Meet Brittany Regan ‘21MED: ‘My Hope for the Future is to Become a Literacy Coach and Help Teachers Support Student Learning’

This is part of a series of profiles of students who are graduating from the NC State College of Education in May 2021.

For Brittany Regan ‘21MED, the next step is to become a literacy coach. The NC State College of Education prepared her to be a supportive leader for teachers, and she will graduate in May 2021 with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in new literacies and global learning.

 Learn more about Brittany Regan

Hometown: Albemarle, North Carolina

Area of Study: Curriculum and instruction with a concentration in new literacies and global learning

Activities (Research or Extracurricular): Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Teacher Academy, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools mentor

Why did you choose the NC State College of Education?

The program is very prestigious among other colleges. The professors at NC State are excellent, and I knew they would provide me with support and knowledge to best support my students and colleagues.

Why did you choose your area of study?

New literacies and global learning was very important to me from the beginning. New literacies have been instrumental in best practices in my classroom, especially with virtual learning becoming an essential part of instruction. Global learning is the area where I needed to grow the most for my students. These topics are very relevant for educators and students at this time.

What do you hope to accomplish in your field after graduation?

My hope for the future is to become a literacy coach and help teachers support student learning. I would love to be an instructional facilitator for a school and then a district.

What’s your next step? What do you have planned after graduation?

I will continue to implement best instructional practices that I learned while in the program. There were so many activities and ideas I still want to use in my classroom or share out with other teachers. I also am pursuing literacy coaching jobs as well instructional facilitators jobs in the future. My plan from the start of the program has always been to support and coach teachers. I really feel like the program has prepared me for my dream job.

How has the College of Education prepared you for that next step?

The College of Education has prepared me to be a supportive leader with teachers. The college taught me the importance of speaking up for teachers and students when best practices are saying something different than what we are doing. I have learned how important it is to be an advocate for teachers and students when it comes to instruction. I have learned the best research-based strategies and practices to be able to explain the decisions that I make. Lastly, the digital components have really helped support me as a learner.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time in the College of Education?

My favorite memory was working with a smaller group of women in my cohort: Kristin, Amy and Denise. We were all very like-minded in our work ethic and personalities. We had always paired up for projects, activities, discussions and tutoring. In becoming so close throughout the program, we bonded through practical jokes with one of our professors. This laughter was welcomed during the more serious aspects of the program. The professors and this group of women were always supportive throughout the program, and I will be forever grateful to them.

Tell us about an experience you had with the College of Education that had the biggest impact on you or your career.

One experience I feel had the most impact was the last class of my program, which was ECI 508: (Teachers as Leaders). This class really prepared me for working with adults and administrators in schools. I have always taught kids but teaching and supporting other teachers was an area for growth. Therefore, this experience really helped shape my leadership style to help support other educators.

Why did you choose education?

I chose education because I love teaching students and seeing the magic happen when they succeed in a goal that they are working on. That feeling is so special and to know that I was a part of that understanding is incredible. I also wanted to help teachers with their craft. Education is such a collaborative community, and I love that feeling.