ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Two recent graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Teacher Education Program have earned First-Year Teacher of the Year awards from Nash County Public Schools. Zack Foster, a spring 2021 graduate, teaches English at Southern Nash High School and Jackie Webb, a fall 2021 graduate, is a Mathematics teacher at Northern Nash High School.
“These students are representative of the quality instruction one receives in Teacher Education at North Carolina Wesleyan University. While we are excited about their individual successes as practitioners, we were not surprised that they had achieved the distinction of First-Year Teacher of the Year at their respective schools,” stated Dr. Kelvin Spragley, NC Wesleyan’s Director of Teacher Education.
In addition to these awards, the College has also seen great achievement within its award-winning Students Helping Students Afterschool Program. Led by Dr. Patricia Brewer, NCWC Professor and Coordinator of Special Education, Students Helping Students is a service learning project within the College’s Teacher Education Program. The initiative provides afterschool resources to K-12 children with learning differences in Nash County Public Schools. Since its inception in 2015, the program has received statewide recognition. The program was designed for NCWC education students to provide individualized instruction in math and reading once a week. Additionally, the program provides parent advocacy training. Dr. Brewer conducts weekly sessions for parents of participating K-12 children on how to navigate and advocate services for their children.
Each year, the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children (NC CEC) celebrates and recognizes youth with disabilities who demonstrate progress and achievements in nine categories: academics, arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, independent living skills, self-advocacy and technology. On February 26, 2022 at the upcoming 35th NC CEC Annual Conference, two students mentored by the Students Helping Students program will receive the statewide Yes I Can! Award. Bryson Worsley, a seventh grader at W.A. Pattillo Middle School, will be receiving the Yes I Can! Award for academics. Jordan Contreras, a seventh grader at Nash Everywhere Digital Academy (NEDA), will be receiving the Yes I Can! Award for technology. To date, a total of four recipients from the afterschool program have received the distinguished Yes I Can! Award.
“Much gratitude extends to NCWC’s Teacher Education students and the parents for their tireless efforts to embrace learning differences, explore instructional research-based strategies and advocate for services in the schools. It’s a humbling experience to monitor the growth and development of our pre-service education students,” stated Dr. Brewer.
The Yes I Can! International Awards Program was established in 1981 to celebrate the achievements of children and youth with disabilities; to encourage children and youth with disabilities to seek their highest potential; and to increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of people with disabilities.
NCWC Honors Forty Teacher Education Candidates
Pinning Ceremony Held March 22nd
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The Teacher Education Program at North Carolina Wesleyan University held their Spring Symposium, featuring a pinning ceremony for program candidates, on March 22. Guest speaker was Corey Williams, an alumnus of Wesleyan and honoree of the 2021 Teacher of the Year for Northampton County Schools.
Williams, a sixth grade Mathematics and Science teacher at Gaston Middle School, just entered his eighth year in public education and third year teaching in the classroom. Over the course of his career, Williams has served in the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, Halifax County Schools and currently, Northampton County Schools. A graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, his continued commitment to excellence celebrates students’ learning differences and diversity in a responsive classroom.
During the Teacher Education Pinning Ceremony, forty candidates received certificates and education pins. This rite of passage marks the initial journey into teacher education where students transition into a noble career and dedicate themselves to lifelong learning.
“The Teacher Education Program promotes a holistic approach to learning and embracing the whole child. I am extremely happy with the students’ commitment to engage, love, share, foster and embrace teaching and life practices within the context of the K-12 students’ experiences,” stated Dr. Patricia Brewer, Associate Professor of Education.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of the Taunja Cox College Scholarship— a $1,000 award given annually to a selected Wesleyan student majoring in special education. This opportunity was created by NC Wesleyan alumna, Glinda Williams of Kinston, North Carolina, in honor of her 34-year-old daughter, Taunja Cox, who was diagnosed with developmental disabilities at 18 months.
Since graduating from Kinston High School in the special education curriculum, Taunja has participated in work programs, volunteered with children at local daycares and is currently attending Lenoir Community College in the compensatory education class. This scholarship seeks to give back to students in the special education program who aspire to make a difference in the lives of those like Taunja. This year, the scholarship was awarded to two students— Emily Bissette and Paige Gardner, who are both double majoring in Elementary Education and Special Education.
NCWC Welcomes New Director of Teacher Education/Coordinator of Diversity & Inclusion
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University announces the addition of Dr. Kelvin Spragley as their new Director of Teacher Education. Dr. Spragley will also serve as Wesleyan’s Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Programming. He begins on January 4, 2021.
Dr. Spragley is a U.S. Army veteran, who has worked in the Wake County Public School System for seven years as a Social Science teacher. He also served as an Education Consultant for the North Carolina Association of Educators. From 2001-2010, Dr. Spragley worked concurrently as Associate Executive Director of the 60,000-member North Carolina Association of Educators and Executive Director for the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that provides support to needy public-school children and grant support to public- school educators.
Dr. Spragley completed his degrees in the following areas and locations: Chowan University (A.A. in History-1991); East Carolina University (B.S. in Education-1993); North Carolina State University (M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction-1999); and North Carolina State University (Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction-2009). During the past nine years, Dr. Spragley served in a variety of roles at Louisburg College, including Interim Academic Dean and VP of Academic Life, as well as Division Chair for Business Studies & Social Sciences. In addition, he was a Professor of History and Education while at Louisburg College, where he also served as the Director of the A.A. in Education program.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Dr. Spragley’s vast knowledge, accomplishments and vision to lead both the Teacher Education program and contribute substantively to a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion,” stated Dr. Molly Wyatt, Interim Provost. “Dr. Spragley will provide strategic direction for initiatives on cultural competencies, gender differences, building a climate of equity and inclusion, and other topics designed to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values — especially those that affirm the College’s core values of empathy and understanding.”
As Director of Teacher Education, Dr. Spragley will be responsible for teaching two undergraduate courses each semester, working with students in field experiences, supervising student-teachers, serving as chair of the Teacher Education Council and as liaison to State Education activities, coordinating and overseeing licensure, approving adjunct faculty, facilitating and submitting curriculum recommendations to the Curriculum Committee in collaboration with the Division Chair, preparing annual reports for accrediting agencies and leading the accreditation process. In his role as the Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Programming, Dr. Spragley will be responsible for collaborating with College leadership to create, implement and monitor strategic initiatives designed to build awareness and growth among students as it relates to diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Spragley is married to Mrs. Tracey Lofton Spragley, a public-school teacher of 27 years and wife of 25 years. The couple has two children, Kelsey (24), who is a lab scientist for ThermoFisher Pharmaceuticals, and Kelvin, Jr. (18), who is a freshman at Wake Technical Community College.
The National Education Association Awards CREATE Grant to NCWC
Grant to Benefit College’s Teacher Education Program
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University recently received a CREATE grant from the National Education Association (NEA) Center for Great Public Schools Aspiring Educators Program. The $2,000 grant is to benefit the Students Helping Students Afterschool Program for Social Justice.
Led by Dr. Patricia Brewer, NCWC’s Professor and Coordinator of Special Education, Students Helping Students is a service learning project within the College’s Teacher Education program. The initiative provides afterschool services to K-12 children with learning differences in Nash-Rocky Mount Schools. The program has received statewide recognition and is designed for education students to provide individualized instruction in math and reading. Additionally, the program provides parent advocacy training. Dr. Patricia Brewer facilitates this part of the program for parents of participating K-12 children.
“We are so excited about this grant,” stated Dr. Brewer. “Pre-service education students become strong, confident and intentional in educational practices with diverse learners and parents. They consistently support high expectations that result in growth and positive outcomes.”
Students Helping Students Afterschool Program for Social Justice fosters connections and investigations for critical inquiry of exceptional students’ needs in the classroom. This Social Justice grant will allow NC Wesleyan’s pre-service education students to become reflective practitioners beyond the boundaries of the school. Through the grant, pre-service students will increase their passion and impact the lives of K-12 students using a pedagogy of culturally responsive practices and differentiated strategies.
The National Education Association (NEA) offers mini-grants to teacher education programs for teacher quality, community engagement, social justice and political advocacy. The NEA is the nation’s largest professional employee organization and is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA’s three million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. The association has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
