June 18, 2025
ECU literacy students engage in immersive study-away professional development
From March 23-25, a group of ECU literacy ambassadors participated in a three-day study-away professional development experience in Winston-Salem. Led by ECU literacy education faculty, this immersive opportunity brought together seven undergraduate students from the elementary and special education programs with a reading concentration and seven graduate students in the online MAEd Reading and Literacy program.
“Attending the conference with my students was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Dr. Christy Howard, associate professor and director of LEHE graduate programs. “As an online program, we often connect through screens, but this opportunity to come together face-to-face allowed us to collaborate, engage and build a stronger sense of community. It was a valuable experience for all of us, and one that has certainly left a lasting impression.”
One of the trip’s highlights was the ability to present research-based literacy instruction practices at the conference. The two research projects focused on exploring strategies for understanding and supporting students’ reading identities and providing practical strategies for integrating diverse texts into literacy instruction while aligning with North Carolina standards.
“READ ambassador students applied everything they learned in their coursework and were able to illuminate what ECU’s preservice teachers do in the field,” said Kessel. “Through this opportunity to present, they shared their experiences and tools that can be applied in real classrooms. Beyond professional growth, students also developed lasting friendships and a deeper appreciation for the literacy community.”
Many of the undergraduate students remarked that it was an unforgettable experience and one that made them realize how close they are to being teachers with their own classrooms. Graduate students had similar experiences.
“As a distance education student, being physically present with the READ community meant more than I can adequately express,” said graduate student Erika Helms. “These face-to-face professional experiences create anchors that strengthen connection to the program and each other. They remind us why we chose this path and why we chose ECU to guide us along it.”
Dr. Elizabeth Swaggerty, the department chair for Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education, also attended the conference.
“I was inspired by the meaningful collaboration and connections formed between undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members throughout this professional study-away experience,” she said. “Their conversations about literacy practice, theory and children’s literature were filled with passion, energy and deep engagement.”
Undergraduate literacy ambassadors included: Claire Steele (junior from Statesville), Taylor Harold (junior from New Bern), Jamie Dykes (senior from Hertford), Sawyer Selles (sophomore from Charlotte), Jessica Clayton (senior from Jacksonville), Melissa Kushnir (junior from Chapel Hill) and Jada Midgette (junior from Raleigh). Graduate literacy ambassadors included: Lisa Thompson-Weber (gifted education catalyst in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools), Michelle Maher (core behavior specialist in Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools), Tracee Moore (Public Schools Forum), Heather DeSorbo (second grade teacher in Cumberland County Schools), Greer Moneta (kindergarten teacher in Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools), Kristen Martin (MTSS coordinator/interventionist in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools) and Erika Helms (first grade teacher in Wake County Public Schools).
Faculty leaders included Erin Kessel and Dr. Christiana Kfouri for the undergraduate cohort and Dr. Christy Howard for the graduate cohort, who guided students through a variety of enriching experiences, including professional conference sessions, author panels and social networking activities.