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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

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: 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 I did reluctantly and ended up working with a child that had experienced trauma and had withdrawn completely.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

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September 6, 2021 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: Valerie Bonde
Valerie Bonde, Johnson Street Global Studies School, awarded High Point Extraordinary Educator by the High Point School Schools Partnership at High Point Country Club, High Point, N.C., Friday, August 20, 2021. (Lynn Hey photo)

2021 Extraordinary Educators: Valerie Bonde


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 eight articles, we will highlight our 2021 High Point Extraordinary Educators as we dive deeper into what keeps them motivated in the face of constant challenges.


Valerie Bonde

A seasoned veteran, Valerie Bonde has called Johnson Street Global Studies her home for the last 13 years of her 22-year career.

According to principal Kristina Wheat, Ms. Bonde is “often referred to as the middle school student whisperer” because of her effective communication and relationship-building strategies both with students and parents. She’s also the first to “pitch in and offer solutions and ideas to teachers who are serving our most vulnerable students.”

Johnson Street Global Studies serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade. However, Ms. Bonde wishes her students and families knew that she still worries about them even after they move on to high school. She enjoys seeing those who come back and visit her, hoping that “in some way I made a difference in their lives.”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: My love of education came from my grandmother. She grew up during the Great Depression and was forced to leave school in the 8th grade to help support her family. Because of this, she pushed me to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities made possible with a good education. This work ethic made a difference in my life and I wanted to pass it on to others. I carry these values into my classroom by teaching students that education is the key to success and that their dreams can come true if they are willing to put the work into it.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: I am a firm believer that you need to establish a solid relationship with your students. This relationship must be built on trust and respect. A student needs to feel that you are invested in their education and that you respect them for all they have to offer in the classroom. I also make a strong effort to build a positive relationship with all my parents. I want my families to know that in order for their child to be successful, we all need to support each other.

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

A: As an EC teacher, my philosophy has always been that every child needs to learn how to advocate for themselves. I want my students to fully understand their accommodations and how to use those accommodations to help them achieve success in the classroom. Most importantly, I want my students to feel confident and not embarrassed when put in a situation where they may have to ask for more time to complete a task or have something read aloud to them.

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

A: Lunchtime is my favorite part of the day because I will often have students in my room who earned the privilege to eat lunch with Ms. Bonde. During this time, we play games and discuss events that may have occurred during the day. We come up with strategies that will help improve the rest of their day. I also utilize this time with my students who need extra support with projects. My students know that my closet is always filled with extra supplies that they may not have at home. I feel that this is the best time of day to help my students who are struggling the most.

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

A: This past school year will be the most memorable in my career. Trying to learn how to quickly teach remotely was very stressful and overwhelming. After several hours of learning how to use canvas and other online resources, I realized that I didn’t need to wow my students with technology. I just needed to be available to my students and their families during this crisis. My students and their families relied on me not just for academic support but to be there to provide resources and emotional support during these most trying times.

When it comes to talking about Johnson Street Global Studies as a whole, Ms. Bonde says “our administration and staff have made it a priority to treat everyone who walks into our building as if they are part of a family.” This family atmosphere has allowed students and the community to thrive because everyone is there to support each other during the best and worst of times. “Our little school has touched the lives of so many.”

Johnson Street’s motto has always been “Once a Jaguar, Always a Jaguar.” Ms. Bonde hopes to be a Jaguar for the rest of her career.

Thank you so much to Valerie Bonde for your dedication to High Point’s students. Congratulations on being selected as your school’s 2021 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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