Brittany Evans Finds ‘Immense Joy in Guiding Students on their Journey to Becoming Teachers’

New Visiting Professor and Former Adjunct Receives 2024 Nancy Francis-Gregg Day-Adjunct Award

By Avery Copeland, Intern for University Communications

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Brittany Evans, a visiting instructor in the Elementary Education Program, has received the Nancy Francis-Gregg Day-Adjunct Award for 2024. Evans has served as an adjunct in the College of Education (CoE) since 2021. This semester, she joined the faculty full-time as a visiting instructor in the Elementary Education Program. She has recently taken on additional classes and is supervising student teaching.

The Nancy Francis-Gregg Day-Adjunct Award recognizes a traditional undergraduate program adjunct who contributes to Gardner-Webb’s teaching mission. Evans’ understanding of literacy and the Science of Reading has helped redesign the curriculum to support teacher candidates. She has also helped the University receive a grant to enhance the literacy curriculum and license exams for the CoE.

“Receiving the Nancy Francis-Gregg Day-Adjunct Award is a tremendous honor and a meaningful recognition of my dedication to teaching,” Evans acknowledged. “It was humbling to be nominated and chosen. This award motivates me to strive for excellence and reinforces my commitment to supporting and inspiring my students.”

Evans grew up in Graham, N.C., and always knew she wanted to be a teacher. “From an early age, I would sit my brother and grandmother down to ‘play school,’ where, of course, I was always the teacher,” Evans shared. She later received an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a graduate degree in school administration from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the curriculum and instruction program at Gardner-Webb.

She came to Gardner-Webb during a career change and began her degree as she transitioned out of the K-12 public school system. With the support of the CoE faculty, she started as an adjunct in 2021. “After the first semester of teaching face-to-face classes, I knew this was where I was supposed to be,” Evans said.

“One of the beautiful aspects of Gardner-Webb and the CoE is the opportunity to get to know our students beyond the classroom.”

Emphasizing her love for the University, Evans added, “The close-knit community here fosters meaningful connections and personalized support. This holistic approach helps us better understand and address the unique needs of our students, creating a more enriching educational experience.”

Throughout her career, her teaching evolved into a broader role as an educator, shifting from teaching children to guiding adults. “I find immense joy in working with students on their journey to becoming teachers; this continuous learning and growth inspires me,” she commented. Evans teaches face-to-face and online students, and her teaching philosophy focuses on student-centered learning and promotes collaboration in the classroom.

Her goal as an educator is to cultivate inclusive and engaging learning environments and support students in their educational journeys. Evans plans to continually evolve her teaching practices to meet the needs of an ever-changing education landscape. “I want to instill in my students that educational research continues to grow and that it is vital to evolve teaching practices with the current research,” she asserted. “I aim to inspire students to reach their potential and instill a lifelong love of learning.”

Writer Avery Copeland, of Atlanta, Ga., is a senior English major.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.