Appalachian alumnus Adam Moore ’18, who graduated in May from the university’s Department of History with a Bachelor of Arts in history with a concentration in social studies education. Moore is the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences’ 2017–18 Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year Award and has accepted a teaching position with his alma mater, East Forsyth High School in Kernersville. Photo by Marie Freeman
BOONE, N.C. — When Appalachian alumnus Adam Moore ’18 returns to his alma mater, East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, this fall, he will view the school’s classrooms from a different perspective — by being at the helm. The Kernersville native has accepted a teaching position in the school’s social studies department.
Moore, who graduated from Appalachian’s Department of History in May and holds a bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in social studies education, already has one teaching accolade under his belt. Appalachian’s College of Arts and Sciences named Moore the Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year for the 2017–18 academic year. This is the second year the college has conferred the award.
“He (Adam Moore) understands that mastering the craft of teaching history and the social sciences is ultimately about empowering adolescents to become critical thinkers and global citizens,” said Dr. Rwany Sibaja, assistant professor and history/social studies education director in the Department of History.
“Adam helps students to think historically by engaging with primary and secondary sources with clear and identifiable learning targets in mind. In his classroom, students don’t just hear about history, they do history,” he said.
Moore was also the recipient of the Steve and Judy James Scholarship for Education and a member of the Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES) in the Reich College of Education.
He completed his student teaching at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons and worked in youth development as a volunteer scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 944 in Kernersville.
“In my four years as a student at Appalachian State University, I found myself engrossed by highly qualified professors, peers who shared my inquisitiveness and love for learning, and a campus that is built to support its students,” Moore said.
“Appalachian is not only a place to learn from as a student, but it provided me a toolkit of resources for life and a network of support that does not stop after graduation. Working with students in the local schools allowed me to assimilate myself into the High Country community and made me feel at home,” he added.
Moore will go on to compete for the Appalachian State University Outstanding Student Teacher Award. The winner of this university-level award represents the campus in the statewide North Carolina Association for Colleges and Teacher Educators (NCACTE) Student Teacher of the Year competition. The NCACTE winner will be announced at the organization’s annual fall meeting to be held Oct. 3–5.
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About the Department of History
The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, which encourages history majors to develop a comprehensive approach to human problems. The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers, such as law, journalism, public history, public service and business, as well as in teaching and the advanced discipline of history. Learn more at https://history.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
About the Reich College of Education
Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs, with offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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