Madison Sturdivant in her first classroom. (Photo provided by Madison Sturdivant)
Madison Sturdivant ’24 (MAT), a graduate from the UNC School of Education and inaugural Fellow for Inclusive Excellence, is teaching first grade at Carolina Community Academy in Roxboro, North Carolina. Thanks to gifts from generous School of Education donors, she received a box of teaching supplies to help stock her first classroom. We reached out to Madison for a Q&A about the teacher box and her first year teaching.
How did you receive the box?
I was out of town when we could pick them up, so I had a close friend of mine through the MAT program pick it up for me. This led to us having a sweet moment to catch up as she delivered the box to me.
What were some of the items you received, and how will you use the supplies?
I received bright colored paper, Sharpies (which I have already used for making some anchor charts), pencils, index cards, highlighters, erasers, many more supplies, and lastly, my favorite, a personalized classroom sign!
What’s one word that describes how you felt when you received your teacher box?
The teacher box made me feel SEEN by the School of Education as they sent us out into the classroom. This was a physical preparation for our classrooms after they prepped us with so much knowledge and experience over the past 15 months.
Why do you feel it’s important the teacher box exists and continues to grow — potentially with more supplies later down the road?
It is important for these teacher boxes to exist because it sends a message much louder than the items it contains. Building a classroom as a first-year teacher is hard, but having faculty come behind these teachers and help with this beginning is encouraging. It is almost as if they are saying, “Hey I believe in you. You are equipped with all of the knowledge to succeed, and now we want to help you get started.”
What does being a Tar Heel teacher mean to you?
Being a Tar Heel teacher means taking this valuable education outside of Peabody Hall to serve communities by ensuring students receive an education centered on relationship building and a commitment to learn. Reflecting on my years at UNC, I see a faculty that longed to know me and create an environment where I felt seen. Teaching at Carolina Community Academy adds an even greater depth to what it means to be a Tar Heel teacher as I get to introduce students to the University that means so much to me.
What are you most looking forward to when it comes to teaching?
I am most looking forward to creating a collaborative classroom community and propelling student success through innovative teaching strategies.
As told to Terzah Dyer
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Since 2021, the school has crowdfunded these “teacher boxes” through the generosity of Tar Heel educators, who are proud to send the next generation of teachers, including Sturdivant, into the classroom with supplies they can use and some added Carolina Blue encouragement. School of Education alumni receive their own “I’m a Tar Heel educator” sign when they support a new teacher box at the $100+ level!
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