Centenary M.A.T. graduates included on state education honor roll
SHREVEPORT, LA — Magan Katie Rome and Rebecca Vacha, both recent graduates of Centenary’s Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program, were named to the inaugural Future Educator Honor Roll selected by the Louisiana Board of Regents. Rome and Vacha were among 40 educators honored at a ceremony at the Louisiana State Capitol on May 7. Governor John Bel Edwards, commissioner of higher education Dr. Kim Hunter-Reed, and state superintendent of education John White were on hand to congratulate the honor roll recipients.
Rome is a third grade teacher at Plantation Park Elementary in Bossier City and has taught in the Bossier Parish school system for two years. She earned her M.A.T. in elementary education from Centenary in May 2019 and also won the Hallquist Elementary Education Award from the Centenary Department of Education.
In nomination materials, Centenary assistant professor of education Dr. Michael Hicks praised Rome as a dedicated educator who distinguished herself in the M.A.T. program.
“She has consistently remained a top student in her coursework, and brings a high level of thoughtfulness as she transitions her teaching from theory to practice,” wrote Hicks. “She collaborates fully and consistently with her fellow candidates, and she lives by the phrase, ‘the best resource teachers have are other teachers.’ Magan has effectively used student assessment data in her classrooms to improve her teaching. She is always developing herself professionally through conferences, books, and other resources.”
Vacha received a Bachelor of Arts in music from Centenary before pursuing her M.A.T. in K-12 choral music. She is the music director at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport and also serves as youth music minister at Shreveport’s First United Methodist Church.
Hicks recommended Vacha for the honor roll recognition based on both her excellence in music instruction and her approach to interacting with and motivating students.
“In the classroom, Rebecca engages students with meaningful conversations about music and its importance in our society, culture, and community,” shared Hicks. “The strong rapport she carries with students derives from her positive energy and high expectations of student character. Though musicianship, content, and theory are the core of her lessons, she ultimately dedicates herself to loving young people into doing great things with all their abilities and capacities.”
To learn more about Centenary’s undergraduate and graduate programs in education, visit centenary.edu/education.