Kevin Clatfelter: ‘The College of Education Has Given Me Tools to Help Students Grow Academically and Emotionally’

Kevin Clatfelter had always been inspired by the teachers in his life, but it wasn’t until talking with advisors and faculty within the NC State College of Education that he was convinced to switch his major to elementary education and pursue a career in the classroom. 

Most Meaningful Moment So Far: My junior year, I was placed in a second-grade classroom with some of the most awesome students ever. One day, I came in and led the morning meeting, during which I managed their behavior, kept volume levels under control, joked with them and guided them through challenging math problems. This moment was special to me because I knew right then that I made the right decision to become a teacher. The students were filled with joy, and I was comfortable and excited to teach them.

My Favorite Experience So Far: Interacting and working with the students in the field. I’ve gotten to help students write essays, solve multi-step math problems, complete engineering challenges, investigate science concepts and much more. The College of Education has given me tools to help students grow academically and emotionally, and my experiences in the field have allowed me to help make a difference in kids’ lives.

What I’ve Learned About What It Means To Be an Educator So Far: Educators are, in many ways, the foundation of society. Educators help people become the best version of themselves. The best educators don’t just help people grow academically; rather, they seek to help people grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and in many other ways. The best educators care about their students as unique individuals with their own dreams and aspirations.

Why I Still Want To Be An Educator: Teachers, now and forever, are crucial in helping kids grow. I want to be an educator because there are so many kids without positive role models in their lives. Kids need people they can trust to just be there for them and facilitate their growth. Some of the most influential role models in my life are the teachers who challenged me to push myself further than I thought I could go, encouraged me to pursue my passions and genuinely cared about me. I’d love nothing more than to be that positive figure for the next generation of students.

Why I Love the College of Education: Faculty and staff really care about and show genuine love for their students, as well the course content. The professors get to know us as individuals, learning about our unique passions and interests. They also tell stories about their past classrooms, discussing teaching strategies that worked and didn’t work, and they show us up-to-date research about best teaching practices. Their classes aren’t boring lectures; instead, classes in the College of Education are interactive, heavily involving students with various types of activities that allow us to really engage with the content.