Why I Chose Education

Everyone has a different reason. What's yours?

Simple Question, Powerful Answers:

We asked educators why they chose to enter the field of education and they shared their inspiring stories. From current students to those who have worked in education for decades, take a look at why our alumni chose to make a difference in the lives of learners.

“What you do as a teacher, as an educator, is you get to make an impact on the lives of others that can last their entire lifetime.”

– Bennett Jones ’14MSA, ’19EDD, director of the N.C. Teaching Fellows program

Meet Bennett

Ashlyn Scruggs ’15

“A real reason why I teach is to serve other people and give back to them,” says the Wake County Public School System middle school social studies teacher.

Meet Ashlyn

Richmond Hill ’01MED

“There’s this power in being able to mentor and develop others,” says the provost of Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Woodbridge campus.

Meet Richmond

EDGAR HUFF ’13MAT

“I believe the classroom is where the difference is made,” says the Wake County Public School System high school social studies teacher.

Meet Edgar

HELEN LUPTON SMITH ’96PHD

“I realized what a big impact I can make in education. I can make a service impact, I can make a research impact and I can make a direct impact as an advisor and as a teacher,” says the associate professor in counselor education at North Carolina Central University.

Meet Helen

Why Extraordinary Educators Choose Us:

#1

college for education majors in North Carolina

#1

Producer of STEM Educators in N.C.

#1

most effective beginning teachers in North Carolina as rated by employers

Sources: College Magazine and UNC Educator Quality Dashboard

“We’re all part of a broader community of individuals who want our world to be a better place tomorrow than it is today.”

– Carl Harris ’98EDD, NC State College of Education board chair

Meet Carl

JESSICA TERRONES ’22

“I want my classroom to feel representative of my students and a space where they can be themselves,” says the Lee County Schools middle school mathematics teacher.

Meet Jessica

VANCE KITE ’18MED, ’21PHD

“I really like working with in-service teachers because I remember being there,” says the director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

Meet Vance

KARRIE DIXON ’97, ’03EDD

“Education is an avenue to social and economic mobility. It transforms lives,” says the chancellor of Elizabeth City State University.

Meet Karrie

SERGIO MADERA-GARCIA

“Just knowing that I was helping other students in bridging those gaps, it felt really good,” says the master’s student in higher education administration.

Meet Sergio

AUTUMN GUIN ’20PHD

“My thing has always been helping kids and helping adults help kids,” says the NC State Extension program design and evaluation extension associate.

Meet Autumn

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