Taura Simmons Alumni Profile

Taura Simmons ’23M graduated in December with an M.Ed. in ESL, Reading Specialist add-on licensure and National Board Certification.

“Pursuing multiple interests in my master’s program added to the depth and quality of my learning experience,” she said. “Many thanks to Jenn Hatch-Knight, Dr. Pappamihiel, and Dr. Ryan for collaborating with me to create the unique synergistic experience that truly amplified my studies – allowing each pursuit to reinforce and support the others. I hope other teachers will see the value and benefit and pursue a similar pathway.”

Simmons earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UNC Chapel Hill and had a 20-year career in financial services before becoming a lateral entry English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Zebulon Middle School in Wake County. She completed her ESL coursework at NC State University, where she earned the Excellence in Teaching ESL award from NCSU’s Foreign Languages & Literatures program in 2017. A few years later, she began to explore graduate opportunities in education, and decided to enroll in a master’s program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education.

“Taura was interested in a dual focus on literacy and enhancing her work with English learners,” said Caitlin Ryan, coordinator of WCE’s Language & Literacy programs. “Watson’s ESL and Literacy programs hadn’t partnered together formally before, but we mapped out a way she could do enough ESL courses to earn a master’s degree along with enough literacy courses to earn her add-on license as a Reading Specialist, so it was truly the best of both worlds.”

As a graduate student, Simmons also participated in Watson’s National Board Certification Support Program, which helps North Carolina teachers achieve the highest certification in the teaching profession and a 12 percent pay raise. Jenn Hatch-Knight, assistant director of WCE’s PDS Office, coordinates the NB support program.

“Jenn and I had been talking about ways to add in more collaboration between the TESL master’s degree program and National Boards, so when Taura inquired about this, it presented a great opportunity,” said Eleni Pappamihiel, coordinator of Watson’s ESL programs. “Jenn was able to crosswalk the National Board requirements to the specific TESL classes Taura would be taking. The combination of L&L classes, TESL classes and National Boards really seemed to fit her needs perfectly.”

Simmons recently began a new position as the English Language Development Specialist and ESL Teacher for Wake County's five early colleges, STEM, and career academies high schools.  

“One of the reasons I find being an ESL teacher so fulfilling is that it has given me a unique opportunity to have an impact at several levels – in my classroom and in the community,” she said. “As a teacher, my job is to stretch, strengthen and exercise the critical thinking skills of every child that falls within earshot of my voice while unlocking the scientist, mathematician, historian, poet, artist, philosopher and general academician within. In my new role, I am able to have a broader impact than just my classroom – supporting teachers and other school personnel in providing high quality literacy instruction for multilingual students.”

“Taura is a wonderful student: energetic, curious, thoughtful, and eager to apply what she’s learned directly in her classroom,” Ryan said. “Her passion and skill as a teacher, bolstered by both her knowledge of ESL and more general knowledge about the field of literacy learning, make her a true gift to her students.”

Pappamihiel, Ryan and Knight hope to build on this successful collaboration, helping more graduate students earn dual credentials in the future.

“With just a few extra courses, it’s possible to earn a MAEd in ESL alongside a Reading Specialist add-on licensure,” Ryan said. “Graduates will be prepared to effectively serve all students’ language and literacy needs, including students for whom English is not their first language. We hope more people are interested in taking advantage of this combination program that Taura helped us map out.”