MAT

May 8, 2025

Derick Sikes ’25MAT Named College of Education’s Student Teacher of the Year

Derick Sikes ’25MAT, a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Teaching program with a concentration in middle grades social studies, has been selected as the NC State College of Education’s 2025 Student Teacher of the Year.

Dec 6, 2023

Anna Jarnagin ’23MAT: ‘Having a Distance Learning Environment Was What I Needed To Be Able To Go Back to School and Work Full Time’

After earning her degree in biology and working in a lab for a number of years, Anna Jarnagin '23MAT decided to take the leap and become a high school science teacher.

Jun 7, 2021

N.C. Council for the Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year Talia Laing ’20MAT Hopes to Facilitate Diplomatic Discussion and Create Opportunities in Her Classroom for Students To View Historical and Contemporary Issues from Other Perspectives

As an undergraduate student studying archaeology, Talia Laing ’20MAT had the opportunity to participate in overseas excavations, which magnified her love of history. She plans to bring those experiences into her future classroom, teaching students how to learn history from different angles -- a philosophy that helped earn her the 2020-2021 N.C. Council for the Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year honor.

Apr 22, 2021

Assistant Teaching Professor and MAT Director Micha Jeffries: ‘I Hope My Students First See Themselves As Change Agents. There Are So Many Things That We Can Tackle As Educators.’

As a young teacher at a diverse school in Forsyth County, Micha Jeffries, Ph.D., was shocked to hear a young, Black boy say that teachers didn’t expect him to read. That encounter encouraged her to devote her work to issues of diversity as a pre-service teacher educator.

Nov 30, 2020

Meet Dan Frankenfield ‘20MAT: ‘The Most Fulfilling Aspects of the Military For Me Involved Either Teaching Skills to Others or Imparting Guidance on Younger Soldiers’

While serving in the United States Army, Dan Frankenfield ‘20MAT spent a significant amount of time at Fort Bragg, where he was assigned as a psychological operations specialist. While deployed, he worked with teams in Special Forces, where he learned firsthand the importance of relationship building -- a skill he uses daily in his middle school classroom

Nov 25, 2020

My Student Experience: ‘Even Though There is a Pandemic and We Are Teaching Virtually, I Wouldn’t Change it for the World,’ Says Jana Humphrey ‘20MAT

As a child, Jana Humphrey ‘20MAT loved the story of Matilda. And she knew if she was ever to become a teacher, she wanted to be just like Miss Honey. Humphrey will graduate on Dec. 4 and will be one step closer to becoming Miss Honey.

Nov 25, 2020

Meet Nikki Hooks ‘20MAT: ‘I Wanted to Have an Impact on the Next Generation and Help Them Become Lifelong Learners’

Earning a Teaching Fellows scholarship is one of the things that attracted Nikki Hooks ‘20MAT to the NC State College of Education, but her experiences with student teaching and her ability to present at a conference as part of her methodology class are moments she will never forget.

Nov 11, 2020

Retired United States Air Force Colonel James “Jim” Bitzes ‘21MAT Plans to Bring Over 25 Years of Military Experience into the Social Studies Classroom

When James “Jim” Bitzes ‘21MAT graduated from Creighton University School of Law and landed a position with a litigation firm, he had no idea that more than 30 years later, he would find himself back in the classroom pursuing a career as a social studies teacher.

Oct 26, 2020

#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘Education is a Profession Where You Can See the Impact that You are Having on the World Around You,’ Says Master of Arts in Teaching Student Nicholas Massey ‘21MAT

Nicholas Massey ‘21MAT needed a change of scenery and decided to leave filmmaking behind to pursue his passion for education. Now as a student in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, he plans to teach elementary school in Wake County.

Sep 15, 2020

Donor Support Boosts Access and Inclusion for Master of Arts in Teaching Program

Scholarships provided thanks to the College of Education Excellence Fund are helping a more diverse group of students prepare to make an impact through the teaching profession.