College of Education

By Ian WesselhoffGeorgia College & State University has a long history as a leader in teacher education.Founded in 1889 as Georgia Normal & Industrial College – an institution specifically dedicated to educating teachers – Georgia College was also at the forefront of the middle school movement in the 1960s and 1970s, thanks to the work of Dr. John H. Lounsbury.This summer, GCSU’s Middle Grades Education program became one of just two in the nation, and the country’s only undergraduate...

By Margaret SchellThree Georgia College & State University sophomore, pre-education majors explored the culture and geography of one of Africa’s most culturally diverse nations through GCSU Tanzania: Disability and Culture Study Abroad program July 6 – 22. All students are from Georgia: Madelyn Bynum of Sharpsburg, Sara Hamfeldt of Kennesaw, and Ellison Whetzel of Madison.The students assisted and observed Maasai students with disabilities at five schools and community centers while...

By Margaret Schell
Charm Mapp (’03, ’06, ’10) always knew that she wanted to be an educator, and after two decades on the job, she has been named the Jones County, Georgia, 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year. “I fell in love working with middle school-aged kids,” said Mapp, who teaches eighth-grade math at Clifton Ridge Middle School, where she’s worked for the past 22 years. “I wanted to help them through their struggles.”Mapp earned her bachelor's, master's and education specialist degrees...

By Mike CavaliereGeorgia College & State University’s ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of educators has garnered national recognition.The Middle Grades Teacher Education Program at Georgia College earned the recognition as a Distinguished Teacher Preparation Program by the Association for Middle Level Education, which operates within the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. This designation is awarded to specialized programs that play a critical role...

By Margaret Schell
When Georgia College & State University alumna Melanie Stephens Walls (’96, ’98) first picked up a basketball in fourth grade, she was hooked. 
She discovered her competitive spirit, which she still taps into daily in her role as associate head coach of the Tennessee Tech University’s Women’s Basketball Team.
“I love to win no matter what,” Walls said. “In doing so, I've failed a ton. As I've gotten older and having coached for 26 years, it's not about being afraid...