BOONE, N.C. — Emily Rubio Pérez ’25, a graduate of Appalachian State University's History/Social Studies Education program from Sanford, has been named the 2026 North Carolina Council for the Social Studies (NCCSS) Student Teacher of the Year.
The NCCSS Student Teacher of the Year Award recognizes exemplary student teaching in the field of social studies. The recipient receives a $500 award and recognition at the group's conference. Pérez was presented with the award at the 2026 NCCSS Conference, held February 26-27 in Winston-Salem.
Emily Rubio Pérez ’25 (center) holds her 2026 North Carolina Council for the Social Studies (NCCSS) Student Teacher of the Year plaque, surrounded by History/Social Studies Education program faculty members (left to right) Dr. Allison Fredette, Jennifer Morris, Dr. Rwany Sibaja, and Dr. Bradley Phillis. Photo courtesy of Dr. Sibaja
Pérez completed her student teaching in Fall of 2025 at Southern Lee High School in Sanford, teaching courses in United States History. After graduating from App State in December, she was offered a job at the same school and is now teaching social studies as a first-year teacher.
As a first-generation, bilingual educator, Pérez utilizes a variety of skills to engage students. Dr. Rwany Sibaja, executive director for teacher education programs for App State's College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor in the Department of History, shared that Pérez is deeply respected and admired as a caring professional educator at Southern Lee.
"In the classroom, I observed her lesson plans, which were detailed and used a 'backward design' approach, and saw her teach in ways that elevated voices often left out of traditional historical narratives," said Dr. Sibaja.
Please join us in congratulating Pérez.
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About the Department of History
The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, which encourages history majors to develop a comprehensive approach to human problems. The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers, such as law, journalism, public history, public service and business, as well as in teaching and the advanced discipline of history. Learn more at history.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu.
About the Reich College of Education
Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs, with offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. Learn more at rcoe.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs and Dr. Rwany Sibaja
March 2, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
North Carolina Council for the Social Studies
North Carolina Council for the Social Studies