November 9, 2023
Andrews returns to ECU for teaching licensure
When Shainah Andrews wanted to get her licensure to teach, returning to her alma mater, East Carolina University, was an easy choice.
Andrews graduated from ECU in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate to teach English as a second language. Currently, she is enrolled in the first year of the educator residency program to obtain her license to teach English for grades 9-12 and high school English language arts (ELA).
One of the courses she’s enrolled in is READ 5317: Adolescent Literacy in the Content Areas with Dr. Rachelle Savitz, associate professor of reading/literacy education.
“Being back in school after having graduated four years ago is not an easy task at all for me, especially as a full-time high school ELA teacher,” Andrews said. “However, taking READ 5317 with Dr. Savitz has made the adjustment so smooth and non-intimidating; the confidence that is instilled in me module after module, project after project, and interaction after interaction helps me believe that I will only continue to soar in this program.”
Andrews is grateful to the community that surrounds her at ECU, work and beyond for supporting her throughout this process. “Because of you all — in addition to my students whom I learn from every semester — I am not only becoming a better teacher every single day, but student of life overall,” she said. “Every space that I am in teaches me different lessons about myself and the world around me; a saying that I’ve carried with me since middle school says that nobody’s the same but we’re no different.