In rural North Carolina, public schools are often the largest employers, providing jobs and stability to local economies. But more than that, they are the places where communities come together—where we celebrate victories, support each other in times of need, and build a sense of belonging.
We are the souls and personalities that build school culture and reassure children, big or small, that tragic setbacks may come today, but that’s what tomorrow is for. We remind our students and ourselves that each day is full of chances to be and do better and to learn and grow from the events that preceded it.
It didn’t take long for me to be forced to grow up. On August 16, 2023, just a year and a half after the passage of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ’ law, three bills targeting LGBTQ youth were enacted in North Carolina.
The military taught me many lessons, but one of the most important is to be a person of my word. Serving my country was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The military is where I learned what true leadership looks like and what it means to live the Army values. Loyalty, duty, […]