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 excellence and engagement.
Congratulations to Our Spring & 2024-25 AWARD WINNERS!
Jaclyn Prabhu – Outstanding Clinical Educator of the Year, Spring 2025 and Overall 2024-2025
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 ’17! She went above and beyond to support, encourage, and guide her student teacher through lesson planning, progress monitoring, managing behaviors, and building her confidence as an educator. She grows her students as well as her student teacher. She was recognized by her student teacher: “To an unsure, nervous student teacher, this display of trust in my knowledge and abilities has meant the world.” Mrs. Prabhu is a special educator at Patriots STEM Elementary School in Cabarrus County.
Jaime Mejia – Traditional Student Teacher of the Year, Spring 2025
Congratulations to Jaime Mejia! A Foreign Language Education graduate, he was lauded for his communication skills and classroom engagement and was offered a job in his placement school before even completing the semester! His clinical educator couldn’t speak highly enough about him – “In every interaction, Jaime demonstrates creativity, compassion, and a heart for service. He brings innovative ideas to the classroom, fosters a culture of respect and inclusion, and remains grounded in his mission to break down barriers for multilingual learners. Without a doubt, Jaime Mejia represents the very best of what future educators should be.”
Belinda Redfern – Resident Student Teacher of the Year, Spring 2025
Congratulations to Belinda Redfern! A Special Education – Adapted Curriculum graduate, her engaging, hands-on lessons and ability to meet each child where they are stood out in every recommendation. One of her colleagues said, “No matter the outcome of this award, she has already won in my mind. I wouldn’t want to teach beside anyone else, and our students here are so incredibly lucky to have an educator like her in their lives.”
Bailey Wilcox – Traditional Student Teacher of the Year, Fall 2024, and Overall Student Teacher of the Year 2024-25
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.”
