Wayne Community College is one of six schools partnering with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) to offer a new pathway for students to pursue a career in high school education.
The Secondary Teacher Education Partnership Initiative (STEP-IN) is designed to attract individuals to the teaching profession by providing ease of access for students located in rural areas across the state. A pilot of STEP-IN will be offered in January of 2026.
“This initiative not only advances students toward their academic and professional goals but also contributes to addressing the critical teacher shortage in our state with well-prepared, passionate educators,” said WCC Dean of Arts & Sciences Laura Buddin. “Most importantly, it empowers them to make a lasting impact—by inspiring and shaping the next generation, they become leaders and changemakers within their communities.”
Through the partnership, the Department of History in UNCW’s College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts and the Secondary Program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education will create a specific course of study and timeline for students interested in pursuing a degree in history and secondary social studies teacher licensure.
After completing an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree at WCC or another partner community college, STEP-IN students will enroll at UNCW with all courses, field courses, and internships offered in synchronous or asynchronous formats to accommodate distance learning.
Students participating in STEP-IN will benefit from early advising to ensure they take appropriate courses and meet all prerequisite requirements for transferring to UNCW. They will also have an opportunity to engage with UNCW faculty through digital communication and live information sessions prior to transferring.
“Our secondary education program has been very successful in preparing strong high school teachers, but geography is often a barrier for students in rural communities,” said Denise Ousley, coordinator of the secondary education program at UNCW’s Watson College of Education. “With STEP-IN, distance learning options will enable students to complete courses and internships in their home districts and teach in their own communities.”
The participating community colleges are all members of the UNCW Community College Collaborative (UNCW/3C), a university–community college partnership initiative created to develop strong future leaders for North Carolina’s community colleges and strengthen college and career pathways for students.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with six strong community college partners to provide enhanced pathways for future high school teachers, and we hope to eventually expand STEP-IN to provide pathways for students who aspire to teach other subjects, including English, math, and science at the high school level here in North Carolina,” said Denise Henning, director of UNCW/3C.
For more information about STEP-IN, contact WCC College Transfer Advising Center Director Peyton Dawson (919-739-6755 or podawson@waynecc.edu).
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.