Josh Webb: ‘The Experiences the College of Education Offers, Both Domestically and Globally, Are Shaping Me Into the Educator I’ve Always Wanted To Be’

During his time in the NC State College of Education, middle grades English language arts education major and Transformational Scholar Josh Webb has been able to take part in a number of experiences that have helped him grow as an educator, such as visiting K-12 classrooms in eastern North Carolina and learning about different cultures in Costa Rica.

The NC State College of Education’s Transformational Scholarships Program provides scholarships totaling $40,000 over four years to promising high school students from eastern North Carolina who will return to the region to teach after graduating from the college.

Get to know Josh:

Most Meaningful Moment So Far: The experience of studying abroad in Costa Rica. As a future educator who will work in eastern North Carolina, it is vital for me to understand the experiences of students and educators in rural areas and, more importantly, it is vital for me to understand how students learning a new language experience life. 

My Favorite Experience So Far: PrideFest in October. This was an amazing time to see the different colleges come together and support the LGBTQ community, while those of us at the College of Education connected about the best ways to support LGBTQ students and fellow educators. As a queer person myself, this was an amazing experience to be a part of, and I imagine this will continue to be my favorite experience, especially now that I am the community outreach chair for the college’s Queer Educators Alliance. 

What I’ve Learned About What It Means To Be an Educator So Far: So much of the job requires interacting with the local community, making students feel welcomed and included, and, most importantly, advocating for youth and families for the betterment of our society. Sometimes, the only person a child has is an educator. Thus, it’s integral for me to understand my place in every single student’s life.

Why I Still Want To Be An Educator: In the classroom, I have the opportunity to dismantle systemic inequalities by developing inclusive instruction, empowering students to learn something new and connecting with families. My ultimate goal is to provide all students, regardless of their background or creed, with the knowledge, skills and critical thinking abilities they need to succeed in life and advocate for themselves and their communities. Teaching allows me to tilt the scales toward justice by implementing equitable opportunities, fostering critical consciousness and cultivating empathy by empowering voices that have been historically silenced. 

Why I Love the College of Education: The support I am personally provided and the opportunities to travel, learn and explore the beauty of education before earning my first set of classroom keys. The experiences the College of Education offers, both domestically and globally, are shaping me into the educator I’ve always wanted to be.