Meet Our Incoming Students: Three of Our Newest Teaching Fellows

This is part of a “Meet Our Incoming Students” series in which the College of Education will introduce some of its first-year, transfer and graduate students who will join us this fall.

This fall, the NC State College of Education welcomed over 600 first-year, transfer and graduate students for the 2020-21 academic year. Of those incoming students, an expected 115 are first-year students and among the new first-year undergraduate and transfer students, 36 are part of the third cohort of Teaching Fellows who have enrolled at NC State since legislators re-established the program in 2018. Meet three of the college’s newest Teaching Fellows.

Hear why they chose the NC State College of Education, why they chose their major and why they chose education.

Luis Aviles

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Village Christian Academy
Secondary Mathematics Education

Why did you choose the NC State College of Education?

The NC State College of Education had the best resources for me to succeed.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to as a Teaching Fellow? 

As a Teaching Fellow, I look forward to being able to collaborate with others in a close-knit community to discuss creative solutions for today’s classrooms.

What attracted you to your major? 

My previous experiences with math have allowed me to build confidence in myself in the subject.

Why did you choose education?

I want students to be able to see themselves confidently when learning something new. It hurts to see students struggle in a topic due to them not believing in themselves, so I chose education to reveal a limelight of positivity and encouragement for these students.

Madison Neal

Lexington, North Carolina
Central Davidson High School
Elementary Education with Special Education Dual Licensure

Why did you choose the NC State College of Education? 

I chose the NC State College of Education because of the hands-on experiences and the great community that I will get to be a part of.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to as a Teaching Fellow?

One thing that I am looking forward to as a Teaching Fellow is changing numerous lives in the many generations to come.

What attracted you to your major?

One thing that attracted me to elementary education was the connection I feel to children.

Why did you choose education?

I chose education because I have always wanted to inspire younger children and give children the ability to believe in themselves at a young age.

Lara Cate Wright

Wanchese, North Carolina
Manteo High School
Middle Grades Mathematics Education

Why did you choose the NC State College of Education?

I chose the College of Education because of the rankings NC State’s College of Education holds and because although NC State is a large school the College of Education is small and personalized.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to as a Teaching Fellow?

One thing I am looking forward to as a Teaching Fellow is being a part of an amazing community and continuing these relationships into my career.

What attracted you to your major? 

I wanted to major in middle school education because it is such a critical time in students’ lives and I wanted to make a difference during those times.

Why did you choose education?

I wanted to make an impact in students’ lives like my teachers did for me.