School of Education | TEHE

UNC Greensboro

smiley award logo

Smiley Award Nomination Window Now Open

School of Education students, as well as any UNC Greensboro student with an education major, may now apply for the 2026 Smiley Award. The application deadline is March 1, 2026.

A group of ten people, including Dr. Vicki Jacobs (front row, left) wearing matching turquoise shirts that say “Math: the only subject that COUNTS” pose together indoors. They are smiling and standing around a sign that reads “Flourish Featured Session” with logos for the Ashboro City Schools and NCCTM.

Meet the Researcher: Dr. Vicki Jacobs

Dr. Vicki Jacobs serves as the Yopp Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education.  What is your educational background?   I was an undergraduate at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where I was a psychology major. Then I did my master’s and Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University… Continue reading…

Marilyn Tucker stands outdoors on a snowy night, wearing a black American Eagle sweatshirt.

Spartan Voices: Marilyn Tucker

Marilyn Tucker is an Elementary Education major from Madison, N.C., who is minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She expects to graduate in May of 2027.

Dr. Darrell Harris, right, with GCS Superintendent Dr. Whitley Oakley, left, at the GCS awards celebration

SOE Alums Recognized by Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools recently held its annual Celebration of Excellence Awards where numerous UNC Greensboro School of Education alumni were honored for their performances. Awards were handed out for Rookie Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Social Worker of the Year, School Psychologist of the Year, School Counselor of the Year, and School Library Media Coordinator of the Year.

Headshot of Crystal Ivey to the right of the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education logo

Spartan Voices: Crystal Ivey

Crystal Ivey is an Elementary Education major from Charlotte, N.C., who expects to graduate in May of 2026.

Malcolm Jones, wearing a navy blue suit and white sneakers, sits confidently in the open driver's side doorway of a dark blue SUV. He rests one arm on his knee and looks directly at the camera with a serious expression. The vehicle is parked on an open concrete area under a cloudy sky.

Spartan Voices: Malcolm Jones

Malcolm Jones is an Elementary Education major from Wilson, N.C., who is minoring in History. He expects to graduate in May of 2026. Why Did you Choose UNCG? I chose UNCG because it hits that sweet spot – it’s not too big, not too small, but just right. What really… Continue reading…

Split image featuring the UNC Greensboro Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education logo and a headshot of Dr. Nick Kochmanski. The left side displays the department logo. The right side shows the Kochmanski's portrait against a neutral gray background.

Improving K-12 Math Education with Instructional Coaches

Math is still math: 2+2 still equals 4. But the way students learn math – and, more particularly, the way teachers teach it – has changed significantly in the last 25 years. Rote memorization of times tables, simple sums, and fraction conversions has given way to more depth of thinking when it comes to numbers and how they interact.