Ms. Shanessa Fenner
Principal, Ireland Drive Middle School
“My mother was a teacher, so she was my inspiration. I wanted to be a teacher like her, and also I wanted to make sure that I would have a positive influence on the children of our future who will one day take care of me. ... I chose FSU because it’s an HBCU and is an excellent, excellent, I mean an excellent, just a wonderful institution to attend. 

Mr. Robert McPhail
Spring 2008 Graduate
"I feel as though I have always been a teacher in some way or another. I have also been surrounded by teachers my whole life. My mom, aunt, uncle, and best friend's parents were all teachers... However, it was when I began volunteering at a summer camp for the National Kidney Foundation that I really decided that working with kids was something that I really enjoyed. I worked the Kidney Kamp for four years and truly fell in love with the kids.
...Honestly, there was not a lot of thought put into what school that I go to. My mom went to FSU to get her degree when I was about 5 or 6 years old. Since she went there she was able to advise me on admissions, how to register, and so on. I was also able to get a minority scholarship my first year, so that definitely helped in my decision." 

Mr. Phillip Gatling, Jr.
Spring 2008 Graduate 
"All of my life I dreamed of helping people succeed and excel through life as best that I could. Growing up I witnessed my mother and father impact and change lives through the education system.  I've also had the pleasure of shadowing my father as he received his education through Fayetteville State University School of Education by way of Elementary Education. Then I watched him transpire from an effective teacher into a successful and prosperous School Administrator (Principal).
...I chose Fayetteville State University to complete my education as a Professional
Educator, because I've always been taught that FSU is the oldest and greatest HBCU in North Carolina. This school was founded as a place to create, establish and mold African-Americans into superb teachers. It even was called Fayetteville's Teachers College, with an excellent Education program."

Ms. Stefanie Montunnas
Spring 2008 Graduate
"I chose education after a long internal journey to decide what I wanted to do with my life. Eventually, I came to feel as if I am called to teaching. God wants me to be a positive influence on my students' life.
FSU has a long tradition of educating teachers, so that was one draw. The other was that my husband was stationed at Fort Bragg, and I had no intention of paying for private school tuition when there was a perfectly good public university."