Dr. Sheryl Long will lead recruitment program for North Carolina teachers
Dr. Sheryl Long, a former education professor and dean at Meredith College, will lead the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program.
The competitive, merit-based forgivable loan program provides tuition assistance of up to $10,000 a year for qualified students who commit to teaching elementary education, special education, science, engineering, technology or math in a North Carolina public school. This year, more than 1,200 Fellows participated in the program at 10 colleges and universities around the state.
Long, who was a Teaching Fellow herself as a student at Meredith, has 30 years of experience in education. She was a middle school teacher and most recently an education professor and dean of Meredith’s School of Education, Health and Human Sciences. She earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from NC State University, a master’s degree in English from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Meredith College.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program,” Long said. “Preparing and supporting excellent educators has been at the heart of my professional work, and I look forward to partnering with Fellows, colleges and universities, P-12 schools, and education leaders across the state. Together, we can build on the program’s strengths as we continue to provide strong pathways for talented future teachers to serve North Carolina’s schools and communities.”
Long will work to recruit prospective teachers with the program’s participating institutions across the state: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elon University, Fayetteville State University, Meredith College, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, NC State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and University of North Carolina Pembroke.
Dr. Shun Robertson, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the UNC System, said Long’s experience as a Teaching Fellow and past dean of a Teaching Fellow institution “uniquely positions her for the next phase of growth of this vital North Carolina program.”
Patrick Brennan, chair of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission, said he was thrilled to welcome Long to the position.
“Her leadership, experience, and commitment to supporting and preparing teachers will be tremendous assets as we continue strengthening the educator pipeline and preparing exceptional teachers to serve students across North Carolina,” Brennan said. “The Commission is excited about the energy and vision she brings to this important work.”