Future education leaders at App State receive boosted support from about $3 million in state grants

View larger image — Tasha Hall-Powell ’01 ’09, a graduate of Appalachian State University’s Master of School Administration program, speaks at the 2019 fifth grade graduation held at the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork. Hall-Powell served as principal of the academy from 2018–21 and is now one of three co-directors of school improvement for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Photo by Troy Tuttle

“Providing quality teachers and educational leaders is the cornerstone of Appalachian’s past, present and future. Our partnerships with schools through providing continuing education and professional development opportunities are critical to the work we do in preparing educators, as well as North Carolina’s students.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

By Rebekah Saylors

Posted Aug. 5, 2021 at 10:24 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Millions in awarded grant funding will boost the development of and support for North Carolina educators in leadership programs — among them, students in Appalachian State University’s school administration program.

“Providing quality teachers and educational leaders is the cornerstone of Appalachian’s past, present and future. Our partnerships with schools through providing continuing education and professional development opportunities are critical to the work we do in preparing educators, as well as North Carolina’s students.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

App State is one of six University of North Carolina System institutions selected by the System to receive recurring grants through the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program (NCPFP). The university will receive nearly $3 million in funding over six years, beginning in 2022.

“Providing quality teachers and educational leaders is the cornerstone of Appalachian’s past, present and future,” said Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education (RCOE). “Our partnerships with schools through providing continuing education and professional development opportunities are critical to the work we do in preparing educators, as well as North Carolina’s students.”

Reich College is partnering with 12 state school districts and the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance to train and support future principals through the university’s online Master of School Administration (MSA) program, offered by RCOE’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies.

In the MSA program, students explore a principal’s role in advancing an institution’s mission and develop leadership skills needed to evaluate systems and processes for school improvement.

The program includes leadership and professional development, in-school field experiences with partner schools and mentoring.

More on the Principal Fellows Program

The North Carolina General Assembly established this grant program in 2015 to provide funds for the preparation and support of highly effective school principals in North Carolina. Currently, the program produces approximately 40% of the state’s principals.

Learn more about the NC Principal Fellows Program.

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NC Principal Fellows Program participating institutions

2022–28 grant cycle:

Appalachian State University.
East Carolina University.
North Carolina State University.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Western Carolina University.

2020–26 grant cycle:

North Carolina Central University/Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Partnering school districts

As part of its grant support through the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, App State is partnering with the following 12 school districts from 2022–28 to train and support future state principals:

Watauga County Schools.
Wilkes County Schools.
Avery County Schools.
Alleghany County Schools.
Alexander County Schools.
Burke County Schools.
Caldwell County Schools.
Ashe County Schools.
Elkin City Schools.
Newton-Conover City Schools.
Hickory Public Schools.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

School Administration (MSA)

The road towards principalship starts with Appalachian’s online Master of School Administration. Through this program, you will gain insight into your new role as you examine the leadership skills needed to evaluate the systems and processes for continuous school improvement.

Learn more

Reich College of Education

Appalachian offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 2,400 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

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 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.

“Providing quality teachers and educational leaders is the cornerstone of Appalachian’s past, present and future. Our partnerships with schools through providing continuing education and professional development opportunities are critical to the work we do in preparing educators, as well as North Carolina’s students.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

NC Principal Fellows Program participating institutions

2022–28 grant cycle:

Appalachian State University.
East Carolina University.
North Carolina State University.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Western Carolina University.

2020–26 grant cycle:

North Carolina Central University/Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Partnering school districts

As part of its grant support through the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, App State is partnering with the following 12 school districts from 2022–28 to train and support future state principals: