Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education (RCOE) has expanded its North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NCNTSP) with the addition of two new coaches: Julie Little and Katie Matthews.
The goal of the NCNTSP is to improve student achievement by improving beginning teacher effectiveness and teacher retention. There are 11 higher education institutions across the state with regional NCNTSPs.
The App State Region of NCNTSP has grown from serving eleven teachers in two school districts in 2017 to serving over 120 teachers in nine school districts and four schools for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“As a regional and as a statewide team, we have a passion for supporting, encouraging, and retaining quality teachers in the field of education,” said Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm, director of RCOE’s Public School Partnership and NCNTSP regional director. “Our five coaches will do an excellent job of serving as cheerleaders for the teachers of our region!”
The RCOE’s coaches work to support the teachers in their first, second, or third year of teaching by providing three core services each year:
- Weekly coaching for each teacher enrolled;
- Aligned professional development sessions at district Beginning Teacher (BT) meetings and onboarding orientations; and
- A state-wide BT Institute each year to allow participating teachers to attend customized conference sessions created specifically for beginning teachers' needs
Meet the new coaches
Julie Little
Little has received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a master's degree in elementary education from Appalachian State University.
Prior to App State, Little taught elementary school and served as an academically intellectually gifted specialist and a math specialist.
“I'm most excited about the opportunity to partner with new teachers in our local communities to sustain and retain educators who are new at their craft,” said Little.” These educators are the future of the educational workforce and are preparing our students for an ever-changing world. Our students need the best teachers available.”
Little is thrilled to be able to return to App State to work. “App State's longstanding history as a teacher's college drew me to the level of expertise I value as an educator and learner,” she added.
Fun fact about Little: her father was a shoe cobbler and a shoe salesman by trade. “As a child, I loved new shoes so much that I often would sleep in them!” she noted.
Katie Matthews
Matthews received a B.A. in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and supervision from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Prior to App State, Matthews taught kindergarten and first grade in Wake County, Richmond City Schools, and Watauga County. She was also a creator and teacher trainer of Science PALS, a program that partners elementary, intermediate, and middle school students and teachers for weekly STEM explorations.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work and support educators at the beginning of their teaching journey by offering guidance, encouragement, and resources and to help build and foster a lifelong love of teaching,” said Matthews.
Matthews is excited to work at App State because of her family history with the university. “My parents and grandparents are all Appalachian alumni and to be able to contribute to an institution that I have long admired and partnered with as a classroom teacher is an exciting next step,” she noted. “It's an honor to be an official member of the Appalachian family.”
In her free time, Matthews enjoys spending time on the creek, hosting friends and family for fellowship and meals, and being a cheerleader for my kids who play baseball, golf, and dance. An interesting fact about Matthews is that she attended Lucy Brock in the late 70’s!
New coaches
