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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: Vernee Rogers

Vernee Rogers started her teaching career in North Carolina 24 years ago; this was her first year at Middle College at GTCC-High Point. The positive community among teachers, students, and administration keeps her there.

Angela Polk-Jones, the principal of Middle College at GTCC-High Point, describes Mrs. Rogers as someone who displays great “professionalism, commitment and dedication” always “helping her students reach their full potential.”

According to Polk-Jones, Mrs. Rogers “uses a variety of instructional strategies to meet the learning needs of a diverse group of students, while at the same time establishing a great rapport.”

Mrs. Rogers wants her students and their parents to know that “I love children. Parents and students can trust me because I want to help.  I will help them grow as human beings.”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: My favorite aunt, Emily Foreman Carter, inspired me to become a teacher.  She was a first-grade teacher, and she mentored me from age six.  She taught me how to write lesson plans, how to decorate a classroom, and how operate her duplicating machine.  She answered all of my questions about direct instruction among other pedagogical topics.  

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: My teaching style is to find out where students are (pre-assessment) and teach from that point.

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

A: As aforementioned, my current philosophy is to meet my students where they are and teach—they deserve my best.  I have learned that it is dangerous for me to presume students are emotionally and/or intellectually ready for what I have to offer.  Assuming a student can read and write on a 10th-grade level, for example, because the student is in the 10th grade creates a blind spot.  I have to pre-assess to discover where I need to start emotionally and intellectually before I begin the work.  Oftentimes, I have to back up as far as sixth grade and “grow” my students.  Intentionally leaving students behind is never an option for me.

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

A: The best part of each day is fostering positive relationships with my students. 

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

A: There are many memorable moments, but they all can be categorized as “ah-ha” moments.  I take pleasure when a student has the “ah-ha” moment when he or she gains understanding and/or insight into a particular concept I am teaching.  It always sounds the same: “Oh!  Now I get it!”

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

A: I would like the community to know that I am glad to be a part of High Point.  I am looking forward to becoming more of an active member of this wonderful city in the future.

Mrs. Rogers 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 Vernee Rogers 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