Dean Tracy Mulvaney Appointed to State Board of Education Task Force on Teacher Preparation
Dr. Tracy Mulvaney, dean of the School of Education at UNC Pembroke, has been appointed to the State Board of Education’s Task Force on Educator Licensure and Advancement, a statewide initiative charged with strengthening how North Carolina prepares, licenses and supports educators throughout their careers.
Established as part of State Superintendent Mo Green's Achieving Educational Excellence Strategic Plan, the task force will examine how North Carolina licenses, develops and advances educators. Its recommendations will help shape future State Board of Education advocacy and legislative recommendations aimed at ensuring every student has access to highly effective teachers.
Mulvaney said the appointment is an opportunity to help address one of education’s most pressing challenges.
“This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful conversations about strengthening the educator pipeline and ensuring North Carolina students have access to highly prepared and effective teachers in every community,” Mulvaney said. “UNCP has a long history of preparing educators who make a lasting difference in schools across our state and region. I look forward to bringing the perspectives of our faculty, teacher candidates, school partners and communities to this important work.”
Provost Diane Prusank said Mulvaney's appointment reflects her expertise in educator preparation and UNCP’s leadership in developing teachers for North Carolina’s classrooms.
"As dean of the School of Education, Dr. Mulvaney has been a thoughtful advocate for preparing highly qualified teachers and school leaders who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of North Carolina’s students," Prusank said. “Her experience as a special education teacher, a principal, an administrator and in educator preparation along with her collaborative approach to leadership will bring valuable insight to this important statewide initiative while reflecting UNCP’s longstanding commitment to advancing excellence in education.”
UNCP offers undergraduate, graduate and licensure programs that prepare teachers, counselors and school leaders for classrooms across North Carolina. Programs span elementary, middle grades, secondary and special education, along with graduate programs in educational leadership, school administration and school counseling.
The School of Education partners with districts across the state to prepare educators who serve communities ranging from rural counties to urban school systems. North Carolina, like many states across the nation, continues to face teacher shortages, making the work of the task force especially significant.
“This task force will explore better ways to prepare and support highly effective teachers for our schools while strengthening both traditional and alternative pathways into the profession,” Mulvaney said. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure students across North Carolina have access to outstanding educators.”
Mulvaney said UNCP’s history of serving rural, Indigenous and historically underserved communities gives the university an important perspective in statewide discussions.
“UNCP has always been deeply connected to the needs of our region,” she said. “By participating in this task force, we can help shape recommendations that strengthen the teaching profession statewide while ensuring rural communities and historically underserved populations have access to the high-quality educators they deserve.”
Mulvaney added that the university’s expanding online graduate programs provide insight into the needs of school districts across North Carolina.
“This work will allow me to collaborate with education leaders from across the state while bringing back a deeper understanding of North Carolina’s workforce needs," she said. “Together, we can identify innovative solutions that strengthen the educator pipeline and better serve students in every community.”
The task force will begin meeting in September and continue through spring 2027, with members participating in a series of virtual and in-person sessions to develop recommendations for the State Board of Education.
Dr. Tracy Mulvaney, dean of the School of Education at UNC Pembroke, has been appointed to the State Board of Education’s Task Force on Educator Licensure and Advancement, a statewide initiative charged with strengthening how North Carolina prepares, licenses and supports educators throughout their careers. UNC Pembroke's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program has received an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), the organization's highest rating for preparing future elementary teachers to deliver evidence-based reading instruction grounded in the science of reading. Dr. Jonathan Ricks believes the most effective counselors see people not as problems to solve, but as individuals with strengths, experiences and the capacity to grow.More School of Education News
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