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Master of Arts in Teaching at UNC School of Education

@unc_mat

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Official Instagram account of UNC Master’s in Teaching
K-12 teacher education and licensure with focus on social justice and equity.

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Congratulations to Abigail Paquin ('24 B.A., '25 M.A.T.), who has been named @orangecoschools' 2026-27 Beginning Teacher of the Year! 🎊

Paquin will represent Orange County Schools in the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (@nccatnews) Program.

With her strong educational background, Paquin is committed to a student-centered approach, incorporating literacy initiatives and innovative learning experiences into her teaching.

We're proud to celebrate this achievement and the impact Paquin is making in the classroom. Visit @orangecoschools to learn more.

Image credit: Orange County Schools. by @unc_mat

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5 days ago

Ask James Michael Sapp (’21 M.A.T.) what stands out most from his first five years in education, and he points to the students he taught and the relationships that grew from those classrooms and school communities.

Since graduating from the School's Master of Arts in Teaching program and being named North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year, Sapp has spent four years teaching mathematics and social studies in Western North Carolina. During that time, he was recognized as @buncombeschools’s Secondary Math Teacher of the Year while continuing to refine an approach to teaching centered on active learning and high expectations for students.

His path has since expanded into school leadership through graduate study in school administration and administrative internships that prepared him for his first assistant principal role at Apple Valley Middle School in Henderson County Public Schools (hcpsnc). As he continues doctoral study focused on educational outcomes, Sapp is carrying the perspective he developed in the classroom into this next chapter of his career. Visit the link in our bio to read more about Sapp’s first five years in education and what is are guiding his next chapter as a school leader. by @unc_mat

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The calendar may be inching toward fall, but we’re still taking time to reflect on the summer experiences that shaped members of our School community.

This summer, a group of recent @unc_mat alumni took their learning into the mountains of Western North Carolina through a five-day Outward Bound wilderness course, where they backpacked through mountainous terrain, hiked several miles each day while carrying their gear, and took part in a half-day rock-climbing experience. 🏕️⛰️☀️🌳🪨

Along the way, they worked through shared challenges and experienced firsthand how experiential education can build community and encourage learners to take greater ownership of their growth. — inviting them to consider how those lessons can shape the classrooms they lead. by @unc_mat

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2 months ago

This summer, Senami Kugblenu (’25 B.A., ’26 M.A.T.) participated in the School’s International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education program, where she was able to gain practical experience supporting multilingual learners. 🌍

Alongside teacher candidates from around the world, Kugblenu explored how teaching can support students’ cognitive, physical, emotional and mental well-being. Building on a previous study abroad experience in Montpellier, France, classroom observations in Hamburg also challenged her to think more intentionally about classroom management and the decisions educators make to create productive learning environments.

Through the INTER and @unc_mat programs, she said she strengthened her identity as a teacher who approaches the classroom as both a content specialist and a thoughtful pedagogue.

This fall, Kugblenu will bring those lessons to two elementary schools in Nîmes, France, where she will teach English and continue building connections through language and learning. 📚 by @unc_mat

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2 months ago

This summer, Brianna Martin (’25 B.A., ’26 M.A.T.) traveled to Germany through the UNC School of Education’s International Experience and Reflection in Teacher Education program, where she explored how educators across cultures prepare students for success and expanded her understanding of what teaching and learning can look like globally.

Alongside fellow teacher candidates from her MAT cohort and around the world, she discovered that while educational systems may differ, but a shared passion for students and lifelong learning connects teachers everywhere.

One of her most memorable experiences was Dialog im Dunkeln, an immersive tour conducted entirely in darkness that challenged her to think more deeply about accessibility and designing learning environments where every student can thrive.

As she begins her teaching career at Northwood High School in Chatham County Schools, Martin carries forward the global perspectives and mentorship she gained through the INTER and @unc_mat MAT programs, with a goal of creating a classroom where every student feels seen and empowered. by @unc_mat

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3 months ago

Maddie LaMear, a 2026 graduate of the School’s Master of Arts in Teaching (unc_mat) program, wants her students to leave her classroom believing, “I can do hard things” — a path to teaching that has been shaped by curiosity and a belief that every student has the right to learn.

Through the MAT program, LaMear found ways to connect her love of learning with research-based practices, hands-on coursework, and real classroom experience. During her student-teaching placement at Pittsboro Elementary School within @chathamcountyschools, she learned to make learning accessible and keep students at the center of her teaching.

Those experiences helped her shape a vision for a classroom where students feel known and confident in their ability to learn. Now named as the School’s 2026 Student Teacher of the Year, LaMear is preparing to carry those lessons into her own classroom. Read more about her story at the link in our bio. by @unc_mat

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4 months ago

Congratulations to the UNC School of Education’s Master of Arts in Teaching program on earning an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality for preparing future elementary teachers in scientifically based reading instruction! 🎊✨

The program is one of only 37 graduate programs nationwide to receive the organization’s top rating, reflecting Carolina’s commitment to evidence-based practices that help young readers build essential literacy skills. Visit the link in our bio to learn more about this recognition and its impact on future teachers and learners. by @unc_mat

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On Tuesday, @unc_mat welcomed its incoming cohort for the 2026-27 academic year during orientation.

Students heard remarks from Jill V. Hamm, dean of the School and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education, and connected with MAT faculty members, program support staff, and soon-to-be graduates, who reflected on their experiences and shared advice.

We welcome to the newest cohort of MAT students! We can’t wait to see the impact you will make as future-ready educators. ✨ by @unc_mat

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5 months ago

Meet Paty Maldonado (’25 B.A.Ed., ’26 M.A.T.) ⭐️📚🎓

For Maldonado, Teacher Appreciation Week offers a chance to reflect on the teachers who planted seeds of encouragement throughout her own educational journey and the kind of educator she hopes to become.

Raised in Durham and a soon-to-be graduate of @unc_mat, Maldonado said student teaching has shown her the importance of creating a classroom where students feel known, loved, and capable of taking academic risks.

As she prepares to enter the profession, Maldonado hopes to give back to the hometown that shaped her — creating learning spaces where students feel seen, valued, and excited to grow.

Today, and each day, we #ThankATeacher! 🎊 #UNCGrad by @unc_mat

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Meet Makylah Reid (’25 B.A.Ed., ’26 M.A.T.) ⭐️📚🎓

For Reid, Teacher Appreciation Week offers a chance to reflect on her beginnings as a student, the teachers and mentors who shaped her journey, and the impact she hopes to have within schools. Through student teaching experience in Chatham County Schools, she learned the importance of creating a classroom where students feel comfortable making mistakes and growing through the learning process.

Reid credits her mentor teacher with providing meaningful support, explaining the “why” behind classroom decisions, and offering positive feedback that helped build her confidence.

After graduation, Reid hopes to continue working in a rural community and will also participate in the Intercontinental Teacher Exchange Program this summer, traveling to Hamburg, Germany, to learn more about elementary education.

Today, and each day, we #ThankATeacher! 🎊 | #UNCGrad by @unc_mat

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Today, and each day, we #ThankATeacher! 🎊

As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, the School celebrates educators for their dedication and impact in shaping students’ futures. We are grateful for the teachers within our School community who support, challenge, and inspire students while strengthening the communities in which they work.

Meet Haley Dunnigan (’25 B.A.Ed., ’26 M.A.T.), a soon-to-be graduate of the Master of Arts in Teaching at UNC School of Education program who is preparing to teach sixth-grade social studies and science at Apple Valley Middle School in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina.

Inspired by the middle school teachers who offered steady support after she moved across the country in sixth grade, Dunnigan, who was a student teacher within Chatham County Schools, is committed to caring for students’ holistic well-being beyond academics. Now, she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised and invested in her. by @unc_mat

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Yesterday, EDUC 747 faculty members hosted a principal panel for students in the School’s @unc_mat program and #UNC-BEST minor, highlighting the impact of partnerships among the School, alumni, and school communities across our state.

During the event, panelists shared insight into what students can expect as beginning teachers, offered advice for career preparation, discussed the day-to-day duties of school leadership, and reflected on the tools and approaches they have found most helpful in the classroom. Students also had the chance to ask engaging questions, connect with internship supervisors, and build new connections.

Participating principals and school leaders included:

- James Boyce, Forest View Elementary School, Durham Public Schools
- Jesse Casey, East Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Alison Cleveland ('03 B.A., '14 M.S.A.) Green Hope High School, Wake County Public School System, and a member of the School’s Board of Visitors
- Kimberly Griffis, Grady A. Brown Elementary School, Orange County Schools
- Kirtina Jones, ('26 Ed.D.) assistant principal at Northside Elementary School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Kirtisha Jones ('19 M.S.A., '26 Ed.D.), McDougle Elementary School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Darren Williams, ('21 M.S.A., '25 Ed.D.), Ligon Middle School, Wake County Public School System by @unc_mat

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