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North Carolina’s best educators prepare at the NC State College of Education. In every corner of the state, in all 100 counties, NC State alumni are educating children, improving schools and strengthening communities. 

Become an extraordinary educator. Join the NC State College of Education, North Carolina's top educator preparation program.

"I honestly believe that there’s no other college of education that’s better than the one at NC State. Going into my first year of teaching, I felt like I had so much knowledge in my head that I just couldn’t wait to get started."

- Christina Chase Lane ’18
Third-grade teacher who won Wake County Public School System’s
2018-19 Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Award

College of Education Students during a Mathematics Field Day.

Students who graduate from the NC State College of Education go on to become teachers, counselors, principals and community college presidents of the year; governors; business owners; and even Super Bowl winning coaches. Meet a few of our extraordinary students and alumni.

Bill Cowher
Alumni

Bill Cowher '79 shares how his education degree helped him coach the Steelers to a Super Bowl.

Meet Bill
Students

The Teaching Fellow

Caroline Alexander came to NC State to be an engineer. But then she found her calling and purpose in science education.

Meet Caroline

NC State’s College of Education has produced creative, inspiring and talented educators who are now leading classrooms, schools and even school districts all across North Carolina. Every day, these graduates are strengthening our state’s system of public education and helping more students reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.

June Atkinson '96EDD, Former State Superintendent (2005-2016)

Meet June
Alumni

The Assistant Secretary

Henry L. Johnson '90 EDD served as U.S. assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary education from 2005-2008.

Meet Henry
Giovanny Hernandez
Stelfanie Williams at NC State Alumni Association's Evening of the Stars Nov. 7
Alumni

Community College President of the Year

The current vice president for Durham affairs at Duke University, Stelfanie Williams '11EDD was the 2018 North Carolina Community College President of the Year.

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star

The NC State College of Education leads the way in North Carolina in preparing extraordinary educators.

#1

Producer of STEM Educators
in N.C.

#1

Teaching Alumni on Performance Measures in N.C.

#1

College for Education Majors
in N.C.

N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt
Alumni

The Governor

A four-term governor of North Carolina (1977-1985 and 1993-2001), Jim Hunt '59, '62MS is the longest serving governor in the state's history.

Meet Jim
Students

The Elementary Education Major

Sydney Reid '22 plans to teach in a Title I school after graduation. "Everyone deserves to have a great education," she says.

Meet Sydney

I believe it is a privilege and honor to be a teacher because teachers are the ones who make all professions possible.

Lance Atkinson '18MAT, Johnston County Public Schools' 2019 Outstanding First-Year Teacher

Meet Lance
Alumni

The State Superintendent

NC State College of Education Board Chair Michael Ward ’77BS, ’81MS, ’93EDD served as North Carolina's superintendent of public instruction from 1996-2004.

Meet Mike
Will Chavis in school hallway shaking hands with students
Alumni

Principal of the Year

Enloe High School Principal Will Chavis '16EDD was Wake County's 2018-19 Principal of the Year.

Meet Will
Lindsey Evans
Alumni

Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year

Lindsey Evans '09, a social studies teacher at Apex Friendship Middle School, is Wake County's 2019-20 Teacher of the Year.

Meet Lindsey
Leigh Kokenes in front of a classroom
Alumni

School Psychologist of the...

School Psychologist of the...

Leigh Kokenes, a school psychologist with Wake County schools, is the 2018-19 National School Psychologist of the Year.

Meet Leigh
Liam Ryan
Students

Liam Ryan ’21, who walked on to the NC State football team, shares how the NC State College of Education is preparing him to lead...

Meet Liam
Otis Maben with an elementary school student.

Preparing Extraordinary Educators to Make an Extraordinary Impact

At the NC State College of Education, over 1,700 students study across 60-plus degree programs that equip them to be educators and leaders who champion the educational success of all. Meet a few of them.

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Bria Cofield Wright
Alumni

The Teacher and Donor

Bria Wright '16, '19MED earned two degrees from NC State with the help of financial support. Today, she's a fifth grade teacher and a donor...

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Alumni

Durham Teacher of the Year

When Brandon Daniel ‘19MED was named Durham Public Schools’ 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year, his students were “ecstatic.”

Meet Brandon

That is what [NC State University] has always done and should always do — reach out to families of ordinary North Carolinians with the promise that their sons and daughters will have a chance to become all they can be at this remarkable place we call NC State.

Wendell Murphy '60, NC State Trustee, Murphy Family Farms Chair, and Former State Legislator and Teacher

Meet Wendell
Alumni

Since 1991, we have awarded one graduate each year with a distinguished alumni award in recognition of their extraordinary achievements.

Meet All Distinguished Alumni

Help us prepare more extraordinary educators

Support the NC State College of Education

Make a Gift
Alumni

From first-year teachers to veteran educators being honored for their work in the field, many alumni were recognized with awards for their work in 2018-19.

Meet Recent Award-Winners
A photo of a NC State Education student
All

NC State alumni, students and faculty share why they chose the profession of education.

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"As a land-grant college, we are driven to prepare extraordinary educators who equip students with STEM workforce capabilities. The state’s well-being depends on it."

- Mary Ann Danowitz, D.Ed.
Dean, NC State College of Education

How We Prepare Extraordinary Educators

Follow our Instagram feed to see what we do to prepare extraordinary educators and to meet more of our students, alumni, faculty and staff.