Staff Alumni

What motivated you to return to CCS-America as a teacher? 

While working at UNCW as a TA in the history department during graduate school, I realized that I enjoyed helping students learn to successfully read, research, and write. Helping students strengthen not only their academic skills, but also their self confidence was an incredibly rewarding experience. Consequently, I decided that teaching was a career path that I wanted to explore. The first place I turned to was CCS-Leland. CCS-Leland, known as RBA or CDS during my time as a student, has been like my second home since 2005. From 2005 to 2014, I attended as a student, developing a profound love of education. After graduating, as the child of a longtime CCS-America employee, I continued to spend numerous hours a year on campus. Thus, I thought there was nowhere better to begin my teaching career than at CCS-America, an environment where I can provide students with the same opportunities provided to me by a variety of wonderful educators for so many years.

How has your experience as a student here influenced your teaching approach? 

During my time as a student at RBA, and especially in middle school, all of my teachers expected every assignment to be my best work. The high expectations set by my elementary and middle school teachers pushed me to continuously present my best work and best self, which also helped me thrive academically and socially at Brunswick County Early College High School and UNCW. It is with these high expectations for both myself and my students in mind that I approach teaching. By setting high academic expectations for my students, similar to those set by my former teachers during my time at RBA, I hope to inspire my students to always give their most to every assignment, regardless of how big or small it might be.

What unique perspective or insights do you bring to the classroom as an alum? 

Aside from knowing the high academic expectations set for students, another unique perspective that I bring to the classroom as an alumni is knowing the expectations that CCS-America sets for students regarding character, respect, and behavior. The dedication of my elementary and middle school teachers to ensure that my classmates and I lived up the school pledge that we recited  every morning by requiring us to be truthful in all of our works, virtuous in all our deeds, and loyal to the educators who continued to show up for us led me to develop a strong moral compass and respect for myself and others. By requiring my students to embody the school pledge, as my teachers did, I hope that my students will leave sixth grade not only as better students, but also better friends and citizens.

What advice do you have for current students based on your journey from student to teacher? 

Invest every ounce of yourself into your education as it can open an unimaginable number of doors for you. There will always be factors that impact your life that are beyond your control. Make school and your education your constant. Never let your background hinder you from reaching your full academic potential. As the child of a single parent and as a first generation college student, I want every child to know that their background does not define their academic capabilities. Always believe in yourself, push yourself, and show up for yourself.