The NASUP 2024 Exemplary PDS Award presented to WCE’s PDS School-University Partnership specifically recognized the close collaboration between the UNCW Watson College of Education’s secondary education program and Southeast Area Technical High School (SEA-Tech).
SEA-Tech opened its doors in fall 2017 to a cohort of 44 diverse freshmen. The school, which currently serves 264 students in grade 9- 12, offers a unique blended curriculum, project-based learning, flexible scheduling and the opportunity to receive stackable credentials and industry certifications through real-world, work-based training, in collaboration with our local community college and other local partnerships. Students at SEA-Tech develop an individualized career action plan and explore up to three career technical areas throughout their high school career.
SEA-Tech’s small learning environment, emphasis on relationships, caring and supportive faculty, and a curriculum that allows students to explore their interests, provides an ideal setting for field experiences for future high school teachers. Over the past six years, WCE’s secondary program faculty have partnered with SEA-Tech teachers to coordinate a semester-long field experience that matches pre-service teachers with high school students for mutually beneficial weekly tutoring/mentoring sessions. To date, 112 Watson College students have participated in this unique mentorship program.
“Our secondary students matriculate through our program using a cohort model with increasing field experiences each semester,” said Denise Ousley, coordinator of WCE’s Secondary Education Program. “We wanted to give them an early field experience that captivated on the benefits of WCE’s on-campus Ed Lab at the school site. With the Ed Lab, our students receive close coaching and mentoring as they first practice the methods they are learning in their courses by mentoring a student in a one-on-one setting. From its conception, Ed Lab Director Brian Brinkley, Secondary faculty, SEA-Tech Principal Edie Skipper, and teachers Ashley Wall (math) and Christa Tompkins (English), co-created a high school mentoring experience that is as powerful for the teenagers as it is for our teacher candidates. It is a wonderful learning opportunity for all involved!”
Educators at SEA-Tech also provide leadership in WCE’s broader PDS signature initiatives and networks. PDS Site Coordinator Christa Tompkins ’18M participated in the PDS Master Teacher Program; Tompkins and SEA-Tech Partnership Teachers collaborate as leaders in WCE’s National Board (NB) Certification and edTPA Support Networks; and the school has partnered as a placement site for international Fulbright teachers visiting UNCW on the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Grant through the United States Department of State Office of Global Educational Programs.
In addition to Tompkins, Edie Skipper ’13 Ed.D., who has served as principal since the school’s inception, is a four-time UNCW graduate and 47% of all teachers and school leaders at SEA-Tech are graduates of one or more of WCE education programs. These relationships provide a strong foundation for open, honest communication among faculty and school partners with positive implications for secondary program planning that directly impacts 9-12 teaching and learning.
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