Phil Berger, president pro tempore of the N.C. Senate, made his first visit to UNC Charlotte as an elected official on Tuesday, Jan. 9. He toured the Charlotte Teacher Early College and engaged with the students as they shared why they chose to participate in the program, tailored to prepare students for a career in teaching and educational leadership. Sen. Berger also met with Ellen McIntyre, dean of the Cato College of Education, to talk about teacher preparation programs and innovative solutions in education.
The senator’s visit also included a meeting with Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, UNC Board of Governor member Bob Rucho (’94), UNC Charlotte Trustee Fred Klein and Betty Doster, special assistant to the chancellor for constituent relations.
The Charlotte Teacher Early College is an innovative partnership between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte to attract and train teachers, while also increasing the teacher pipeline to address the recent decline of students choosing careers in education.
Forty-nine high school students are currently enrolled in the program that started in August 2017. Charlotte Teacher Early College students will graduate with a high school diploma, a Certificate of Advanced Standing in Education and a minimum of 60 hours of college course credits transferrable to any UNC system campus. The Charlotte Teacher Early College is the only program of its kind in North Carolina and one of the first in the country.
Photo: Sen. Phil Berger visited students in the Charlotte Teacher Early College and their principal, Will Leach.