Charlotte Wheeless of Powhatan has been tapped to serve as chair of the Williams Teacher Education Program (WTEP) at Williams Baptist College.
Wheeless, a WBC graduate who has taught at the college since 2009, will assume her new duties this summer.
“WBC is the place I learned what it means to be an accomplished teacher. I am passionate about the impact the Williams Teacher Education Program has to educate not only great teachers but leaders in the field of education,” Wheeless said.
The WTEP prepares teachers in eight different majors, with Williams education graduates currently serving at schools across Arkansas and around the country.
WBC education majors include: early childhood education (K-6), mid-level language, literature & social studies (4-8), mid-level math & science (4-8), art education (P-12), music education (P-12), physical education (P-12), secondary English education and secondary social studies education.
Wheeless will replace Dr. Brad Baine as WTEP chair. Baine will become the academic dean and vice president for academic affairs at Williams after this school year.
“Ms. Wheeless has been an outstanding faculty member in the Williams Teacher Education Program for the last seven years. She has been a superior educational leader on the state and national level, and her effective leadership skills will allow the WTEP to continue the high quality preparation of future teachers,” Baine said.
Wheeless holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from WBC and a Master of Education from Grand Canyon University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in organizational leadership for higher education from Grand Canyon.
She is also a National Board Certified Teacher in adolescent science. Before joining the Williams faculty, she taught middle school science in the Walnut Ridge Public Schools for 15 years.
“Our program has a foundation of excellence created by expert faculty with a dedication to teacher quality,” said Wheeless. “As we go forward, I am eager to build upon the excellence that has been established in the Williams Teacher Education Program.”
Williams is a four-year, liberal arts college at Walnut Ridge.
