at Mount Olive Middle School. Music Education Major Matinzicio Edmondson is pictured conducting students
Mount Olive College Adds
Teacher Licensure Component BY RHONDA JESSUP | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT STEVENS “I feel that teachers are the most important role models in
to begin offering teacher licensure for B-K, elementary
students’ lives,” said Amanda Sharpe, a secondary math
education, music education, health and physical
education major at Mount Olive College. “Teachers spend
education, agriculture education, science education, social
more time with children than most parents do. Therefore,
studies education, mathematics education, and English
the school system needs dedicated and caring individuals
education. Now, students interested in teaching in any of
for the position. I feel that I can make a difference in my
those licensure areas can complete all of their licensure
students’ lives and help them to better themselves and
requirements at Mount Olive College.
society.” “Most teacher education programs are at least 60 miles For students like Amanda Sharpe, Mount Olive College has
from Mount Olive,” said Dr. Tommy Benson, chair of the
made becoming a teacher more accessible than ever before.
Department of Education at Mount Olive College. “That
Previously Mount Olive College students interested in
was simply not convenient for most of our students.”
teacher education could take the first three years of study at
Benson went on to note that having a teacher licensure
MOC, and then transfer to a partnering university such as
program at Mount Olive College helps the local school
East Carolina University, North Carolina State University,
systems as well. “Very often if you get student teachers into
or Campbell University to complete their student teaching
your school system you can hire those teachers,” Benson
and licensure components.
said. Benson noted that the state of North Carolina trains an average of 2,500 to 3,000 teachers annually but the state
Not anymore. In December 2010 Mount Olive College
traditionally hires about 10,000 teachers. “That is a big gap
received approval from the State Board of Education
that we hope to help fill,” he said.
4 | TODAY | SPRING 2012