The first teacher candidates in Wayne Community College’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) have earned Elementary Education Residency Licensure Certificates and were honored at a ceremony for completing the program.
The EPP is an elementary education (K–6) residency program supporting newly hired teachers in need of a residency license. It is designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field and desire to become elementary school teachers.
Through the program, WCC provides supportive coursework; one-on-one advising, mentoring, and coaching by experienced professionals; in-person classroom observations; step-by-step guidance through the process of receiving licensure; and partnership with the local education agency.
Kelli Hamm, EPP campus director at WCC, expressed her pride in the teacher candidates at the certificate ceremony. “You have demonstrated resilience, dedication, heart, and a deep commitment to becoming the kind of educators who change lives,” said Hamm. “You have worked hard, showcasing growth as you’ve pushed through challenges over the last several semesters, and tonight we honor the remarkable accomplishment of reaching this milestone.”
WCC President Patty Pfeiffer noted the deep and long-standing commitment to public education in North Carolina. “From the mountains to the coast, our public schools are the heart of our communities, and our teachers are the reason that heart continues to beat,” she said. “These teacher candidates are not just prepared to teach; they are prepared to inspire, ignite curiosity, and nurture the young minds who will shape the very future of North Carolina.”
During the ceremony, teacher candidate Gretalyn Becker received the program’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Becker was recognized for consistently demonstrating exceptional growth in instructional strategies, lesson planning, classroom management, and engagement.
Each teacher candidate received a certificate and a golden apple. “Around the world, the highest achievers receive something golden,” explained Dr. Stacey Robinson, EPP residency licensure faculty. “This golden apple represents more than completing a licensure program. It stands for your dedication and unwavering commitment to shaping the lives of students in classrooms across the state.”
Amanda Smith, a second-grade teacher at Northeast Elementary, has been teaching for four years and has now earned her residency licensure certificate through WCC’s two-year program. “I love teaching,” she said. “I always felt like I wanted to become a teacher.” Smith has a business degree and started to renew an interest in education when she began helping her own children with their schoolwork.
“I really liked this program at WCC, especially since it’s local,” Smith said. “I loved being able to come on campus and have face-to-face interaction.”
The five teacher candidates, listed by the county in which they teach, are:
Harnett County
Gretalyn Becker
Lonai Leach
Marisa Ward-Diaz
Johnston County
Kelsey Peedin
Wayne County
Amanda Smith
Residency licensure is the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) approved alternative pathway to initial licensure.
In 2024, WCC joined the Cultivating Carolina Classrooms initiative developed by the NCDPI and the North Carolina Community College System, allowing WCC to provide a streamlined opportunity that simplifies, aligns, and accelerates the pathway to elementary education licensure.
Learn more about the EPP on WCC’s website.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.