Sarah Sykes began working as a camp counselor at age 16, and after one summer she said she knew she wanted to work with children for the rest of my life.

“I specifically chose middle grades education because young adolescents need the most attention and guidance, and I knew that I could effectively provide that,” said Sykes.

A strong advocate for Appalachian’s middle program program, the May 2015 graduate said, “Our program provides students with numerous teaching experiences, and our professors are simply amazing.”

The most beneficial aspect of her middle grades program, she said, was serving as president of the Collegiate Middle Level Association – a professional education organization for college students preparing to become middle level teachers. With 45 member institutions, the organization is an affiliate of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).

Through this position, she was able to attend conferences, network with professors across the country, and share what she learned with her colleagues at Appalachian.

After graduation, Sykes plans to teach in South Carolina. “My professional plans for the future are to receive a master’s degree in guidance counseling, as well as to receive my PhD in curriculum and instruction so that I may eventually teach middle grades education on a college level,” she said.