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February 14, 2022 0 Comments Schools in High Point Spotlight Stories GCS High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP ..., Oak Hill Elementary School, Spotlight Story,
Spotlight Story: International Exchange Teacher

High Point Schools Partnership is highlighting Oak Hill Elementary School. Keep reading to learn more about their international exchange teacher, Yanique Jones

Q: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, where did you go to school? Give us as much background as you wish.

A: Hello, I am Yanique Jones, a 27-year-old educator from Kingston, Jamaica. I have been teaching for five years now after earning my Bachelor of Education Degree in Primary Education at St Joseph Teacher College. I am currently teaching grade 5 students Science at Oak Hill Elementary School as I strive to continue my dream and passion for educating students to excel in their future endeavors. Besides being an educator, I like to travel, do DIY, and dance.

Q: What program did you use to come to Oak Hill? Why did you choose to teach abroad?

A: I decided to expand my teaching methodologies and experience by applying to teach overseas. I was allowed to teach in the United States of America by applying to Global Teaching Partners. This experience has allowed me to learn about various cultures outside of my beautiful country. In addition, I can share my unique and diverse culture with students, colleagues, and friends. It is such a blessing to be a part of a school population with students from various cultures.

The teaching-learning expectation is very similar to Jamaica. However, here students have more access to resources, especially technology such as the internet and individual devices to support teaching and learning. Nonetheless, my country is working very hard to have these resources available in all schools.

Q: How do your students respond to having an international teacher? Do you see a difference in the students here and in your home country?

A: My students are enthused and curious about my culture. Most of the students share with me that they love my accent, and so they often try to learn words from our dialect in Jamaica (patois). I also enjoy learning words from other languages from my students.

Q: What would you like other teachers to know who is planning to teach abroad?

A: Teaching here in the US has taught me a lot. It is an opportunity I would love for my colleagues in Jamaica who desire to teach overseas to experience. The support here is excellent from the administration and colleagues. You will be provided with a wide range of technology and resources to support teaching and learning. Additionally, you will get training sessions to help you as a teacher to grow more professionally.

Q: What else would you like to share with the community? Anything I haven’t asked yet?

A: I want to give a special thanks to my Principal, vice-principal, and coworkers, especially the grade five (5) team. They all welcome me to Oak Hill with smiles and a tower of support.


Thank you so much to Yanique Jones, for sharing her story. We look forward to hearing about more great things from Oak Hill Elementary School!


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.

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November 29, 2021 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Educators Extraordinary Educators GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Oak Hill Elementary School,
Extraordinary Educator: Caitlyn Polito
Caitlyn Polito, Oak Hill Elementary, 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: Caitlyn Polito


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.


Caitlyn Polito

The 2021-2022 academic year will be Caitlyn Polito’s third year at Oak Hill Elementary School. She “enjoys working with our students and families” and she “also has a great team of educators who she gets to learn from every day.”

Candice Bailey, the principal at Oak Hill Elementary School, describes Mrs. Polito as an “energetic educator” who is “hard-working, dedicated, and caring.”

Bailey states that Mrs. Polito “always goes the extra mile for students and works tirelessly to ensure students have access to the curriculum.” 

During remote learning, she “supported the EL students and even volunteered to bring a small group of students to the building to support their learning when they were unable to access the internet from their homes.”

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: I’ve always been inspired by the potential of working with young people and the positive impact they will have on our world’s future.

Q: What’s your teaching/leadership style?

A: I’m a bilingual educator, and I’ve always valued incorporating the strengths of our students’ cultures, home lives, and any other languages spoken into our classroom community. When students know that you see them as a whole, complete person, that fosters a positive relationship where students feel seen, heard and understood. My goal is for my leadership style to be relationship-oriented, culturally competent, and trauma-informed.

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

A: My philosophy is that every student learns every day. I will educate myself and grow professionally however I need to ensure the success of every student. I know that having an effective teacher is the most influential variable in a student’s learning, and I hold myself to a high standard of excellence in order to ensure that every student learns every day.

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

A: My favorite part of my job has always been reading with students. I love being a part of their literacy journey and to see their pride as their reading skills improve. Getting the right book into a student’s hands that makes them excited to read is always a home run moment for me.

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

A: Years after I’ve taught students, they’ve invited me to their high school graduations. I’m always so proud of their commitment to their education, and it’s special to share that moment with their families.

If Mrs. Polito could tell students’ parents anything, she would tell them she has “so much respect for what they do at home” and she is “working hard for their children to have the best education at school.”

If she could tell her students anything, she would say that “being a part of their lives is absolutely the best part of mine. I wish every student the bright, successful future of their dreams.”


Thank you so much to Caitlyn Polito 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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October 13, 2021 0 Comments Schools in High Point Extraordinary Leaders Extraordinary Leader GCS, Guilford County Schools ..., High Point Schools Partnership, HPSP, Oak Hill Elementary School,
Extraordinary Leader: Sonia Marquez

The High Point Schools Partnership had the privilege of sitting down and talking with Sonia Marquez, principal of Oak Hill Elementary. Originally from the Durham school district, Marquez taught elementary and middle school ESL (English as a Second Language) before moving on to become an Assistant Principal in High School. She is no stranger to the public school system having experience from preschool to 12th grade. 

A warrior for the bicultural and bilingual, Marquez is herself a first-generation Mexican American educator. This experience has led her to be personally motivated to make an impact on cultural acceptance in her community. Being only 1 of 3 Latinx leaders in the district she feels this role cannot be taken lightly and wants to serve as both a “mirror and window” to her students and families who have or have not, had a role model like her before. [To read more about the idea of cultural “mirrors and windows” that Marquez refers to, read here]

One of the goals of the High Point Schools Partnership is to highlight the wonderful things going on in High Point school and Marquez had no problem talking about Oak Hill in this way. Through our conversation, Marquez highlighted both their school garden and their food pantry. The food pantry, in particular, was a great success for her. At their schools’ food pantry, Oak Hill provides family food boxes. This food designated for the whole family is also culturally responsive so everyone has something to eat while maintaining the dignity of their individual culture. This food pantry will be housed in their “Parent Resource Center” in which families can come to use the computer, pick up school supplies and access their clothing closets. Marquez also pointed to 5th Grade science teacher, Yanique Jones, from Jamaica. This global teacher highlights multiculturalism and affirms the 9+ language spoken in the building at Oak Hill. 


Thank you Sonia for sitting down and talking with us. We look forward to continuing to talk with and highlight different High Point principals and all the good going on at their school.

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High Point School News
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stephanie Powell
  • Extraordinary Educator: Vernee Rogers
  • Extraordinary Educator: Sheena Hyder
  • Extraordinary Educator: Katelyn Thompson
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stacey Clarke-Huie
High Point School News
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stephanie Powell
  • Extraordinary Educator: Vernee Rogers
  • Extraordinary Educator: Sheena Hyder
  • Extraordinary Educator: Katelyn Thompson
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stacey Clarke-Huie
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stephanie Powell
  • Extraordinary Educator: Vernee Rogers
  • Extraordinary Educator: Sheena Hyder
  • Extraordinary Educator: Katelyn Thompson
  • Extraordinary Educator: Stacey Clarke-Huie
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Schools In High Point
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