College of Education

Superintendent of Lee County Schools Dr. Kathleen Truitt gave a keynote commencement address at her alma mater, Georgia College & State University.She told students graduating from university’s College of Education that she was “dumbfounded” when asked by GCSU President Cathy Cox to speak at commencement. “I am simply a regular person and what would I have to really offer you at such a pivotal moment,” Truitt said. “And then it occurred to me, maybe just maybe I could share how a regular...

Despite life’s obstacles, Seticia Smith, ’10, ’12, ’17, has given 110% in the classroom. And the Baldwin County School District noticed. She’s the 2022 Baldwin County Teacher of the Year, a seventh-grade mathematics teacher, department chair and family engagement coordinator at Oak Hill Middle School. Smith is also a survivor of breast cancer and a heart attack. Yet, she puts her students first.  The Baldwin County School District nominated six teachers for Teacher of the Year. Smith...

Lucas Newton, ’12, believes outdoor education is more important than ever, considering most students were stuck learning behind a computer during the COVID-19 pandemic.  He is the director of Kanuga’s Mountain Trail Outdoor School—a 1,400-acre outdoor classroom located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Newton is in charge of their educational programs, budgeting, risk management and hiring and training of staff. He has facilitated outdoor experiences for students/campers since 2003...

Northview High School 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year Meredith Meaders Evans, ’12, ’13, believes in giving her students real-world learning applications. She projects a passion for journalism to her students, who benefit from her lessons to become self-starters.  Evans teaches American literature, journalism and broadcast journalism—a new class that she created this year. “I’m loving this class,” she said. “We're learning how to create podcasts, film them and do different styles of broadcast...

Incoming freshman Nina Schwelm enters Georgia College as an award-winning playwright. Although she’s pursuing special education, writing holds a special place in her heart. “I’ve always loved writing,” Nina said. “I just never considered writing for the stage. So now my eyes are completely open to this new possibility.” Nina and playwriting are an unlikely duo, she said, but that didn’t stop her from becoming one of three student winners of the Georgia Film Academy’s (GFA) Dramatic...