Trojan Teach Forward gives students a firsthand look at teaching careers

MOUNT OLIVE — Last week, the University of Mount Olive welcomed nearly 200 middle and high school students from Duplin, Onslow, Edgecombe, Wayne and Lenoir counties for its inaugural Trojan Teach Forward Conference.

Organized by UMO’s School of Education, the conference highlighted the university’s “grow-your-own” strategy for cultivating future educators in a region where many districts struggle to fill classroom positions.

“In eastern North Carolina especially, many school districts face persistent teacher shortages,” said Amanda Bullard-Maxwell, dean of the School of Education.

Students engaged in workshops, met with current teachers and education majors, and explored a variety of teaching pathways, from elementary classrooms to specialized licensure areas, while gaining an authentic understanding of both the challenges and rewards of the field.

“The challenges are not sugar-coated,” Bullard-Maxwell said. “But we emphasize that the rewards far outweigh them.”

According to Bullard-Maxwell, the goal is to help students see themselves as future educators and leave with clarity and confidence about pursuing teaching.

“Teaching is both a professional and moral commitment to serve children. It is one of the most meaningful jobs there is,” said Felicia Brown, Superintendent of Human Resources with Duplin County Schools.

Assistant Dean Kelly Alves emphasized that exposure to real-world practices and a welcoming campus environment can spark interest in education while allowing students to consider multiple career possibilities.

Bullard-Maxwell and Alves hope Trojan Teach Forward will become an annual event, strengthening the region’s future workforce while encouraging young people to consider teaching as a viable career.