#WhyIChoseEducation: Katey Long

As part of Celebrating 90 Years of NC State Education, we asked you to share your stories of why you chose education and why you love the NC State College of Education. Below is one of the many stories we received demonstrating how we’re leading the way in education in North Carolina and beyond.olina.

Name: Katey Long
Graduation Year: 2009
Program: Middle Grades Education, Dual Certification in ELA & SS
Career Role & Responsibilities: I am a 6th-grade math teacher at Davis Drive Middle School (Cary, N.C.). I am the Math Department Head, a 6th Grade Team Leader, the Girls Soccer Coach, the Mathcounts Club Advisor and the reigning Teacher of the Year. I also work for Wake County in creating and developing math resources for other teachers in the Wake County Public School System.

Why did you enter the field of education?
I want to make an impact on our future generation. Whether I am growing one’s mathematical knowledge or having a positive influence on one’s life, knowing that I am making a difference is all that I can ask for.

Why did you choose to earn your degree from the NC State College of Education?
I want to be the best math teacher and role model that I could possibly be for my past, present and future students. In order to do that, I needed to be prepared by the best. This is exactly why I knew I had to attend NC State.