Welcome!
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 Spring & 2024-25 AWARD WINNERS!
The Cato College of Education Outstanding Clinical Educator Award annually recognizes a P-12 teacher who serves as a clinical educator to a full-time student teaching candidate. Award recipients should provide exemplary support and mentoring to an undergraduate or graduate candidate in a teacher education program. Congratulations to Jaclyn Prabhu, a UNC Charlotte Alumni, for being recognized as the Spring 2025 AND overall Outstanding Clinical Educator. Mrs. Prabhu is a special educator at Patriots STEM Elementary School in Cabarrus County.
Bailey Wilcox – Traditional Student Teacher of the Year, Fall 2024
This semester, we had a unique situation where, for the first time in our college’s history, our Traditional STOY and Outstanding CE winners were a mentor/mentee pair and nominated each other without the other knowing!
Bailey Wilcox is a graduate of our Minor in Secondary Education program, concentrating in English. Her clinical educator, Outstanding CE winner Vanessa Halling, wrote, “Ms. Wilcox embodies the intellect, enthusiasm, and student-centered mindset essential for today’s educators.” Wilcox was also recognized for her professionalism, preparation, and ability to effectively teach three different levels of students, even contributing to the English 4 Professional Learning Community before the school year began.
Her University Supervisor, Kate Gilbert, recounted a particular anecdote from one of their regular meetings: “After building a genuine connection with a student who had previously expressed a strong dislike for reading, she thoughtfully recommended a book she believed would resonate with him. The next day, the student approached her before lunch and asked if he could stay in her room to have a quiet place to read… Her thoughtful recommendation and willingness to create a supportive environment unlocked a newfound love of reading for this student, inspiring him to see himself as a reader for the first time.”
Congratulations to the Fall 2024 Outstanding Clinical Educator!
Vanessa Halling
Mallard Creek High School: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Vanessa Halling is an English teacher at Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools. University Supervisor Kate Gilbert nominated her for excelling in co-teaching, co-planning, co-assessing, and reflecting alongside her student teacher while providing a balance of guidance and autonomy. Her principal’s nomination stated, “Mrs. Halling taught Ms. Wilcox how to establish high expectations and maintain those regardless of how the day was going in class. Mrs. Halling has always been an inspiring staff member at Mallard Creek, but to see the firsthand impact she’s had on the next generation of teachers has been amazing.
She was also nominated by her student teacher, Traditional STOY fall winner Bailey Wilcox, who paid her perhaps the highest compliment: “Mrs. Halling has surpassed every expectation that I had of what a Clinical Educator should be. She constantly goes above and beyond to support me in learning to be the best teacher I can be. From the beginning, she made her classroom into my own.”