A Message from the Dean
As we conclude another impactful semester in the College of Education, I am proud to reflect on the many accomplishments that continue to define and elevate our mission.
This spring, we celebrated the Class of 2025 as they crossed the commencement stage, stepping confidently into their roles as future educators and leaders. At the same time, we are preparing to welcome the next generation of teacher candidates through university orientation, beginning June 16.
We are also excited to host 124 high school students for our Pirate Institute for Regional Aspiring Teachers and Educators (PIRATE) program, taking place June 18–20. This immersive experience gives students a firsthand look at college life at ECU, introduces them to the field of education through innovative and engaging activities, and allows them to build lasting connections with peers. Programs like PIRATE reflect our deep and ongoing commitment to cultivating future educators and strengthening the teacher pipeline in our region.
We also had the honor of inducting 10 exceptional educators into our Educators Hall of Fame, a tradition that celebrates lasting impact in the field. In addition, new initiatives such as the Lookout Mentorship Program and SCORE (Schools, Colleges, Office of Research Events) have launched with enthusiasm, already forging meaningful connections, and expanding opportunities for collaboration across our community.
From our inaugural college faculty and staff awards and Science Olympiad successes to transformative research grants tackling issues like teacher burnout and the integration of computer science in teacher preparation, the dedication and innovation of our students, faculty, and staff continue to inspire.
I invite you to explore this edition of Waypoint and join us in celebrating the incredible work happening across our ECU College of Education. Thank you for being a valued member of our community and for supporting our shared commitment to excellence in education.
Warm Regards,
Dr. André M. Green, PhD
Dean, ECU College of Education
College of Education Strategic Plan Overview
The College of Education is committed to advancing student success, public service, and regional transformation while upholding the university’s vision of social and economic mobility and workforce success. To achieve these goals, the College has outlined key initiatives that will enhance student experiences, empower faculty, and strengthen community partnerships.
To support student success, the College will implement mentorship programs and scholar communities to foster belonging, identify and remove barriers to matriculation, expand real-world learning opportunities, and offer innovative programs that address workforce needs. Public service efforts will focus on securing funding to enhance community engagement initiatives and faculty resources.
Regional transformation remains a priority, with professional learning opportunities for educators and collaborative partnerships to create seamless pathways into and out of education programs. The College is also dedicated to promoting social and economic mobility by securing funding to expand accessibility and refining teaching methods to enhance student learning experiences.
Finally, in pursuit of workforce success, the College will foster welcoming learning environments, enhance faculty development, and establish mentorship programs to support career advancement. Through these strategic initiatives, the College of Education continues to shape the future of education while strengthening communities and supporting lifelong learning.
Highlights
Recent ECU News stories
Ten educators were honored during the 26th annual Educators Hall of Fame ceremony in March. 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 $1,500 gift that is placed into a Hall of Fame scholarship endowment for merit-based education scholarships.
2024-2025 Inductees
- Jerry Whitley Bobbitt
- Phyllis Jernigan Broughton
- Marvin Connelly Jr.
- Katherine Ford
- Bonnie B. Glass
- Richard Alan McMahon
- Chad O'Neil Moore
- Marjorie Campo Ringler
- Freddie Williamson
- Paul Zvonkovic
East Carolina University celebrated faculty members who excel in the classroom and beyond at the 2025 University Teaching Awards. Some of the COE faculty who were honored include:
- Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching: Jennifer Williams, special education, foundations and research (recognition of full-time faculty who have taught at ECU for three or more years and who demonstrate exceptional teaching ability)
- Scholar-Teacher Award: Travis Lewis, educational leadership (recognition of faculty who effectively integrate research and creativity with their teaching roles)
- Max Ray Joyner Award for Outstanding Teaching in Distance Education: Rebecca L. Harris, special education, foundations and research (recognizes a faculty member who has shown commitment and enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring off-campus students, demonstrating excellence in delivery of online courses)
(Pictured is Dr. Rebecca Harris, center, with Dr. Anne Ticknor, left, and Chancellor Philip Rogers)
PIRATE Program Update
Each summer, the College of Education welcomes high school students from across the state to campus for the Pirate Institute for Regional and Aspiring Teachers and Educators. This free, three-day experience gives aspiring educators a firsthand look at the teaching profession while building community and confidence. Opportunities to support this impactful program — such as sponsoring a student’s experience — help ensure we can continue inspiring and preparing the next generation of educators.
Leadership Updates
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education: Dr. Scott Glass
As the spring semester winds down, we are excited to share that enrollment across graduate programs in the College of Education was up for the 2024-2025 academic year. Enrollment numbers are a priority across all university campuses, and not unique to ECU. However, because of targeted efforts, and the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff, COE graduate programs will enjoy an increase in students. One example of our targeted efforts is an event created by one of our excellent faculty members, Mrs. Tomegia Winston. Mrs. Winston, a senior teaching instructor in our instructional technology program, was selected as a leadership fellow in the COE for the 2024-2025 academic year. As part of her journey through the program, she planned and implemented an event aimed at increasing enrollment for COE programs. The COE Graduate Fair was held outside the Speight Building on campus. Mrs. Winston collaborated with the ECU Graduate School and hosted tables outside in order to engage with students as they walked across campus. She connected with potential students, answered numerous questions, and planted seeds to get them thinking about pursuing an advanced degree.
Now is a great time to start thinking about attending a graduate program, as many of our programs will accept admission applications through the summer and begin reviewing applications in the fall for later admission dates. We would love to answer any questions you may have regarding our programs and discuss how a graduate degree may best help in accomplishing your professional goals. If you or someone you know is wanting to learn more about pursuing a graduate degree from the COE, please reach out to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education, Dr. Scott Glass (glassj@ecu.edu), and he will connect you with your program of interest.
Associate Dean for Research: Dr. Dan Dickerson
The inaugural SCORE (Schools, Colleges, Office of Research Events) session, held on Friday, April 11 in Speight 203, was a great success! This new program from the ECU Office of Research Development (REDE) — offered in partnership with the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and the COE Office of Research and Innovation — brought together faculty and staff to explore strategies for securing funding from foundations and industry. The session, cohosted by the College of Education, featured engaging presentations from Terah Archie, Katy Johnson, and Dr. Daniel Dickerson, who shared valuable insights on innovative ways to support educational services and research initiatives beyond federal grants. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect across disciplines, sparking meaningful conversations and potential collaborations. We look forward to seeing even more of our colleagues at future SCORE events!
The College of Education’s Office of Research and Innovation recently launched a new Student Research Fellowship Program in collaboration with Dr. Tanya Christ, Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Child Literacy. This initiative is designed to support undergraduate and graduate students in pursuing impactful, faculty-mentored research that advances educational theory, policy, and practice. Through this fellowship, students receive structured guidance, funding, and professional development opportunities, fostering a robust culture of inquiry and scholarship within the college. The program aims to empower emerging scholars to contribute meaningful insights to the field of education while building essential research skills for their academic and professional futures.
The North Carolina Collaboratory has sponsored a two-year, $51,148 collaborative research study between East Carolina University and Pender County Schools entitled Improving Teacher Retention through a Tiered Model of Support. Led by Travis Lewis (PI) and Karen Jones (co-PI) from the ECU College of Education Department of Educational Leadership, the project aims to address high teacher attrition, particularly among beginning teachers, by developing a tiered support model within partner school district, Pender County Schools. The study will be organized into three phases. After an initial data collection phase to include examination of teacher working conditions survey data and focus groups with beginning teachers to gain insight into their experiences and needs, the research team will develop a tiered system of supports for beginning teachers, paralleling the MTSS model utilized for students. Ideation of needed supports and identification of existing supports will lead to their organization into three classifications — core, supplementary, and intensive — that will be consistently applied by school and district leadership following professional training and coaching to focus efforts toward increased retention. Following cycles of improvement using formative data, beginning teachers’ perceptions of the tiered model of support and exit surveys will provide outcome data. The findings of the study will be utilized to refine and share the model framework broadly to school districts throughout the region.
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Educator Preparation: Dr. Holly Fales
We are welcoming 120 new North Carolina Teaching Fellows (NCTF) to the College of Education this fall. These exceptional students represent the next generation of educators driven by a passion to inspire, lead, and make a lasting difference in the lives of their students. This new group of NCTF students includes 49 first-year freshmen, 31 on-campus or transfer students, 30 Partnership Teach students and 10 residency candidates.
Our NC Teaching Fellows, Community of Scholars, and Living-Learning Community students completed approximately 5,250 service hours during the 2024-2025 academic year in local schools and non-profit organizations. One service project, completed by our juniors, was with the MacGregor Downs Health Center. Nineteen students visited the center and engaged with the residents by playing bingo. Students enjoyed spending time with the residents through this simple yet impactful activity.
Our freshmen and sophomores participated in a Pitt County Schools Parent Night hosted at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. 105 students volunteered to assist with educational games/activities and run stations. Class representatives contributed to planning, organizing and facilitating stations at the event. PCS students participated in a number of educational games created by ECU volunteers where students completed math challenges, decorated cards for Teacher Appreciation Week and worked in teams to build communication skills.
We celebrated our 42 graduating seniors at the annual Senior Banquet held at the Main Campus Student Center. This special day served as a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and growth these students have demonstrated throughout their time in the program. Graduating seniors were encouraged to bring their family members to recognize their achievements. We are incredibly proud of this amazing group and are confident they will make a lasting impact as they begin their careers in education.
A group of 19 NC Teaching Fellows, Community of Scholars and Living-Learning Community students embarked on an exciting international education trip to Greece from May 12-20. While abroad, students visited Athens, the Saronic Islands, Delphi, Olympia, and traveled via the Argolida region to Epidaurus, Mycenae, and Olympia. This high-impact experience allowed students to explore several historical sites, experience Greek culture and cuisine, and participate in a variety of enriching activities designed to broaden their global perspective. While abroad, students visited a local junior high school to learn more about the country's educational system.
"When the College of Education announced this trip I knew I had to go! As a future history teacher (and Greek history buff!) I knew that if this was my only time to go on a trip out of the country, this was the trip for me. Not only was this my first time ever leaving the country but it was the first time I was ever able to experience a place with fellow teachers who share my passion and enthusiasm for visiting the sites we teach about. When I was little, I had always longed to go visit the places I heard about in my books and at school, but I never imagined I would be able to do so due to the distance and expenses. But with the College of Education, I was able to travel, and even received some money back (thanks to the college paying for a portion of our expenses!) that helped me experience a place that I never thought I would be able to go! The thought of being able to tell my students that these places are in fact still standing and that I, myself, have been there is going to be one of the coolest things for me as a teacher." — Carrie New, Maynard Scholar
There are 15 incoming Education Community of Scholars students (excluding Maynard Scholars) for this upcoming school year. They are:
- Sophie Baum, special education-adapted curriculum major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Iredell County
- Madison Fuller, science education major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Franklin County
- Savannah Heiney, elementary education major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Davidson County
- Ella Picazio, elementary education major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Middlesex County
- Genna Stewart, history education major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Virginia Beach city
- Spencer Twiford, English education major, Alston W. Burke Scholar, Dare County
- Cami French, mathematics education major, Betty S. Abernathy Scholar, Wake County
- Hannah Hilliker, special education-general curriculum major, Cecil Troy Wilson Scholar, Centre County
- Hunter Bluto, elementary education major, Ed and Sara Roos Scholar, Sussex County
- Rachel Forbes, elementary education major, Ed and Sara Roos Scholar, Chesterfield County
- Camren Kemp, elementary education major, Ed and Sara Roos Scholar, Howard County
- Thai Binh Cam, music education major, Educators Hall of Fame Scholar, Wake County
- Jadyn White, elementary education major, Educators Hall of Fame Scholar, Lincoln County
- Madison Adkins, elementary education major, Pat and Lynn Lane Scholar, Pitt County
- Keily Nolan, elementary education major, Phoebe M. Dail Scholar, Suffolk County
We have 15 incoming Maynard Scholars, which includes:
- Kate Barnes, science education major, Johnston County
- Emmy Brandenburg, elementary education major, Pitt County
- Anastasia Danforth, elementary education major, Harnett County
- Aubrie Dash, elementary education major, Pitt County
- Camryn Dilday, elementary education major, Pitt County
- Addison Dupre, elementary education major, Craven County
- Rachel Fox, mathematics education major, Beaufort County
- Zacchaeus Jones, middle grades education major, Lenoir County
- Dylan Livingston-Keeter, music education major, Carteret County
- Caroline Madigan, history education, Pitt County
- Barrett Morris, English education, Northampton County
- Michael Raye, elementary education, Pitt County
- Jae Reid, elementary education, Wayne County
- Audrey Robison, elementary education, Wake County
- Lindsey Thomas, elementary education, Hoke County
Assistant Dean for Faculty & Staff Development, Wellness & Engagement: Dr. Janeé Avent Harris
The Office for Faculty and Staff Development, Wellness, and Engagement has been steadfast in its commitment to professional growth, well-being, and community building in the College of Education and beyond. Through targeted onboarding initiatives, ongoing mentorship programs, and a robust calendar of workshops and wellness events, our Office ensures that faculty, staff, and students have the support and resources they need to thrive holistically.
COE launches inaugural college awards for faculty, staff, students
We were proud to introduce our inaugural College Awards — designed to recognize extraordinary contributions across teaching, research, service, and operations. Aligned with our strategic values, these awards shine a spotlight on individuals whose achievements exemplify our shared mission of student success, regional transformation, and public service. This year’s recipients are as follows:
- Undergraduate Excellence Award: Erynn Shallington
- Graduate Student Excellence Award - Master's Student: Michelle Maher
- Graduate Student Excellence Award - Doctoral Student: Christian Waters
- Student Success Teaching Award: Dr. Carrie Lee & Ms. Akira Hall
- Staff Excellence Award: Hailey DeSutter & Jo Melnyk
- Regional Transformation Research Award: Dr. Katie Schwartz
- Scholarship and Creative Activities Award: Dr. Tanya Christ
- Public Service Award: Dr. Shanita Brown
- The College Anchor Recognitions: Mrs. Toni Tucker, Mrs. Sarah Sconyers, Dr. Dionna Manning, Dr. Janeé Avent Harris
- The Dean's Award: Dr. Holly Fales
Avent Harris receives 2 counseling awards
Dr. Janeé Avent Harris received the Jane E. Myers Wellness Award from North Carolina Counseling Association during the February 2025 NCCA Annual Conference. This award “honors the memory of Dr. Myers, former Counselor Educator at UNCG and Executive Director of Chi Sigma Iota, by recognizing an NCCA member who has encouraged clients to increase their holistic wellness through counseling practice and/or research that incorporates an evidence-based wellness model.” Avent Harris was recognized for the development and implementation of innovative wellness initiatives for the college, ECU Community School, and broader community.
She also received the Thelma D. Daley Award from the American Counseling Association. This award honors counselors and community members who have a significant impact on improving communities, especially in the areas of mental health. Her research, initiatives, and clinical practices have informed increased mental health access and engagement in communities.
The College of Education is thrilled to launch the Lookout Mentorship Program, open to all COE students seeking a community of support that bridges classroom learning with real-world impact. In our inaugural planning meeting, the Lookout Advisory Council — led by Dean André Green and Dr. Janeé Avent Harris, alongside faculty, alumni, and community representatives, Dr. Leon Dupree, Dr. Kelly Anne Mudd, Dr. Tristan Hunter, Mr. Leshaun Jenkins, Dr. Danny Ellis, Mrs. Barbara Valenzuela, and Dr. Christy Howard —outlined initiatives to support professional development and wellbeing for students.
Each scholar will be paired with a mentor and will convene monthly for interactive sessions such as “Lookout for Your Rhythm,” which guides participants through reflective exercises and self-care strategies. By building this structured mentorship network, we aim not only to boost graduation and retention metrics but also to empower our students to lead positive change in their schools and communities.
The Fixed Term Faculty Lunch & Learn, held in collaboration with Dr. Allison Crowe (Department of Interdisciplinary Professions), brought together our fixed-term instructors for a valuable session of community building and professional growth. Presentations by Mrs. Laura Mangum, Dr. Kathy Lohr, and Dr. Steve Schmidt offered practical guidance on career pathways and title advancement. During the event, attendees connected with peers and shared strategies for success.
This event reinforced our commitment to lifelong learning and ensured that every fixed-term faculty member left with actionable steps for advancing their roles and supporting student achievement. We hope to continue these events in the next academic year.
On March 26th, the COE Office for Faculty & Staff Development, Wellness & Engagement teamed up with our counselor education program to host an “Arrrgh U Okay? Day” check-in station as part of ECU’s “You Matter” Week. Our team was available to offer brief, mental-health check-ins to any interested students, faculty, and staff. The College of Education is committed to partnering with the university to support wellbeing initiatives and look forward to more opportunities like this in the future.
Student Success
Thirty MAEd in Elementary and Middle Grades Education students presented their research at this year's ECU Research and Creative Achievement Week. Nine students presented in person with the other 21 presenting virtually. All 30 were mentored by Dr. Kristen Gregory, associate professor in elementary education.
The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) final evaluation of the elementary math education program is an A+, thanks to all of the elementary math education faculty and Dr. Holly Fales for their work on making this possible.
A group of ECU Literacy Ambassadors participated in a three-day study-away professional development experience in Winston-Salem. Led by ECU Literacy Education faculty, this immersive opportunity brought together seven undergraduate students from the elementary and special education programs with a reading concentration and seven graduate students in the online MAEd Reading and Literacy program. Faculty and students attended sessions, author events, and social/networking events as well as leading two presentations about research-based literacy instruction practices.
English education students Shayna Cox and Camille Watkins recently published their book of short stories called "Dear Ivy," along with Dr. Todd Finley. You can learn more about them and their future projects on their website Cam and Shay's books. This is the overview of their book, which can be purchased through Barnes & Noble and Amazon:
Have you ever wanted to get something more out of the love stories that you read? Something that remains in your body as your fingertips turn the final page and you just feel as though something is missing in a book's very essence. You read tales of love and relationships but more often than not, they're unrealistic and idealized versions of the strange emotion that we have all experienced throughout our lifetime. Our collection ties together many genres under the overarching theme of love that not only include happy, idealized relationships, but that also unveil the raw truth of how love can leave us. Sometimes family members pass away and that leaves a hole in your heart, sometimes the one you believed to be the love of your life is just another lesson, and sometimes you find that the friend you've known for ages has been your soulmate all along. Love exists in the real world, and our stories reflect the reality of what can happen to those who stumble into its enchantment.
Written by two North Carolina college students, Dear Ivy, is a unique and diverse collection of short stories that explores love in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Within this book, you'll find stories about everlasting love and "happily ever after," while also finding stories about platonic love, friendship, familial relationships, and more. These tales are organized by the Victorian art of floriography, a practice in which flowers are like words, and every blossom has its own message to convey. Each story is titled after a special bloom with its unique meaning that goes on to provide the theme to the story with its namesake. As you read, you'll constantly find the idea that love exists everywhere and within everyone and can be found in all facets of life as it does not discriminate between culture, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Love, as a concept, is realistic, enduring, poetic, and enchanting to many readers, and the twenty-two stories housed in this book encapsulate the concept that has inspired humanity for millennia. The only question that remains is this; would you like to fall into that world with us?
Dr. Tammy Lee and Bonnie Glass, science education faculty, took ECU students to Baja California Sur, Mexico to observe marine animals, in particular gray whales. Prior to their trip, students compared the migratory journeys of the right whales along the Atlantic Ocean to the gray whales' journey along the Pacific coastline.
During the trip, students went on a hike in the desert to see cave paintings, learn about plant life and admire the scenery.
While on the boats, students not only saw marine life but also observed a mangrove restoration project and the abandoned town of San Carmen where people lived when the salt mine was operating.
Public Service
The ECU Elementary Education Club launched an incredible new COE Lesson Plan Supply Closet—a game-changing resource for future educators! Led by ELED Club Co-President Rebekah Price and supported by Club Advisor Dawn Shelton, this initiative was designed to ensure College of Education students have access to essential lesson planning materials for their practicum and internship lessons for free. Located in the Teaching Resource Center production area on the second floor of Joyner Library, the supply closet is stocked with anchor chart paper, sentence strips, markers, glue, and more—everything needed to bring lesson plans to life. Need supplies? Stop by and grab what you need! Want to give back? Donations are always welcome to keep the closet stocked! A huge shoutout to the ECU ELED Club and the Joyner Library Teaching Resource Center for making this vision a reality!
Regional Transformation
On Saturday, March 1, the ECU Center for STEM Education welcomed over 1,000 eastern North Carolina middle and high school students to campus, all eager to compete in rigorous STEM events, such as Scrambler, Towers, and Codebusters, in which students constructed vehicles to protect chicken eggs, built balsa wood structures to withstand the most weight, and used their cryptography skills to decode various problems. With 36 competitive events and 68 participating teams, the NC Science Olympiad Regional Tournament was the largest regional competition in the state, and its success was made possible by the support of nearly 130 volunteers and tournament director, Ann McClung. ECU student volunteer and NC Teaching Fellow Ashley Williford said, “Volunteering for the North Carolina Science Olympiad tournament is very rewarding because you get to see the joy of the students and their excitement to learn more about STEM.” ECU faculty and Greenville community members also stepped up as event leaders, lending their expertise to events such as Meteorology and Chem Lab. It is this spirit of collaboration and commitment to enriching education that brings the Center for STEM Education’s mission to life—and ensures that ECU continues to meaningfully impact young lives throughout eastern NC, one egg, tower, or test at a time.
The Department of Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education welcomed 40 participants to the Rooted in Reading: Spring Fling for Literacy Leaders professional development event, made possible by the generosity of the late Felix and Margaret Blount Harvey and their family. Held at the ECU Main Campus Student Center, the event provided an inspiring space for reading educators to network, exchange ideas, and explore innovative literacy strategies. The afternoon featured a compelling keynote address by Jen Jones, ECU MAEd in Reading and Literacy alum and founder of Hello Literacy, as well as an expert panel discussion with distinguished literacy leaders: Kristen Martin (Winston Salem/Forsyth County), Tracee Moore (NC Public School Forum), Dr. Tanya Christ (ECU Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Literacy), Jen Jones (Keynote Speaker), and Michelle Maher (Charlotte Mecklenberg Schools). Participants also received Continuing Education Credit and two books—How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander and Finally Seen by Kelly Yang—to bring back to their classrooms. The event was co-chaired by Dr. Christy Howard, Dr. Elizabeth Swaggerty, and Dr. Scott Glass, with essential support from MAEd in Reading and Literacy Graduate Ambassadors, who helped facilitate activities and discussions. Attendees expressed deep appreciation for the event, with many describing it as a refreshing and motivating experience that strengthened their literacy teaching practices.
The Department of Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education, in collaboration with the College of Education’s Office for Faculty and Staff Development, Wellness, and Engagement, hosted a thought-provoking Lunch & Learn session featuring Visiting International Scholar Mrs. Weiping Peng. Mrs. Peng shared valuable insights on measures to improve the quality of classroom teaching in China's higher vocational education, sparking engaging discussions on global approaches to teaching and learning. Mrs. Peng’s mentor is Dr. Ran Hu. A big thank you to all who attended and contributed to this enriching conversation! Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage with international perspectives in education.
Social & Economic Mobility
The ECU Center for STEM Education is proud to partner with PBS North Carolina and the Information Equity Initiative on NextGen TV Datacasting Project in Eastern North Carolina, an innovative program addressing lack of access to digital content for students in rural areas. With over a million North Carolina households lacking reliable broadband, this pilot, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, leverages cutting-edge NextGen TV technology to deliver interactive educational content to students without home internet access. Targeting 6th-grade physical science students at Greene County Middle School (Greene County), Speight Middle School (Wilson County), and Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School (Lenoir County), the pilot program will transmit redesigned PBS Learning Media resources from local schools to selected households via one-way datacasting. Mathematics Education faculty member Dr. Charity Cayton spearheads ECU's contribution to the project. “I grew up in ENC, and I have family with school-age children that live in areas without access to reliable broadband internet,” Dr. Cayton explained. “This project is near and dear to my heart because it impacts the geographic region that is my home and serves students/families like my family.” Her role in evaluating the impact of this initiative will help determine its potential for broader application across the state, ensuring that more students have access to engaging, digital learning tools—no matter their zip code.
MAEd Reading and Literacy Candidate Michelle Maher (Charlotte Mecklenberg Schools) collaborated with ECU Associate Provost for Learner Operations Allen Guidry to organize a a Virtual Roundtable Event on March 18, 2025 for Omicron Delta Kappa members, ECU students, and professors. The event featured Lee Brown, Scott Snead, Crystal Howard, and Bevley Green and explored key topics such as leveraging internships and mentorships, supporting distance education students, and preparing for the transition from college to the workforce. Michelle is the VP of Servant Leadership for Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. Dr. Guidry said, “Michelle’s vision for engaging students through this session was clear from the very first glimmer of an idea in “Leadershape” last year. It is students like her and her ODK colleagues that embody our institutional motto of Servire through their servant leadership. It is also because of engaged faculty and staff like our panelists and mentors like Dr. Christy Howard, who Michelle has cited time and again as an advocate and inspiration, that we are able to provide the incredible return on investment that an ECU degree offers.”
Michelle was also recognized by ECU ODK for outstanding leadership!
Literacy faculty hosted four preparation options for students who needed to pass the Foundations of Reading test to meet NC requirements for teaching licensure:
- Asynchronous online course offered via Canvas
- Synchronous virtual course offered in the afternoon for enrolled students
- On-site, face-to-face session offered on a Saturday
- On the road session offered face-to-face for a day in the school district(s)
Workforce Success
Congratulations to Drs. Ruby Yeh, Ken Luterbach, Crisianee Berry, Kristen Gregory, and Ms. Bridget Madigan (Pitt County Schools) on receiving a $10,000 PrepareCS grant! The team will participate in a workshop this July, held in conjunction with the CSTA Conference in Cleveland, where they will finalize their project to support faculty in integrating Computer Science standards into teacher education. Implementation of the project will begin in the upcoming academic year.
From May 27-29, the College of Education took a bold step into the future of teaching and learning. Nearly 30 faculty members gathered for a transformative three-day professional development workshop titled The AI Educator’s Toolkit: Transforming Teaching and Learning. Led by Dr. Todd Finley, Dr. Kristen Gregory, Dr. Xi Lin, Dr. Ken Luterbach, and Ms. Sarah Sconyers—members of the Artificial Intelligence Teaching & Research Institute (AITRI)—the workshop, promoted by the Center for STEM Education and funded by the COE, aimed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their classrooms, research, and academic programs. Participants explored how AI can enhance student engagement, support scholarly work, and drive innovation in curriculum design.
Dr. Patricia Slagter van Tryon will be a visiting professor at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany, this fall. While in Germany, she will be teaching and conducting research with Dr. Olaf Zawacki-Richter and PhD candidate Berrin Cefa.
This summer, ten faculty from a variety of departments will gather for the Summer 2025 Research and Creative Activity Institute. Participants include Rebecca Burnworth (College of Health & Human Performance), Danielle Dietz (College of Education), Alana Freeman (College of Health & Human Performance), Devlyn McCreight (College of Education), Frimpong Opoku (College of Engineering & Technology), Sarah Patterson (College of Arts & Sciences), Carlos Ramirez (College of Education), Morgan Rich (College of Fine Arts & Communication), Kelli Russell (College of Health & Human Performance) and Heather Seibert (College of Education). Facilitated by Bonnie Glass (College of Education), this institute provides time and structure for faculty members in fixed term positions to work on research and creative activity pursuits, as well as come together for collaboration and professional development during a week-long retreat in May.
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