N.C. Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year Marlin Jones ‘20MED: ‘My Love of Learning and My Desire to Help Others Inspired Me to Become a Teacher’

Marlin Jones ‘20MED has always loved history and social studies. And he’s always loved reading. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t love reading about history.

So, it was no surprise when he changed his major from engineering to history education as a freshman at Tennessee State University. And he hasn’t looked back since.

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Role: AP World History and American History 2 Teacher, Needham B. Broughton High School

Education: Bachelor of Arts in History Education, Tennessee State University

Why He Chose Education: “God showed me that this was my gift. I was originally an engineering student and God redirected my steps to change my major in the second semester of my freshman year. However, I have always loved history, social studies and learning.”

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Jones is an AP World History and American History 2 Teacher at Needham B. Broughton Magnet High School in Raleigh — and he is the 2019-20 N.C. Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

“I am truly honored and humbled. Of all the amazing teachers in North Carolina, I am shocked that I was the one chosen,” Jones said. “I am thankful to have the opportunity to work alongside other amazing teachers and to work in this fabulous state.”

His love of learning, his desire to help others and having great high school teachers inspired Jones to become an educator. And he strives to only get better as a teacher. Technology, he says, has changed the way students learn, which means the way they have to be taught has to change to meet them where they are.

Because of that, Jones wants to know all the latest research, technology and techniques that are out there to help students be successful, which is why he enrolled in the Master of Education in New Literacies and Global Learning program with a specialty in social studies education in the NC State College of Education. He wants to finish his career strong.

“Working with the exceptional faculty and staff, especially Dr. Meghan Manfra, has been a true blessing,” he said. “Dr. Manfra is an amazing professor and outstanding mentor. The impact that she has had on my professional career can’t be articulated into words.”