The summer vacation afforded Campbell University School of Education Teaching Scholars an opportunity to visit with eight schools throughout eastern North Carolina.
Each experience was unique and offered valuable insight in regard to culture, curriculum and resources. In Duplin County, scholars visited Warsaw Elementary, James Kenan High, and Duplin Early College High School. Scholars visited classrooms, participated in lesson activities and toured each campus. Upon leaving Duplin County the Scholars traveled to Hyde County, where they were met by Superintendent Stephen Basnight III. He shared the dynamics of the school district and county demographics and stressed the need for high-quality teachers.
Basnight also encouraged scholars to apply for teaching positions in Hyde County after graduating. The team visited Mattamuskeet Elementary, Mattamuskeet High and Hyde County Early College. Finally, in Bertie County, the Scholars were able to engage high school students in discussions about college and career readiness at Bertie County High. The team ended their tour by visiting Windsor Elementary where they promoted literacy through reading circles in K-3 classrooms throughout the school.
“I feel like this trip was valuable to my future career,” said Haley Teague, “because now I’ve experienced a variety of school climates and classrooms before entering the profession.”
Teague added that the tour of Eastern North Carolina schools showed her the importance of flexibility in the classroom and was valuable to her future career because she was able to experience a variety of school climates and classroom settings.
Scholar Amanda Dunn said the trip was a great opportunity to gain a closer relationship with her fellow Teaching Scholars.
“And it got me even more excited to see where our program will go from here,” Dunn said.
For Hannah Whitaker, the tour was “eye opening.”
“The students and staff were all so welcoming and seemed to be in a great learning environment despite location and socioeconomic status,” Whitaker said. “The trip also helped me consider teaching in an underserved school district. I especially enjoyed the kindergarten students at Mattamuskeet Elementary.”