Five Captains for Life have been named teachers of the year in their school districts, the highest one-year number in CNU history.
This group of first-year teachers who graduated from the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in 2025 have already risen to the top and broken records that define success in the classroom.
In addition, Elizabeth Kellum, ‘23 MAT, was named teacher of the year for the entire Fairfax County School District in Northern Virginia, an enormous honor for a young teacher in one of the largest school systems in the commonwealth.
“My experiences at Christopher Newport prepared me for success in the classroom by challenging me to collaborate with others and always put my students first. The hands-on experience of my internship and guidance of my professors helped me to develop the skills and confidence needed to create an engaging learning environment where students are able to succeed,” Kellum said.
Alums Clark Levine, a teacher at Haycock Elementary School in Fairfax County, Va.; Kailin Little, a teacher at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County; Anna Spirides, a teacher at Quioccasin Middle School in Henrico County, Va.; Kayla Oren Hancock, a teacher at Gladys West Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Va.; and Megan Hammond, a teacher at Lockheed Elementary in Marietta, Ga., were recognized as teachers of the year at their schools for making huge impacts on their students and in their classrooms.
“We are certainly proud of the accomplishments of all of our graduates and to know that their combination of field experiences, strong mentoring, and our instructors’ expertise prepares them for success,” said Dr. Jean Filetti, director of Teacher Preparation and professor of English. “To have the individual schools recognize our graduates as new teachers of the year is just further confirmation of our graduates' career readiness.”
The students approached their first year with passion and knowledge, paving the way for them to quickly realize great success as they embarked on their journeys in education.
“The moment I stepped foot into my school, my knowledge and smooth handling of everyday tasks, where most first-year teachers struggle, earned me instant compliments. People often tell me it doesn’t seem like my first year in the classroom, and I truly have CNU’s MAT program to thank for that,” said Little. “Everything I learned has been incredibly beneficial and has kept me ahead of the curve.”
Filetti said the students embraced the skills, resources, and experiences the program poured into them and used them to fortify their teaching methods. The first-year teachers entered the classroom well prepared and in possession of techniques that created a strong teaching foundation.
“The MAT program prepared me to enter the classroom with confidence, professionalism, and a strong foundation in instructional practices,” said Hammond.
One aspect of the program that sets the MAT program apart is its focus on field experiences, which give the students a wide perspective and also offers hands-on training
“Even before MAT candidates start their graduate year, they have begun to work with children and youth in an educational capacity. Many required courses have 10 or more hours of embedded field experience tied to course content,” Filetti said. “Additionally, MAT candidates are required to spend 80 hours working with children and/or youth before they begin the student teaching internships. Finally, MAT candidates spend the first two weeks of the school year in their internship placements. During these two weeks, they work with their cooperating teachers to prepare the classroom, attend professional development workshops, and greet and form relationships with the children and adolescents they will teach.”
The MAT program has received several national awards for its innovative methods and success in creating teachers that are most effective in their classrooms. Recently, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) awarded the MAT program an A+, its highest recognition, for the program’s preparation of its students in the science of reading instruction. The program was also the recipient of the prestigious Frank Murray Leadership Award for Continuous Improvements by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), a national accreditation body. It was one of only 22 teacher prep programs in the country to receive the honor.
Students interested in pursuing a teaching career can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (BAEd) or follow Christopher Newport’s unique five-year plan, completing their bachelor’s degree and then a final year of graduate-level professional courses leading to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in the following areas: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Elementary Education, English, ESL, History/Social Science, Math, Music (either choral or instrumental), Physics, or Spanish. For those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, CNU also offers the MAT as a stand-alone graduate program that can be completed in as little as one year.
“We have a nationally recognized teacher preparation program–arguably one of the best in the state and in the nation–with scholarships to support students financially and a 100-percent job placement rate. CNU’s MAT program is committed to providing future educators with the support they will need to succeed in their chosen careers,” Filetti said.