Great communities have great schools. High Point Schools Partnership creates impactful connections between our schools and the wider community to ensure students and their families are supported and can reach their full potential in High Point schools.

Part of High Point Schools Partnerships’ mission is to improve the image of our schools through storytelling. Who better to tell the stories of High Point’s schools than the people experiencing it first-hand? In this series of articles, we will highlight our 2022 High Point Extraordinary Educators as we dive deeper into what keeps them motivated in the face of constant challenges.

2022 Extraordinary Educator: Allison Kelley

Allison Kelley started her teaching career at High Point Central 6 years ago. She stays because of the diverse student population. Having the opportunity to engage and interact with students from all over the world makes working at High Point Central one of the highlights of her career. 

Shelley Nixon-Greene, the former principal of High Point Central High School, describes Ms. Kelley as someone who “holds her students accountable while working to help them overcome any barriers they may face.”

According to Nixon-Greene, “Ms. Kelley works tirelessly to help her students achieve success”; “She works to meet them where they are in the classroom and provides tutoring to assist them after school.”

Ms. Kelley wants her students and parents to know “that we are all on the same team.”

She goes on to say ”We teach the subject matter we do because we enjoy it, but we put so much effort into our lessons for the students. Having support from parents and families has a major positive impact in the classroom.” 

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: My sophomore English teacher, Mrs. Diane Finnegan, inspired me to become an educator. I have always enjoyed reading, but the year I took Mrs. Finnegan’s class, she unlocked a new perspective on approaching literature. I knew I wanted to do the same thing for my students. 

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: My teaching style tends to be multifaceted. At times, the content requires a direct teaching approach, and often the projects and activities I have my students complete allow me to maintain more of a facilitator approach. Each class brings different strengths and challenges, and as an educator, it is my job to employ a style that allows for student success. 

Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?

A: Every student has a different experience to share, and it is our job to make sure they are heard. We all come to the table with the experiences that shape our lives: our family dynamics, culture, religious beliefs etc. We must incorporate these valuable pieces into the fabric of our classrooms because that is what makes learning meaningful and worthwhile. 

Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?

A: The best part of my day is sharing the literature I love with students and watching them experience the story unfolding for the first time. I love seeing, hearing, and reading their personal reactions and analysis of the text. 

Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?

A: While teaching a Lord of the Flies unit, I created a project that gave students an opportunity to express their understanding creatively. Students created tabletop games, a Monopoly version of the book, paintings, sculptures, and video eulogies for the characters. I was so proud of my students for using their strengths to express their connections to a difficult text through completely original ideas. The artwork and board games are still on display in my classroom.

Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?

A: I would just like to thank the community of High Point for this prestigious reorganization. It is quite an honor.

Ms. Kelley is just one of High Point’s 2022 Extraordinary Educators. Tune in for the next few weeks to hear more stories and inspiring moments from our local teachers!

Thank you so much to Allison Kelley for your dedication to High Point’s students. Congratulations on being selected as your school’s 2022 Extraordinary Educator!

To find out more about High Point Schools Partnership and our work, please visit our Facebook page and check out our page on Guilford Education Alliance’s website.

Article written by High Point Schools Partnership Staff