Jenn Hatch Knight, WCE’s Assistant PDS Director, has received the PK20 Boundary Spanner Award from the National Association of School-University Partnerships for her outstanding work with UNCW’s partnership schools and school districts. The award recognizes an individual who is situated in a “third space” between university and PK12 settings and innovates the systems or practices to enhance the learning of all of those involved in the partnership.
PDS Director Somer Lewis and WCE Associate Professor Lynn Sikma nominated Jenn for the award. It was presented at the NASUP National Conference in Anaheim, California on March 25.
“Jenn’s role is unique, in that she is a full-time university employee; however, through the initiatives she leads, Jenn seamlessly transitions to spaces beyond the College of Education, providing instructional support in classrooms alongside PDS partnership teachers, leading PDS initiatives that engage beginning teachers and veteran teacher leaders, and working alongside district level personnel and community partners to co-design and facilitate mutually beneficial programming,” Lewis said. “She is truly a boundary spanner and she grapples the complexity of her role with grace, patience, and a love of partnership.”
Hatch Knight began her career as an elementary school teacher. She taught in New Hanover County for 10 years and worked as an instructional coach with the Department of Public Instruction before joining the staff at UNCW in 2016. As Assistant PDS Director, she coordinates the First Years of Teaching Support Program, the PDS Promise of Leadership Award Program and WCE’s National Board Certification Support Program. She also works in partnership districts including Onslow County, Duplin County and Clinton City to help grow and sustain district-based NBCT support.
At the pre-service level, Hatch Knight serves as an adjunct instructor in Watson’s elementary education program and facilitator of edTPA student support for over 300 future teachers annually. She also serves as a liaison for instructional support at D.C. Virgo and works alongside university-based instructional coaches in WCE’s statewide New Teacher Support Program.
“It is not uncommon for Jenn to spend her morning in a second grade classroom, then transition herself at lunchtime to a statewide meeting for beginning teacher coordinators. In the afternoon she may be facilitating an edTPA support session for university students, and then find herself ending her day leading a workshop for veteran partnership teachers,” Lewis said. “Her success in these spaces is only amplified through the many ways our partnership, students and P-12 learners have grown from her leadership. Jenn is truly deserving of this national recognition of her work.”
“I am honored to receive this award from an organization committed to the power of and impact of school university partnerships,” Hatch Knight said. “I am proud of the many touchpoints I have with educators across the continuum that play a role in supporting and advancing the profession.”
For more information on WCE’s Professional Development System, please visit the PDS website. For information on Educator Support programs provided through PDS, please visit the Educator Support website.
This article has the following tags: Watson College of Education Engagement Accomplishments