Madison Triplett, a Middle Grades Math student in the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education, has been named the 2025 UNCG Student Teacher of the Year. Triplett completed her student teaching at Trinity Middle School in Randolph County.
Triplett will now represent UNC Greensboro at the upcoming Student Teacher of the Year state competition sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NCACTE).
As a student she had passionate and supportive teachers. After falling in love with math as a middle school student, Triplett wants to become a teacher who can support her students’ needs academically, as well as emotionally and personally.
Triplett was drawn to middle school because of how formative that time is for a person. She also knew that she wanted to focus on one subject and her love of math made her decision simple.
That drive comes from what she went through as a child. Triplett said, “Growing up, my home life was incredibly difficult. I experienced poverty, abuse, and instability. I often felt overlooked by the adults around me, including at school, even when I was struggling. That experience is a big part of why I chose to become a teacher.”
The reputation of the UNCG School of Education played a role in Triplett’s decision to become a Spartan, as did the experiences of her aunt and nana. A native of Randolph County, she wanted to remain close to home. She said, “Choosing UNCG felt natural. I’m so glad I trusted my instincts. I’ve never looked back!”
Student teaching allowed Triplett to build relationships with students, something she describes as a highlight from that time. She believes that by building those relationships it allowed her to connect with her students academically.
Triplett said, “One moment that really stood out was near the end of my placement, when the students surprised me with a card they had all worked together to sign. It was completely their idea, and it showed me how much our connection meant to them, too. Even now, when I substitute in that building, many of those same students still stop me in the hall for a quick chat. Those small moments of trust and connection are what I’ll always carry with me; they’re the heart of why I want to teach.”
As she heads out into the field, Triplett is hoping to remain at Trinity Middle School. That is home to her. She adds, “It feels like a true community, both within the school and in how it connects with the town. I would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue being a part of that environment and give back to a place that’s already shaped so much of who I am as an educator.”
