The Office of School and Community Partnerships provides support services to education candidates for clinical and internship experiences in local schools, districts, and agencies. By fostering collaborative relationships between the Cato College of Education, surrounding schools, public agencies, and the community, the Office of School and Community Partnerships seeks to enrich the experience of our pre-service educators and faculty. Our office works in collaboration with faculty, public and private agencies, and the community to coordinate long-term partnerships that enrich and enhance our program to ensure equity, excellence, and engagement.

Congratulations to Our Student Teachers of the Year!

Makayla Dockery – 2023/24 Traditional Student Teacher of the Year

Makayla Dockery is a middle grades Social Studies and English undergraduate candidate who student taught at Harris Road Middle School in Cabarrus County.  Through each letter of recommendation, it is clear Makayla is a passionate advocate for students’ needs who seeks every opportunity to proactively build intentional, supportive relationships with students to create an engaging, inclusive, and responsive learning environment to support each and every student. In the words of Makayla’s Clinical Educator, “I have been particularly impressed by the intentionality with which Makayla challenges students’ knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation tasks as they gain a better understanding of the material this year.” We are proud to have Makayla representing the Cato College of Education as our Student Teacher of the Year.

Devina Jankatt-Das – Spring 2024 Resident Student Teacher of the Year

Devina Jankatt-Das is a French Language Education resident candidate who completed student teaching at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  As a resident, Devina completed student teaching while balancing the unique demands of being both a full-time teacher and a student in the graduate certificate program here at UNC Charlotte.  A couple of examples of how Devina went above and beyond during the student teaching semester include approaching each day with a contagious enthusiasm that benefits new and seasoned teachers in the school, crafting student-centered activities that encourage students to connect personal experience to their language learning, and collaborating with specialists in the school community to meet the diverse needs of her students. We are proud of Devina and are delighted to have her representing the Cato College of Education as our Resident Student Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to the Fall 2023 Outstanding Clinical Educator!

Michael Hayes

Hidden Valley Elementary: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

At the 2023-2024 Cato College of Education Awards ceremony, Dr. Tisha Greene and Dean Malcolm Butler presented Michael Hayes, an English as a Second Language Teacher at Hidden Valley Elementary in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, with the Fall 2023 Outstanding Clinical Educator Award. Mr. Hayes was nominated by Dr. Cornelia Okraski and Susan Bakita, his student teacher.