The School of Education Celebrates Spring 2026 Graduates and Success with Assistant Teacher Pathways
COLUMBUS, Miss. — Mississippi University for Women’s School of Education is celebrating its Spring 2026 graduates as they prepare to begin and continue careers serving students, schools and communities across Mississippi and beyond.
The graduating class represents future teachers, educational leaders and advocates who have completed extensive classroom preparation, internships, field experiences and professional training throughout their time at The W. Many graduates completed residencies and clinical experiences in local and regional school districts, building connections with students and families while gaining hands-on experience in today’s classrooms.
The W’s School of Education has also seen growing success through its online education programs, where many students work as assistant teachers while completing coursework toward teacher licensure. The model allows students to immediately apply instructional strategies, classroom management techniques and educational theory learned in online courses directly into real classroom settings.
“We have recognized over the years that many of our assistant teacher candidates gain tremendous day-to-day experience and mentorship while already working in schools,” said Dr. Martin Hatton, dean of The W’s School of Education. “Because all our classes are offered online, students are able to learn pedagogy and instructional techniques in coursework and then immediately put those ideas into practice in their classrooms. It creates a stronger connection between theory and application.”
Hatton said the approach has created strong partnerships with local schools and districts, which are increasingly using the pathway to develop future teachers from within their own communities.
“Schools are able to grow their own teachers through this process,” Hatton said. “Students are building meaningful experience inside the schools where they may eventually teach full-time, while also working toward licensure through our academic program. It has truly become a win-win for students, schools and communities.”
Dr. Kelly Ballard, chair of The W’s Department of Education, said the assistant teacher pathway also provides long-term professional and financial advantages for teacher candidates.
“We strongly encourage our students to seek assistant teacher positions while completing their education degrees,” Ballard said. “Students are able to begin earning a salary, gain daily classroom experience and build relationships within school systems while still in college. In many cases, those years also begin counting toward retirement and professional experience much earlier. It is a smart pathway that supports both the student and the school district. We also find that many of those students already have job opportunities waiting for them within those districts once they complete their degree and licensure. It becomes a win all the way around.”
The School of Education continues to offer traditional in-person classes with traditional residency and clinical placement routes alongside the online pathway, giving students multiple options to complete teacher preparation experiences.
Spring 2026 graduates from The W’s School of Education include:
Elementary Education
- Lexie Angle
- Elizabeth “Liz” Arrexi
- Victoria Cooper
- Whitney Knight
- Laila Luckett
- Chloe McClain
- Maggie Montesi
- Alondra Reza
- Te’Kendra Richardson
- Jessica Shirley
- Alyssa Steinport
- Kaitlyn Walton
Early Childhood Development
- Kaliya Phillips
Master of Arts in Teaching
- Jadan Craven
Master of Education
- Haley Kelley
- Laila Luckett
For more than 140 years, The W’s School of Education has prepared educators to serve classrooms and communities across Mississippi. Graduates from the program continue to lead in schools, early childhood programs and educational organizations throughout the region.
“Once a teacher prepared at The W, always part of the Long Blue Line,” Hatton said.
The W’s School of Education is dedicated to lifelong learning through teacher preparation, professional development and community engagement initiatives that support learners from early childhood through post-graduate education.