Andy Cox
Associate Professor
Office location and address
Education
M.S., Radford University, 1999
Teaching Licensure, Emory & Henry College, 1994
B.A., Radford University, 1992
Biography
Hi,
My name is Andy Cox and I am the Director of Teacher Education and the Education Department Chair at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Before coming to Wise, I taught math and science in public schools and served as an elementary principal for many years. My research interests surround educator preparation in how teacher preparation programs are designed and function to prepare high-quality pre-service teachers.
More information than you need below:)
My name is Andy Cox and I was born in Norfolk, Virginia and at the age of 8 moved to the hills of Southwest Virginia where I met his wife, and together, they raised three wonderful children. I graduated from Patrick Henry High School and received my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Radford University. I received my Doctoral degree from Virginia Tech.
I come from a long line of educators. My grandfather was a history professor at Emory and Henry College. My grandmother was an eighth-grade language arts teacher in Washington County, and my father, one of Andy’s teachers, taught English at Patrick Henry High School. My wife, Valerie, is a school librarian, and my daughter, Emma, was recently hired as a middle school science teacher.
I taught math and science at E. B. Stanley Middle school for eight years before moving into principalship. I served as the assistant principal at Meadowview Elementary School for three years and the principal at Abingdon Elementary School for seven years. In total, I served eighteen years in K-12 schools. For the past nine years, I have been the Director of Teacher Education at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
I am proud of several accomplishments: new partnerships between the college and local schools, newly developed majors, service on the ATE-VA board, and a proposal to bring the first graduate level program to the students of UVa-Wise.
Publications
Sponsored Awards
UVA Service
UVA WISE Graduate Program Proposal
Engineering Teaching Endorsement
K12 Teachers for Tomorrow Partnership
National Service
Association of Teacher Educators
Council for the accreditation of Educator Prepration
International Affiliations
Honors
Featured on National Public Radio (NPR) as part of the Learning Landscapes program for students at Abingdon Elementary School. Educational program for students to learn sustainable living processes
Recipient of National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to attend a training program at Rochester Institute of Technology for the middle school electronics program
Recipient of School Bell Award. Presented by the Board of Directors and members of the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals for significant contributions to Abingdon Elementary School, Washington County Public Schools, and Virginia School Association. 2010
Recipient of the 2012 President’s Service Award. Presented by the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals for significant service to Abingdon Elementary School, Washington County Public Schools, and the Washington County community. Awarded for implementation of a school-wide tutoring program, professional development opportunities, and creating a culture of student excellence
Finalist in 2012 National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal selection in Virginia. Honors outstanding elementary and middle-level administrators for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and staffs in their learning communities
Nominated and elected as Delegate Assembly Member in the Association of Teacher Educators-Virginia for a two-year term. As a Delegate, I represent the Virginia Association of Teacher Educators in the National Association of Teacher Educators
Serve as the Principal Investigator on the Virginia Department of Education Clinical Faculty Training Grant. I wrote the grant and received full funding to provide local educators with training on becoming mentor teachers to student teachers.
Serve as the Principal Investigator on the National Science Foundation STEM Educators Grant. I wrote the grant to help provide scholarships and stipends to encourage students to become Math and Science secondary teachers. $900,000
Groundbreaking Partnership with Bristol City Schools. The partnership is designed to recruit minority students to the college by offering scholarships. Students will complete degree and licensure requirements and return to Bristol City Schools as teachers where they will receive a loan forgiveness stipend.