Nine faculty and staff members of Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), along with the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program, were recently honored with the 2025 RCOE awards.
- Carly Mize ’13: Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
- Dr. Krista Wojdak: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
- Dr. Kelly Clark: Outstanding Advocacy for Student Success Award
- Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm ’01 ’05 ’08 ’14 ’22: Outstanding Leadership Award
- Dr. Tatjana M. Farley ’18: Outstanding Mentoring Award
- Dr. Kindel Turner Nash: Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award
- Dr. Beth Buchholz: Outstanding Service Award
- Ronda Eldreth: Outstanding Staff Award
- Melissa Isaacs: Outstanding Staff Award
- Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program: Community of Practice Award
RCOE faculty, staff, and students were invited to submit nominations in ten categories: Outstanding Part-time Teaching Award, Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching, Outstanding Graduate Teaching, Outstanding Advocacy for Student Success, Outstanding Leadership, Outstanding Mentoring, Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement, Outstanding Service, Outstanding Staff, and Community of Practice.
Nominated individuals or groups were then asked to provide supporting portfolios, which were reviewed by the RCOE Awards Committee. Recipients were announced at the RCOE Faculty/Staff Closing Meeting on Thursday, May 1.
Rebekah Saylors, co-chair of the awards committee and director of communications for the college, expressed her appreciation to all who submitted nominations or portfolios.
“Our faculty and staff continue to shape the future of education through their innovative and collaborative work both inside and outside the classroom, and it’s an honor to celebrate their achievements,” Saylors said.
“We extend our congratulations to all the nominees for their remarkable contributions to the college,” she continued. “Your dedication and impact are truly valued.”
Saylors is “deeply grateful to our committee members for their time, insight, and commitment throughout this process.” Those committee members are as follows:
Dr. Robin Groce, co-chair and Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education; Amanda Gregory, Adjunct/Lecturer Representative and Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education; Dr. Aleica Jackson, Department of Leadership and Educational Studies; Dr. Robin Moeller, Department of Media, Career Studies, and Leadership Development; Dr. Rachel Nave Lewis, College Access Partnerships; Dr. Patrick O’Shea, Department of Media, Career Studies, and Leadership Development; Claudia Palta, Staff Representative and Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education; Dr. Candice Peters, Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education; Dr. Dan Poling, Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education; Dr. Christina Rosen, Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education; Dr. Pam Shue, Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education; Dr. Cacey Wells, Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum; and Dr. Rachel Wilson, Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum.
2025 RCOE Awards Recipients
Carley Mize ’13
2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
Mize is a lecturer in the Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, where she brings nearly a decade of classroom experience and a deep commitment to preparing future educators. Her passion lies in empowering preservice teachers and mentoring early-career educators, helping them build strong foundations as they enter the profession.
She earned her B.S. in elementary education from Appalachian State University in 2013 and her M.Ed. in elementary science education from North Carolina State University in 2021. Before joining App State as a lecturer in 2023, Mize taught in Watauga County Schools for nine years, where she was named Green Valley School’s Teacher of the Year in 2019.
Since 2018, she has also collaborated with App State’s Mathematics and Science Education Center to coordinate and host Family Science Nights, engaging families and communities in hands-on science learning. Her research interests focus on elementary science and social studies education.
“I’m truly honored to receive this award and grateful for the opportunity to support our preservice educators on their journey to becoming teachers,” said Mize. “Watching them grow and develop is a constant source of joy and inspiration.”
She added, “I’m also thankful to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who share a passion for shaping the future of education.”
Dr. Krista Wojdak
2025 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
Wojdak is a professor in the Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education, where she teaches in the Higher Education and Media, Technology, and Learning Design programs. She also mentors doctoral students in the Educational Leadership program.
Beyond the classroom, Wojdak has held several leadership roles within CAE/CETLSS and served as a Faculty Fellow in the UNC System Office. She currently contributes as a faculty member for AAC&U’s Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum and is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning.
Throughout her career, Wojdak has remained deeply committed to designing learning experiences that engage the whole student — connecting emotional well-being with academic success. She finds her greatest professional fulfillment in helping both faculty and students explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning that foster deeper understanding and meaningful connections.
Her current research focuses on active learning strategies, trauma-informed pedagogy, and the integration of AI into teaching and curriculum design. She earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology, with a concentration in Educational Psychology, from Virginia Tech.
“Being selected for a teaching award is an honor—and also extremely humbling—especially within a community of professionals who share a deep passion for teaching,” said Wojdak. “This recognition affirms the educational philosophy I’ve developed over years of learning alongside my students and colleagues: that effective teaching requires equal measures of expertise, empathy, and adaptability.”
She continued, “I’m particularly grateful to my colleagues, whose ideas and practices have shaped my approach, and to my students, who trust me with their educational journey. This award inspires me to continue growing as an educator and to approach each class with renewed enthusiasm and dedication.”
Dr. Kelly Clark
2025 Outstanding Advocacy for Student Success Award
Clark is an assistant professor in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education.
After teaching in North Carolina for eight years, she earned her Ph.D. in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2018, with a focus on secondary transition for students with disabilities.
Her research centers on developing curriculum to teach employment soft skills, identifying evidence-based practices for secondary students with disabilities, rural special education teacher preparation and retention, and transition services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Supporting students and helping them succeed — both now and in the future — is the most meaningful part of my work as a faculty member and the reason I’m so passionate about what I do,” said Clark.
“This recognition is also a reflection of the amazing students I’ve had the privilege to work with, as well as my supportive colleagues and mentors who continue to inspire me every day,” she added. “I’m grateful to be part of a college community that values student growth and success.”
Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm ’01 ’05 ’08 ’14 ’22
2025 Outstanding Leadership Award
Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm serves as the Director of Partnerships and Engagement in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. In this role, she leads several key initiatives, including the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program, the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, National Board Certification support, and Public School Partnerships.
Currently, Rosenbalm is focused on developing collaborative educator pipeline programs designed to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and school leaders across northwest North Carolina and the state as a whole. She is deeply committed to building authentic relationships and fostering trust throughout the region to effectively support and celebrate educators at every level.
A proud North Carolina Teaching Fellow, Rosenbalm was named the 2013 Northwest Region Principal of the Year. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds multiple degrees from Appalachian State University: a B.S. in elementary education (2001), an M.A. in reading education (2005), a graduate certificate in school administration (2008), and additional certifications in exceptional children’s support (2014, 2022). She earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from Gardner-Webb University in 2012.
“I am humbled by this honor and so thankful for the opportunity to serve App State, our northwest region of the state, and our public school communities every single day,” said Rosenbalm.
“I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to create partnerships rooted in relationships and trust,” she added. “This foundation allows me to lead initiatives that are deeply relational and uniquely responsive to all of our important educational partners in the educator pipeline—and beyond.”
Rosenbalm also expressed appreciation for her colleagues in the college: “They have taught and led me in ways that have made me better, stronger, and more responsive over the last eight years at App State.”
Dr. Tatjana M. Farley ’18
2025 Outstanding Mentoring Award
Farley is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education and serves as the program director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program.
An alumna of Appalachian State University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Farley earned her Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Florida State University. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both North Carolina and South Carolina and is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Her research focuses on anger and aggression, developmental trauma, and the ways in which these experiences intersect with youth involvement in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.
“My students are a constant reminder that connection and mentoring can make a significant difference—in a program, in a classroom, and in the profession,” said Farley. “They hold me accountable to always lead with compassion, warmth, poise, and a deep commitment to their experience.”
“Without them, winning this award wouldn’t be possible,” she added. “I will forever be grateful to do this work and to support them.”
Dr. Kindel Turner Nash
2025 Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award
Turner Nash is the Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Child Literacy in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education. Her research, teaching, and service focus on culturally sustaining and humanizing early literacy practices, highly effective teaching, and transformative approaches to teacher preparation.
A former classroom teacher and literacy specialist serving historically marginalized children, Turner Nash grounds her work in humanizing, generative collaborations with classroom teachers and school leaders. Notably, she and teacher-collaborator Roderick Peele were recently selected by the National Council of Teachers of English’s Trustees of the Research Foundation as incoming co-directors of the Professional Dyads in Culturally Relevant Teaching (PDCRT). This two-year program supports early childhood educators of color and their collaborators in studying, implementing, and sharing culturally relevant pedagogies.
Her research-practice collaborations have led to the co-authorship of three books, over 35 peer-reviewed publications, and the co-development of the Cultural Sustenance View of Reading—a complex model of literacy. Her book Culturally Sustaining Practices for PreK–3rd Classrooms: The Children Come Full, co-authored with three classroom teachers, was recently named a finalist for the Edward Fry Book Award by the Literacy Research Association (2023).
“I am honored to receive the Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award and accept it in honor of my father, Earl Turner, who was unfailingly supportive of my scholarship and creative work, and who shaped me into the creative intellectual I am today,” said Turner Nash.
She also dedicated the award to her long-standing research collaborators: principal Bilal Polson and teachers Kerry Elson, Haydee Melendez Morgan, Roderick Peele, Alicia Arce, and Erik Sumner. “Without your life-giving partnerships, I would not even be eligible for this award.”
“Finally, I want to recognize the outstanding mentorship of Susi Long, Gloria Boutte, and Etta Hollins, who shaped my commitment to purpose-driven scholarship — work that seeks to elevate deeply grounded connections between classroom practice, research, and policy,” she added.
Dr. Beth Buchholz
2025 Outstanding Service Award
Buchholz is an associate professor and program director of the Literacy Education program in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education.
She began her career teaching intermediate grades in central Virginia, where she developed a strong commitment to integrating writing and literacy instruction across the curriculum. Since 2010, she has engaged in ethnographic research and professional development projects, co-constructing knowledge alongside teachers, children, and families.
Buchholz embraces a teacher inquiry stance in her work, preparing teacher candidates and supporting in-service educators in designing and implementing culturally sustaining literacy instruction that centers inclusive, contemporary children’s literature.
“To have my service over the past few years recognized by my colleagues is incredibly meaningful,” said Buchholz.
“Unlike research or teaching, which have their own internal metrics and feedback loops, service can often feel like an invisible grind, with few checkpoints or moments of celebration,” she noted. “It’s work that is often only noticed when it goes unfinished—but it’s also the work that makes teaching and scholarship possible.”
She added, “My service is deeply connected to and dependent on my colleagues in literacy education. This recognition is as much about our collective efforts as it is about my individual contributions.”
Buchholz is an associate professor and program director of the literacy education program in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education.
Buchholz began her career teaching in the intermediate grades in central Virginia for many years, developing a strong commitment to integrating writing/literacy instruction across the curriculum. Since 2010, she has worked to co-construct knowledge alongside teachers, children, and families as part of ethnographic research projects and professional workshops.
She embraces a teacher inquiry stance as she works to effectively prepare teacher candidates and support current in-service teachers in designing and enacting culturally sustaining literacy instruction that centers inclusive, contemporary children’s literature.
“To have my service over the past few years recognized by my colleagues is incredibly meaningful,” said Buchholz.
“Unlike research/scholarship and teaching, which have their own internal metrics and feedback loops, service can feel like an invisible grind, with few checkpoints or moments of celebration,” she noted. “It is work that is often only noticed when it goes unfinished/undone, but it is service that makes teaching and research/scholarship possible.”
Buchholz acknowledges that service work is not completed alone. “My service is deeply connected to/with and dependent on my colleagues in literacy education.”
Ronda Eldreth
2025 Outstanding Staff Award
Eldreth serves as the administrative support specialist for the Department of Media, Career Studies, and Leadership Development.
For the past year and a half, she has been the sole administrative support specialist for the department. Through this experience, Eldreth discovered “knowledge, organization, resilience, patience, perseverance, determination, and effort that I did not realize I had.”
Receiving this award marks a significant milestone in her life. “I am humbled to be recognized by my peers and remain committed to serving with kindness, gratitude, and humility,” said Eldreth.
“The support I provide and my interactions with faculty, staff, and students—whether virtually or in person—can set the tone for someone’s day,” she noted. “I want those encounters to be positive, kind, and enjoyable (maybe even a bit jovial), because that’s what people remember.”
Eldreth holds an executive secretary certificate from Licking County Joint Vocational School. Before joining Appalachian State, she worked in a law office, an accounting office, and an insurance claims office.
Melissa Isaacs
2025 Outstanding Staff Award
Isaacs is a university program associate in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education, where she collaborates closely with more than 30 faculty and staff members.
This is the second time Isaacs has been recognized with this award; the first was in 2018.
Receiving the honor again is especially meaningful to her as the department continues to grow and evolve.
“To me, support has many different definitions in this position—too many to list—but overall, I am so honored to receive this award and thank each of our department faculty and staff for their belief and confidence in me,” said Isaacs.
“I feel so fortunate to work alongside many administrative assistants and support specialists who totally ROCK their roles,” she added. “We have a great group all around in the college, and I am simply one among many GREAT staff.”
In addition to her departmental role, Isaacs has also volunteered in a local school. “I highly recommend this—it’s incredibly rewarding to build rapport with students while trying to help them learn. But honestly, I came away having learned so much more just by being in their presence,” she shared.
Before joining the college staff in 2013, Isaacs worked at Hardin Park Elementary School for 13 years.
Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program
2025 Community of Practice Award
Since 2011, the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP) has supported college students with intellectual disabilities in achieving personal growth and occupational success, with a strong emphasis on health and wellness. The goal of this four-year, non-degree program is to prepare students for competitive, integrated employment and empower them to lead independent, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Housed in the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education, the SDAP team includes:
- Dr. Susan Hedges, Director
- Beth Sibley, Assistant Director
- Kaitlyn Reda, Program Coordinator and Lecturer
- Samad Ansari, College Life Resource Coordinator
SDAP leverages campus and community collaborations to expand opportunities for its students, offer hands-on experiences for future helping professionals, and support research and creative projects for degree-seeking students and faculty.
From providing professional development for education majors to hosting campus-wide coffee talks and sharing stories through the Anderson Reading Clinic’s Literacy Cast, SDAP has made a lasting impact on the college, the university, and the broader community.
“Receiving the Community of Practice Award from the College of Education is deeply meaningful, both to me personally and to the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program,” said Sibley. “It reflects the dedication and hard work of all those involved in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for students with diverse abilities.”
She added, “This recognition strengthens our commitment to fostering a community where every learner has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
Group photo of award recipients
