Myra Pennell

Dr. Myra Pennell serves as faculty at Appalachian State University in the History and Social Studies Education program, leveraging 22 years of K-12 experience from Caldwell County Schools where she worked as both history teacher and administrator. An alumna of the university, she focuses on preparing future educators with practical classroom strategies grounded in real-world challenges.

Her research centers on beginning teacher development in history/social studies education, emphasizing that teaching excellence is not innate but built through structured practice. Key methodologies include designing assignments that ensure student success to shift self-perception, challenging the 'natural gift' misconception, and addressing the dual pressures of classroom authority and content mastery. She characterizes novice teaching as 'learning to fly a helicopter and bake a cake simultaneously,' highlighting the multifaceted demands on new educators.

Through the History, Social Studies Education (BS) program, Dr. Pennell mentors students using her extensive frontline experience. She prioritizes empowering future teachers to become the educators who inspired them, implementing her core principle that 'success is a drug' requiring deliberately calibrated assignments. Her work bridges K-12 practicality with higher education training to transform teacher preparation.