App State announces 2019–20 Student Teacher of the Year and finalists

As a graduate of Appalachian’s English, secondary education degree program, Moore said he believes “language has the power to heal or to hurt; to honor or to defame; to lift up or to tear down.”

“I want to be a teacher who educates my students on how to use their language and lives to build others up, how to be effective communicators and how to advocate for justice,” he said. “Literature is the lens through which we view life and culture, so I want to engage with my students in how to change lives and how to respect cultures and perspectives.”

Moore completed his spring 2020 student teaching — both in person and virtually due to COVID-19 school closures — with Appalachian alumnus Jamie Lewis ’92 ’06, an English teacher at Hibriten High School in Caldwell County.

The Student Teacher of the Year award has been a “confidence booster” for Moore, he said, and is an indication that he is headed in the right direction to become a future teacher leader.

Dr. Mark Vogel, professor in Appalachian’s Department of English and co-director of the university’s teacher education program, said Moore showed a passion for being a challenging teacher who cares deeply for each of his students throughout his academic career and student teaching experience.

Moore plans to return to his home region to teach English, “giving back to the community that made me fall in love with English and education,” he said. He will be teaching high school English at West Cabarrus High School in Concord.

He will represent Appalachian at the state level for the Student Teacher of the Year, which is offered by the North Carolina Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NCACTE). The NCACTE winner will be announced at the organization’s annual fall meeting, scheduled for Sept. 23–Oct. 25. This is the fifth year consecutive year that NCACTE will recognize an elite group of student teachers from each of its member institutions.

Ballard, of Wilmington, graduated from Appalachian in December 2019 with a Bachelor of Music in instrumental music education (K–12) and a Bachelor of Arts in languages, literature and cultures–German. He completed his fall 2019 student teaching with Appalachian alumna Alyssa Montgomery ’12, conductor of bands at Leesville Road High School in Wake County.

“There were many times during student teaching when things were very difficult, and I wondered if I was really making a difference,” Ballard said. “This nomination helped to validate my love for what I am doing.”

Choosing to come to Appalachian was a no-brainer for Ballard, he said — most of his extended family attended Appalachian, and he visited the school many times while growing up, becoming familiar with the offerings of the university’s Hayes School of Music (HSOM).

“The Hayes School of Music at Appalachian is an amazing family of mentors and peers who want nothing more than to help you succeed in accomplishing your goals, musical or otherwise,” Ballard said.

Ballard said he was drawn to the music education program because the HSOM’s practical courses and the RCOE’s field experiences allowed him to immediately begin exploring what it is like to be a teacher — from day one. “This was a big appeal and turned out to solidify my focus and drive in pursuing my degrees,” he said.

Ballard is currently teaching middle school band at Rolesville Middle School in Wake County.

Densley, of Pine Bush, New York, said he chose Appalachian and its special education program because of the university’s strong sense of community and its reputation for preparing excellent teachers.

Densley graduated from Appalachian in December 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in special education, adapted curriculum (K–12). During his fall 2019 student teaching, which he completed with Appalachian alumna Sonya Page ’16, an exceptional children teacher at Hardin Park Elementary School in Boone, Densley, who identifies as being autistic, advocated for students who receive special education services.

“Student teaching was the most joyful and gratifying semester of my time in college,” Densley said. “I saw myself grow as a teacher in ways that I hadn’t even expected and at a rate I didn’t know was possible. Student teaching confirmed for me that teaching is truly what I was meant to do and being a student teaching finalist of the year further validates that self-knowledge.”

Densley is currently enrolled in Appalachian’s Master of Arts in special education program with a concentration in emotional/behavioral disorders and is pursuing graduate certificates in autism spectrum disorders and reading education. He is also a graduate assistant mentor in Appalachian’s As-U-R — an intensive student support program focused on supporting students with executive function challenges.

Henry, of Wake Forest, graduated from Appalachian in December 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She completed her fall 2019 student teaching with Stephanie Elliott, second grade teacher at Forest Pines Elementary School in Wake County.

“I love the ‘aha’ moments from kids when they figure something out and seeing how determined kids can be to accomplish anything,” Henry said. “That drove me to become a teacher, because I know that teaching is full of those moments.”

Henry, whose passion for teaching originated from the four years she taught recreational gymnastics, transferred to Appalachian — a move that “felt right,” she said. She also became involved with the Transfer Educators learning community, which helps transfer teacher education students integrate smoothly into the Appalachian campus community.

After graduating from Appalachian, Henry started teaching second grade at Wakelon Elementary School in Zebulon. “I have been teaching math, science and social studies to 33 amazing second graders,” she said.

Belk, of Greensboro, graduated from Appalachian May 16 with a Bachelor of Science in special education, adapted curriculum (K–12). She completed her student teaching — both in person and virtually due to COVID-19 school closures — with Appalachian alumna Cindy Barr ’88, a self-contained teacher (a teacher who teaches all subjects) at Hardin Park Elementary School in Boone.

“I have been sculpted into the woman I am today by both the challenges and encouragement presented to me by the professors and colleagues in my program,” said Belk, who chose Appalachian for the reputation of its education program. “Our program really does have some of the most incredible people … and it is inspiring to work alongside of each of the people in my cohort.”

After graduating, Belk will continue her education in the university’s Accelerated Admission program, earning her Master of Arts in special education with a concentration in emotional/behavioral disorders, as well as reading education and autism spectrum disorders graduate certificates.

In addition, Belk will be a part of Appalachian’s Interdisciplinary Support for High-Intensity Needs in Education (iSHINE) program, an opportunity that will allow her to “continue to grow into the best future educator and learn how to best collaborate with future colleagues,” she said.

The iSHINE program — a collaborative effort between Appalachian’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Department of Reading Education and Special Education — prepares pre-service speech-language pathologists, reading specialists and special educators to serve children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs as members of interdisciplinary teams in K–12 school settings.

Buchheit, who is originally from Cape Coral, Florida, graduated from Appalachian May 16 with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts with a concentration in theatre education. He completed his student teaching — both in person and virtually due to COVID-19 school closures — with Appalachian alumnus Brian Seagroves ’09, a theater arts teacher at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte.

On being named an award finalist, Buchheit said, “This recognition is the culmination of the immense belief that all of my educators, mentors, friends and family have put into me as I’ve poured my heart into theater and education the past 11 years of my life. My gratitude is boundless.”

Buchheit has lived in Boone for the past eight years and said attending Appalachian meant he was able to stay close to his family while exploring his passion for theater and pedagogy.

He said he knew “Appalachian would be an excellent place to continue exploring all of the immense possibilities, wisdom and skill sets that theater has to offer” after meeting with Department of Theatre and Dance faculty Keith Martin and Derek Gagnier at the North Carolina Theatre Conference College Discovery Day.

Buchheit’s future goals include moving to Washington, D.C., working professionally as an actor, obtaining his master’s in theater education, establishing his own theater company and securing a high school theater teaching position.

St. Pierre, of Sawmills, graduated from Appalachian May 16 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. During her academic career, she was a recipient of the State Employees Credit Union Appalachian Partnership Scholarship, and she completed her student teaching — both in person and virtually due to COVID-19 school closures — with Alicia Raby, a second grade teacher at Granite Falls Elementary School in Caldwell County.

“The teachers I work with every day in second grade are the best group of teachers and have treated me like an equal,” she said. “I appreciate them for allowing me to shine and work hard as a student teacher and do what I love to do every day.”

“Teaching young people is the most rewarding job anyone could ever have,” said St. Pierre, whose No. 1 priority as a future educator is to make learning fun. “The student teaching experience is better than awesome!”

Now that she has graduated, St. Pierre hopes to teach at a school with an environment such as the one she found at Appalachian through her internships and student teaching. “I also want to work with students where I can make a difference every day,” she said.