N.C. A&T College of Education Has Been Designated an Apple Distinguished School

Recognized for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence using technology

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 15, 2026) – The College of Education (COEd) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is pleased to announce it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2026-2029 program term. Schools apply and are selected for this distinction based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, imagine and impact teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic accomplishments.

Schools all over the world are using iPad and Mac to transform learning. As teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, they empower students to lead, learn, and thrive, to discover new opportunities, and to make their world a better place.

“We are honored and delighted that the College of Education has been designated an Apple Distinguished School,” said Paula Groves Price, Ph.D., COEd dean and professor. “We strive to foster a technology-forward environment where creativity and innovation are woven into every facet of teaching and learning. This designation is a further testament to the hard work of our faculty to innovate teaching and learning for student success. We are excited to build on our momentum, foster a culture of innovation, and become a model for fellow educators, counselors and leaders throughout the education landscape.”

Aggie Academy, a unit in the COEd, was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2024-2027 program term. Established in 2021-2022, Aggie Academy is a public, free laboratory school for third, fourth and fifth graders in Guilford County, North Carolina, primarily serving students living in East Greensboro.

COEd prepares highly skilled and innovative educators, leaders and counselors who advance the human condition in local, state, national and global communities. Building on the N.C. A&T legacy as a historically Black university (HBCU) dedicated to exemplary teaching, scholarship and effective public service, COEd offers degrees at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels across three departments — Educator Preparation, Counseling and Leadership Studies and Adult Education.

The college is also home to the Center for Student Success and Engagement and the Center of Excellence for Educational Engagement and Research.

Earlier this year, the undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well it prepares future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.

Representatives from Apple will be on campus Friday, Sept. 25, to present the college’s official banner and certificate. This event coincides with the COEd Aggies Innovate Expo: Driving Innovation, where faculty, students and Aggie Academy teachers will showcase how the college is “Driving Innovation,” the expo’s theme. The college will also welcome area school leaders and the campus community to the event. Additional special guests may include university leadership, representatives from the A&T Board of Trustees and the University of North Carolina System.