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Reich College of Education names 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year and finalists

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Kenley Little ’18, Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teaching of the Year, second from left, displays her award. Pictured with Little, from left to right, are Dr. Rwany Sibaja, assistant professor in the Department of History and director of the department’s history, social studies education program; Dr. Neva Specht, dean of Appalachian’s College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Tracie Salinas, professor in the Department of Mathematics and director of secondary teacher education and engagement; Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of the RCOE; and Dr. Monica Lambert, associate dean of the RCOE and director of the college’s Office of Field Experiences. Photo by Rebekah Saylors

“Student teaching was one of the most exhausting, rewarding and enjoyable things that I had the pleasure to participate in.”

Kenley Little ’18, Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year

By Rebekah Saylors
Posted July 12, 2019 at 2:27 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The Reich College of Education (RCOE) at Appalachian State University has named alumna Kenley Little ’18 as the 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year. Little, originally from Lincolnton, graduated in December 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in history, social studies education. She received the award at the college’s spring 2019 commencement reception.

The college also named seven award finalists for the 2018–19 academic year. These finalists are alumnae Andrea Berry ’18, of Jamestown; Jennifer Crain ’18, of Hickory; Olivia Sabins ’18, of Roxboro; Shannon Furr ’19, of Wilkesboro; Cami Haney ’19, of Hudson; Emma Lassiter ’19, of Apex; and Amber Morgan ’19, of Apex.

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Appalachian’s Student Teacher of the Year and finalists for the 2018–19 academic year. Pictured, from left to right, are Shannon Furr ’19, Kenley Little ’18, Andrea Berry ’18, Amber Morgan ’19, Cami Haney ’19, Emma Lassiter ’19, Olivia Sabins ’18 and Jennifer Crain ’18. Photo by Rebekah Saylors

Between the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters, over 150 student teachers were nominated for the award, which recognizes their professionalism and effectiveness in the classroom. Students are nominated by their clinical educators, university field supervisors and/or faculty members.

Nominated students then submit a reflective narrative on their student teaching experience and letters of recommendation from their university field supervisor, clinical educator, principal/administrative designee at the school where they completed their student teaching or RCOE/university faculty members.

Dr. Hannah Reeder, director of clinical education in the RCOE, said the high number of nominees is “a testament to the quality of our students as well as our teacher preparation programs.”

“Student teaching was one of the most exhausting, rewarding and enjoyable things that I had the pleasure to participate in.”

Kenley Little ’18, Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year

About the 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year

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Appalachian alumna Kenley Little ’18. Little was named the university’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the Year. Photo submitted

Kenley Little ’18

This fall, Little — who said she has wanted to be a teacher since she was in elementary school — will begin her full-time teaching career at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, where she will teach world history and sociology. She previously served as a long-term substitute at the school, teaching world history and world humanities after graduating from Appalachian in December 2018.

Little said she chose Appalachian because she knew it would be the best place for an aspiring educator to grow and develop.

“I grew to love history in high school, so becoming a social studies teacher was a natural option,” she said.

Dr. Rwany Sibaja, assistant professor in Appalachian’s Department of History and director of the history, social studies education program, said, “During her time at Appalachian, Kenley Little excelled in the classroom — both as a history/social studies education major and as a student teacher. She always demonstrated a willingness to listen, engage with peers and help others succeed.”

Sibaja continued, “Kenley combines her pursuit of teaching excellence with genuine care for her students, and in fact, it is her desire to help students succeed in life that keeps pushing Kenley to find engaging ways to help them master the content and skills of the history/social studies classroom. All of these traits were apparent to us in the history department, particularly during her time as a student teacher in Lincoln County.”

“Student teaching was one of the most exhausting, rewarding and enjoyable things that I had the pleasure to participate in,” Little shared.

When asked for her thoughts on being nominated as a finalist for the student teaching award, Little quoted Nelson Mandela: “There is no passion to be found playing small — in living a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

“As an advocate and champion for history/social studies education, Kenley Little has the potential to become a leader in her school system and beyond,” Sibaja said.

Little will represent Appalachian at the state level for the Student Teacher of the Year award, which is conferred by the North Carolina Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NC-ACTE). The NC-ACTE winner will be announced at the organization’s annual fall meeting to take place Sept. 30–Oct. 2. This is the fourth consecutive year that NC-ACTE will recognize an elite group of student teachers from each of its member institutions.

Fall 2018 finalists

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Appalachian alumna Andrea Berry ’18, of Jamestown, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Andrea Berry ’18

Andrea Berry ’18, from Jamestown, graduated from Appalachian in December 2018 with a B.S. in health and physical education, K–12.

“I chose health and physical education because I didn’t always like being physically active, and all it took was one teacher to show me the fun physical activity can bring to the table,” Berry said. “I hope to be that same inspiration for one of my students.”

In addition to her student teaching experience at Jackson Middle School in Greensboro, Berry was selected as one of nine students who completed their international student teaching in Thailand. “I had a fantastic experience working with my school and learned so much about myself, my students and my teaching,” she said of the teaching abroad experience.

Berry is currently the head coach for the varsity women’s lacrosse team at Lucy Ragsdale High School in Greensboro.

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Appalachian alumna Jennifer Crain ’18, of Hickory, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Jennifer Crain ’18

Jennifer Crain ’18, from Hickory, said she chose Appalachian because of its reputation as being a leader in education, the cost of its programming and its proximity to home.

Crain graduated in December 2018 with a B.S. in middle grades education–language arts and science, which she completed through App State Online’s hybrid program. During her academic career, she was a State Employees’ Credit Union Appalachian Partnership Scholarship recipient.

“If I learned anything from my student teaching experience, it was to be a teacher from the heart, to come to school every day and give it every piece of my heart,” Crain said. “I struggled in school when I was younger, and I want others to know they can reach their full potential.”

Crain is currently teaching sixth grade science at Heritage Middle School in Valdese.

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Appalachian alumna Olivia Sabins ’18, of Roxboro, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Olivia Sabins ’18

Olivia Sabins ’18, from Roxboro, graduated in December 2018 with a B.S. in elementary education.

One of Sabins’ greatest strengths as an educator is her interpersonal and communication skills, she said. “I made use of any available time to build relationships with my students. Whether I was facilitating a mini-lesson or playing four square at recess, I maintained a smile and a warm disposition,” she said.

On her final day of student teaching, Sabins said she received many heartfelt cards and poems. She, in turn, gave each student a card with a handwritten note and a quote based on who they are, what they might need to hear or simply what might make them smile. She chose the quotes from R.J. Palacio’s “365 Days of Wonder.”

“To be a successful teacher, one does not need to create and execute perfect lessons every day,” Sabins said. “To be a successful teacher, one simply needs to give students a safe, engaging space to learn, explore and make mistakes. I believe I created that space every single day.”

Spring 2019 finalists

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Appalachian alumna Shannon Furr ’19, of Wilkesboro, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Shannon Furr ’19

Shannon Furr ’19 first came to Appalachian with the intent of majoring in elementary education. “While my passion for education has not changed, I realized that I could make the most impact with my capabilities in a history classroom,” Furr said.

Originally from Wilkesboro, Furr graduated in May with a B.S. in history, social studies education.

“The history education program has furthered my love of history and social studies curriculum, and my love for sharing this material,” Furr shared. “My goal is to help students become aware of the narratives of the past so that they can develop a deeper identity in this world and the nation. The history education program has made this goal possible.”

In addition to her student teaching experience at East Wilkes High School in Ronda, Furr was selected to complete international student teaching in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Furr is currently pursuing her M.A. in history at Appalachian through the Accelerated Admissions Program.

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Appalachian alumna Cami Haney ’19, of Hudson, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Cami Haney ’19

Cami Haney ’19, from Hudson, graduated in May with a B.S. in elementary education.

Haney said she chose Appalachian for its “phenomenal teacher education program” and proximity to her home. “I love the mountains, teaching and family, and being at Appalachian provided me with just that,” she said.

“Being an elementary teacher is the one job that makes all the other jobs possible: a doctor couldn’t be a doctor without knowing how to read; an accountant couldn’t be an accountant without learning how to add; and an author couldn’t write books without learning how to write a sentence,” Haney said. “That’s why I chose elementary education; I want to be the one that makes endless possibilities possible for all my students!”

After graduating, Haney hopes to have the opportunity to give back to her hometown by serving as an elementary school teacher in Caldwell County.

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Appalachian alumna Emma Lassiter ’19, of Apex, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Emma Lassiter ’19

Emma Lassiter ’19 immediately fell in love with Appalachian when she first visited the campus, she said. “The combination of the large university with the smaller communities of the Honors College and (Hayes) School of Music were a perfect fit,” she shared.

Lassiter, from Apex, graduated with a Bachelor of Music in choral music education (K–12).

On being selected as a Student Teacher of the Year finalist, Lassiter said, “This shows me once again how supported I am by the Appalachian faculty and my student teaching team. I am proud to be able to share this honor with my students, who have driven me and taught me to be my best.”

This fall, Lassiter will begin her first year of teaching vocal music at the middle school level.

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Appalachian alumna Amber Morgan ’19, of Apex, is one of seven finalists for Appalachian’s 2018–19 Student Teacher of the year award. Photo submitted

Amber Morgan ’19

Amber Morgan ’19, from Apex, graduated in May with a B.S. in special education–adapted curriculum K–12.

“Special education holds a unique and special place in my heart,” Morgan said. “It is a daily blessing to work with such diverse children and be a supportive and positive impact in their lives.”

“Being a student teacher of the year finalist means to me that the past four years of hard work from my professors, mentors, classmates and me has come to fruition,” Morgan added. “All these people’s hard work and passion to guide me towards dedication and excellence clearly shows through!”

Morgan is currently pursuing her M.A. in special education with a concentration in intellectual disabilities at Appalachian through the university’s Accelerated Admissions Program.

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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 so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina. Learn more at https://rcoe.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 unique location. 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 6,400 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 Hayes School of Music

The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation. Noted for quality instruction by national and internationally recognized faculty musicians, the school offers four undergraduate degree programs and three graduate-level programs. Learn more at https://music.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. BCHS offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized into six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of the Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, the Appalachian Regional Health System and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

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