Recognizing Gracie Bullington: A Student Teacher of the Year Finalist

Gracie Bullington ranked as a top five finalist for the 2024 NC Association of College for Teacher Education Student Teacher of the Year. She was recently recognized at the NCACTE Fall Forum Student Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony in Raleigh. Gracie student taught at North Surry High School in Mt. Airy, NC while completing her degree at Appalachian State University. At the Fall Forum excerpts from the letters of support for her nomination were shared and follow here below.

            Danny Lyons, Clinical Educator for Gracie’s internship at North Surry High School, describes her as “a leader [who] manages the classroom like a veteran.” He further states that she has shown a level of flexibility that allows her “to learn on the fly.” Mr. Lyons also noted that Gracie “teaches in a way that engages students and makes her content relevant with lessons [that] are detailed, fun, and engaging” while using “real world connections to make instruction relevant.” He went on to recognize how she developed relationships with students and other professionals in the school. Brian Suddreth, Academic Area Consultant in History Education at Appalachian State University states that Gracie is an advocate for student success and noted that she is consistently “genuine, firm, receptive and forgiving when working with students.” He also noted that “her lessons reflect preparation and incorporate strategies that motivate students to contribute to lesson activities and think critically.” Dr. Rwany Sibaja, Director of History/Social Studies Education and Associate Professor at Appalachian State University wrote of her strengths in “organization, student-centered planning, and a commitment to mastering the craft of teaching.” He also reinforced that she “establishes a positive learning environment in her classroom, is friendly, and genuinely cares about the success of her students.”

Gracie can be characterized as a teacher who is flexible, student-centered, success-oriented, and a leader in her classroom. She describes herself as the “kind of teacher who prioritizes student needs” and “strives to create a classroom environment where [she and her students] can challenge themselves to grow and learn without the fear of failure.” Gracie is currently enrolled in a graduate program in History with a teaching concentration at Appalachian State University