HIGH POINT — Six seniors from each of High Point’s public high schools were honored Wednesday during a virtual Student Leadership Awards ceremony.
Principals, school officials and High Point business leaders signed on from their home computers to recognize the academic achievements and community service of each student as well as their future aspirations.
The event was hosted by High Point Schools Partnership, a volunteer-led initiative of the Guilford Education Alliance that brings together local business leaders, educators, nonprofits, parents and other entities in support of local schools.
“We met as a committee about a month ago and voted unanimously that this year, more than ever, we need to recognize students and leadership,” said Matt Thiel, first vice president of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, who founded the awards program eight years ago with his wife, Emily. He thanked members of High Point Schools Partnership, educators, elected officials, business leaders and philanthropists.
Each of the student leaders’ stories includes their personal version of struggle and courage, commitment and endurance, Thiel said. The six students took adversity and turned it into opportunity, he said.
“For us, this pandemic is not about a pause, it’s about a cause which is creating wins for our schools and in the process building a brighter, better, stronger High Point — one student and one school at a time,” Thiel said.
Each of the principals gave an update about their school before introducing the student selected as showing leadership that brought a positive influence. Student leaders honored by principals included Ruben Barba of T. Wingate Andrews, Eli Yu of High Point Central, Rosirian Santiago of Kearns Academy, Heaven Williams of Middle College at GTCC-High Point, Amirah Irby-Shabazz of Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and Destiny Blue of Southwest Guilford.
“You have excelled to this degree and going forward in your lives with determination, perseverance and the covering of others who care for you — teachers, community leaders and parents, of course — you will definitely be able to achieve that you desire,” said Tony Collins, who moderated the ceremony. “In this community, across the state and indeed across the country, the value of the education professional, whether the teacher, the administrator, the school bus driver, the cafeteria worker, the janitor, that conversation is being had from kitchen tables right into the halls of Congress. The work that you do is important.”
I know many of you never could have imagined that our senior year of high school would end with three months of virtual classes in the midst of a quarantine — three months void of dancing away your prom night, playing your final game as a spring-sport athlete and even having your navy cap placed on your head by your closest loved one.
This is tough, and I understand we all feel as though we have lost the end of our senior year, but I would love to share a little advice. This quarantine is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step back and reflect. I encourage you all to use the time well because our senior year, Bison, is anything but lost.
These past few weeks, the impactful words of Hazrat Khan have proven to be true: “Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful”.
Now is the time to highlight the upside of a downside situation and learn how resilient we truly are.
High Point Central is a beautiful place not just because of the building, but because of the students, teachers and staff that filled the halls.
It does not matter that we are not physically together because we will always be a part of the bison family, united in calling HPC home. My encouragement is this: Spend time with the family that would have been present at your capping ceremony. Facetime the friends and classmates who you couldn’t hang out with during the busy school week. Catch up on your favorite Netflix show or take a stab at a new hobby.
Seniors, we now have the privilege of forced relaxation from a hectic year, and though it may be tough to see this as a gift, my greatest advice is to change your perspective and watch the world around you change, as well, for the better.
Though we may never walk the halls of High Point Central again, we will forever be remembered as the class that graduated in the pandemic and came out stronger. Congrats, Class of 2020 on your 13 years of hard work! I have no doubt that we all will move on from this, making the places we go more beautiful.
Now more than ever before, we are recognizing what our teachers do on a daily basis is truly extraordinary! And as many of you are home with your kids, learning all over again that pre-algebra is a challenge and writing an essay can be quite a feat, we hope you find yourself more thankful than ever for the men and women who patiently guide your children through these learning milestones.
Today we are featuring three teachers who graciously choose to spend their time positively impacting and empowering our students, both in the classroom and virtually! Join us in celebrating the Extraordinary Educators below and all the rest in our city. (Maybe reach out to your children’s teachers and extend a word of thanks for all they do!)
Valerie McCain
Valerie McCain, Career and Technical Education teacher at Ferndale Middle School.
“Ferndale Middle School is a school filled with a diverse student body and highly qualified staff. We are a family and go the extra mile to support one another as we prepare our students to become productive citizens and leaders in society.”
Valerie was nominated by her principal, Leslie Kinard, who calls Valerie a “mentor and champion for high standards.” As the Career and Technical Education teacher at Ferndale Middle School, Valerie places her high standards on herself, her students, and her school.
“I get excited knowing that I am equipping my students with the technical skills and soft skills they need to be successful in high school and college so that they can obtain the career of their dreams,” Valerie says.
And the standards Valerie holds her students to come accompanied with her deepest support. She wants her students to succeed, to be empowered to try harder than they normally would, and she supports this through her own investment in their lives.
“My son’s middle school years were very difficult for him and would have been less so if he had a teacher who was kind and demonstrated compassion towards him. I really try to provide my students with the experience I wish my son had,” Valerie says of her motivation as a teacher. “I strive to treat my students with love, kindness and respect and let them know that no matter what, I care about them and I am concerned about what happens to them.”
John Anderson
John Anderson, 7th grade teacher at Southwest Middle.
“Southwest middle is an amazing school with extraordinary leaders and staff. We work together to help our students exceed and excel.”
John Anderson, nominated by his principal, Dr. Arlisa Armond, teaches 7th graders at Southwest Middle. Dr. Armond says of John, “He is committed to student success, a leader among leaders.”
This leadership style that John exudes for his students as a model is built on the solid foundation of trust.
“My teaching style is greatly influenced by my belief that students really can learn when they know they can trust the teacher,” John says. “Creating a safe, well-structured classroom opens up the opportunity for students to learn. Relationships with students, parents, staff, and leaders help to build an environment for students to learn.”
John says that hearing that he has made learning exciting for his students is his proudest achievement. And like Valerie, John wants to push his students to try harder than they ever have before and empower them to know the worth and value they can bring to the world.
“I hope that I have given my students the courage to not give up and believe in themselves,” John says. “I hope that my impact in the classroom has made a positive change in a students life outside the classroom, even if I never find out about it. My students should be one of my greatest impacts.”
Andrea Emmanuel
Andrea Emmanuel, Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019 at Welborn Academy of Science and Technology
“At Welborn Academy of Science and Technology, we learn and grow together, building character and developing scholars. Every day brings about its challenges, another opportunity to learn something new, and advance eager minds.”
Andrea’s goal to impact her students is also born from her desire to see her students’ potential maximized. She works daily to empower them, not through overwhelming challenges or forced competition, but rather through small, daily conversations to build their confidence and relationships.
“I use humor and relevant real-world application to keep students engaged while making connections. Class is one long conversation,” Andrea explains. “Throughout this conversation students are sharing ideas, challenging themselves and others, sparking curiosity, productively struggling, increasing their vocabulary and learning.”
Andrea cites the mission of Welborn – to create a caring environment consistent with the middle school philosophy by encouraging responsible decision-making, cultural understanding, and respect for self and others – as one of the major contributions to making these kinds of classroom conversations possible. And it’s led to some of her proudest moments with her students.
The most memorable teaching moment was when a student with a learning disability volunteered to work with and explain a concept to another student,” Andrea says. “That student had built up her math skills and confidence in the classroom and in the building. She learned how to take what she knew and use it with real-world application.”
GUILFORD COUNTY – As Guilford County Schools seniors look to the future, more than 80 students from 20 high schools submitted videos in honor of College Decision Day on May 1.
May 1 traditionally is the date by which graduating seniors must choose which college they will attend in the fall.
This year, since students are not in schools, GCS put out the call for graduates to submit videos announcing their college plans. These videos can be seen on the district’s YouTube channel and will be shared on the district’s other social media platforms and on GCSTV.
“It’s important for our seniors to know that the community celebrates their incredible achievements,” said Sharon Contreras, GCS superintendent. “We are proud of the accomplishments of the Class of 2020, and the nation’s colleges and universities will soon learn what we already know: GCS seniors are exceptionally prepared for their futures.”
The videos show GCS students have a wide range of college plans. The Class of 2020 will head to North Carolina State University, Morehouse College, Harvard University, the Fashion Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina A&T State University, Appalachian State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Guilford College, UNCG and UNC School of the Arts, just to name a few.
Seniors can still complete the FAFSA application for help paying for college and continue to share their college plans on social media with the hashtag #GCSGradsSoar2020.
