North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) and Rocky Mount Academy (RMA) have entered into a new partnership that will provide NC Wesleyan teacher education students with expanded opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a private-school setting.
Through the agreement, NC Wesleyan students pursuing teacher education will have opportunities to participate in field placements, practicums and student teaching experiences at Rocky Mount Academy. Students may also engage in classroom observations, tutoring, mini-lessons and other educational activities alongside experienced educators.
The partnership represents a new dimension of experiential learning for NC Wesleyan’s Teacher Education Program. The university has previously established formal partnerships with traditional public-school systems and public charter schools, but this agreement marks an opportunity for teacher candidates to gain experience within a private-school environment.
“This MOU represents a creative and important partnership for both NC Wesleyan and Rocky Mount Academy that will allow our candidates for teacher education to gain valuable experience in the RMA classrooms and activities while strengthening our relationship to RMA,” said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at NC Wesleyan University. “We look forward to strengthening these institutional connections as well as the many opportunities for our students to gain valuable experiences with RMA students and classes.”
Accreditation Specific
The agreement also provides NC Wesleyan students with the opportunity to learn from fully licensed teachers while experiencing the distinct instructional environment of a private school.
“While our program accreditation with the North Carolina State Board of Education and our national accreditation agency, AAQEP, both require official agreements with school systems and schools for pre-service teachers to gain experience, this one is different,” said Dr. Kelvin Spragley, Director of Teacher Education and Chief Diversity Officer at NC Wesleyan University.
“This agreement is with a private school, which provides a great opportunity since we do have graduates who will decide to teach at private, and not public, institutions upon graduation.”
Under the agreement, NC Wesleyan teacher education students will be able to complete placement activities at Rocky Mount Academy while gaining experience through activities such as tutoring students, observing teachers and teaching mini-lessons. The agreement also establishes expectations for cooperating teachers, student teachers and college supervisors throughout the placement experience.
Meet Lily Taylor
Lily Taylor, NCWU rising junior, is a Special Education major who is currently taking prerequisite Teacher Education courses prior to formally applying for entry into the program. She will be the first to participate in this opportunity.
April Whitehead, Director of Exceptional Children at RMA, shares “Rocky Mount Academy is excited to partner with North Carolina Wesleyan University to help enhance the educational experiences of future educators. We are thrilled to welcome Lily to RMA and provide her with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills she has gained through her coursework in a real classroom setting.
We are excited to watch Lily grow as an educator, build meaningful relationships with our students, and gain valuable hands-on experience. We are honored to have Lily learn alongside some of the best educators in the business and become part of the RMA community. We look forward to supporting her as she continues to develop the skills, confidence, and passion needed to make a difference in the lives of her future students.”
Program Distinction
For NC Wesleyan, the partnership adds another important perspective to the preparation of future educators.
“During my five-year stint at NC Wesleyan, we have only partnered with traditional public-school systems and public charter schools,” Spragley said. “This MOU provides an opportunity for our Teacher Education students to gain valuable experience in a high-quality private school. As a result, our students will be able to concretely compare and contrast their respective experiences between a traditional public, public charter and private school. To say I am excited is an understatement.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to connecting future educators with authentic classroom experiences while building stronger relationships between NC Wesleyan and the Rocky Mount community.
For NC Wesleyan students, the experience will offer an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the educational landscape and explore the different environments in which they may ultimately build their teaching careers.
Elevating Teacher Preparation: NC Wesleyan’s Education Program Earns National Distinction
The impact of a great teacher lasts a lifetime, and at North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU), aspiring educators are gaining the experience, knowledge, and values to make that impact from day one. Colleges of Distinction has honored NCWU with the 2025-2026 Education College of Distinction award, recognizing its proven ability to graduate confident, compassionate, and classroom-ready teachers.
“In a field where the stakes are high and the landscape constantly evolving, NCWU has built a program that blends strong academic foundations with real-world practice,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction. “They’re equipping future educators with the tools and heart to lead diverse classrooms with care.”
This national recognition is based on the institution’s demonstrated excellence in key areas, including:
- Stability – The School of Education has a longstanding presence, operating for at least 10 years with consistent enrollment and an established number of degrees awarded annually.
- Accreditation – The NCWU Education Programs holds regional accreditation from AAQEP, or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. Additionally, the NCWU Teacher Education Program is accredited by the state of North Carolina
- Multidisciplinarity – The Education Program offers students the opportunity to specialize in three or more distinct disciplines (Specifically, students can earn a license to teach in one of the following content areas: Elementary Education, K-6; Middle Grades, 6-9 (Math, Science, Social Studies, or English/Language Arts), Secondary, 9-12 (Math, Biology Social Studies, English), and Special Education, K-12).
- Practical Experience – Starting from the first year, students in the Education Program engage in real-world teaching experiences, including urban and rural settings, diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and different school sizes.
- Non-Education Specialization – The Education Program requires students to graduate with a minor, emphasis, specialization, or related credential in a subject they intend to teach professionally.
- Dedicated Advising and Counseling – The Education Program provides high-quality academic advising, major-specific advising, and career advising tailored to Education majors.
- High-Impact Practices – Students in the Education Program enhance their undergraduate studies through high-impact practices such as common intellectual experiences in methodology and content, undergraduate research, diverse learning opportunities in and out of the classroom, common first-year experiences such as seminar attendance and field placement experiences of at least 30 hours in a respective school, writing-intensive courses, collaborative assignments and projects, service-/community-based learning like tutoring in our Award Winning After School Program, living-learning communities, internships, and capstone courses and projects.
- Industry Connections – Students enrolled in the Education Program have numerous opportunities to establish professional connections in their field through job placement, internships, co-op opportunities, advisory councils, and networking activities.
Dr. Kelvin Spragley, NCWU Director of Teacher Education and Chief Diversity Officer, states “The NCWU Teacher Education program has consistently proven that the personal and professional relationships developed between faculty and students are our formula for success. It is with this model in mind that we will continue our efforts at producing the next generation of quality, licensed teacher”.
Through these program elements, students are learning how to inspire, adapt, and lead. The Education Program at NCWU reflects the core belief that teaching is both a profession and a calling.
To learn more about NCWU’s award-winning programs, visit https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/north-carolina-wesleyan-university/.
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to recognizing schools across the United States for their exceptional contributions to higher education. Member institutions within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their unwavering focus on providing an outstanding undergraduate experience. Their website offers dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and valuable resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information and to discover how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.
