sharing my passion for education and helping them envision themselves as future ECU students. This experience reinforced my commitment to becoming an educator and highlighted the importance of fostering a supportive learning community.
An integral part of the PIRATE Symposium was the opportunity to co-teach lessons to fellow students for experience.
Faculty spearhead effort to address rural mental health
by Kristen Martin
Counselor education faculty in the East Carolina University College of Education sought to improve rural education and mental health literacy through the creation of a partnership between the United States and Nigeria.
“Declining mental health is a pervasive global issue, with an exacerbated impact on residents living in under-resourced, rural areas with less access to mental health education and services,” said Dr. Loni Crumb, associate professor and recipient of a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange award. “We created the International Collaborative Action for Rural Education (I-CARE) as a rural-focused, international school-university-communitycollaboration model aimed to establish partnerships with leaders from rural areas across the southeastern United States and global partners.”
As part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and Marben Foundation sponsored project, Crumb and Dr. Janeé Avent Harris, assistant dean for faculty and staff development, wellness and engagement in the College of Education, traveled to Nigeria this summer to
Support from the Mandela Washington Fellow, ECU College of Education and Marben Foundation helped Dr. Loni Crumb and Dr. Janeé Avent Harris travel to Nigeria to institute a program focusing on improving rural mental health and education.
build partnerships in collaboration with Dorcas Barde, an alumna of the Nigerian fellowship.
Crumb and Avent Harris noted that there are similar cultural nuances between villages in eastern Nigeria and the eastern region of North Carolina that made this partnership feasible.
“Specifically, high poverty rates in rural areas of Nigeria and North Carolina have influenced how parents, teachers and families support and engage in their children’s education,” Crumb said.
The goal of I-CARE is to equip rural teachers, parents and community members with strategies to identify and respond to mental health concerns through activities such as guest lectures, community learning exchanges and psychoeducational resources. During their time in Nigeria, Crumb and Avent Harris participated in many of these activities in local communities.
“One of my most impactful experiences was our community learning exchange experience with young adult leaders of the Rotary Club,” Avent Haris said. “Some of the Rotary Club members had been engaging with us throughout our trip and serving as volunteers during the workshops and training. … We engaged in great dialogue about leadership, entrepreneurship and mental health.”
Residents of all ages participated in the learning exchanges, including elders who drove more than two hours for the multi-day events and children who asked questions about living in the United States.
In addition to the learning exchanges, Crumb and Avent Harris conducted a guest lecture on school-community-university partnership in rural mental health for 145 people at Taraba State University. While at the university, they also met with leaders to discuss continued reciprocal learning opportunities via international virtual educational exchanges.
The experience in Nigeria influenced Crumb’s perspective on mental health and education
in many ways, including the need for a holistic approach to education.
“Witnessing how mental health is addressed within the educational system in Nigeria reinforced the importance of integrating mental health support into the broader educational framework,” she said.
One recurring theme throughout the trip was the need to advocate for mental health care globally, due to issues that are prevalent worldwide.
“As we were in personal conversations and professional presentations across the country in Adamawa State, Niger State and Taraba State, we continued to hear about the increase of youth depression, anxiety and suicide across the nation, which we also encounter in the United States,” Crumb said. “Youth suicide is a global health concern.”
The role of community involvement and multistakeholder approaches to mental health and education were also visible to Crumb during the trip. Through the interactions in Nigeria as well as local community learning exchanges, Crumb noted that the mental health of teachers and school leaders is as important as a focus on student mental health.
Although their trip is over, the work is far from completed. Crumb and Avent Harris are continuing to work with stakeholders, educators and mental health professionals to create a sustainable network for rural mental health and education. They have begun to share their knowledge, including in an article published with an ECU student, Victor Chimaihe Ihuka, a member of the indigenous Igbo community of Nigeria.
“We will utilize the connections and networks we built during the I-CARE project to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange on a global scale,” Crumb said. “I would like to think that the distance between Greenville and Jalingo, Nigeria, is much shorter as a result of the relationships that we are building.”
Far left photo: Elders from surrounding communities met with Crumb and Avent Harris to share their proud Nigerian heritage and self-efficacy.
Right: Crumb and Avent Harris led a social emotional learning lesson for students of the Howai Government Day Primary School in Jalingo, Nigeria.
by Kristen Martin
Teaching Fellows returns to East Carolina
East Carolina University has been selected as a partner institution by the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Science education is one of the majors that North Carolina Teaching Fellows can choose to study.
The Teaching Fellows program is a competitive, meritbased program offering teacher licensure in elementary education, special education and STEM education. The forgivable loan program offers up to $10,000 per year of tuition assistance for students who commit to teaching in a North Carolina public school.
“We are excited and honored to be selected as a partner institution for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program,” said Dr. André Green, dean of the ECU College of Education. “The college has long been a premier producer of high-quality teachers for eastern North Carolina and the entire state. This program enables us to increase the number of teachers we prepare, thanks to the financial incentives it offers students who have a desire to be educators. It will further our mission of regional transformation by addressing the teacher shortages that many districts in this region and beyond are facing.”
ECU previously served as one of the host institutions for the Teaching Fellows program during its operation in 1986 to 2015 and provided future teachers with support from the first day of freshman year with networking, leadership opportunities and year-round enrichment programs. Since the reinstatement of the program in 2017, faculty and staff in ECU’s educator preparation program have shown interest in serving as a host institution once more.
“As an ECU Teaching Fellows alumna, I can personally attest to the outstanding caliber of the ECU educator preparation program and its significant role in shaping my success both as a classroom educator and in my current role in teacher preparation,” said Dr. Holly Fales, assistant dean for undergraduate affairs and educator preparation.
“I’ve witnessed the program’s profound effect on those pursuing careers in education, with many of my ECU Teaching Fellows peers significantly impacting North Carolina students, schools and communities throughout their careers in education. ECU continues its steadfast commitment to upholding excellence in teacher preparation, and we are eager to prepare the next generation of ECU Teaching Fellows.”
ECU was selected along with Appalachian State University through a competitive application process analyzing program data, institutional support and practical experiences. The other NC Teaching Fellows partner institutions are Elon University, Fayetteville State University, Meredith College, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, NC State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
by Dionna Manning
Supporting NC Teachers: Impact of Maynard Scholars
Maynard Scholars participate in a variety of activities, including team-building retreats and service before graduating.
According to data reported by the NC Department of Public Instruction, the NC teacher vacancy rate is at its highest. The report states that 11.5% of teachers left their roles last school year, compared to 7.8% the previous year. The teacher vacancy rate, coupled with increased college expenses and a starting salary of $41,000 for first-year teachers in NC, creates significant financial challenges for teacher education graduates. Graduating with college debt that accrues interest makes it increasingly difficult to recruit students into teacher education programs. The Maynard Scholars Program helps to address these recruitment and affordability issues.
The James and Connie Maynard Scholars Program recruits students into teacher education by assisting with their college tuition, thereby reducing their debt upon graduation. The program offers numerous support systems and leadership development opportunities, preparing students to be leaders and change agents within their school systems and local communities.
Established at East Carolina University on May 31, 2006, the program provides up to $26,000 over four years to ten incoming teacher education students annually. Modeled after the N.C. Teaching Fellows Scholarship, recipients are expected to teach in a public, charter or government school for four years, in one of the specified eastern N.C. counties following graduation. Recipients have up to seven years to complete this service payback requirement in a K-12 classroom.
James and Connie Maynard Scholars participate in service work, professional development, leadership opportunities, and travel enrichment, ensuring they are well-rounded upon graduation. The program’s appeal lies in its combination of significant financial, college transition, and academic support, as well as unique enrichment opportunities not provided in traditional undergraduate preparation.
Students are recruited as early as their freshman or sophomore year of high school and apply to ECU and the James and Connie Maynard Scholars Program during the fall or early spring of their senior year.
Maynard Scholars reside in a common residence hall during their freshman year at ECU and take several classes together to build community amongst one another. These recipients have COE academic and secondary program advisors throughout their four years in the program for additional support. All recipients participate in monthly leadership seminars, semesterly service work, and enrichment travel. These opportunities allow students to experience other cities and cultures, and international experiences to provide them with a global perspective. Due to these experiences, our scholars are highly recruited teacher education leaders upon graduation, who understand and embody the spirit of service. Servant Leadership is at the core of the Maynard Scholars Program, as we want our scholars to fully embrace the importance of “paying it forward.”
Since the inception of the James and Connie Maynard Scholars program, 183 four-year scholarships have been awarded to high school students, with recipients from 34 eastern NC counties, including: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Person, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wake, Wayne, and Wilson. Currently, 38 Maynard scholars are enrolled in teacher education programs at ECU, with two scholars from the 2021 class graduating this past May of 2024.
Annually, Maynard Scholars gather to thank the Maynard family for their generosity. Pictured in the center are James Maynard and his daughter, Easter, surrounded by their Maynard Scholars.
Since its inception, James and Connie Maynard Scholars have given back over 26,000 hours of volunteering and service work to our local community.
Of the remaining 145 recipients, 118 (81%) successfully completed the program and graduated. Those who did not complete the four-year program and graduate as teacher education students left for various reasons, including transferring to other institutions, changing majors, leaving ECU, failing to pass licensure exams or meet university program requirements, experiencing the loss of a parent or immediate family member, and encountering academic difficulties.
Out of the 118 Maynard Scholar recipients who completed the full program and graduated as Maynard Scholar alumni, 63 recipients (53%) are still in the NC school system with some of these individuals now serving in other school or district leadership roles other than teacher.
Maynard Scholar funds are classified as private donor funds within the institution, allowing them to be combined with other University and State funds. In terms of individual student assistance, this enables us to offer competitive financial award packages to students. Maynard program funds are coupled with State funds and other institutional foundation funds such as Truist Leadership grant funds to extend the reach and allow us to offer additional programmatic and enrichment opportunities to the Maynard Scholar recipients as well as other four-year scholars and our Education Living-Learning Community students. This community of scholars and teacher education majors complete program requirements, participate in extensive community service, attend leadership seminars, and participate in domestic and international study away experiences allowing them to enter the K-12 classrooms better prepared and with a greater understanding of the community in which they operate.
Hall of Fame honors 11 educators for service
by
Kristen Martin
The East Carolina University College of Education celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Educators Hall of Fame by inducting 11 new members in a ceremony on ECU’s campus on April 6.
The Hall of Fame recognizes the service of individuals who have extensively contributed to the field of education and had a decisive impact on the lives of others. Honorees are nominated through a $2,500 gift that is placed into a Hall of Fame scholarship endowment for merit-based education scholarships. As of today, there are more than 600 educators and friends of education inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“The men and women who are inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame have planted seeds of inspiration, passion and encouragement for those around them — going above and beyond the curriculum, standards and walls of the classroom,” said Amber Brewer, chair of the College of Education’s Professional Advisory Board. “Each one exemplifies the quote from Plato that is inscribed on the Hall of Fame wall, ‘Those having torches will pass them on to others.’”
The initiative was started by the Dean’s Professional Advisory Board, which plays an instrumental role in shaping the college’s strategic direction and enhancing educational
Eleven educators were honored during the 25th Educators Hall of Fame ceremony on April 6, 2024.
Professional Advisory Board (PAB) Chair Amber Brewer applauds EHOF recipient Jacqueline Ragland. The PAB created the Educators Hall of Fame to recognize educators and support future educators through a scholarship endowment.
initiatives. The board is comprised of a dedicated group of alumni and friends who serve as advocates, resource finders and consultants. Board members are advisors to the dean, actively participate in furthering the college’s goals, support its continuous improvement and ensure its future success.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Tracy Cole, principal of the ECU Community School and a 2021 inductee into the Educators Hall of Fame. Cole reflected on her time as an educator, including her time as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and the influence of her parents.
“My parents, Mrs. Joyce B. Cole and the late Mr. Ralph V. Cole Sr., were both educators and graduated with master’s degrees and education specialist degrees from ECU,” she said. “From watching my parents and through my college
experiences, I learned that a good education could open doors and take you to places beyond your wildest dreams.”
Cole was joined on stage by recent education alumnus and first year teacher, TreShawn Penny. He shared how his journey through his undergraduate studies prepared him to go from “just TreShawn” to “Mr. Penny.”
“The time I have spent at ECU and in the classroom has sculpted me from a kid who simply loved to learn into an individual who can figure out how to make his natural abilities work for his students,” he said. “To all the donors, your contributions are not limited to financial support. You are giving the recipients of these scholarships the opportunity to engage in their own transformations. Their journey to being addressed with a ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’ in front of their last name is an opportunity that you have helped to set in motion as a result of your generosity.”
This year’s Educators Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient and elementary education major Aspen Hardin thanked donors and credited their support for her ability to pursue her dream of becoming an educator.
“I am flourishing at ECU and thriving with all these new and outstanding opportunities,” she said. “I have felt such a sense of community within this school and am beyond grateful.”
After the ceremony, honorees visited the Educators Hall of Fame in Speight to see their plaques.
Since 1999, the Educators Hall of Fame has honored more than 600 educators and raised $700,000 toward an endowment goal of $1 million for scholarships.
2023-2024 Inductees
Patricia Jean Anderson
Prior to her career at ECU, Anderson gained K-12 teaching experience as a fourth-grade teacher in Mississippi before becoming a doctoral graduate assistant at the University of Georgia and an assistant professor at Iowa Wesleyan College. She dedicated her professional career to the ECU College of Education from 1982 to 2023, serving as an assistant professor, associate professor, professor, and now, professor emeritus. She estimates having taught over 8,000 students throughout her 41-year career. During her time at ECU, she served as a faculty mentor, advisor, department chair, interim chair, chief faculty marshal and chair of the ECU faculty. Anderson has more than 150 authored or co-authored publications and has presented at more than 200 scholarly conferences.
Perry “Pete” Barnes
An alumnus of ECU, Barnes was recruited to play baseball and became a distinguished college athlete. After graduating, he started his career in the public school system, where he served as a classroom teacher, coach and athletic director. He completed his Master of Arts at ECU and joined the faculty and staff at Lenoir Community College. During his tenure, he was a classroom teacher, athletic director, coach, director of the student union and director of education for prison studies. Barnes started a varsity baseball team from scratch and was the head coach for 18 successful seasons in the highly competitive National Junior College Association.
Wilton Ray Futrell
Futrell first entered East Carolina in 1944, but his education was interrupted by World War II. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to complete his undergraduate degree and went on to receive a Master of Arts from ECU as well. His career in education began as a classroom teacher and coach at Jonesboro High School and Ellerbe High School. After completing his graduate studies, Futrell spent two decades in school administration before serving as an instructor at
The men and women who are inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame have planted seeds of inspiration, passion and encouragement for those around them — going above and beyond the curriculum, standards and walls of the classroom.
Amber Brewer Chair of
the College of Education’s Professional Advisory Board
Lenoir Community College and Anson Technical Institute. Futrell was sponsored posthumously for this award by his former classmate and dear friend, Dr. Jerry McGee. His daughter, Vera Wright, and son, Ted Futrell, accepted the plaque in honor of their father.
Anne Catherine Richards Lewis
Lewis received her Associate of Arts in secondary education from Pitt Community College and her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from East Carolina University. Following graduation, Lewis worked for Carteret County Schools, where she served as an elementary education classroom teacher. After her first year in Carteret County, she transferred to Onslow County Schools where she has taught as an elementary education teacher for the past 27 years. Lewis has also been a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) for the last 28 years.
Allison Michael Poorman Mallison
Mallison received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ECU. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she began her teaching career at John Cotton Tayloe Elementary School before moving to Belvoir Elementary and then Northwest Elementary. In 2006, Mallison transferred to Wintergreen School, where she has served for the last 18 years. She has received multiple recognitions for her service during her time at Wintergreen, including being recognized as the 2009-2010 Wintergreen Elementary Teacher of the Year, being an exceptional Children’s Advisory Council 2009 award winner and receiving her National Board Certification
Ashley Lynn Harris Matthews
Matthews is a two-time graduate of East Carolina University and began her teaching career at H.B. Sugg Elementary School, where she has served as a first-grade classroom teacher for 20 years. Matthews is actively involved in her community and school. She has participated in the Teacher Executive Institute, the Teacher Leadership Institute, and is a Facilitating Teacher. Matthews comes from several generations of ECU graduates who were educators including her grandmother, Evelyn Louise Brett Thomas, a 1944 East Carolina Teachers College (ECTC) graduate, her mother, Nancy Carol Thomas Harris, a 1967 East Carolina College (ECC) graduate and a 1980s ECU master’s graduate, and her father, Linwood Allen Harris, a 1963 ECC graduate.
Jacqueline Ann Nelson Ragland
Ragland began her educational career at Pitt Community College, where she received her licensed practical nursing associate degree and registered nurse associate degree. Later, Ragland received her Bachelor of Arts in community health from ECU. She started her career at Pitt County Hospital, working as a nurse’s aide, before moving on to work as a registered nurse with ECU family medicine. She was called to move towards an educator role in the health field, becoming a Pitt County Schools instructor, and later as a health sciences instructor at Martin Community College.
Bryan H. Setser
Setser earned his Bachelor of Science in secondary English education from ECU before completing graduate degrees at Winthrop University and UNC Charlotte. While completing his doctoral program, he served as both a middle and high school principal in Union County Public Schools. He has since held roles as chief quality officer, CEO of North Carolina Virtual, partner in 2Revolutions and chief design officer for MatchBook Learning. In 2020, he founded his own company, The Setser Group, which assists organizations with improvements for a sustainable and equitable future. Setser has received numerous distinctions for his work and serves on several advisory boards,
including the business and education advisory boards at ECU.
Edward Junior Tyer
Tyer graduated from ECU with his bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in history education. After his graduation, Tyer accepted a position at Jamesville High School. Throughout his career, he taught at North Pitt High School, Farmville Middle School and Ayden Grifton High School. Additionally, he served as a university supervisor for the ECU College of Education and is currently serving in his educational role through Pitt County Schools ESS. Tyer has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career including being awarded the Teacher of the Year at Ayden Grifton High School, the Kiwanion of the Year for the Ayden Grifton Kiwanis Club and the Jaycee Outstanding Young Educator Award.
Martha Traynham Wohlnick
Wohlnick graduated from ECTC in 1930 with her bachelor’s degree in education. After graduation, she spent four years teaching science education at Newton Grove High School in North Carolina. Wohlnick was known for her leadership and work in the community. She served as the President of the Parent Teachers Association and worked closely with the Boy Scouts of America. A dedicated member of her church, she was the trustee for the United Methodist Church in Belleville, New Jersey, and served as a member of the church council. Wohlnick is sponsored posthumously for this award by her loving family. Her son, Charley Wohlnick, an ECU alumnus, accepted the plaque in honor of his mother.
Guili Zhang
Zhang began her formal education in China before completing her graduate degrees at Georgia Southern University and the University of Florida. Before her time at ECU, Zhang worked as an elementary and middle school teacher and served as an instructor, university supervisor and the lead statistical analyst and program evaluator at the University of Florida. She began her career with the ECU College of Education in 2006, earning the titles of assistant professor, associate professor, professor and department chair. Zhang continues to serve as a special education professor. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in education.
ECU Community School exceeds expected academic growth
The East Carolina University Community School had several reasons to celebrate with the release of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) school performance data. This year marks the first in the school’s history that it exceeded growth expectations.
“Seeing that exceed for the first time makes my heart very happy because the staff members and the students put in a tremendous amount of work, but it’s also our families stepping up to the plate and helping us and the university at large,” said Tracy Cole, ECU Community School principal.
Of just over 2,500 schools awarded performance scores by NC DPI, only 28% exceeded overall school growth. The ECU Community School opened in August 2017 as part of an initiative created by the UNC System to open laboratory schools across the state as training sites for future teachers and administrators. UNC System laboratory schools are designed to work with children who are either academically at-risk or zoned to attend a low-performing school.
“We are incredibly proud of the ECU Community School for exceeding growth expectations,” said Dr. André Green, dean of the College of Education (COE). “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teachers, the staff, the students and their parents. The collaborative efforts within the school and with Pitt County Schools have not only fostered academic success, but also reflect the true spirit of our mission in the College of Education — to serve and uplift our community through innovation and partnership.”
The school also exceeded growth in mathematics, which Cole attributes to new initiatives launched by COE faculty in
The ECU Community School exceeded expected growth and met 100% of its target participation goals and long-term goals in reading and math.
ECU Community School students participated in multiple growth opportunities this year from after-school tutorial programs to field trips.
A grant from the Lookout Foundation supported an after-school tutorial program for first-fourth grade scholars.
The tutoring program used evidence-based practices to promote development of skills in phonics and word analysis, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The Community School has participated in the Pitt County Regional Elementary Science
Olympiad competition for the last three years. During the 2023-2024 school year, they competed with 19 other public and private elementary schools across the county. The Community School placed in three categories: 3rd PlaceThrill Seekers; 5th Place-Ping
mathematics education. Associate professor in mathematics education Carrie Lee dedicated more than 20 hours a week to engage with the school’s math curriculum.
“She talked with teachers about best practices in mathematics,” Cole said. “She provided professional development sessions for us, where we looked at North Carolina’s math standards to make sure, for example, in second grade, here are the things that should be taught and how, and this is what they learned in first grade before they got to you, and what they will learn in third grade.”
After these sessions, Lee and school staff concluded that an updated math curriculum was needed, so she worked with two companies to set up information sessions with school staff. This year, the new curriculum will be implemented with math education faculty providing professional development for Community School teachers on how to best implement the new materials.
In addition to the enhanced math initiatives, the school continued the work implemented over the last few years in reading and literacy, which led to the school meeting growth for reading.
“The work of our education faculty is vital to the continued success of the Community School,” Green said. “Their expertise plays a key role in fostering a culture of care and academic excellence within the school. By collaborating closely with the school’s teachers and staff, they ensure our students receive the support and resources they need to thrive. Our goal is to see improvement every year, and together we are working hard to take the school to the
next level in both academic performance and community impact.”
The school’s overall performance grade also rose eight points from last year’s score, putting it only seven points away from earning a B, a continuation of the school’s growth over the last several years. During the 2021-22 academic year, the school increased its proficiency score from an F rating to a D, and increased it again during the 2022-23 academic year to a C.
“I’m thankful to the families for allowing us to work with and serve their children. I’m thankful to the entire faculty and staff at the Community School,” Cole said. “I’m thankful to ECU for continuing to pour into us and believe in us and help to meet us at our point of need, and our community organizations. We can’t do the work we do without all those stakeholders.”
Faculty from the College of Education will continue working at the school this year. Cole noted that she begins working with various community organizations in the spring and early summer to plan initiatives.
“When the teachers returned, we talked about getting in contact with families early on,” she said. “For open house night, 88% of our families attended, which is a great turnout. We’re making plans for curriculum night where families will be able to take a deep dive into what’s happening in the respective grade levels. Those are ways we reach out and talk with families to make sure they have an awareness of what’s going on. When we have the families on board and the community on board, great things happen.”
Pong Parachute; 6th PlacePasta Tower.
Through grants and generous donors, scholars have taken part in amazing field trips. Scholars visited the N.C. Zoo at Asheboro, the Marble Kids Museum, and the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Further, the Community School’s scholars have visited ECU’s Culinary Center, ECU’s Student Center, and ECU’s Teaching Resource Center.
To foster a greater sense of community, ECUCS established a HOUSE system during the 2023-2024 school year. Faculty, staff, and scholars across all grade levels were randomly assigned to five different houses-Buccaneers, Swashbucklers, Iron Hook, Peg Legs, and Patches. Throughout the year, scholars took part in lessons on developing their team building and social/ emotional skills.
Scholars who participated in the Science Olympiad posed for a photo with ECU Provost Dr. Robin Coger.
LEED students traveled to Argentina for a spring break study abroad trip.
Educational Leadership students, alumni recognized for excellence
Several LEED students and alumni received recognitions during the 2023-24 academic year. Administrators of the Year
Dr. Kisha Timberlake was named the Outstanding Administrator of the Gifted by Lee County Schools.
Dr. Jennifer James was selected as Pitt County Schools Principal of the Year.
Dr. Michael Moon was selected as Lenoir County Public Schools Principal of the Year.
Dr. Kelly Anne Mudd was selected as the Edgecombe County Public Schools Principal of the Year. Achievement Awards
Dr. Paul Koh, assistant professor at Towson University, and Dr. Carrie Morris, associate director for school leadership in ECU’s edPIRATE program, received the 2023 Glatthorn Distinguished Dissertation Award.
Dr. Mark Sorrells, Fayetteville Technical Community College president, received NC TECH’s Statewide Gamechanger Award for his work in building North Carolina’s cybersecurity network.
Student Perspective: Argentina Study Abroad as a Professional
Doctorate student Nora Davis-Lee explains what this trip meant to her
My study abroad trip to Argentina through East Carolina Community College during spring break 2024 was an experience that profoundly impacted my professional outlook and personal growth. As someone who had never ventured outside the United States before, this journey marked a significant milestone in my life, both academically and culturally.
Exploring Argentina’s educational landscape opened my eyes to new policies and practices within the field, offering invaluable insights that I could never have gleaned from textbooks alone. Witnessing firsthand the nuances of their educational system provided me with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse approaches to teaching and learning across the globe.
The confidence and pride I gained from navigating unfamiliar territory and immersing myself in a foreign educational environment have been immeasurable. Upon returning home, I was eager to share my experiences with colleagues and students, enriching our discussions with perspectives gained from classrooms thousands of miles away.
Being able to interact with Argentine students and faculty/staff and witnessing their dedication and passion for education instilled in me a renewed sense of purpose and pride in my role as an instructor, adviser, and mentor. Their commitment to excellence was a source of inspiration, reminding me of the profound impact education can have on individuals and societies. This study abroad experience has broadened my professional horizons and enriched my personal life in ways I could never have imagined. I am deeply grateful to East Carolina University for providing me with this opportunity, and I will forever cherish the memories and lessons I learned during my time in Argentina. It has made me a more well-rounded professional and global citizen, and I look forward to continuing to incorporate these experiences into my work for years to come.
Writing retreats build connections
To encourage connections within cohorts, the East Carolina University Educational Leadership department began hosting summer writing retreats for students.
“As the EdD is an online program, the writing retreat is an opportunity for students to connect with each other and receive feedback as they’re writing their dissertations,” said Dr. Crystal Chambers, professor in educational leadership.
A theme running throughout all the workshops is balance — students work hard on their dissertations but also have enjoyable experiences together, such as riverfront dining, going to the beach and meeting an Iron Chef.
“I enjoyed lunch with my cohort and having the chance to learn more about each other,” said Phylicia Bridgers, a current EdD student. “We shared our food preferences, travel experiences, details about our families and learned more about the work we get to contribute to on a daily basis. I’m not sure if we would have had the opportunity to connect like this organically if Dr. Chambers hadn’t organized the writing retreats.”
Another current EdD student, Matthew Passwater, also agreed with Bridgers’ sentiment.
“We all are working through similar issues and have a lot of the same questions, but when you are in a distance education program, there are times it can feel kind of isolating,” he said. “Even thought we meet regularly virtually for class and we talk and text fairly regularly, getting into a physical space fosters a different opportunity to work together with multiple people at once, and you realize you aren’t the only one with the question or issue.”
In the EdD program, students begin working on their dissertation at the very beginning of the program. Having the ability to workshop ideas and gain feedback from each other through the writing retreats was critical for several students.
“My peers offered valuable insights that refined my ideas and enhanced my overall narrative,” said Kamesia House, a current EdD student. “Their feedback also served as a source of motivation, boosting my confidence and encouraging ongoing refinement.”
The retreats have proven to be a success, as students noted feelings of improved confidence and productivity through the experience.
“Writing often makes me feel vulnerable but sharing that vulnerable space with my classmates and drawing on their strengths was very rewarding,” Bridgers said. “We all want to see each other win and be successful.”
Elementary Education and Middle Grades Education
Pettigrew fosters growth, builds foundations in her elemenatry classrooms
Growth and learning are pivotal words for East Carolina University alumna Cameron Pettigrew.
“One of my favorite parts about being a first-grade teacher is seeing my students grow and learn new things every day,” she said.
That growth mindset was instilled in Pettigrew while at ECU as an elementary education major, with the help of mentors and professors who encouraged her on her path as a future teacher.
“My time at ECU will always hold a special place in my heart,” she said. “ECU is where I met my very best friends and built relationships with various mentors and professors who shaped me into the person and teacher I am today.”
Some of the valuable skills Pettigrew is utilizing in her classroom include writing effective lesson plans, executing classroom management, and collecting student data. She credits
ECU for giving her those skills and having a tremendous impact on her career.
“The classes I took, the internships I was placed in, and the experiences I had came from the people and students I worked with during my time at ECU,” she said. “Jennifer Adams, Julie Stanley, and Angela Novak were some of my favorite professors that I had the chance to learn from, and I am so thankful for their guidance and the knowledge they passed onto me.”
Pettigrew has known that she wanted to be educator since her second-grade Career Day when she dressed up as a teacher. While she didn’t understand all the facets of being a teacher, she was able to take part in a class during her senior year of high school that filled in the gaps and solidified her love of the profession.
“Through my Teacher Cadet class, I worked in a kindergarten classroom, and the impact that made on my life showed me how important teaching and working
with children was,” she said. “Since then, I decided to pursue teaching in college, and I am so glad I made that choice! Seeing how children think and digest information, and how they can grow over a period of time is so rewarding and special to be a part of.”
Pettigrew’s dedication to her craft has not gone unnoticed. During the 2022-2023 academic year, she was named one of Nash County’s First Year Teachers of the Year.
“As a first year teacher, I am constantly learning about what it means and what it looks like to be the best teacher I can be,” she said. “Receiving the title of First Year Teacher of the Year solidified that my hard work and love for my job was paying off, and that I am doing what God made me to do.”
New graduate certificate offers advanced skills, leadership
Prospective graduate students will have a new certificate option offered by the Department of Elementary Education and Middle Grades Education.
The Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate is designed to equip teachers with advanced skills and knowledge necessary to assume leadership roles within educational settings. Offering this certificate will assist in addressing leadership needs, supporting teacher growth,
fostering collaboration and innovation, advancing education reform and improving teacher retention and satisfaction. It will also ensure that educators have the necessary skills and knowledge to lead effectively within their educational communities.
This certificate fills a crucial need for current teachers who are not interested in pursuing an educational path towards becoming a principal or assistant principal.
Throughout her first year teaching, Pettigrew feels that her behavior management and academic growth with students has continuously improved. She enjoys creating studentcentered lessons that focus on what her students want and need to learn, but that also challenge and excite them.
“I’ve seen some students who do not like school open up and participate in lessons to further their learning,” she said.
“I’ve seen the joy and excitement on students’ faces that feel like giving up when things are hard but choose to push through and face challenges head on. It’s so rewarding to experience that on a daily basis and see my students’ confidence grow as they learn.”
When she’s not in the classroom, Pettigrew enjoys spending time with her friends and family, painting and calligraphy. She also loves going out to eat Mexican food and shopping at Target and Hobby Lobby for new things for her classroom.
Club fosters belonging
It’s no secret that positive human connections foster success. For decades, the Elementary Education Club (EEC) at East Carolina University has been an active student-led organization that fosters relationships among students, faculty and the community.
This year the EEC welcomed many guest speakers, including a presentation on wellness and one on professionalism. Members of the club also participated in volunteer activities to support the Ronald McDonald House and Ridgewood Elementary School in Winterville, N.C.
Helping students find a balance between academics and well-being, the club also offers social activities including tote bag painting, mystery dinners, sip and study, and campus scavenger hunts.
Ms. Dawn Shelton, master teaching instructor, serves as the faculty facilitator for the club.
Shelton, master teaching instructor, talks to a current education major about joining the Elementary Education Club.
Dawn
Manis showcases determination in educational journey
Star Manis embodies the ideas of persistence and determination. The East Carolina University graduate student is a leukemia survivor and first-generation college student who continues to push herself out of her comfort zones.
“Growing up, education wasn’t ever a huge focus among my siblings — they eventually dropped out,” she said. “I decided to make it my mission to break barriers and not become a stereotype.”
During her undergraduate studies, Manis struggled with adapting to the college culture and lifestyle, including the best ways to study.
“As a current graduate level student, I continue to struggle with how much work is too much and how much work is too little,” she said. “I feel as if I have to work twice as hard to keep up with my graduate level peers.”
Manis is pursuing her Master of Education in reading and literacy with a certificate in community college instruction while teaching second grade in Enterprise, Alabama. She credits her current progress in the program to the faculty in the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education (LEHE) for being helpful and understanding.
“Being a distance education student can be nervewracking and it can be scary to think that you might not have any support when times get challenging or tough,” she said. “I have discovered this is not the case in the MAEd reading program.”
In addition to her graduate studies and teaching career, Manis is a graduate assistant for the department. She assists Dr. Christy Howard, the director of LEHE graduate programs, and notes that this role has helped her learn more about the program and feel connected even as a distance education student.
“I also love that I get to connect with fellow students by being a listening ear when they have successes or they have struggles,” Manis said. “I can offer them advice and lead them on the right path towards helpful resources.”
In the future, Manis is looking toward a career path in adult education and feels her graduate assistant role is helping her to understand what that might look like.
“It is helping me see the types of tasks that professors have to complete and the activities that they have to be a part of,” she said.
LEHE students connect with peers, excel in classrooms
This year, the Department of Literacy Studies, History Education and English Education launched two student ambassador programs that funded undergraduate students attending state conferences in their field — the North Carolina Reading Association Conference and the North Carolina Conference for Social Studies.
History education student ambassadors Lydia Surprenant, Lucas Madden, Delicia Cherry, Alex Schweitzer, Remington Sullivan and Ryan Keller participated in the Greensborobased NC Council for the Social Studies annual conference.
They engaged in sessions on technology, content-specific pedagogy, and other social studies-related subjects. Networking with educators from across the state, the ambassadors left a lasting impression and
READ Student Ambassadors pose for a photo.
strengthened ECU’s connection with the educational community.
Eight reading concentration students had a similar experience at the NCRA conference in Winston-Salem. This year’s conference had a theme of “Through the Looking Glass: A Literacy Wonderland.” Students were able to present and listen to panel discussions on literacy topics.
Award Winners
History education student Ryan Keller was recognized as the North Carolina Council for Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year. During his senior internship, he was a student teacher at South Central High School in Pitt County.
English education major Arthur Schupbach was one of the recipients of the ECU Creed Award for Citizenship.
Faculty celebrate accomplishments
Several faculty in the department were recognized for their research and dedication to students at the university and national level.
Dr. Todd Finley won the ECU Honors College Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award for his mentoring work with English education undergraduate students Shayna Cox and Camille Watkins. Dr. Christy Howard was also recognized for her mentorship at the ECU Research Awards with the ECU Distinguished Graduate Faculty Mentor Award.
Howard’s research was lauded by her College of Education peers during the annual faculty research showcase, winning her the event’s main prize.
Faculty also served in leadership roles including literacy studies professor Dr. Anne Ticknor, who has served as the chair of the ECU Faculty since fall 2022. Howard represented the university on a national stage with her role on the National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Standing Committee in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jennifer Gallagher celebrated several accomplishments this year, including being one of four who received an AERA Research Conference Award for the project, “Critical Inquiry in Social Studied Education: Directions for Research and Practice.” The award total is $31,480. Gallagher was also featured on the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies podcast, along with current history education major Jason Dustin, to discuss ECU’s history education program and the ways that education majors receive a comprehensive social studies curriculum.
the podcast.
Dr. Jenni Gallagher, right, and history education student, Jason Dustin, center, being interviewed on
Faculty recognized for expertise, excellence in teaching, research
Faculty in library science, counselor education and adult education were recognized for their expertise in their fields through awards and grants.
Dr. Kawanna Bright, assistant professor in library science, was awarded the Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award and Dr. Mark Newton, assistant professor in science education, was awarded a ScholarTeacher Award during the 2023-24 University Teaching Awards ceremony. Bright also received a 2024 REDE Trendsetter Award this year
during the Research and Scholarship Awards Recognition Ceremony.
Department of Interdisciplinary Professions chair Dr. Allison Crowe received the 2024 Administrator of the Year award from the North Carolina Counseling Association. The Administrator of the Year Award is designed to recognize someone who has advanced or given support to the philosophy and objectives of one or more of the helping professions. Dr. Crowe has been instrumental throughout the counseling education program’s accreditation
Jones receives NC Ray Moore award
East Carolina University library science professor emeritus Dr. Al Jones has received the Ray Moore Award from the North Carolina Library Association.
“The Ray Moore Award was begun by Ray Moore, a member of the North Carolina Library Association to encourage librarians to
Craven shares the role
books and stories play in therapy
Books and stories play an integral role in therapy through bibliotherapy.
“Bibliotherapy normalizes common experiences clients may have, such as learning to manage difficult emotions,
making new friends, or dealing with grief and loss,” said Dr. Laura Craven, teaching assistant professor in counselor education. “Clients gain insight and learn new skills as they read about and discuss how
the characters navigate their situations.”
One of the most common uses of bibliotherapy is with children.
“A great example is an elementary school counselor
process with CACREP as well as being a support to her faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Counselor Education’s Dr. Shanita Brown will be the 2024-2025 President Elect for the North Carolina Counseling Association and Dr. Allison Fears will serve as the Secretary.
Dr. Xi Lin, associate professor in adult education, served as the pedagogical expert on a grant from the National Security Agency to host a GenCyber Teacher Summer Camp. This camp provided high school teachers with knowledge about cybersecurity and instructions on how to design cybersecurity curricula for their classrooms.
Dr. Vanessa Irvin and Dr. Vanessa Reyes served as co-editors on The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion.
Faculty in the department publicized research
throughout the year, including:
• Dr. Shanita Brown’s research on the role of sista circles in healing Black women survivors of intimate partner violence
• Dr. Phyllis Broughton’s research on uniting servant leadership with essential leadership skills
• Dr. Xi Lin’s research rethinking hybrid and remote work in higher education
• Dr. Vanessa Irvin and Dr. Rita Soulen’s research (with Dr. Rachelle Savitz in LEHE) on using critical literacy, dialogue and inquiry with literature to explore issues with gender labels.
• Dr. Loni Crumb’s research on educator microcredentials.
write about and share their experiences in public libraries,” Jones said. “The mission of the award is to honor the best article on public librarianship published in North Carolina Libraries during the past biennium.”
Jones’ article, “The American Public Library as a Multicultural Force: A Half-Century of Federal Funding to Promote Multiculturalism in Public Libraries, 1956-2006,” was published in September 2022.
“I am honored to receive this award because my article met the criteria for the award and was selected by my peers, members of the Editorial Board of North Carolina Libraries, the journal of the NCLA,” he said.
Jones’ research interests lie within the history of libraries and genealogy and genealogical services.
“My main research interest is how have immigrants and libraries have interacted, especially since 1876, when the American Library Association was founded,” he said. “The federal government was relatively slow in helping libraries provide services to immigrants and minorities, but since federal funding of public libraries began in the mid-1950s the funding has been used effectively and efficiently by libraries to begin, improve, and enhance services to immigrants.”
I know who created stories with the stuffed animals she kept in her office,” Craven said. “For a classroom lesson on communication skills, she took pictures of the stuffed animals on the play ground and created a story in PowerPoint of a disagreement they had while playing. As she went through the slides, the students would help the stuffed animals come up with ways to solve the problem, based on communication skills she had taught them.”
Craven shared three books
that have had an impact on her as a counselor, including “Why Does He Do That?” by Lundy Bancroft. When she previously worked with survivors of intimate partner violence, this book helped her clients understand the abuse that they experienced. Two books that helped teach her about the impacts that trauma can have on her clients are “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk and “The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog” by Bruce Perry.
Science teachers to receive fully funded master’s degrees
Ten Pitt County middle grades science educators will receive fully funded master’s degrees in science education from East Carolina University as part of a new partnership between the College of Education and Pitt County Schools.
I’m excited I get to do this with my people, people that I’ve worked in PCS with for years already and know are good science teachers and we can learn together.
Ashley Jones
The 10 teachers will be part of a cohort, taking classes together throughout the master’s process, which will start this summer. The degree program is designed to sharpen instructional expertise, develop research skills, promote leadership and deepen science knowledge, especially in the biological, physical and earth systems sciences.
While the Master of Arts in education in science education degree is typically 100% online, Dr. Tammy Lee and Bonnie
Glass, ECU science education faculty, will cater the program more to the needs of the Pitt County educators.
“We want to make sure that we are catering to whatever initiatives are going on in Pitt County in the coursework, because we have new science standards that just came out from the state,” Lee said.
Lee and Glass have modified the order of the curriculum slightly to make sure that students will not be taking more than one class with face-to-face meetings at a time. Tailoring the classes to the district’s needs will help students feel like classes are not simply an extra thing to do but will enable them to readily put into practice what they are learning.
“I wanted to get my master’s for a while, but it’s not really something I felt like I could pursue because I didn’t have the monetary support and guidance to do that,” said Ashley Jones, a science teacher at Grifton School and future master’s student. “When the opportunity floated by, I immediately grabbed it. I’m really excited to be an ECU student again since I’m a Pirate alumna. I’m excited I get to do this with my people, people that I’ve worked in PCS with for years already and that I know are good science teachers and we can learn together.”
Charity Cayton, center, is the lead researcher on the grant along with co-investigators
Maureen Grady, left, and Heather Vance-Chalcraft.
Grant provides scholarships
Three East Carolina University faculty members have been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to address the shortage of secondary math and science teachers, especially in rural, high-need school districts, and investigate the use of microcredentials in teacher education.
The $1.4 million grant is part of the NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, named after the famous physicist who advocated for improving public education in mathematics and science. Over five years, the grant will support 30 scholarships for ECU students to earn a degree and teacher licensure in mathematics or science.
“The ECU Noyce Scholars program serves the critical needs of our rural partner districts in math and science education,” said Holly Fales, the assistant dean of undergraduate affairs and educator preparation in the College of Education. “This program represents the commitment that the ECU educator preparation program has in producing
high quality STEM educators and plays a vital role in our continued mission of regional transformation.”
Charity Cayton, associate professor of mathematics education and the grant’s principal investigator, will be joined in the research by Maureen Grady, a mathematics education associate professor, and Heather Vance-Chalcraft, an assistant professor in biology.
In addition to receiving a scholarship, Noyce Scholars will receive mentorship from previous scholars, and support and training for themselves and their mentors in rural, high-need schools. To recruit scholars, ECU will collaborate with Greene County Schools and Pitt County Schools. Partnerships with community colleges, such as Pitt Community College, are also integral to creating a model to recruit, support and retain transfer students as members of the program. This is the third Noyce grant awarded to ECU. The first two grants produced 73 math and science teachers from 2009 to 2022.
Slagter Van Tryon a leader in field of instructional technology
Dr. Patricia Slagter Van Tryon, instructional technology professor, is celebrating a year of successes.
During International Education Week, ECU recognized faculty, staff and students for their outstanding work in pursuing international opportunities during the International Awards Ceremony. Slagter Van Tryon received the Award for Achievement in International Research and Creative Activity.
One of the reasons for this award being bestowed on her is her role as a co-founder of the Center for Open-Education Research. The center was established in 2018 at the University of Oldenburg and builds upon research in the areas of open education, educational technology, lifelong learning and international education.
The center has launched an open access journal — the Journal of Open, Distance, and Digital Education (JODDE) — of which Slagter Van Tryon is the chief editor from the United States. She is joined by editors from Germany, Canada, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa and China.
As part of her role with the center, Slagter Van Tryon is currently a co-principal investigator on a project titled, “Prospects for the Future of Learning, Artificial Intelligence Applications in Higher Education,” that is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. This project aims to explore global perspectives on the current and potential use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning across five countries/regions (Germany, China/Japan/South Korea, USA, Spain and Turkey) and in two subject areas (social sciences/humanities and STEM).
Dr. Patricia Slagter Van Tryon, second from right, received an award during International
Students take fall alternative break experience to Maryland
Students in SPED 3005: Instructional Programming in Special Education participated in an alternative break experience to Carroll County, Maryland.
Through a Sponsored Activities and Research Catalyst (SPARC) program grant, students were able to experience inclusive education practices and systemic change efforts through service and data
collection with a focus on building and sustaining these practices in North Carolina.
In addition to the teacher shortage facing all 50 states, North Carolina is facing a shortage of special education teachers. To ensure that the future teachers at ECU are well prepared to meet the needs of their learners, faculty in special education worked to create this alternative break experience.
ECU students were able to observe best practices and collect data to support change and inform instruction during their time at Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS).
“In five years, CCPS transformed their school district to include all students in general education settings,” Burnette said. “CCPS has an incredible commitment to including students with extensive support needs.”
The Department of Education and the National Joint Committee for the
Three East Carolina University College of Education faculty/staff members received awards from the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children.
Employees receive service awards
Dr. Angela Novak was selected as the Distinguished Service Award recipient for The Association for the Gifted of North Carolina. Novak received this award for her efforts in advancing the organization’s mission, establishing professional standards for teacher preparation, developing initiatives to enhance gifted education practices and ensuring the needs of children and youth with exceptionalities are addressed in educational legislature.
Dr. Tosha Owens received the Distinguished Service Award for the North Carolina Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health. She received this award for her efforts in advancing the organization’s mission, focusing on improving the education and welfare of children and
Special education students in SPED 3005 visited Carroll County Public Schools in Maryland for an opportunity to learn new, inclusive practices to integrate students with disabilities into general education classes.
Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities have recognized CCPS for their instructional practices and policies.
One ECU student remarked, “These classrooms made me more passionate about inclusive education and have given me the tools and experiences to make them happen in my future classrooms and school districts. I have the information I need to fight the common arguments gen-ed teachers and school administrators use to keep students with disabilities out of the typical classrooms.”
This trip was a collaborative effort between ECU’s Department of Special Education, Foundations and Research, the Department for People Operations, Success and Opportunity and the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, as well as a community partner — the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance.
Students thought about their experience through a video blog assignment and a series of reflection posts.
“This experience has me fired up about inclusion, learning more about it, and learning how to ensure that my students are in the least restrictive environment,” another student remarked. “I am ready for the future, and I’m so excited that I was able to have this experience. This experience is something I will never forget.”
youth with behavioral and emotional disorders. Owens’ efforts over the years also allowed the Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health to offer support and recognition to individuals who are new to the field and those with longstanding dedication to student success.
Dr. Malinda Pennington was selected as the Distinguished Service Award recipient for The North Carolina Teacher Education Division. Pennington has helped advance the organization’s mission while providing leadership and support for teacher education dedicated to students with exceptional needs and their families.
Zhang inducted into Educators Hall of Fame
The East Carolina University College of Education celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Educators Hall of Fame by inducting 11 new members in a ceremony on ECU’s campus on April 6.
The Hall of Fame recognizes the service of individuals who have extensively contributed to the field of education and had a decisive impact on the lives of others. Honorees are nominated through a $2,500 gift that is placed into a Hall of Fame scholarship endowment for merit-based education scholarships.
One of these inductees was Dr. Guili Zhang, former department chair of Special Education, Foundations and Resarch.
Zhang began her formal education in China before completing her graduate degrees at Georgia Southern University and the University of Florida. Before her time at ECU, Zhang worked as an elementary and middle school teacher and served as an instructor, university supervisor and the lead statistical analyst and program evaluator at the University of Florida. She began her career with the ECU College of Education in 2006, earning the titles of assistant professor, associate professor, professor and department chair. Zhang continues to serve as a special education professor. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in education.
Dr. Guili Zhang, center, received her plaque as part of the induction into the Educators Hall of Fame.
Edmondson passionate about teaching, mentorship
Sense of community drew her to East Carolina
“I first came to campus in February of 2022 for my College of Education scholarship interview, and everyone was so kind and welcoming,” said the elementary education major. “I was familiar with campus because of my two older sisters that are also Pirates, and the athome feeling kicked in once I sat down for my interview.”
Edmondson knew that she wanted to work with children for her career, but wasn’t sure what path to take. As a high school student, she interned in a local second grade classroom to see if teaching was the right choice for her.
“Over the course of that internship, I fell in love with the students and the classroom and developed a strong respect for the education field,” she said. “I knew that a classroom is where I was meant to be, and teaching has pulled at my heartstrings since then, especially in all of my practicums thus far.”
As an upperclassman, Edmondson has begun contributing to the same sense of community that made her become a Pirate. She currently serves a mentor to first year education students in the Education Community of Scholars living-learning community.
“This current freshman class that we work with as mentors is fabulous, and I cannot say enough great things about them,” she said. “Some of my
freshmen refer to me as the ‘Mama Mentor,’ because of the close bond I share with most of them and how I am constantly rooting for them and always in their corner.”
When prompted to select a concentration in her elementary education degree, Edmondson gravitated toward reading as it was one of her strengths in school. Now, she has a true love for the subject thanks in no small part to literacy studies faculty, such as Erin Kessel.
“My reading concentration courses have become by far some of my most favorite courses that I would take again in a heartbeat, just for fun,” Edmondson said. “I’d like to say a special thank you to Ms. Kessel for making this reading concentration so enjoyable and for fostering a love for literacy in her classroom. You are so special to me!”
When reflecting on her educational journey so far, Edmondson advises other students to trust their gut if they think they may want to work in education.
“You’ll hear left and right about all the negatives that go with working in education, but if you love working in children and are committed to this career, it all makes up for it. I promise you —seeing the growth, success, and happiness from your students is worth far more than a paycheck.”
Calli Jon Massengill, center, takes a photo after receiving her scholarship.
Scholarships provide access
The College of Education recognized 116 scholarship recipients receiving more than $681,000 in funding during its annual ceremony in September 2023.
“Education has been a focus of this university since its inception more than 100 years ago,” said Dr. André Green, dean of the College of Education. “It is inspiring to see how our donors are making it possible for these exceptional individuals to pursue their passions and impact the lives of others in a positive way.”
The college also celebrated the scholarship donors during the ceremony.
“For many of our students, the importance of scholarships and financial aid cannot be overstated,” said Greg Abeyounis, ECU senior associate vice chancellor for development. “Today’s shifting economy poses a significant challenge, but donors like you turn our students’ dreams into a reality.”
Recent special education graduate Calli Jon Massengill spoke about her
experience so far as a first year teacher in a third grade classroom at East Garner Elementary School. Currently pursuing certificates in teaching children in poverty and leadership in organizations, Calli Jon is the recipient of the Dr. Sandra Hopfengardner Warren Scholarship.
“Someone believing in you makes all the difference — that’s what so special to me about the College of Education scholarships,” Massengill said. “Sure, the financial support is great, but the fact that these generous donors care so much about our success and supporting future teachers that they donate money and are here today to meet you says so much. They believe in you and your success.”
Massengill thanked the donors, the scholarship recipients and their families, and ECU faculty and staff for being dedicated to the field of education. She noted that everyone in the room showcased dedication, determination and resiliency — the hallmarks of what education should be.
Andrews returns to ECU to obtain her teaching licensure
When Shainah Andrews wanted to get her licensure to teach, returning to her alma mater, East Carolina University, was an easy choice.
Andrews graduated from ECU in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate to teach English as a second language. Currently, she is enrolled in the first year of the educator residency program to obtain her license to teach English for grades 9-12 and high school English language arts (ELA).
One of the courses she’s enrolled in is READ 5317: Adolescent Literacy in the Content Areas with Dr. Rachelle Savitz, associate professor of reading/literacy education.
“Being back in school after having graduated four years ago is not an easy task at all for me, especially as a full-time high school ELA teacher,” Andrews said. “However, taking READ 5317 with Dr. Savitz has made the adjustment so smooth and non-intimidating; the confidence that is instilled in me module after module, project after project, and interaction after interaction helps me believe that I will only continue to soar in this program.”
Andrews is grateful to the community that surrounds her at ECU, work and beyond for supporting her throughout this process. “Because of you all — in addition to my students whom I learn from every semester — I am not only becoming a better teacher every single day, but student of life overall,” she said. “Every space that I am in teaches me different lessons about myself and the world around me; a saying that I’ve carried with me since middle school says that nobody’s the same but we’re no different.
Grant expands ECU’s AmeriCorps program to teaching, counseling students
A $3.9 million grant will help youth and families in eastern North Carolina receive access to teaching and mental health support through East Carolina University’s branch of AmeriCorps.
Sponsored by the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, ECU’s Collaborative Action in Rural Education (CARE) Corps consists of three branches to support eastern North Carolina residents: resiliency, teaching and counseling.
Nichelle Shuck, CARE Corps director, leads the program, which is housed in the College of Education’s Rural Education Institute.
ECU has retained AmeriCorps funding since 2001 and has previously focused on tutoring and mentoring programs. With CARE Corps, members are also able to serve communities through teaching and counseling.
“I chose to be a part of CARE Corps to support rural schools with the advice and expertise of the Rural Education Institute and the support from the network of people involved,” said Sophie Adgate, special education and Hispanic studies major. “I have already learned a lot about concepts related to service, and I can’t wait to be in the classroom to learn what this service looks like in context.”
Members of the first CARE Corps teaching cohort graduated year of service in Pitt, Greene and Lenoir Counties. These hours to classroom teachers and students in high-need areas. I think that service is an opportunity to work alongside those in a community to make it a better place. In my opinion, there is no better way to do that than to use my gifts and passions to be a part of the impact in a rual community.
Molly Baile
CARE Corps is in its second year of funding and provided more than $500,000 in annual living allowances and education awards to future teachers, counselors and tutors for the 2023-24 academic year. All members are required to meet a minimum number of service hours, depending on what branch of CARE Corps they are in.
Resiliency members provide tutoring support with a commitment of 300-450 hours, teaching members support
classroom teachers and students for 900 hours and counseling members spend 1,700 hours serving as mental health clinicians and counselors in training for specific high-need areas in Greene, Lenoir and Pitt counties.
Former CARE Corps member and ECU alumna Nicole Silva immersed herself in the community at West Greene Elementary School in Snow Hill during her year of service. Through the connections she made, she secured a position as a second-grade teacher after graduating in May with her degree in elementary education.
“Nichelle was one of my biggest supporters and is the one who really encouraged me to be a part of the CARE Corps experience, and I’m happy she did,” Silva said. “I really learned a lot about rural communities and how to serve the schools in these communities.”
Current CARE Corps members understand the importance of giving back to local communities. Gracie Reavis, an elementary education major, hopes to establish relationships with students and teachers at Elmhurst Elementary in Greenville.
“Growing up in a rural town myself, community played a big part in who I am,” she said. “I knew
graduated in May 2023 after completing a graduates provided at least 900 service areas.
that I wanted to become a part of the community here in Pitt County and I am willing to serve others.”
While the grant is meant to support students and families in eastern North Carolina, CARE Corps members also benefit from the experience.
“I think that service is an opportunity to work alongside those in a community to make it a better place,” said Molly Baile, elementary education major. “In my opinion, there is no better way to do that than to use my gifts and passions to be a part of the impact in a rural community. I hope to accomplish a sense of relationship with those that I serve and serve with to build a community that uplifts those in it and emboldens them to leave a legacy of their own.”
ECU serves as Southeast hub
A new partnership with the Rural Schools Collaborative puts East Carolina University at the forefront of rural education in North and South Carolina.
The Rural Education Institute (REI) — which is part of the College of Education — will serve as the Southeast hub of RSC, creating a space for educators in the Carolinas to have their voices heard while creating a local network that facilitates collaboration.
The Rural Schools Collaborative’s mission is to build sustainable rural communities through a keen focus on place, teachers and philanthropy. The variety of initiatives that REI continues to implement are a main reason for its selection as the Southeast hub.
REI seeks to serve local communities through teacher pathway programs and local and regional development, advocating for the important of rural schools and communities and research into what does and doesn’t work in rural education.
Two of the ways REI fulfills its mission to initiate and facilitate partnerships and research-driven innovations is through the edPIRATE grant and Collaborative Action in Rural Education (CARE) Corps program. The edPIRATE initiative creates a teacher pipeline in rural communities through a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program focused on educational justice and equity in the classroom.
Housed within REI, CARE Corps is part of the AmeriCorps program and focuses on creating an equitable and resilient school environment through teaching, mentoring and mental health support.
“By engaging parents, families and local stakeholders, CARE Corps serves over 4,050 students, fostering positive change in mindset, socialemotional skills, academic achievement, and desire for educational success,” said Taylor Parrish, program coordinator at REI.
Mental health support isn’t a new initiative for REI. Starting in 2020, Project Don’t Wait began focusing on disaster mental health preparation and response, which has resulted in more than 30 workforce development trainings in the region.
2024-2025 Scholarships
Department of Educational Leadership
Dianne and Chip Linville Doctoral
Fellowship – Carla Williams
Mack and Margaret Coble Doctoral
Fellowship – Kimberly Lucas
Ralph Brimley Enrichment Fund Scholarship – Emily Mccanney
Department of Elementary Education and Middle Grades
Education
Andy Roos Memorial Scholarship –
Ashton Adams
Batton-Boyette Memorial Scholarship
– Amber Fox
Callaree Jarvis Horton Elementary
Education Scholarship – Megan Bednar
Charles and Beth Ward Scholarship in Elementary Education –
Morgan Canady
Cherry-Rogerson Scholarship –
Madison Parkerson
DeAnne Smith Scholarship –
Madalyn Godwin
Doris N. Burnette Scholarship –
Ashton Adams
Dr. Jerry ’65 & ’66 and Joanie
Morrison ’65 Tolley Scholarship in Honor of Dr. William B. Martin –Meghan Pratt
Edwin and Hazel Roberts Donnell Scholarship – Allison Kostick
Ellen Boone Staton Memorial Scholarship – Kelly Williford
H. Frances Daniels Scholarship – Kaitlin
Cook, Olivia Umphlett
Helen Massey Harrell Memorial Scholarship – Aubrey Rohanna
James Bryan Kirkland, Jr. and Evelyn Johnson Kirkland Middle Grades Scholarship – Taylor Carle, Robert Goodwin
Jane B. Reel Scholarship –
Jameesa Walker
Jimmy and Trilba Sutton Scholarship –Abigail Keesler, Jaidyn Steward
Kara Lynn Corey Fennell Scholarship –
Taylor Buck
Mary Lois Staton Scholarship – Zane Oakley, Ashley Williford
Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education
Faye Marie Creegan Scholarship –
Maya Boden
Gina Galliard Locklear Scholarship –Brianna Erwin, Jennifer Parker
Kathy A. Taft Memorial Scholarship –Tracee Moore
Tom and Karen Bartik Scholarship in English Education – Camille Watkins
Department of Interdisciplinary Professions
Cecil Troy Wilson Scholarship in Education – Emma Greene, Hannah
Price, Michaela Sneed-Shoulars, Emma Sutton
Emily S. Boyce Fellowship Award –
Dylan Ward
Frank G. Fuller Scholarship –
Pamela Boyd
Library Science Outstanding
Graduate Award – Sarah West
Linda Haddock McRae Memorial Scholarship – Casey Council, Erin Gray, Dylan Ward, Sarah West
Mildred Daniels Southwick
Scholarship – Rachel Yih
Patricia R. Collins Library Science Scholarship – Sarah West
Department of Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education
Craig W. and Ruth T. Joyner Family Scholarship – Jasmin Agustin
David H. and Gail R. Englert College of Education Scholarship – Lea Raper
Dr. Moses M. Sheppard Scholarship – Sophia Zeldin
Emma Dean Calfee Scholarship –Ivana Eatmon, Mackenna Miller
James M. and Bonnie Taylor
Galloway Math and Science
Education Scholarship –Noah Cauble
Kay Hall Chesson Scholarship –Mackenna Miller
Lula and Billy Whitley Scholarship –Jasmin Agustin
Martin Family Scholarship – Kayla Sparks
Thadys J. Dewar Scholarship – Ivana Eatmon, Mackenna Miller
Tom and Karen Bartik Scholarship in Science Education – John Kachingwe Wilson-Duncan Science Education Scholarship – John Kachingwe, Veronykah Shafer, Kayla Sparks
Department of Special Education, Foundations and Research
Angel Boberg-Webb Memorial Scholarship – Sarah White
Benjamin Scott Denton Graduate Fellowship in Special Education –Jaylyn Johnson
Burney and Judy Warren Scholarship –Alexis Lozner, Kendall Sharp
Dr. John T. Richards Scholarship –Sydney Anderson
Dr. Sandra Hopfengardner Warren Scholarship – Madeline Pierce
Kallam/Moore Scholarship –Bridgette Berwick
Martha Syndor Coffman and George Serpell Coffman Scholarship –
Courtney White
Mike and Debbie Metcalf Study Abroad Scholarship – Natalie Brown, Morgan Canady, Jennifer Keener, Madeline Pierce, Diane Wittenborn
Raymond C. Hudson Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Beane, Mckennzie Black, Sarah White
Tony R. Banks Scholarship in Special Education – Mckennzie Black
General College of Education
Barbara B. Newman Scholarship – Bryant Adams, Jamie Melton
Carolyn C. Matthews Jones Scholarship –
Annie Greene, Abigail Smith
Catherine Jones Baggett Scholarship –
Cathryn Haynes
Don E. and Linda Vann Lassiter Scholarship
– Taylor Carle, Emily Martin, Jaden Williamson
Don G. Dempsey Education Scholarship –Abigail Keesler
Dr. Betty M. Long Memorial Scholarship –
Shayna Cox
Dr. Charles R. Coble Scholarship –Shayna Cox
Dr. Dennis and Barbara Pelletier Teacher
Education Scholarship – Rose Gay
Dr. James W. Batten Research Fellow
Scholarship – Taylor Beane, Madolyn Turnage
Dr. Ray Vaughan Spain and Mrs. Carolyn Webb Spain Scholarship – Shainah Andrews
Dr. Suzanne Wester, M.D. Scholarship –
Pamela Boyd, Laken Pardue, Timothy Speight
Hattie M. Strong Foundation Scholarship
– Natalie Brown, Leah Carr, Charley
Edmondson, Kirsten Hill, Aisling Palko,
Katelyn Walters
Helen Armfield Crowder Scholarship –
Erynn Shallington, Sophia Zeldin
J. Worth Carter Scholarship –
DeeAnna Edwards
James H. and Virginia J. Tucker Scholarship
– Ian Miller
Katie Earle Owen Morgan Scholarship –
Annie Greene
Mary Elizabeth Austin Yancey Scholarship
– Kirsten Hill
Miriam Johnson and Charlie James
Rasberry Scholarship – Kristen O’Keefe
Miriam Perry Saunders Education
Scholarship – Madelyn Martin
Nannie B. Morton Scholarship –
Abigail Smith
Osmond Mitchell Endowment
Fund Scholarship – Maggey Caudill, Laura Hodges
Polly Mason Strickland Education Scholarship – Chayla Miller
Sandy F. Harrison Scholarship –Kristen O’Keefe
College of Education LivingLearning Community
Alston W. Burke Scholarship – Hope DeVitto, Mary Woodson
Gayle Morgan Shearer Endowment Scholarship – Samantha Sharpe
Educators Hall of Fame Scholarship –Carmen Coble
James H. and Connie M. Maynard Scholarship – Kaylyn Causey, Aubrie
Dolan, Madelyn Evans, Kaylee Frazer, Anna Guenther, Bridget Hapgood, Breana Kearney, Da’Simon McGirt, Riley Snyder, Abigail Smith
Pat and Lynn Lane Education Scholarship – Aiden Nixon
Sheltering Home Circle of the King’s Daughters & Sons Scholarship –
Marissa Toledo
When Sara Smiles Scholarship – Sydney Anderson, Hayley Johnson, Daisy Gregory
Future Teachers of North Carolina Eastern Symposium Scholarship – Ashton Adams, Teresa Blehwah, Jana Bradshaw, Malena Chapman, Carmen Coble, Anna Grace Johnson, Da’Simon McGirt, Kathlene Rose, Dixie Saunders, Abigail Smith
