Corynne Lewis was named the Appalachian State University Student Teacher of the Year for the 2025-2026 academic year. Lewis, who is from High Point, North Carolina, completed their Bachelor of Science in special education with a concentration in adapted curriculum in May 2026.
“I am beyond honored to be recognized as the student teacher of the year for Appalachian State University,” said Lewis. “Getting this recognition really reinforces that I am doing something right with my teaching, and it encourages me to keep learning and improving professionally.”
“My amazing professors, family, friends, and coworkers have helped me get to this milestone, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their unwavering support,” she added.
Emma Hatfield-Sidden, director of clinical education in the Reich College of Education, praised Lewis as “a dedicated student and educator, a passionate advocate for students with disabilities, and someone who teaches and leads with enthusiasm, compassion, and purpose.”
“I am incredibly proud of Corynne and know she will do amazing things both in her classroom and throughout her community,” said Hatfield-Sidden. “She is exactly the kind of beginning teacher our profession needs right now.”
Dr. Debra Prykanowski, associate professor and program director of the special education program, also expressed pride in Lewis’ achievement.
“She represents the very best of our program and the Reich College of Education with her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her students,” said Prkyanowski. “Corynne is going to do extraordinary things in the field of special education, and we are honored to be part of her journey.”
Having always wanted to be a teacher, Lewis chose App State because of the teacher education program's reputation.
“I did not even have another option in mind for college,” she said.
Lewis completed her student teaching in a high school classroom at Haynes-Inman Education Center in Guilford County Schools. The center serves approximately 130 students ages 3–22, all of whom have special needs, and many of whom are medically fragile with significant disabilities.
“Having the opportunity to complete my student teaching at Haynes Inman, where my mom worked for 14 years, has truly changed my life and my ways of thinking as an educator,” she noted. “Balancing academic instruction with personal care needs was a new experience to me, but my 15 weeks here have made me certain that I have found my passion with the severe/profound medically fragile population!”
In addition to being placed in a familiar setting, Lewis was grateful to have had a phenomenal clinical educator and university supervisor. Her favorite moment in student teaching was her relationships with the students.
“The students in my classroom have grown in such meaningful ways, as I have watched some of their communication increase since I began, which has been so heartwarming to witness,” she said.
Lewis’ perseverance and dedication were recognized by others as well. This fall, she will return to Haynes-Inman Education Center to teach middle school as a full-time teacher.
Lewis will represent Appalachian State University at the state level for the Student Teacher of the Year, which is offered by the North Carolina Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NC-ACTE). The winner will be announced at the organization’s annual fall meeting, September 23-24, 2026. This marks the 10th consecutive year NC-ACTE has recognized student teachers from its member institutions.
Selection Process
Students are nominated by clinical educators, university field supervisors, and faculty members based on their teaching, professionalism, and overall classroom effectiveness. Nominees submit a reflective narrative and three letters of recommendation. Finalists from each semester (fall and spring) are then selected to compete for the top award.
“I am incredibly proud of all of our student teachers,” said Hatfield Sidden. “Throughout their clinical experiences, they’ve grown from students of teaching into confident, capable teachers of students. It’s inspiring to watch that transformation.”
“Their passion, dedication, and resilience give me great hope for the future of education, and I can't wait to see the impact they will make as beginning teachers!"
Eight student teachers were named finalists for Appalachian State University’s Student Teacher of the Year Award. They were Emma Brady, Adam Cronce, Alyvia Mackey, Tivonah Martin, Emerson Phillips, Julie Sandel, Savannah Smith, and Ethan Venable.
Finalists
Emma Brady
Emma Brady, from Asheboro, North Carolina, completed her Bachelor of Science in middle grades education with concentrations in language arts and mathematics in May 2026.
Her favorite moment from student teaching sixth grade at Wilkes North Middle School in Wilkes County Schools was watching students gain confidence in mathematics.
“Math can be a source of real anxiety for a lot of kids, so seeing students who doubt themselves start to believe in their own abilities is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Confidence matters at any age, but it feels especially important in middle school, and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch students begin to grow into that confidence and grow into themselves.”
Brady chose App State after visiting the campus on a fifth-grade field trip.
“As I got older and realized I wanted to become a teacher, the strength of its education program reinforced that feeling,” said Brady. “But honestly, it was that field trip, and the influence of one of the fifth grade teachers, Mrs. King, who was an Appalachian alum, that truly sealed the deal for me.”
This summer, Brady will work as a Servant Leader Intern at the Randolph County Communities in Schools Freedom School. For the 2026-2027 school year, she will teach seventh grade math at North Asheboro Middle School in Asheboro, North Carolina.
Adam Cronce
Adam Cronce, from Statesville, North Carolina, completed his Bachelor of Science in health and physical education in December 2025.
Since his sophomore year of high school, he has known that he wanted to be a PE teacher. He chose App State because of the field experience opportunities the program offered.
“I believe that this is why my student teaching went so smoothly, because it felt like I had already been teaching for two years,” he added.
Cronce’s favorite moment from student teaching at Oakwood Middle IB School in Iredell-Statesville Schools was the first time a student confided in him.
“This meant that the student felt a real relationship and trust with me, that they chose to talk about their feelings and what was bothering them,” he noted. “This meant a lot to me.”
Cronce has been hired as a teacher at Oakwood Middle IB School.
Alyvia Mackey
Alyvia Mackey, from Bessemer City, North Carolina, graduated in December 2025 with her Bachelor of Science in career and technical education, with a concentration in family and consumer science.
Her student teaching semester at North Gaston High School in Gaston County Schools “strengthened [her] confidence and passion for Family and Consumer Sciences education.”
“Throughout the semester, I grew in many different ways I never expected, both professionally and personally,” said Mackey. “I learned how to teach and plan effectively, build strong relationships with students, manage a classroom environment with confidence, and create lessons that can reach every learner.”
“This experience has helped me confirm that teaching is truly my calling and what I am meant to do,” she added.
Tivonah Martin
Tivonah Martin, from Holly Ridge, North Carolina, completed her Bachelor of Music in music education in May 2026.
Martin’s favorite moment of student teaching band and orchestra at East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools occurred when a student applied her harmonic analysis instruction successfully in another class.
“This made me feel that I did a good job teaching this skill because they were able to apply this skill in a different context outside of the unit,” she said. “This made me feel that the content that I taught them was useful for their musical careers.”
Martin chose App State because it offered one of the best education programs in the state.
“I also chose App State because when I discussed attending other North Carolina universities, many of them treated me as another number; however, at App State, the faculty talked to me as if I were a person,” she noted. “All faculty members talked to me as if I were already part of the program, and they genuinely wanted the best for my education.”
After graduation, Martin will be a long-term substitute teacher at Durham School of the Arts, acting as the full-time orchestra teacher for multiple ensembles ranging from grades 6-12.
Emerson Phillips
Emerson Phillips, from Cary, North Carolina, graduated in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in history/social studies education.
For Phillips, it is almost impossible to select one moment from her student teaching tenth grade at Green Hope High School in Wake County Public Schools as a favorite.
“The students have really made this experience wonderful for me,” she said. “I've learned so much from them, and I believe that I have become a better educator because of it.”
“The staff at Green Hope was also so incredibly supportive and welcoming,” she continued. “Throughout this whole semester, I was excited every day to come to work and have this wonderful opportunity to teach.”
She chose App State largely because of its renowned educator preparation program.
“The history/social studies education program has so thoroughly prepared me to be a teacher,” she noted. “The faculty in the Department of History and the College of Education were so pivotal to my success academically and professionally.”
Phillips is currently applying for high school teaching positions.
Julie Sandel
Julie Sandel, from Conover, North Carolina, graduated with her Bachelor of Science in child development with a concentration in birth through kindergarten in May 2026.
Sandel began her student teaching experience in a kindergarten classroom at North Newton Elementary School in Newton-Conover Schools with two new students.
“When they first arrived, they did not know their letter names or sounds,” she said. “Now they can identify letter sounds and even sound out words as they write.”
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see how much growth children can achieve in such a short time,” she added. “The confidence they have gained, along with their willingness to learn, make mistakes, and keep trying, is truly priceless. Knowing that I was part of that process and contributed to their success makes all of the hard work worthwhile.”
Sandel has been a teacher’s assistant for many years. She chose App State because of the opportunity to complete her degree while still working.
After graduation, Sandel hopes to secure a teaching position within her current district or neighboring districts.
Savannah Smith
Savannah Smith, from Lenoir, North Carolina, graduated in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.
Her favorite moment of student teaching in a fifth grade classroom at Hudson Elementary School in Caldwell County Schools was building relationships with her mentor teacher, the principal, and the students.
“While student teaching had its challenges, I loved every second of the journey,” she noted. “Learning the curriculum and planning creative lessons was another moment that I wholeheartedly enjoyed.”
“Student teaching solidified my belief that teaching is what I am meant to do,” she said. “As an educator, you are learning just as much as your students are, and student teaching has sparked a deeper motivation to constantly learn and better my practice and pedagogy.”
Ethan Venable
From Mount Airy, North Carolina, Ethan Venable graduated in May 2026 with his Bachelor of Science in English education.
Venable student taught in a tenth grade classroom at West Caldwell High School in Caldwell County Schools.
“Every week of my student teaching experience has been filled with the highs of a lesson landing perfectly with my class and the lows of being unable to connect with my students,” he said. “Both the highs and the lows have informed me about the rollercoaster that is being an educator.”
“My student teaching experience has taught me that teaching is not just about reciting class content to students; it is about meeting the students where they are and meeting their needs for the day,” he added.
Throughout his K-12 school experience, Venable’s most influential teachers often displayed degrees from App State. Their impact motivated him to continue his academic journey at App State.
“It makes sense that if I want to be the best educator possible, then I can learn where so many of my own role models were trained,” he added.
After graduation, Venable is continuing his education through the accelerated master’s program, completing his master’s degree in teaching literature and writing. He will also teach two sections of freshman writing at App State in the fall.
After completing his master’s degree, he plans to move into a full-time teaching position at a community college or a high school in nearby Western North Carolina.
Collage of photos of eight students, some in graduation regalia.
