Alexa Baird '11
Elementary Education Graduate; Women's Soccer

"I was drawn to Catawba because of the small school atmosphere. I have always attended a smaller school, which really helped me thrive off of the student to teacher ratio. I left the cold weather of New Jersey, ready for a change in scenery. North Carolina had always been appealing to me and I fell in love with the campus immediately. Once I found out Catawba had an amazing teaching program, and that I could continue playing soccer in Division II, I was hooked. My original plans to go back to New Jersey to receive a masters in education changed after I realized that getting hired in a teaching position there would be difficult. My professors informed me of the opportunities in North Carolina and after my first few years, it had grown on me and I decided I could see myself staying.

My plans for the future include being accepted in the Teach for America program, where I will teach in a rural school district for two years. This particular area is known to have low test scores and high poverty risks. I have been placed in Eastern North Carolina, where I plan on getting my Master’s degree in Education while teaching. After my two year commitment there ends, I would love to stay in North Carolina; however, I would not mind traveling to other states to teach. While teaching, I plan to continue my love for soccer by coaching youth children."

Elizabeth Sloop '11
Elementary Education Graduate

"I chose Catawba College because of the small student-teacher ratio, the commitment of professors to help students succeed, and, of course, a strong teacher education program. Along with professors who push students to excel, Catawba's education program provides students with classroom exposure early on. I remember some of my first observations in the elementary schools, and those observations helped me realize the influence a teacher has to empower his or her students. In addition to early field experience, the coursework challenges students to utilize the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) while developing lesson plans in a variety of subjects. Education classes at Catawba also go far beyond the NCSCOS and address topics such as how to contact parents, professional behavior, and how to address "real world" student situations.

Outside of the classroom, I was fortunate to participate in a wide variety of activities through the Martha West Teaching Scholars program. In addition to wonderful travel experiences, this program allowed me to observe the differences in schools in major cities as well as rural areas. I was also involved with Catawba's SNCAE, which allowed me to work on my leadership and teamwork skills, which will be invaluable when I begin my teaching career."

Lizzie Fields '10

"I wanted to go a small school and Catawba was close to my home. I was unsure what to pick as a major at first but took some introductory education classes and soon liked the idea of being a teacher. I liked how the department implemented a one-year internship called COPE at Overton elementary school where I got hands-on experience for the responsibilities of being a teacher. I plan to get a teaching job in one of the surrounding counties of Rowan County. In the next five years, I plan to get a master's in Education in Elementary School teacher."

Jenn Layton '09
Elementary Education Graduate

"I chose Catawba College because it had everything I was looking for; the small family atmosphere, a personalized classroom setting, and a strong teacher education program. Catawba has it all!One of the biggest reasons I chose to come to Catawba was for the elementary education program and I have never been disappointed with that decision. Our professors truly strived to get us into the classroom early in our program, observing and working with children from the beginning, making sure teaching was something we truly wanted to do.

Whether it was observing elementary, middle, and high schools in Introduction to Teaching or working with those who are handicapped in Health and P.E., we received a wide range of experiences with diverse groups and different classroom settings. The opportunity for field experiences was valuable and also good preparation for our future classrooms. Methods courses in Social studies, Language Arts, mathematics, and science gave us a chance to learn how to teach different subjects as we examined the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, developed lesson plans, and learned the content for ourselves.

In addition to the strong academic preparation for teaching provided by classes and field experiences we were also given the opportunity to expand our ideas, visions, and knowledge through other academic courses. I am appreciative of the classroom preparation and the opportunities presented by SNCAE and the Academy for Teaching to expand my knowledge and skills and prepare me to be a teacher."

Leigh Marcischak '07

"The Department of Teacher Education has gone above and beyond to prepare me to be an effective instructor in today's public schools. I feel confident that I can compete with other college graduates for rewarding teaching positions."

Josh Jordan '03

"The Catawba College’s Teacher Education Department set me up for success. The challenges they presented to me as a student along with the support I received while taking on those challenges are immeasurable.  Although I am a long way from the campus of Catawba College, I brag about the school whenever I can because it truly was the place where I grew up. I can never thank the professors and staff enough."

Josh majored in History and minored in Secondary Education. In 2005, Josh earned a Master of Science at Fort Hays State University, in Hays, Kansas. His specialized area of study was Exercise Science. Josh is employed at Fort Hays State University as the First Assistant Baseball Coach and as an instructor in Personal Wellness.

Kathy Haynes '03

"My educational experience at Catawba College gave me a solid foundation for my teaching career. While I strive for perfection, I received the opportunities to learn from my mistakes without feeling like a failure. I learned from my professors in the Teacher Education Department how to be a better teacher through their examples. I learned the importance of modeling for my students. Reflecting on teaching methods and experiences gives me an opportunity to improve upon and refine my skills. I learned the importance of being a support for students while still offering challenges. Most important, I learned by example, what it means to be a dedicated professional teacher who strives to be the best through a comittment of being a life-long learner."

Allison Dupree '01

Allison majored in Physical Education with a minor in Special Subjects K-12. She earned her master of science degree in health promotion from Mississippi State University. She is now employed as a National Board Certified physical education/health teacher at C.C. Erwin Middle School in Salisbury, N.C., where she also serves as that school's athletic director and head girls basketball coach.

Patrick Winters '97

Patrick graduated from Catawba in May 1997 with a B. A. degree in English and returned as a post-baccalaureate student to obtain teacher certification. Patrick has since earn ed a masters of arts in English education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is currently in a master's program for school administration. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Patrick has also served as chair of the English Department at East Rowan High School, co-advised the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society, taught Sunday school, worked with youth mission group and serves on committees at First Baptist Church in Salisbury where he is a member. In 2004, Patrick was chosen as Teacher of the Year for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

Tyler Kulp '06

"Catawba College’s Teacher Education Department set me up for success. The challenges they presented to me as a student and the support I received while taking on those challenges are immeasurable. Although I am a long way from the campus of Catawba College, I brag about the school whenever I can because it truly was the place where I grew up. I can never thank the professors and staff enough."