On October 30, Scoville Stewart ’19M, Jessica Harvey ’12M and Brook Faulkner ’20M visited campus to meet with students in WCE’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education program.
Stewart, Harvey and Faulkner are all Watson College MAT graduates and current high school teachers, and the meeting was arranged by Professor Robert Smith as part of an ongoing initiative by faculty in WCE’s Secondary Education program to build connections between current students and alumni.
“Our graduates provide a valuable extended learning community both for our future high school teachers as well as for us as faculty,” Smith said. “They are doing wonderful things in the classroom, and our students benefit from the opportunity to hear about their experiences first-hand.”
Thirteen MAT students participated in the discussion, which took place during Smith’s SEC-528 class. SEC-528 is a course designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to be effective high school teacher leaders by examining the organizational structure of high schools, changes in curriculum and instruction, models of high school reform and current issues at the secondary level.
During the open forum, student questions led to wide-ranging discussions about the use of AI, the importance of student voice and choice in shaping the curriculum and ways teachers handle cell phone use in the classroom. Students also asked for advice for dealing with edTPA, North Carolina’s performance-based teacher candidate assessment; ways the teachers deal with behavioral challenges; and opportunities they have found to provide leadership inside and outside of the classroom.
Stewart, a math teacher at Hoggard High School, said that he has built a stronger connection to his school – and to his students – by sponsoring the math club and doing tutoring. Faulkner, who teaches science at Ashley High School, said she tries to have her students do a lab every day and has found a way to engage students through participation in an outside garden project.
“The labs and the garden reinforce the importance of practicing science,” she said. “And, as an added benefit, when students are doing labs they are not on their phones!”
Harvey, who taught social studies at Dixon High School in Onslow County for nine years before moving to Laney High School in 2020, said she still loves teaching because of the students. “First and foremost, they are who I am here to help, guide, and impact, and they are 100% my favorite thing about my job. I also believe that the professional development opportunities, especially working with MAT interns and the Emerging Leaders Program through NHCS, have greatly contributed to my success and happiness in the teaching field. Interns always bring a sense of excitement, and newness to my classroom that continue to remind me why this is the BEST profession.”
Denise Ousley and Dennis Kubasko, coordinators of WCE’s Secondary Education programs, said the opportunities faculty provide for students to connect with alumni are powerful.
“Our secondary MAT program alumni provide current students with a critically important perspective,” Kubasko said. “Alumni can directly and explicitly speak to how the shared program with current students translates into their teaching practice. They can expand on the program characteristics that has served them well in the profession as well as offer recommendations for further connections.”
MAT student Darcy Predieri (Social Studies) said, “I really enjoyed our discussions of making classroom activities relevant. I especially liked what Mr. Stewart said about making math relevant to students and his emphasis on exercising the mind and expanding thinking skills.”
“It was great to see where past MATs are a few years after the program,” said Sydney Hoover (English MAT). “I feel like we are so ‘in the trenches’ right now with classes, student teaching and edTPA. It was very encouraging to get advice from people who have succeeded in this field and to see where we could go from here.”
UNCW’s Watson College of Education offers a two-year licensure program for undergraduate students majoring in mathematics, science, history or English at UNCW; a one full-year Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program for students with an undergraduate degree in math, science, history or English; and a five-year bachelor’s/master’s combined program. Beginning in January, WCE will also offer a residency licensure program for non-certified teachers who have been hired to teach in high schools.
The programs, designed for students who would like to teach at the high school level, are all offered in a cohort model and feature small class sizes and dedicated faculty with extensive high school classroom teaching experience. During the final semester, students participate in full-time student teaching under the guidance of a mentor teacher and faculty supervisor. For more information visit the program websites:
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