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 2023 High Point Extraordinary Educators as we dive deeper into what keeps them motivated in the face of constant challenges.
2023 Extraordinary Educator: Montrez Shaw
PE and Health teacher at Allen Jay Preparatory Academy
Principal Kevin Wheat explains why Mr. Shaw is EXTRAORDINARY:
Coach Shaw is a valued member of the Allen Jay Prep staff. He simply does it all. He teaches a morning literacy class to help scholars build their fluency and comprehension skills. Coach Shaw teaches physical education classes daily and helps younger teachers who are just entering the profession. He coordinates all athletic events for AJ Prep, schedules and drives the buses to the games, coaches multiple sports, mows and lines the fields, and does it all with an exceptional attitude. He is loved by all at AJP and is very deserving of this recognition.
HPSP Interviewed Mr. Shaw:
How long have you been at your school and what makes you committed to working with High Point students?
This is my sixth year working at Allen Jay Prep. Being a product of high point public schools myself fuels me to remain committed to working with the youth of High Point students as I vividly remember the impact my teachers and coaches had on me.
What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
Attending Ron Clark Academy to begin my first year of teaching was very memorable. I really didn’t know what to expect coming into education. I knew I had a good rapport with kids, and I knew I enjoyed being involved in sports. We took a trip to Atlanta to visit the school of Ron Clark, and it provided me with a solid foundation that launched my teaching career.
What inspired you to become an educator?
The combination of rapport with kids, and passion for sports lead to the profession. I accepted an intern position with the Parks and Recreation while in college and those experiences led me to inquire about getting inside a classroom.
What’s your teaching/leadership style?
My teaching style empowers the students. Students will know different commands from me, the teacher, to direct them while also allowing them leadership roles throughout the class, so take ownership and are held accountable.
What’s the best part about every day?
The best part of everyday is the morning rally. Administration provides a leadership lesson each morning focusing on a specific topic. It’s the first thing we do each morning after arrival, and this jump starts my day and always leaves me with a positive outlook on the day.
Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
‘Be Better Than You Were Yesterday’ This is my motto because it focuses on self and it promotes growth.
What would you like your students to remember about being in your class?
I would like my students to remember from my class that it takes everyone to win. Every player on a team has a specific part, we all must play our part to win.
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: Sandy McGoogan
Sandy McGoogan started her teaching career at Oak Hill Elementary five years ago. The relationships that she has gained and built each year, and the details of her work, make her stay at Oak Hill.
Sonia Márquez, the principal of Oak Hill Elementary School, describes Mrs. Mcgoogan as “dedicated and consistent” with a “high level of integrity and high standard of excellence”; she “doesn’t accept the status quo”.
According to Márquez, Mrs. Mcgoogan’s “leadership during the pandemic was extraordinary as we moved to 1:1 technology devices. Always thinking about how she could improve the media library program, including increasing book check-out rates, giving free books.”
Mrs. Mcgoogan wants her students to know that “There is so much that I could say about the importance of reading.”
She goes on to say “I guess if I had one thing to say it would be that reading, and understanding what you’ve read, is crucial to so many life skills. Please take the time to read to and/or have students read daily, formally, and/or informally.”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: As a child, when we played school, I was the teacher. Even during high school, I had the opportunity to act as a teacher for an assignment and was often helping others with schoolwork. I loved these experiences. However, teacher pay kept me from entering college as an education major. The field that I chose was intense, but I was up for the challenge. I did not shy away from my professor’s office hours, study groups, extra studying, etc. Although I felt I needed more help, I found myself willing to assist others more than others would assist me. When I decided to change majors, it was an easy decision. I enjoyed helping others with grasping whatever concepts I understood and knowing that I could relate to and guide the student that didn’t quite get some things.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: Being visual is one of the prominent ways that I learn, so when I am teaching, I like to offer demonstrations, visuals, and hands-on activities to engage students. Although I make time for direct instruction, it does not typically dominate a lesson. In my leadership roles, I like to brainstorm ideas and possibilities. I also like to hear and consider the thoughts of team members to try and make the best decision that’s going to have the biggest impact on improvement.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: Not really. However, it is my goal to work hard at serving the needs of my school in my capacity.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: Open circulation is one of the best parts of my day. During this time, students choose and are allowed to come to the library to return or check out library books. It’s exciting to see students choose to read. It also serves as an opportunity for me to think about what I could do differently to reach more students.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: So many memories come to mind. The one that sticks out the most is from early in my career when I learned that, although I may be the only adult in the classroom, I’m never the only teacher. During an experiment on a field trip, one of the students used their background knowledge to make educated decisions about what her group was doing. That knowledge came from something that she’d experienced outside of the classroom.
Mrs. Mcgoogan is our final installment of High Point’s 2022 Extraordinary Educators. Stay involved with High Point Schools Partnership to continue supporting teachers and schools in High Point!
Thank you so much to Sandy McGoogan 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
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: Stephanie Powell
Stephanie Powell started her teaching career at Southwest Guilford High School 7 years ago. She keeps coming back for the people. It is the staff of the school that pushes to make the school even better each year and support each other in their needs for support of what is best for the students. It is the connection that the school has with the community and the continuation to build that connection.
Her Father, Aunt, Sister, and herself graduated from Southwest. She grew up in this community and thinks that is what drives her to continue teaching at Southwest and to continue making it great to give back to my community.
Dr. Angela Monell, the principal of Southwest Guilford High School, describes Ms. Powell as a “Problem-solver, creative, and self-motivated”. Someone who is “organized, thoughtful, energetic, creative and gets the job done down to the details. She takes on leadership roles and problem-solves issues that impact the school community.“
According to Dr.Monell, Ms. Powell “has changed the game of English 10 by leading a fantastic team of teachers through a data-driven PLC and exposing students to their own data. Not only do the students look at their data, but the students also look at district data to better understand the global concept of where we fit as a school.”
Ms. Powell wants her students to know that “being an educator is my passion. Being an educator to me is more than just in my classroom, it is about being involved in the school.”
She goes on to say “It is about being a voice for the students in what is best for them and their education. This past school year I had a student ask me what exactly my role was in the school because he saw me doing a lot of different things. I want students to see that and know that I am dedicated not only to them as a student in my classroom, but also as a student in the school. Students leave my classroom knowing that when they leave, they are still one of my students. I will check on them and see how they are doing in the next level of English class that they have, or they can come to talk to me if they need a trusted adult to talk to. Education to me is about the whole school and not just my classroom which is why I stay involved in leadership roles and other things in the school to push and grow as an educator community in the school.”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: What inspired me to become an educator was seeing a teacher who was willing to be herself and instill a passion for learning in her students. Up until my junior year of high school, I was not a fan of English class. I did not enjoy reading and did not have a desire to read. That changed when I got into my Junior year English class. The class that I was in was a tough class. It was full of students like me who did not really enjoy reading but would do the work to get through the class. The way that she approached the class and got the students to be engaged in the readings, inspired me to want to start reading outside of class. It was a class that I looked forward to going to and felt welcomed into. It is what started my love of reading, and that was when I knew that I wanted to teach and be this inspiration for other students. This pushed me to feel more confident in my next English class in my senior year and to take more Creative Writing classes. I tell my students that I know not everyone is going to have a love of reading, but I want them to feel welcomed and inspired in my classroom to find what they are passionate about and to push toward their own goals of what they want.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: My teaching and leadership styles revolve around collaboration. Collaboration for me is a major part of who I am and who I have become as an educator. For teaching, my classroom is my student’s learning environment. I build from the first day that they are in my classroom that we are a community that will work together to achieve goals that will grow us as learners. I believe that students can learn just as much from each other as they can from me. It builds not only their knowledge of working with others to work through the material, but it also builds them as people to work as a team through problem-solving. It creates an environment of inclusion where students are willing to help each other. My leadership style also has a foundation of collaboration. Working with other educators and hearing other perspectives and ideas is what continues to make me a better educator. I get inspired by other educators and talk to them about projects and ideas. Collaboration in both my classroom and in leadership is an essential part of who I am as an educator.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: For my classroom, my philosophy for my teaching is to keep growing as an educator and keep changing things in my lessons to benefit my students. Each class of students is different in their needs from other classes. I build my classroom and what we do around my students. This means that I may not teach the materials the same way that I taught them before, and that is my goal. I want to be continuously changing and learning more about what can benefit my students. I am constantly looking for new ideas, new resources, and new ways for students to present their understanding of materials. The world of education and technology is constantly changing, and that means that the needs for what students need to know to be ready for after high school is changing. So, I change my lessons and get new ideas and resources to make sure that the students are college and future ready.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part about every day for me is the relationships that I build with my students, but also the collaboration with other teachers. Watching students grow, achieve goals, and become proficient in something that they were struggling with is a highlight of my day every day. Collaborating with other teachers to think of new ways to approach activities, lessons, projects, etc. helps to keep me growing and thinking of new resources as an educator. Working with other teachers and educators is a highlight of what I do from day to day. Constantly looking at data and thinking about ways that we can improve to be better for the students. Hearing new perspectives and ideas to use for the benefit of the students and their learning is what keeps me excited about education and teaching. Collaborating and taking new approaches to teach to meet the needs of my students is absolutely the best part of my day every day.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: It is extremely hard to talk about just one moment that is most memorable as an educator, but I would have to say that the moments that have been most memorable to me have all been around my students taking responsibility for their own education. For the past 5 or so years, Dr. Monell has been working with the English 10 teachers to push our instruction to be more data-driven and centered. At the start of this process, Dr. Monell was our Assistant Principal and is now our Principal. As lead teacher of English 10, it has been a long and hard process to shift our instruction and teaching, but what has made it memorable has been the students’ responses to this new way of approaching their education. The students are talking about the standards that they are being taught, understand the standards, and look at their data from benchmarks to see how they are doing in comparison to the rest of the county. We are having conversations about what standards they need to improve on based on that data and how we are going to do that. They are aware of what they need to know by the end of the class, and it drives them to work that much harder. That is what is most memorable to me as an educator, seeing my students taking responsibility for their education and working towards goals that they have set for themselves.
Ms. Powell 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 Stephanie Powell 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
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
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: Sheena Hyder
Sheena Hyder started her teaching career at Kirkman Park Elementary School 6 years ago. She feels that teaching at this school is her personal ministry. She has always wanted to make a difference in children’s lives and continues to stay there solely because she loves what she does and she loves to watch the scholars evolve into well-educated future citizens.
Dr. Jamal Crawford, former principal of Kirkman Park Elementary School, describes Ms. Hyder as “kind, caring, and authentic” and “the teacher every child should have at any level of education.”
According to Dr.Crawford, Ms. Hyder “is meticulous and deliberate about engaging students. There is always a ‘hum’ in her classroom with students engaging each other at all times during the day.”
Ms. Hyder wants her students to know “Togetherness is the key to seeing the results we want. There are no limitations unless you create them yourself. All things are possible and you are only limited by your own mindset.”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: What inspired me to become an educator is when I lost my mother in the third grade. It was my third-grade teacher who invested time in me and went well beyond her responsibilities and duties as an educator. My father was unable to style my hair and ensure that I was properly dressed as a little girl. It was that teacher who provided clothing for me, as well as took on the motherly role in my life during those difficult and challenging times. She made an indelible mark that influenced my career as an educator.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: My teaching style is to serve as a facilitator for student learning more than just a teacher of content. The ability to prioritize listening over speaking, as well as seeking to understand the different perspectives students bring to class each day.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: “YOU have the power to make the right choices!” I want children to know that their future lies in their hands and that they can choose which life path to take.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: One of the best parts of my day is social-emotional learning (SEL) when students can express themselves freely. Honestly, showing up and being with my students is really the best part of my day. I just enjoy teaching.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: My most memorable moment as an educator is when one of my former African American 3rd grade male students entered my classroom with the mindset of being a drug dealer when he grew up. That was truly his ultimate goal. I received a phone call from him last year, and he is now in college pursuing a degree as a medical assistant.
Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?
A: A teacher cannot do all the things a teacher “does” alone, it truly takes a village to educate a child. We are all in this together.
Ms. Hyder 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 Sheena Hyder 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
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: Katelyn Thompson
Katelyn Thompson started her teaching career at Oak View Elementary School three years ago. When she started at Oak View in 2018, she was an Exceptional Children’s Teacher Assistant. That same year, she stepped into the role of a 5th-grade math teacher from December until the end of the year. That experience taught her so much and she has been a 5th-grade teacher for two years now!
Thompson comes to Oak View daily fulfilled as she walks in; her purpose is to impact the lives of children. Having supportive colleagues has directly impacted her success. The team of teachers she works with support each other in every way possible.
Bennie Bradley, the principal of Oak View Elementary School, describes Mrs. Thompson as a “budding super-teacher”; “her ability to encounter challenges or opportunities with resolve and professionalism puts her in a class of her own.”
According to Bradley, Mrs. Thompson “creates a place where scholars have the opportunity to learn math in ways they will see it in their everyday life.”
Mrs. Thompson wants her students and families to know “that they have helped me grow as an educator and a person and I will forever cherish the relationships I’ve built with their scholars.
She goes on to say “I am proud of them and will always be in their corner! I love seeing scholars from previous years and asking them ‘How’s middle school?’ “
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: In high school, I did several internships. One of the internships I did was in a pre-kindergarten class with Guilford County Schools. The teacher took me in and was the reason I wanted to continue my work in education. I want students to have what I had as a 5th-grade student. My 5th-grade teacher changed my life. She believed in me. The school was hard for me. It was the internships through high school and college that pushed me to pursue a degree in education. I wanted to help support young people in any way I could.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: If you were to enter my classroom you would see structure, hands-on learning, collaboration, and an overall community of learners. Building relationships with scholars from day one has aided my success. I want them to know I am here to support them in their educational journey and their journey through life. When they leave Oak View, I want them to have the skills to be successful and confident in who they are. I am patient and kind. I lead through examples. I tell my scholars, just do. I just do it! Taking risks is essential to growth.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: Always do your best, be kind to everyone, and do what is right. I always say these to scholars because as they move on, I want them to grow and be successful.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part of every day is that every day is a new day! Every day there is something different and exciting happening. I get to spend most of my day building strong relationships with my students and filling their minds with knowledge.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: This year has been a year of change and challenges that have helped shape me as an influential educator. Based on effective instructional practices carried out in my classroom, I was asked to lead a professional learning session with Oak View’s entire staff. I didn’t feel like I was worthy enough to carry out the professional learning session as asked because I was a second-year classroom teacher. Many thoughts of doubt crept in; I was knowledgeable but wasn’t confident in myself. I carried out the professional learning session and it went great! Staff members were receptive, and many followed up after the session for further support because they wanted more information. This experience taught me so much. One thing I learned is that as a new educator I too was learning, and this was a huge step for me to get up in front of my colleagues to share my abilities and impact a classroom beyond my own. This was the beginning of opportunities to lead throughout the year.
Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?
A: I love working in the community and doing what I can to make a difference in a scholar’s education. I want all scholars to believe in themselves and know that they are worthy when they put their minds to something and work hard each day! The support High Point has given Oak View is incredible. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work in this community.
Mrs. Thompson 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 Katelyn Thompson 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
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: Stacey Clarke-Huie
Ms. Clarke-Huie started her teaching career at Ferndale Middle School in September 2021. The support from the administration and the warm and friendly staff has been some of the things that have kept her at Ferndale Middle School. The varying academic needs of the students there have also motivated her to stay as she enjoys helping students to learn and become the best that they can be.
Leslie Kinard, the principal of Ferndale Middle School, describes Ms. Clarke-Huie as someone who “worked diligently to ensure that our middle school students had the access and opportunity to excel while learning high school content.”
According to Kinard, Ms. Clarke-Huie “continues to persist in setting high expectations and standards for them.” “She worked with families and colleagues to learn more about her students and to make sure she was providing the best educational experience possible each day in her classroom.”
Ms. Clarke-Huie wants her students to know “that they are all born with the will to do well and excel. All they need to do is believe in themselves and they can move mountains.”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: My main inspiration to become an educator was my love for helping others to learn and succeed and also the need for math educators who really cared about the kids they teach and who made math exciting and interesting to the kids.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: My style of teaching includes being a demonstrator as well as being a facilitator because I at times demonstrate what I expect from my students and then I facilitate while they perform similar tasks for me. With math, many students learn through seeing what is to be done and they are always curious as to why it needs to be done that way, so demonstrating and then facilitating works for them.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: My classroom philosophy is whatever you put your mind to you can achieve and the only person that can stop you from doing your best is you. I tell them this and use it as my philosophy because oftentimes they are the ones who doubt themselves and limit themselves as to what they can do, so if they believe in themselves nothing can stop them. I tell my students too that if they can spell it they can do it. My reason being is that most of them come to me telling me that they cannot do the math, so that leads me to tell them that if they can spell math it means they can do it.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part about every day for me is to see a student who was struggling at the beginning of my class complete their exit activity on their own without assistance because they have learned the concept of the day.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: My most memorable moment as an educator was back home in my home country Jamaica when I had a group of 25 students prepare for examinations they all came to me with mixed feelings about doing math and I did my best to motivate and work with them at the end of the school year 21 of those students were successful, to date that stands out as my most memorable because when others thought they couldn’t do it, I believed in them and made them believe too that they could do it and they did.
Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?
A: I am from the beautiful island of Jamaica and I am here to help students excel and become the best version of themselves as I did with my students back home for the past 17 years.
Ms. Clarke-Huie 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 Stacey Clarke-Huie 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
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: Tanya Trent
This past year was Tanya Trent’s first year at Welborn Academy of Science and Technology after teaching at the elementary level. She decided to teach at Welborn Academy because of the principal, Ms. Shayla Savage, who has a vision and continues to be successful in improving schools.
Shayla Savage, former principal of Welborn Academy of Science and Technology, describes Mrs. Trent as “ an extremely hard worker, compassionate, and a great team player.”
According to Savage, Mrs. Trent “has a great rapport with her students and their families. She has an inviting classroom where every child feels welcome.”
Mrs. Trent wants her students to know “I am so proud of each one of you!”
She goes on to say “Never give up, keep trying and give your best to achieve your goals in life. I believe in you! I want you to remember that success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.” Mrs. Trent also told her parents “thank you for supporting me and for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your child. It takes a village to help a child to grow and learn. Thank You!”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: I look to my parents for guidance, encouragement, compassion, and strength. They have taught me the love of learning and to continue to be a lifelong learner, and I hope my students feel the same way. To me, teaching is about making a difference in the lives of today’s scholars. I knew it would be a full-time commitment and that I would encounter many challenges, but I also knew the positives would always outweigh the challenges I might face.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: I would describe my teaching/leadership style as highly adaptable. I do what is best for my students, and I alternate between being an authority, demonstrator, facilitator, and delegator. My teaching style also includes having high expectations, accountability, and building relationships. I truly believe that all students can learn and excel.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: My philosophy is that I am a visionary. I believe that all students are unique and have the potential to achieve and excel with dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Students will rise to the occasion. My motto is to be the best you can be. I encourage my students to reach the height of their potential and experience the limits of their capability.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part of my day is when students accomplish the goals that they have set for themselves. It makes my day to see how they light up with the biggest smile on their face and the confidence they have that they did it.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: My most memorable moment is continuing to have meaningful relationships with students that I have taught throughout my career as an educator. I love it when students come by to just say hi, when they come back to share their accomplishments, and when students/parents make you feel like you are part of their family.
Mrs. Trent 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 Tanya Trent 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
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: Alicia Samuels
Alicia Samuels started her teaching career at Allen Jay Elementary four years ago. She stays at AJE because of the family-like atmosphere that permeates the school and the community in which it serves. AJE boasts a diverse student and teacher population, and as an international teacher, this diversity helped her to easily fit in. In addition, the outstanding leadership of the institution inspires and motivates teachers and students to accomplish professional and personal goals because we all feel valued and supported.
Carla Flores-Ballesteros, the principal of Allen Jay Elementary, describes Ms. Samuels as “She is creative and full of positive energy.” She “integrates technology, arts, and literacy with standards in her daily math lessons.”
According to Flores-Ballesteros, Ms. Samuels “can get anyone excited about learning.” “She takes to heart her students’ progress and growth, so she gathers and analyzes data regularly to personalize learning.”
Ms. Samuels wants her students and their parents to know “that I am a visiting teacher from Jamaica, who has every scholar’s interest at heart, irrespective of class, color or creed.”
She goes on to say “I am also a caring, creative, dedicated, and passionate teacher, who always gives my best to ensure that scholars achieve their highest potential. For me, success isn’t just a destination, it is a continuous journey, and I look forward to your support as we continue this journey together.”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: I was inspired to become an educator because of the positive impact that my teachers had on my educational journey. They worked assiduously to ensure that as students we achieved our highest potential, irrespective of our social status. Educators were also highly appreciated and respected in my community in Jamaica, playing many roles for example mediators, community leaders, etc. Having a neighbor who was an educator and also living with a cousin who was an educator motivated me to want to join this prestigious and highly respected profession because I saw these individuals as role models. Another inspiration was the passion for seeing students in my community achieving their educational goals and becoming productive members of society, because of having effective educators. With these experiences, I saw the need to enter this profession and serve, in an attempt to continue building my community, helping children achieve excellence despite their socioeconomic status. A scholar’s status should not define them, and I know education is power, in that it can help individuals surpass the status quo and become fully functioning agent changers in society.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: My teaching style is the activity style, whereby I act as a facilitator, helping scholars develop critical thinking and learning skills through active engagement and infusing the arts in all that I do. To a lesser extent, I also think that I have a hybrid or blended style, in that I infuse my personality and interest to meet my scholar’s needs. Making learning fun, and having the scholars actively engaged is of paramount importance in my classroom. On a daily basis, we create songs, jingles, drama, or poems to help with conceptual understanding. We create and post personalized anchor charts to reinforce concepts. I integrate technology in all my lessons to stimulate interest and to ensure that my scholars are technologically ready for the 21st century. I use manipulatives to aid scholars’ understanding of concepts. I provide opportunities for collaborative grouping, where scholars explore and use creative and critical thinking skills to complete tasks. I liaise and collaborate with my colleagues here and in Jamaica, to learn and share ideas to grow and strengthen my teaching skills to better serve my scholars. Last but not least, I ensure that at all times, my classroom feels safe and welcoming, and is conducive to learning.
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: I have multiple mottos and philosophies that I abide by. I enter the classroom knowing that; “Every child can learn, and every child must learn.” With this in mind, it is my responsibility to know and understand all of my scholars and find effective ways to cater to each need.
Being that I am currently a math teacher, I always instill in the scholars’ mindsets that “Math is Life” and on a daily basis, provide opportunities for scholars to make real-life connections in the Mathematics classroom.
Another philosophy that I use to motivate myself is a quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upwards through the night.” This gem is very personal to me because I can connect to the sentiment of it, as I spend many late nights toiling relentlessly, planning effective lessons to ensure the success of all scholars.
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part of my day is going into the classroom to execute a well-planned lesson and to see and hear how my students respond to the lesson. Reflecting on the “a-ha” moments, my scholars’ level of engagement and enthusiasm, encourages me to bring the best version of myself to the classroom every day.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: My most memorable moment as an educator was having a sixth-grade scholar in my class, who aspired to attend a particular traditional high school in Jamaica but doubted his ability because he was performing below grade level and was from a low socio-economic background. As his teacher, I learned what was of interest to him and integrated this into daily instructions, and gave him extra support after school to help with his academic growth. He excelled in the national placement exam and earned a place at his high school of choice. I also sought financial assistance to help him through high school, and remained in contact, motivating and encouraging him through university, where he achieved a degree in Medical Science and is now a Medical Doctor.
Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?
A: It takes a village to raise a child, and I am humbled and thankful to be part of this village. I implore other stakeholders within the community to join forces with Allen Jay Elementary as we invest and work together to create tomorrow’s leaders.
Ms. Samuels 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 Alicia Samuels 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
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.
Pimnapa (Jan) Julsuwan started her teaching career at Montlieu Academy in 2017. She stays because she feels as though she has found her second home. There is such a HUGE support system—from their amazing administration, awesome coaches, and of course great colleagues! There is so much collaboration and teamwork and all for the greater good—our students.
Kimberly Scott, the principal of Montlieu Academy, describes Ms. Julsuwan as “a true asset to our school family.” “She is a team player that is willing to do whatever it takes to see her scholars thrive in every way.”
According to Scott, Ms. Julsuwan “consistently meets or exceeds our school-wide student outcome goals because she refuses to settle and understands the importance of obtaining a high-quality education.” “She is a true facilitator of learning and provides scholars with frequent opportunities to share what they are learning with one another.”
Ms. Julsuwan wants her students to know “I’m ALL IN.”
She goes on to say “I will be there to support, listen and teach. I’m always here if you need me—just ask. It’s a cliché but it’s true it takes a village to raise a child. I do this because I love teaching kids. I love to watch them grow and flourish. Any success, great or small, is a celebration. WE are in this together!”
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: The biggest inspiration for me was knowing that I can make a difference in a child’s life. Not just through teaching them content but inspiring them to think, dream, and become the BEST version of themselves. With that, they can and will accomplish any goal they set for themselves. I want them to know that an entire world is at their disposal—anything is possible.
Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?
A: I’m more of a facilitator—a coach. I model what I expect them to do and set the expectations. Then I observe, give feedback, listen and support my students as needed. I love watching and listening to their collaboration and their conversations. Building a sense of community is really important to me. When a student has a sense of belonging, they feel comfortable making mistakes and look to one another for support—”Teamwork makes the dream work!”
Q: Do you have a classroom motto or philosophy you abide by? Why?
A: Since I teach just ELA this year—LOVE it! I have two mottos in my classroom: “Read, read, read. The more you read. The more you achieve;” “Practice makes PROGRESS (I don’t like “perfect” because there is no such thing as ‘perfection’ and I tell my kids that I, myself, will never claim to be perfect. Plus I don’t know everything and I’m always learning). I do have a third but it’s more about being just a nice human being—“Do the right thing EVEN though nobody is watching.”
Q: What’s your favorite part about every day?
A: The best part of every day is to be able to catch up and collaborate with my colleagues whether it’s fellow teachers, coaches, or administration. Everyone is always checking in. I love how we can bounce ideas off each other, support one another, or just lend an ear. Of course, we can’t forget the students! My kiddos always make my day. I get excited every day because I’m unsure of how the lesson will go and their response to it. But not knowing makes it even more exciting. I love to see the “a-ha” moments on their faces—if not I pull them to my back table and I try to address their misconceptions or just plain old reteach. It’s all about collaboration.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as an educator?
A: There are many memorable moments BUT being recognized as Teacher of the Year is at the top of my list. It was quite a shock. I was extremely surprised and humbled by the nomination. To be recognized by my fellow peers made it more special. It is quite an honor!
Q: Is there any other information you would like us to share with the community?
A: It’s been a real honor being able to serve as a teacher in High Point, especially at Montlieu Academy.
Ms. Julsuwan 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 Pimnapa (Jan) Julsuwan 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
