East Carolina University selected as partner institution for NC Teaching Fellows
East Carolina University has been selected as a partner institution by the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.
“We are excited and honored to be selected as a partner institution for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program,” said Dr. André Green, dean of the ECU College of Education. “The college has long been a premier producer of high-quality teachers for eastern North Carolina and the entire state. This program enables us to increase the number of teachers we prepare, thanks to the financial incentives it offers students who have a desire to be educators. It will further our mission of regional transformation by addressing the teacher shortages that many districts in this region and beyond are facing.”
The Teaching Fellows program is a competitive, merit-based program offering teacher licensure in elementary education, special education and STEM education. The forgivable loan program offers up to $10,000 per year of tuition assistance for students who commit to teaching in a North Carolina public school.
“North Carolina Teaching Fellows opened the door for me to receive the high-quality teacher education for which East Carolina University is renowned,” said Clinton Todd, an ECU and Teaching Fellows alumnus and current talent acquisition coordinator for Pitt County Schools. “I am proud of the institution that similarly cultivated my growth as an educator and student advocate, and I am excited that this program is returning so that it may continue to do the same for others. The program will provide access for future educators within our community to be able to realize their dreams while guiding our students toward theirs.”
ECU previously served as one of the host institutions for the Teaching Fellows program during its operation in 1986 to 2015 and provided future teachers with support from the first day of freshman year with networking, leadership opportunities and year-round enrichment programs. Since the reinstatement of the program in 2017, faculty and staff in ECU’s educator preparation program have shown interest in serving as a host institution once more.
“As an ECU Teaching Fellows alumna, I can personally attest to the outstanding caliber of the ECU educator preparation program and its significant role in shaping my success both as a classroom educator and in my current role in teacher preparation,” said Dr. Holly Fales, assistant dean for undergraduate affairs and educator preparation. “I’ve witnessed the program’s profound effect on those pursuing careers in education, with many of my ECU Teaching Fellows peers significantly impacting North Carolina students, schools and communities throughout their careers in education. ECU continues its steadfast commitment to upholding excellence in teacher preparation, and we are eager to prepare the next generation of ECU Teaching Fellows.”
ECU was selected along with Appalachian State University through a competitive application process analyzing program data, institutional support and practical experiences. The other NC Teaching Fellows partner institutions are Elon University, Fayetteville State University, Meredith College, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, NC State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
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