Education

Empowering Future Leaders: Cato College’s Summer Programs in STEM, Literacy, Writing and Research
Cato College’s summer programs give K–12 students hands-on research, tutoring and growth opportunities that bridge academics with future careers. Through STEM immersions, literacy and math camps, and writing workshops, students gain experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence and foster academic achievement. This summer, the university offered three distinct programs—each tailored to specific educational needs—demonstrating Cato […]

In Memoriam: Trailblazer B.H. Rowland leaves legacy in early childhood education in Charlotte, state policy and beyond
To say Bobbie Rowland was one of a kind would be an understatement. In a time where women educators stayed in the classroom and men made the policy decisions, she took up the cause of early childhood education in North Carolina and wouldn’t hear “no” from anyone. She became the first woman elected to any […]

Alumni Spotlight: Kerra Johnson ’04 provides job opportunities, hands-on experience for next generation of EduNiners
Kerra Johnson graduated with honors from UNC Charlotte in 2004 as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, earning her degree in elementary education. A lifelong educator, Johnson taught at both the elementary and middle school levels and has tutored students of all ages for nearly 25 years. Beyond the classroom, she also mentored middle and high […]

Reinke Named a Finalist for Charlotte’s 2025 Teaching Excellence Award
Luke Reinke, associate professor of reading and elementary education in the Cato College of Education, is a finalist for the UNC Charlotte Teaching Excellence Award for tenured faculty. Reinke is an enthusiastic mathematics educator whose work blends research, teaching and service to reimagine how future teachers learn to teach math. Known for his thoughtful, equity-centered […]

Six new faculty join Cato College
Cato College welcomes six new faculty for the new semester from all across the country. Their experience and accolades add to the prestige and practical knowledge students gain from being an EduNiner, whether undergraduate or graduate and across all disciplines. We are proud to add these six bright lights to our team! Autumn Griffin Assistant […]

Smith chosen as president-elect of NCACTE
Director of Assessment & Accreditation Brad Smith, Ed.D. ’19, has been selected as the president-elect of the North Carolina Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. His three-year term as president-elect will prepare him for a subsequent three-year term as president, where he will lead the organization as the lead advocacy group for policy issues regarding […]

A Life of Purpose: Thai Ray Williams, Ph.D. ’25
Thai Ray Williams is not your typical graduate. A 32-year classroom teacher, Williams felt called to do more for her exceptional education students after taking part in Charlotte research. Now, she’s graduating with a Ph.D. in Special Education and is turning over a new leaf as faculty at Utah State University, where she will inspire […]

‘Create Something Special’: DeJané Cade ‘26, CTEC ‘25
It takes a special kind of person to turn an interview around on the interviewer, especially when that person is only 19 years old, but by the end of our time together, DeJané Cade was the one doing the interviewing! Watching her move throughout campus, she turned every new person she met into a networking […]

Telra Institute breaks ground on new campus with Cato faculty on Board
Charter school Telra Institute, opened in 2022, will welcome high schoolers for the first time this fall, at a new location right next door to Central Piedmont Community College’s Levine Campus. This will allow students to have what Telra is calling a “tightly integrated dual enrollment experience.” Their aim is that all students completing high […]

‘Somebody Is Waiting for You’: Drs. Brittany ‘25 and Jaalil ‘24 Hart
There are two kinds of academics in this world – those who prefer outside encouragement and those who need support from those in the trenches with them. Brittany and Jaalil Hart took the latter to what some may call the extreme in choosing to complete their doctoral degrees at the same time as husband and […]