Connecting the Dots!
January 2026
Partnerships That Strengthen Practice
Welcome to the latest edition of Connecting the Dots, our quarterly partner newsletter celebrating collaboration, innovation, and shared momentum across our statewide network. The new year is off to a strong start, and we are energized by the collective impact unfolding across districts, schools, and universities throughout North Carolina.
As the semester gains momentum, our focus is on sustaining early wins while building forward with intention. Middle-of-Year (MOY) Check-In Meetings are underway across regions, offering valuable opportunities to reflect on progress, engage with data, and sharpen next steps. These conversations—led by Regional Directors and Coaches—ensure support remains responsive, targeted, and aligned to teacher goals.
At the same time, we continue to deepen our work around instructional excellence. This quarter highlights an increased focus on high-quality planning, instruction, and assessment, alongside the integration of new tools and approaches, including Sibme AI features and Student-Centered Coaching strategies. Together, these enhancements strengthen our ability to analyze evidence, personalize feedback, and more clearly connect teacher practice to student learning.
Our commitment to educators is further amplified through meaningful partnerships. This quarter celebrates the continued partnership between Equitable and the NC New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP), grounded in a shared belief that investing in educators strengthens communities. By pairing Equitable’ s long-standing support of K–12 teachers with NC NTSP’s coaching model, the partnership provides individualized support for beginning teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools while also prioritizing the wellbeing of our 39 instructional coaches statewide. This holistic investment reflects the understanding that when educators and those who support them are well cared for, schools and communities thrive.
Looking ahead, we are excited to partner with The Setser Group as we support the next phase of NC NTSP. We are grateful to participating institutions for their time, insight, and candor during recent interviews. Early reflections are already helping identify emerging themes and shape future-focused models for the program.
Thank you for the energy, creativity, and partnership you bring to this work. Together, we are connecting the dots between teacher development, instructional excellence, and meaningful outcomes for students across North Carolina—one strong collaboration at a time.
NC NTSP Program Office and Statewide Team
Coaches Help Aspiring Teachers
Coaches Julie Little and Karen Walker recently partnered with Dr. Mina Min’s Block 3 class to support students as they prepare for their transition into student teaching this spring. The session was designed to help aspiring educators reflect on their readiness and gain practical insight into what lies ahead. Using the NSRF “Hopes & Fears” protocol, Julie and Karen guided students through meaningful reflection, encouraging them to share both their excitement and the uncertainties they feel about stepping into their new roles.
The session sparked thoughtful, engaging conversations, allowing students to ask questions about classroom management, relationship-building with students, and navigating their upcoming placements. Julie and Karen shared clarity on common challenges, drew on their personal experiences as educators, and offered practical advice to help students feel more confident and prepared. Students walked away with concrete strategies, a clearer sense of expectations, and a renewed sense of purpose as they approach their student teaching experiences.
Beyond this session, Julie and Karen hope to continue this work with future cohorts, envisioning this collaborative reflection as a recurring component of Block 3’s student teaching preparation. Their goal is to create a consistent, supportive space where emerging educators can process their anxieties, celebrate their strengths, and begin their teaching journey with confidence and intentionality.
Should you have any questions, email Dr. Caroline Beam, Interim Regional Director [beamcs@appstate.edu].
NTSP 2025 Highlights
Should you have any questions, please email Elisabeth Wilson, Regional Director [elisabeth.wilson@charlotte.edu ].
Craven County Beginning Teachers Are Growing Strong!
Beginning teachers in Craven County recently came together with NC New Teacher Support Program Instructional Coaches Etosha Kiah and Lisa Becker for an engaging and practice-focused professional development session centered on creating positive learning environments and using student data to inform instruction. The session provided a supportive space for early career educators to strengthen their skills while connecting theory to day-to-day classroom practice.
Throughout the learning experience, teachers actively participated in hands-on protocols designed to be immediately transferable to their own classrooms. These included interactive learning stations, collaborative structures that promote student engagement, and authentic data analysis tasks. Using real student work samples, participants engaged in a structured data protocol that helped them identify patterns, surface misconceptions, and determine targeted reteaching strategies to better meet student needs.
The energy in the room reflected a strong commitment to growth and collaboration. It was inspiring to see beginning teachers thoughtfully reflecting on their practice, learning from one another, and embracing instructional strategies that support both student success and their own professional development. Sessions like these highlight the power of coaching and community in nurturing confident, reflective educators early in their careers.
Should you have any questions, email Dr. Christopher Rivera, Regional Director [RIVERAC@ECU.EDU]
Melissa Fields Scholarship Honors Outstanding NTSP Teachers
Three NTSP-supported teachers—Cheyanne Walters, Mindy Roberson, and Carmen Lopez (a program graduate)—have been awarded the Melissa Fields Scholarship to support their ongoing professional growth and development. Melissa Fields was a pivotal leader in Perquimans County Schools, and NTSP is proud to have worked alongside her. We are equally proud to support Cheyanne, Mindy, and Carmen as they continue to grow as educators.
This scholarship not only honors Melissa’s enduring legacy but also celebrates the excellence and dedication of these outstanding recipients—individuals of whom Melissa would undoubtedly have been most proud. Their selection reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership in their schools, and a dedication to nurturing student success. As they pursue new opportunities for professional development, we are confident they will carry forward Melissa’s passion for education, her spirit of mentorship, and her unwavering belief in the power of teachers to transform lives.
Should you have any questions, email Dr. Devin Aucoin, Regional Director, [dpatter2@ncsu.edu].
Leading with Heart: Rebeckah Goras’ Journey as a Beginning Teacher Leader
Rebeckah Goras, Exceptional Children’s (EC) teacher at A.L. Stanback Middle School (ALS), was named Orange County Schools 2025-26 Beginning Teacher of the Year, and most recently, as one of the twenty-seven finalists for the the 2026 Burroughs Welcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award!
Rebeckah creates a warm, safe, and constructive environment where students feel supported. She collaborates closely with colleagues, families, and support staff to ensure each student’s unique needs are met. In addition to her work in the classroom, Rebeckah coaches track, where she brings the same encouragement, structure, and support that define her teaching.
Her UNC coach, Kathy Fields, shared, “I love visiting Rebeckah’s classroom. It’s a place where her passion for her work shines through the moment you walk in.” Rebeckah’s dedication to inclusive practices, her students and building relationships makes her a valued member of both ALS and Orange County Schools. Rebeckah will attend a week of professional development in March and the winner will be announced on March 12, 2026.
Should you have any questions, email Dr. Amy Richardson, Regional Director [amyrich@email.unc.edu].
Beginning Teacher Spotlights!
We’re excited to spotlight four Beginning Teachers supported by UNCG New Teacher Support Coaches. Each of these educators brings curiosity, creativity, and a reflective mindset to their practice—qualities that make a meaningful difference for students and school communities.
The impact is evident in every classroom featured. Students are learning in respectful, nurturing, and academically rigorous environments where high expectations are balanced with intentional support for individual growth.
We hope you enjoy these inspiring stories and the glimpses they offer into excellent teaching in action. Stay tuned for more Beginning Teacher Spotlights in future editions!
Should you have any questions, contact Dr. Faith Freeman, Regional Director [FABROWN@uncg.edu].
Educator Spotlight: Celebrating Regional BT of the Year Finalists
NC NTSP at UNC Pembroke is proud and excited to celebrate Rhyane Jacobs (left) and Ellie McPherson as finalists for the NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.
Rhyane Jacobs is an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Geology. She is also an active participant in the First Americans Teacher Education Program (FATE) at UNCP, further strengthening her professional growth in educational systems and content pedagogy. Rhyane currently teaches third grade at Union Chapel Elementary School, where she is known for reigniting the joy and adventure of learning while fostering creativity, curiosity, and confidence in her classroom.
Rhyane’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that knowledge is the one thing that can never be taken away. She is deeply committed to empowering her students with this lifelong right. As both an educator and a neighbor within the community she serves, this recognition reflects her mission to show children that no matter where they come from or what they look like, their dreams are attainable and their possibilities are endless.
Ellie McPherson is a kindergarten–first grade teacher at Whiteville Primary School in Whiteville City Schools, representing the southeastern region of North Carolina. Teaching in her hometown, Ellie believes that effective teaching requires a genuine love for students, a dedication to excellence, and a willingness to selflessly give. Her philosophy is strongly influenced by the Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators, particularly the call for educators to be devoted to excellence, a principle that has shaped her identity and growth as a teacher.
Through her experience as a beginning teacher, Ellie has come to understand that teaching is both demanding and deeply rewarding, requiring perseverance, reflection, and a commitment to student success. She believes that caring for students means continuously examining and improving one’s practice to meet the needs of all learners. In pursuit of excellence, Ellie is attending graduate school to further develop her skills and better support her students. She views teaching as an act of giving one of the most meaningful ways to serve a community by helping shape the minds of the next generation and is devoted to doing more than teaching for the sake of teaching. Her goal is to truly help students learn and thrive.
Together, Rhyane Jacobs and Ellie McPherson exemplify the passion, dedication, and excellence that define North Carolina’s beginning teachers. Their commitment to students, communities, and continuous growth reflects the very heart of the teaching profession. NC NTSP at UNC Pembroke is honored to celebrate their achievements and proud to support educators who are shaping the future—one student, one classroom, and one community at a time.
The North Carolina Beginning Teacher of the Year will be announced on March 12 during the NCCAT NCBTOY Gala, and we look forward to celebrating this incredible moment and honoring all beginning teachers across our state.
Should you have any questions, email Dr. Karen Granger, Regional Director [karen.granger@uncp.edu].
Watson Wellness: Supporting the Whole Teacher in Sampson County
The UNCW New Teacher Support team, including Regional Director Jennifer Hatch-Knight and Instructional Coaches Jodi Hebert and Lori Best, led a Watson Wellness for the Whole Teacher professional development session for Sampson County first-year beginning teachers on January 8. This interactive session focused on practical strategies to support physical, mental, and emotional wellness—both for teachers themselves and for the students in their classrooms.
Participants explored actionable approaches they can easily implement to maintain balance, reduce stress, and create a positive learning environment that models healthy habits. By emphasizing self-care alongside student support, the session reinforced the connection between teacher well-being and instructional effectiveness, inspiring educators to prioritize wellness as an integral part of their professional practice.
Should you have any questions, contact Jennifer Hatch-Knight,
Interim Regional Director [knightjh@uncw.edu].
Mid-Year Reset: Tools, Wellness, and Classroom Impact
Facilitated by Kelly Hanna, two of our District partners, McDowell County and Lake Lure Classical Academy, engaged in a Mid-Year Reset focused on reflecting, recharging, and resetting. Teachers explored strategies to keep self-care and staying healthy in the forefront, discussed new ideas and effective strategies to improve classroom management practices, explored ways to provide timely and constructive feedback to students, as well as best practices to be productive time managers. Through table stations, groups of teachers brainstormed and bounced ideas off of each other taking away tips and tricks from their peers!
Should you have any questions, contact Melissa Faetz, Regional Director [mkfaetz@wcu.edu].