October 2022 – Schools In High Point

October 31, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Northwood Elementary School,

Extraordinary Educator: DeElle Underdue

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: DeElle Underdue

DeElle Underdue started teaching at Northwood Elementary IB World School in August 2014. She keeps coming back with the knowledge that she has the ability to impact the lives of her students, families, and colleagues daily. She is on a personal mission to get students excited about learning and loving their school community.

Susan Steen, the principal of Northwood Elementary School, says Ms.Underdue is “respected by her colleagues, and her students and parents love her.” “Her kindergarten classroom is a calm, nurturing learning environment.”

According to Steen, parents “feel peace” knowing their students are being taught by Ms. Underdue.

Ms.Underdue wants her students to know that “they can always count on me and that I am always proud of them, whether they have conquered something big or small.”

She goes on to express her “strong interest in” her students “being ‘Caring’ human beings”.

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: I entered the profession because I was eager to make a difference in the life of a child from the early stages of life. I also had wonderful early childhood educators who instilled in me the desire to be nurturing, fun, articulate, smart, and gentle. I still communicate with these educators and it keeps me ignited about what I do and the relationships I am building today that I too can look back on in the future.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: My teaching and leadership style is typically focused, strategic, innovative, and collaborative. These qualities help improve learning outcomes, but also help build community, encourage inclusivity, and create a culture of continuous improvement for self, colleagues, and students. I am able to demonstrate these in my classroom environment, PLC grade level planning, and serving as a mentor to new teachers in the field.

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

A: My classroom motto is “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. I have this motto because I understand the social-emotional pressures that are placed on such young students as well as their families in this new transition of being Kindergarteners.

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

A: The best part about every day is seeing students arrive with happiness to simply be at school. The ability and desire to develop, along with my colleagues, creative and engaging instructional experiences for all students. I am on a personal mission to get students excited about learning and implement strategies to instill confidence in their academic ability.

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

A: One memorable moment is when my Kindergarten students participated in a service-learning project. We incorporated our iB planner that focused on “How the World Works.” In this planner, we learned and made connections about plants and farms. My students grew a better understanding of farms and the benefits of crops and animals. We chose to make a donation through Heifer International. Heifer International is a development organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training.

In setting our goal on the 100th day of Kindergarten we hoped to raise $100.00 by February 11, 2022. On Valentine’s Day, we discovered that we raised a total of $218.00. In raising $218.00 we were able to purchase farm animals for a family in need in another country through the Heifer International organization. We were able to purchase a pig, sheep, flock of chickens, and some honeybees. This was such a fun project to do with the kids and especially on a day of “CARING”.

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

A: I challenge others to be involved with schools in their communities. Find opportunities to volunteer, make donations, and be involved with the educational journey of our future leaders.

Ms.Underdue 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 DeElle Underdue 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

October 24, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Central High School, High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP,

Extraordinary Educator: Allison Kelley

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

October 17, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Kearns Academy,

Extraordinary Educator: Almelia Byrd

2022 Extraordinary Educator: Almelia Byrd

Almelia Byrd started her teaching career at Kearns Academy 10 years ago. She stays because of her great colleagues and administrators. The rapport she has with my colleagues is second to none. They have many students who she has developed a great relationship with. To Byrd, relationship-building is an integral part of the teaching/learning process.

Bryan Johnson, the principal at Kearns Academy, describes Ms. Byrd as ”demanding of her students, but also caring and willing to help students achieve a goal.” She “cares about all her students and genuinely wants the best outcomes for them, not just in the classroom, but in life.”

According to Johnson, Ms. Byrd “provides rigorous and challenging content to students” she “serves on the school leadership team and has worked with new teachers when called upon.”

Ms. Byrd wants her students to know “It is my goal as a teacher for every student that I teach to leave my classroom and become successful in life.”

She goes on to say “it is my hope for each student to become citizens who can contribute positively to the society.”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: The inspiration that led me to become a teacher was my love for math. I wanted to become a math teacher because some of my greatest moments in school were learning new concepts in math class. I pursued a career in education, particularly math education because I wanted to share my knowledge and expertise with others. I also wanted to be on the same schedule as my children.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: At the beginning of each academic year I try to create a classroom climate that is conducive to learning. In doing so I have developed a great relationship with my students. In terms of leadership, I have clear expectations and guidelines that students should follow. Teenagers like consistency, and I try to provide that for them.

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

A: The teaching-learning process is a partnership between many stakeholders, two of them being teachers and students. My philosophy as a teacher is to respect my students and they in turn respect me. Trust and respect breed better communication in the classroom.

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

A: When a student gets what I am teaching. When students understand concepts or have what I call “eureka moments” they experience a sense of accomplishment. It does the same for me and gives me a feeling of triumph.

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

A: I have had many memorable moments as an educator. One of the most memorable moments as a teacher was having a student who was very mean and did not want to talk to me. One day, I told her how great she was in math. From that day forward, she loved me and performed well for me. She took on a new persona from hearing positive words. As educators, our job is to motivate and inspire students in the classroom

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

A: I want the community to know that as an educator I welcome their support in assisting us to become the best educators we can be. I also want the community to know that I love teaching and the students mean a lot to me. People always ask me “how do I like teaching at an Academy and how are the kids?” I tell them that teaching at an Academy is great because of our class sizes. I let them know that kids are the same everywhere you go. In order to be effective in the classroom, you must love teaching and give students the support they need.

Ms. Byrd 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 Almelia Byrd 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

October 10, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Johnson Street Global Studies,

Extraordinary Educator: Chaun Doak

2022 Extraordinary Educator: Chaun Doak

Chaun Doak started teaching in various roles at Johnson Street Global Studies 15 years ago. She started at Johnson Street because, long ago, she was a student there and was thrilled at the opportunity to go back and be a teacher there. Today, she continues to stay at Johnson Street because of the “family connections” made between colleagues, students, and families.

Kris Wheat, the former principal of Johnson Street Global Studies, says Mrs. Doak “captivates her students with her passion for reading and her flair for creative instructional practices.”

According to Wheat, “When you’re in Mrs. Doak’s classroom, it’s like you are watching her perform on a stage. Her excitement for learning is contagious and her students are excited to see what she has to offer each day.”

Mrs. Doak wants her students to know that “I believe in them, love them, and will always be here if they need me and expect great things from them. (Honestly, though, I think they know and believe it!)”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: As a child that literally hated school, I struggled a bit in my first years of college. When I was in a place where I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, God stepped in. A lady by the name of Jean Bowman ran a through-the-week program at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church here in High Point many years ago; she had heard that I had come back home and asked me to come substitute for her. I did reluctantly and ended up working with a child that had experienced trauma and had withdrawn completely. After months of working with him, he began to come out of his shell and the growth he made was spectacular. I knew then, I wanted to work with students in helping them overcome their struggles and to grow as good people. When I decided to go back to school to get my degree in education at High Point College, I had a professor, Dr. Ward, who refused to give up on me when I was struggling academically. When I did not believe in myself, he did and worked with me so that I could pass his course. When he passed, I promised that I would honor him by doing for others what he had done for me. The rest was history.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: I try to lead by example. Anything I will ask of others; I will also do myself. This often amazes my students as I will complete the same projects, I am asking them to complete or read a book that they recommend to me. I build honest, strong, and supportive relationships with my students, taking the time to truly understand each one of them. Once those connections are made and the respect is mutual, anything is possible!

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

A: After 2-3 years of living, teaching, and learning through a pandemic, my motto became simply to “Never Give Up”, because as we learned, we CAN get through some of the most difficult times if we just stay positive, work together and BELIEVE in ourselves. Of course, I am ALWAYS reminding them to BE KIND to one another because what you put out into this world is exactly what will come back to you. I guess that’s a lot and what it really comes down to is BEING A GOOD PERSON.

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

A: A lot of teachers will tell you the dismissal is the best part of the day, but for me seeing those “ah-ha” moments with students is the best. When a student wants to talk with me about a book they just read, that feeling just can’t be beaten. The best part of every day is knowing that I get to get up the next day and do it all over again knowing that each day is different.

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

A: After 32 years of teaching, there are far too many to choose from, but what I think speaks the loudest is when your students from years past, come back and thank you for all you did to make them become who they are today and to introduce their own families.

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

A: These are turbulent times in public education and what we need the very most is positive support in the ways of media, community communication, financial support from county commissioners, and encouragement. We need to truly invest in our educators as WE are the backbone that supports all our futures.

Mrs. Doak 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 Chaun Doak 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

October 3, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Parkview Village Elementary School,

Extraordinary Educator: Kristen Vecchia

2022 Extraordinary Educator: Kristen Vecchia

Kristen Vecchia has been teaching at Parkview Village Elementary Expressive Arts Magnet School for six years. She has stayed/continues to stay because she feels that she is making a huge difference in the children’s lives. She has developed great relationships with her students and their families throughout the years.

Dr. Crystal Gaymon, the principal of Parkview Village Elementary, describes Ms. Vecchia as “Passionate, Supportive, Skillful, and Effective.” She is “very vocal in her thoughts and ideas that support the growth and development of all students in the building.”

According to Dr.Gaymon, Ms. Vecchia “always reflects on how she can be better and support others. She has demonstrated her leadership ability throughout the building, and it is noticed and respected throughout the building.”

Ms. Vecchia wants her students to know “that I loved them when I taught them, I loved them when they weren’t in Kindergarten anymore, and that I still love them to this day.”

She goes on to say “I hope that no matter where their life takes them, they remember Ms. Vecchia, their Kindergarten teacher, is cheering them on and loving them!” “Each student/family I have been fortunate enough to meet has impacted my life and I hope they can say the same thing about me!”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: I knew I wanted to be a teacher as soon as I started Kindergarten myself. I was always blown away by how much my teachers cared about my success and the success of all of their students. I still remember every single teacher I’ve ever had! School made such a huge impact on my life and all I could ever imagine doing when I was older was changing lives through teaching! I loved the idea of being able to give a child the tools and love they would need to become successful in their own lives. I’ve always wanted to make a difference in the world, and I feel that teaching allows me to do that, EVERY SINGLE DAY! I would come home from school and play school! It was just such a huge part of my life. As I got older, my teachers started to depend on me and would have me help/tutor other students. I can distinctly remember in high school my teachers saying, “Go ask Kristen if she will help you!” I fell in love with the feeling of pure joy when someone finally got something they had been struggling with for so long! Honestly, I became an educator so I could make the world a better place, one child at a time. I was so blessed growing up with all of the opportunities I had, and I just wanted to be able to give children who might not have had the same experiences the best chance at success no matter what! Every child deserves the same education! Every child deserves to be loved and given all the tools and skills they need to be successful throughout their lives.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: I would have to say that I am a teacher who is all about hands-on learning but in a very structured environment. It is so important that students get to actually interact with the material that they are learning, not only to keep them engaged but to give the content a deeper meaning to them. I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year teaching routines and procedures so that hands-on learning can run smoothly and productively. My classroom is a place where I want the students to get the absolute most they can get out of each day. I never want them to just be sitting there and not participating in some way. I also am constantly incorporating choral responses in my classroom. It is such a powerful way to make sure all students are engaged and to check for understanding. Lastly, I think my leadership style would probably have to be pretty authoritative. I am known at my school for the strict rules and procedures that I start teaching on day one of each school year. I have found that this works best for me and allows a classroom that is well behaved and well managed so that we can learn all that needs to be learned each day with very minimal distractions.

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

A: I definitely believe in the power of yet! I always tell the kids they might not be able to do something YET, but with hard work and perseverance, they will get it! It’s so important to build our students up and make them realize anything is possible! I also will turn any “I can’t do it, Ms. Vecchia,” into “You can’t do it YET” or “You can do it with more practice!” I want my students to always have a growth mindset and be looking toward the future in everything they do.

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

A: The best part about every day as a teacher is knowing that you helped change lives! I get to go home every day knowing that I taught something new, I made a kid feel loved, I made a kid feel special and successful, and I made a challenging task seem manageable to someone! It might seem like such a little thing to some, but to these children, even a smile from their teacher has made their day! The kids are why I teach, so of course, just being around them is the best part of every day!

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

A: This is a really hard question! Every day seems to bring something new and memorable when you’re working with kids! In regard to my students, I would have to say this past June was one of the most memorable moments for me. I gotta watch my very first class of Kindergarteners (2016-2017) graduate from 5th grade! It was incredible to have been with them as they’ve grown up and learned so much throughout elementary school. Watching them walk across the stage and get ready for the next chapter in their lives gave me a great reminder of why I do what I do. I get to prepare kids for the rest of their lives! In regard to myself, I would have to say I have 3 extremely memorable moments that stick out to me. In my first year of teaching, I was voted as my school’s 2016-2017 Rookie Teacher of the Year. Then, in 2019-2020, I was voted as my school’s Teacher of the Year. Much to my surprise, I was honored again to be voted as my school’s Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022. It has been absolutely incredible to be recognized at my school for all I do for my students! I truly feel that these are three of my biggest accomplishments so far in my career.

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

A: I would like to just share that I am so honored and excited that the community that I put so much hard work into has decided to recognize me! Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Ms. Vecchia 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 Kristen Vecchia 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

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