College of Education (COE)

Student / Mentor / Supervisor of the Month: October 2025

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Clinical Practice is proud to announce the recipients of Student Teacher, Mentor Teacher and Supervisor of the Month for October 2025: Mark Maclin, Amanda Wellons and Anne Faulks.

Maclin, a Memphis native and physical education major with a minor in psychology, is completing his residency at Riverdale K-8 School in the Germantown Municipal School District (GMSD). Maclin has quickly made an impression among students and faculty.

“Mark does a great job each day he is at Riverdale and the kids love him already,” shared his nominator. “He helps with anything I need, is always on time and eager to learn. He’s doing an exceptional job.”

Maclin shared that the recognition is especially meaningful during his journey into the profession.

“Humbly speaking, this recognition means that I am just simply being a positive addition to their physical fitness journey and to their growth and development as humans. This assures me that I am on the right path and making progress on leaving a profound impact on their lives.”

Wellons, a fifth-grade math teacher at Bolivar Elementary School in the Hardeman County School District, has been teaching for 19 years and is serving as a mentor teacher for the second time. “Being recognized as a mentor teacher of the month is a great honor, but it is also very humbling,” Wellons said. “I feel that I have learned as much from my student teacher as she has from me. My favorite part of working with the candidate is watching her build relationships with the children and seeing her make the classroom her own.”

Her student teacher shared, “Ms. Wellons has really done the absolute most for me. She helps me understand routines, encourages me throughout the day and allows me to jump right in. She has taught me so much, and I believe she will help me grow to become the teacher I have always wanted to be.”

Faulks, a part-time temporary instructor, was named Supervisor of the Month. She has served in her current role for five years and has worked in education throughout her career.

“I enjoy working with students and helping prepare them to become teachers,” said Faulks. “This recognition means that perhaps I am preparing and shaping students into becoming ‘Rockstar Teachers!’”

 “What I enjoy most is watching them grow and develop as teachers during the course of their placement. They start a bit unsure, but by the end, they have become confident professional educators,” she added.

Faulks  also expressed appreciation for the University of Memphis. “The University of Memphis supplied the additional training I needed to complement my skills and get the best from my students. This training has prepared me to encourage the next generation of teachers to be the best for their own future students.”