Kelly Carter has been named interim chair of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s newly created department of teacher education and certification. Her appointment becomes effective Jan. 1.

Since 2016 Carter has served as interim director of Missouri S&T’s teacher education program where she was responsible for its academic and human resources function. In the last year, Carter has played a primary role transitioning the teacher education program into a comprehensive department that offers expanded opportunities for state-approved teacher certification in biology, chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, social sciences and elementary education with additional certifications in the works.

Carter joined Missouri S&T in 2013 as a lecturer focused on reading for elementary and middle schools. Her work includes the instruction and supervision of clinical field experience and senior seminars for student teachers. She has also been involved in implementing a pilot program for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) teacher certification at Missouri S&T, a national effort to get more youth interested in and prepared to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics in college. Carter plans to keep PLTW certification as a unique aspect of the education emphasis at Missouri S&T, a leading affiliate university of the program. She received the Outstanding Teaching Award for 2016-17 from Missouri S&T.

“As interim program director, I’ve provided opportunities and field experiences for our students that are realistic, valuable encounters in educational practice,” says Carter. “I’m committed to student success and helping candidates develop strategies to share the knowledge they’ve gained in their content majors. I look forward to continuing as interim chair of this new and growing department, educating high-quality elementary and secondary teachers in both pedagogy and content.”

Carter holds a master of arts degree in education from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville and a bachelor of arts in elementary education from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. She is certified to teach grades one through eight in Missouri and has taught in public elementary schools in Rolla, Chattanooga, Tennessee; and in Naperville, Illinois.

“Kelly Carter is devoted to excellence in teaching,” says Dr. Stephen Roberts, vice provost and dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business at Missouri S&T. “With more than 25 years of experience in the field both as a hands-on primary and secondary educator and as an inspiring teacher at the academic level, she is highly qualified to lead the teacher education and certification program during its transition to an academic department.”