North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is proud to announce that its Teacher Education program has once again achieved a 100% pass rate on the edTPA portfolio assessment, a nationally scored and required evaluation used by accredited teacher preparation programs across the country.
A total of 13 NCWU students have successfully submitted and passed the edTPA since the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction required that the item be used as the singular portfolio option for accredited Teacher Education programs beginning Fall 2025. Most recently, three additional students received passing scores, including one traditional student and two Adult and Professional Study (APS) students.
Quotes from NCWU Faculty & Staff
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for our students and our faculty,” said Kelvin L. Spragley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education. “The edTPA is a rigorous assessment that requires significant preparation, support, and dedication. To maintain a 100% pass rate reflects the strength of our program and the commitment of our instructors to student success.”
Spragley also recognized the work of the program’s faculty, specifically highlighting Dr. Hart and Dr. Collins for their leadership and support of students throughout the semester in EDU 415.
“The guidance and encouragement provided in EDU 415 played an essential role in helping our teacher candidates complete this important milestone as they finalize their North Carolina teaching licenses,” Spragley said. “And it’s important to note teachers are licensed, not certified.”
Dr. Joseph H. Lane, Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, praised the Teacher Education program for its continued success and commitment to preparing highly qualified educators.
“Maintaining a 100% pass rate on a nationally scored assessment like the edTPA is a remarkable achievement,” Lane said. “It reflects the academic excellence of our Teacher Education program and the dedication of our faculty to ensuring that NC Wesleyan graduates are fully prepared to serve and lead in today’s classrooms. We are incredibly proud of our students and the faculty members who support them.”
The Student Experience
One of the students who recently passed the edTPA is Emily Mason, an Elementary Education major in the Fall 2026 graduating class. Mason said the process strengthened her ability to create meaningful lessons that support every learner.
“The edTPA experience taught me about the importance of planning your lessons and using knowledge of students to create the best possible lessons so that every student can learn,” Mason said. “It taught me to look at my students and figure out how to plan my lessons to fit and meet all my students’ needs.”
Mason added that completing the portfolio is an exciting step toward her future career in education.
“Completing this licensure requirement makes me feel excited for what’s to come in my student teaching and beyond,” she said. “It also allows me to breathe a bit easier. I feel a lot more relaxed and prepared for what is to come.”
As she looks ahead, Mason said her goal is to create a classroom environment where students feel supported emotionally and academically.
“I want to make sure that every student who walks in my room feels heard and understood,” she said. “I want to make sure to meet my students where they are emotionally and academically.”
Mason also offered encouragement to future teacher candidates preparing for the edTPA.
“Take your time and manage your time,” she said. “Look at your handbooks and listen to the feedback provided by your professor. Most of all—you’ve got this!”
Why it matters…
Maintaining state and regional accreditation standards, while also preparing students to succeed on licensure assessments such as edTPA, requires extensive faculty effort and resources. Spragley emphasized that achieving these results within a small liberal arts institution makes the accomplishment even more significant.
“To maintain high pass rates on licensure tests and performance portfolios as a small program within a small liberal arts university is a juggernaut of a task,” he said. “While we may not have the resources that many larger institutions possess, we continue to meet the challenge and achieve exceptional outcomes.”
NCWU’s Teacher Education program continues to prepare future educators through rigorous coursework, hands-on field experiences, and strong faculty mentorship ensuring graduates are equipped to lead and succeed in today’s classrooms.
NC Wesleyan Marks Historic 100% edTPA Success
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is proud to announce a major achievement within its Teacher Education program: every NCWU student who submitted the edTPA assessment this semester earned a passing score, marking a 100% pass rate on one of the most rigorous teacher preparation assessments in the nation.
This milestone follows a 10-month institutional transition to edTPA, a nationally benchmarked performance assessment used to evaluate teacher readiness. Despite the challenges of implementing a new system, both traditional and Adult & Professional Studies (APS) students excelled—demonstrating the strength, resilience, and adaptability of Wesleyan’s future educators.
“Our students met an incredibly high standard, and they did it with determination, professionalism, and heart,” said Dr. Kelvin L. Spragley, Associate Professor of Education and Director of Teacher Education. “This accomplishment reaffirms that NC Wesleyan’s Teacher Education program is equipped to meet the needs of all learners and to prepare exceptional teachers for North Carolina’s classrooms.”
Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, emphasized the broader impact of this achievement on the region and state:
“Our Education faculty and students are truly building an extraordinary record. North Carolina Wesleyan University is committed to filling the much-publicized teacher shortage in our region’s public schools with inspiring and fully credentialed teachers who will raise the bar for classroom instruction in North Carolina.”
For some students, passing edTPA brings them one step closer to earning a clear North Carolina teaching license; for others—including Samantha Winstead, Grant Harrell, and Geovanni Dixon—it represents the completion of their final licensure requirement.
Dr. Spragley also recognized the collective effort behind the success, praising faculty and staff across departments who supported students throughout the demanding assessment process—from academic mentoring to technical assistance and data coordination.
Dr. Spragley praised not only the students’ perseverance but also the collaborative effort of faculty and staff who supported them throughout this demanding semester. He acknowledged:
- Dr. Hart for designing the internal edTPA infrastructure and supporting a dual-responsibility student;
- Drs. Brewer and Collins for guiding the first cohort, including APS students and those completing the Special Education portfolio;
- Dr. Gary and Mrs. Credle for serving as portfolio readers;
- Dr. Sundbom, Ms. McKinney, and Allen Meszaros from IT for hands-on assistance during the submission process—twice;
- Mrs. Lamm for her stewardship of edTPA data and communications.
“This semester stretched all of us,” Spragley noted. “But our shared commitment to excellence carried us through. As we celebrate this accomplishment, we also look ahead to next semester with optimism and a continued dedication to preparing great teachers.”
NC Wesleyan University congratulates its students, faculty, and staff on this exceptional achievement—a powerful testament to the University’s growing reputation for academic rigor, professional preparation, and student success.
