When Dot Kearns decided to name a space in UNCG’s new School of Education building – which was dedicated Sept. 22 – a verse from the university song played in her head. It went something like this: “Dear alma mater strong and great, I never shall forget the gratitude I owe to you, a never-ending debt.”

For Kearns, a longtime member of the Guilford County Board of Education and advocate for early childhood education, UNCG meant unprecedented opportunity. She was the first person in her family to go to college.

She graduated from Woman’s College, UNCG’s earlier incarnation, in 1953 with a degree in sociology and a teaching certificate. She returned to UNCG two decades later, earning an MEd in 1974.

 “It was such a thriving, magnificent place for me when I got there,” Kearns says. “It was a very liberal and challenging climate. And I do feel like I owe a never-ending debt.”

The sense of giving back was coupled with her strong belief in the importance of education.

“At this point in the history of the United States, the education of our young people is the most critical issue that our nation faces,” Kearns says. “We need young people who can think critically to figure out how to deal with this economy and this new global, technology-driven society we’re in. If not we’re going to lose this great democracy.”

Chancellor Linda P. Brady agrees.  “With the opening of the new School of Education building,” she says, “UNCG will continue its long tradition of educating the next generation of students, teachers and counselors who will help build a brighter future for Guilford County, the state of North Carolina and beyond.”

According to a 2011 assessment by the U.S. Department of Education, North Carolina’s educational needs for 2011-12 are greatest for math and science teachers in grades 6-12 and special education teachers. Projections show that about 12,000 new teachers will be needed in the state by 2014-15.

Although teacher education plays a large part in the School of Education’s mission, Dean Karen Wixson, emphasizes the school’s breadth of work. The new building allows departments more collaboration space and encourages cross-departmental cooperation.

“We address needs across the educational spectrum,” Wixson says. “In addition to our essential role in teacher preparation, we also prepare counselors, librarians, administrators, and special education professionals. Our new building is a wonderful opportunity for the School of Education to strengthen the existing collaboration between faculty and students.”

Currently 545 students are studying for initial teaching licensure within the School of Education. Another 292 students outside the School are pursuing teaching certification in other fields.

Five of six School of Education departments (Teacher Education and Higher Education, Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations, Educational Research Methodology, Library and Information Studies and Specialized Education Services) are now housed in the new building. Counseling and Educational Development has moved to the Ferguson building, where its Vacc Counseling Clinic is located.

The 110,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art School of Education building stands on Spring Garden Street next to the Bryan School of Business and Economics. The building opened to students as the fall semester kicked off in August.

The $47.5 million building, the first “green” building on campus, meets LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The sustainable design is expected to save an estimated 35 percent on energy costs.

In addition to several collaboratory spaces designed to stimulate interaction between students and faculty, the new building includes 19 general use classrooms, two new general-use lecture halls, and a tiered case-study classroom. The classroom space is vital as university enrollment hovers around 18,500 students.

The School of Education’s former home, the Curry Building, built in 1926, will see new life as space for the College of Arts and Sciences after renovations.

Donors like Dot Kearns and Marge and Jake Michel have stepped forward to support the new building. The Michels recently doubled their endowment for the Teaching Resources Center on the third floor – a library of educational materials for area teachers and student teachers.

The Dot and Lyle Kearns collaboratory space is also located on the third floor, overlooking the large sycamore tree that shades the building.

“I liked lots of things about the new building,” Kearns says, “but I really love those collaboration spots where students can gather, find a place to rest for a while. I love that huge tree outside there. I thought how restful that might be.”

Related Posts via Categories

• Counseling students work to build HIV awareness
• Peace educator visits UNCG Nov. 15
• Veterans Day roll call honors fallen soldiers
• McElveen-Hunter to UNCG grads: We keep what we give away
• Living and learning it up in the new Jefferson Suites
• Chancellor Linda P. Brady’s Speech at Fall Convocation 2011
• The entrepreneurs are coming! March 27
• UNCG’s Logie Meachum on ‘The State of Things’
• Student designers present ‘Alter Egos of Fashion’ March 30
• UNCG recognized for community engagement