From Campus to the Classroom: NC State Supports Teachers

NC State University invited early career alumni teachers back to campus for the Beginning Teacher Institute (BTI) this week. The College of Education is committed to the success of its students post-graduation and this program supports recent alumni in navigating the first years of teaching.

“We are confident that we provide outstanding curriculum and school experiences that offer the very best beginning teacher preparation, but we are well aware of the challenges that occur in classrooms and want to support our teachers after graduation as they maneuver through the learning curve in their first years of teaching,” Dean M. Jayne Fleener, Dean, College of Education.

The NC State Beginning Teacher Institute is a program targeted to support first, second and third year teachers with organizing, planning, implementing and analyzing instruction for student achievement. This program also provides on-time support as needs arise in a teacher’s first years.

“The BTI is a fantastic learning experience to get you prepared for the upcoming school year. I have returned twice and will return for one more year while I wrap up my beginning teacher experience,” said Emily Adams, ’13, 2nd year mathematics teacher at Wake Forest High School. “The presenters are knowledgeable and keep it realistic.”

Each morning of the institute a keynote speaker addressed the group. Afternoons included interactive, collaborative learning sessions, such as, How to Diffuse Classroom Behaviors; Technology Tools to Start the Year off Right; Using Data to Improve Instruction with Practical Solutions; and Motivating the Unmotivated. Presenters included educators from across the state, both NC State alumni and teacher leaders in the field.

“My favorite aspect of the BTI was the professional opportunities to learn with other beginning teachers. Data-driven instruction is emphasized in the education world and I wanted to be sure I was doing the best by students,” said Trey Ferguson, ’14, 1st year mathematics teacher at Leesville Road High School. “The data literacy workshop gave me classroom strategies to collect various types of data on my students and modify my instruction based their results. BTI had what I wanted in a professional development, applicable skills to improve my teaching.”

The Beginning Teacher Institute is hosted by the College of Education’s Office of Professional Education; Media Education and Technology Resource Center; and the Development and Alumni Office. For more information on the BTI and to view current events and past schedules, visit: https://ncsubeginningteacherinstitute.weebly.com/