WCE introduces Onsite Literacy Classes at Virgo
The UNCW Watson College of Education has launched on-site literacy classes at D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy, giving future teachers an opportunity to experience a real school setting soon after enrolling in teacher preparation programs.
Professor Caitlin Ryan, coordinator of WCE’s Language and Literacy programs, and associate professor Laura Szech are partnering on the program. Fifty-two students enrolled in EDN 240, a foundational literacy course focused on K–2 instruction, are participating in the on-site classes.
“Our undergraduate students take a series of three literacy courses,” Ryan said. “Two have always included experience components, such as Ed Lab tutoring and an intensive in-school field experience during the block semester before student teaching. As we reorganized coursework to show the state how we teach the science of reading, we began exploring ways to add an experience component to the first course. With a UNCW lab school at Virgo, it seemed like a natural fit.”
Both Ryan and Szech have been actively involved with lab schools. Ryan helped launch a lab school at ECU before joining the faculty at UNCW in 2019 and currently serves on the Chancellor’s Advisory Board for D.C. Virgo. Szech taught EDN 340 at Virgo in Spring and Fall semesters in 2022 prior to the reorganization of the courses. She also partnered with WCE’s lead Ed Lab coach Courtney Townsend to coordinate on-site tutoring at Virgo, led a parent book club, and hosted literacy-focused cooking classes for Virgo families.
After discussing the idea with Virgo Executive Director Rachel Greer, the team began preparing for the new classes. During the fall semester, Ryan and Szech volunteered in Stephenaiye Proctor’s K–1 classroom and helped convert Room 104 — previously a storage space — into a dedicated UNCW classroom.
In January, students toured the school, observed classroom instruction and watched Ryan model read-aloud strategies with Virgo students. In February and early March, WCE students participated in their first “Application Day,” working one-on-one with Virgo students on read-alouds and phonological and phonemic awareness activities. Later in the semester, they will create and teach lesson plans to support students’ phonics and decoding skills.
“Our goal is to give our UNCW students an early real-school experience,” Ryan said. “They have an opportunity to develop lesson plans and teach, but they aren’t graded on their teaching at this point. The goal is helping them build connections with children and develop their identities as a teacher by being in a school setting early on.”
Virgo instructional coach Lindsey Morgan serves as the site coordinator.
“Lindsey has been incredible,” Ryan said. “She’s our liaison with teachers and helps coordinate our time with students. She also has strong connections to Watson. She’s enrolled in our graduate level Reading Add-On Licensure program and taught an undergraduate literacy course as an adjunct in the fall. The knowledge and experience she brings to this role are invaluable.”
Ryan said she wasn’t sure how UNCW students would respond to the on-site format, but they have embraced the experience.
“Our students have been immersed in the rhythm of the school and are getting to see the brilliance of Virgo students,” she said. “The experience is literacy-focused, so they are learning to notice and develop children’s literacy abilities without having to worry about managing a whole class yet.”
“When my students leave Virgo after class, they’re excited,” Ryan added. “They say, ‘These kids are great.’ The Virgo students are also enjoying the energy our students bring, and they’re benefiting from the connections.”
Photos from the first Application Day capture the engagement, focus and joy present during the time students spend time together, Ryan said.
“This has been a positive experience all around,” she said. “The shared learning happening here represents exactly what a lab school is meant to be.”
Enrollment at D.C. Virgo is now open for students entering kindergarten for the 2026–27 academic year. Applications for grades K–8 are accepted year-round. For more information, visit the D.C. Virgo website.
About WCE’s Language & Literacy Programs
Literacy courses are a core component of WCE’s undergraduate Elementary Education program. At the graduate level, WCE offers a master’s degree and an add-on licensure for K–12 teachers seeking to become literacy leaders in their schools or districts. The M.Ed. aligns with National Board Certification and can lead to a 12% pay increase in North Carolina.
Graduate programs are delivered in a cohort model with synchronous evening online classes designed for working professionals. New cohorts begin each fall. For more information visit the program websites:
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