Elementary Education
A degree in Elementary Education offers you the chance to mentor children in grades K–6 and help shape the rest of their lives. Along with receiving the knowledge to teach any elementary school subject, you will learn vital skills like classroom management, computer and media applications, and lesson development. By passing additional sections of the Pearson Licensure Exam, you can add areas of certification to your teaching license. Unlike other teacher education programs in the state, you will start participating in field experiences as soon as you enter the program.
The Teacher Education Program at Lees-McRae has achieved the high standards required to maintain accreditation by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Building on the liberal arts core curriculum, the Elementary Education curriculum has a balance of philosophy, theory, and practice for effective teacher preparation. We educate students using the Reflective Practitioner Framework, which encourages students to reflect on every aspect of the learning and teaching experience.
What You'll Study
In the Elementary Education program, you will learn how to use the most up-to-date teaching methods to help children with varied backgrounds and skill levels become confident readers. We will walk you through the process of assessing your students' abilities, adapting the curriculum to best suit their needs, and creating lesson plans that keep students engaged and learning.
Beyond the Classroom
- K-6 classroom observations (50 hours) to be completed during your first two semesters in our program
- K-6 classroom internship (150 hours) to be completed during your third semester in our program
- K-6 student teaching during your fourth and final semester in our program
- Optional international travel and service opportunities
Elementary Education students get teaching experience at NC Farm Bureau Agricultural Fair
North Carolina Ag in the Classroom (AITC) is an annual program put on across the state each year in association with the North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB). The event, which began in the 1980s, focuses its efforts on educating kindergarten through eighth grade students about the agricultural industry.
While this program serves as a valuable hands-on educational experience for elementary and middle school students each year, this year’s AITC fair in Spruce Pine, North Carolina also served as an experiential learning opportunity for future teachers in the Lees-McRae Elementary Education program.
North Carolina Educator Evaluation Consultant, NCDPI
After Graduation
Common Career Areas
- Elementary School Teachers
- Secondary School Teachers
- Physical Education Teachers and Coaches
- School Administration
Career information is provided through Vault and O'Net. Current Lees-McRae students can see the full results on Vault using their student email and password.
Alumni Success
Principal Avery Middle School
Kindergarten Teacher Laurel Park Elementary School (Diane Kent Parker First Year Teacher Award in Wake County Public Schools)
Fourth Grade Teacher Hudson Elementary School (featured on front page of newspaper for creating a computer club for students after attending Googlefest to encourage students to get interested in programming)
Head Volleyball Coach Polk County
Eighth Grade Teacher Cove Creek School (Teacher of the Year Award)
Fifth Grade Teacher North Windy Widge School (Thanks to Teachers winner featured on ABC/WLOS NC news)
Teacher Bethel Christian Academy (Thanks to Teacher winner featured on ABC/WLOS NC news)
Meet the Faculty
Pamela Vesely, EdD
Dean of Education and Social Sciences, Professor
Susan Dean, EdD
Professor of Teacher Education
Nancy Gryder, EdS
Assistant Professor of Education
Dorothy Ley
Clinical Supervisor for Teacher Education
Melissa McCullough, EdD
Program Director of Master of Arts in Teaching, Assistant Professor of Education