2026-2027 Teacher Fellows Introductions by Laurie Schaefer (Women of the Shoah)

2026-06-10 18:31:32 UTC

Hi! My name is Crystal Booth. I teach English at Providence Grove High School in Randolph County. The most random facts for Randolph County are that it is the true birthplace of Duke University, and we have the zoo!

2026-06-10 19:07:14 UTC

My name is Deanna Shook. I teach at Bunker Hill High School in Catawba County. A fun fact about my county is that the small town of Claremont is the location of The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. It was built in 1895 and is one of only two remaining covered bridges in our state!

2026-06-10 21:23:46 UTC

My name is Donald Alligood. I teach at PS Jones Middle School, in little Washington, Beaufort County. Beaufort County is home to Bath, the oldest incorporated town in NC.

2026-06-11 00:44:47 UTC

Hi, my name is Carrie Pratt! I teach at Clyde A. Erwin Middle School in Buncombe County. Random facts: Buncombe County is now home to over 40 Craft Breweries and is nicknamed "Beer City, USA." However in 1907 Asheville was one of the first towns to pass its own prohibition laws, a decade before the National Prohibition Act (1919). Times have changed! We also are home to the largest privately owned residence-The Biltmore Estate!

2026-06-11 11:59:54 UTC

My name is Stephanie Walker. I teach at Heritage High School in Wake County. An interesting fact about Wake County is that it is one of only three counties in North Carolina named after a woman. The county was named in honor of Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of colonial North Carolina Governor William Tryon.

2026-06-11 13:44:34 UTC

Hi! I'm Rachel Henley, and I teach at Randleman High School in Randolph County.

Most people know the Randleman area because it's home to the Pettys and a lot of NASCAR history, but my favorite county fact comes from the tiny community of Whynot.

Legend has it that when residents were trying to name the town, they couldn't agree. After a long debate, someone finally said, "Why not just call it Whynot?" Apparently everyone was tired enough to agree, because that's exactly what they did.

If nothing else, our county has proof that sometimes the easiest answer wins :)

2026-06-11 14:59:52 UTC

Greetings! I am Amanda Powell and I teach at Roanoke Rapids High School for Roanoke Rapids Graded School District in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. We have 3 LEA's in Halifax County. An interesting fact about Halifax County is that we are the birthplace for the spirit of independence. The Halifax Resolves document was the first document unanimously declaring independence from Great Britain, before the Declaration.

2026-06-11 16:12:44 UTC

My name is Rachel Edwards, I teach at South Central High School in Pitt County. An interesting fact about our county is that Mr. Beast is from the area and operates his businesses, philanthropy, and game show from our county.

2026-06-11 18:01:31 UTC

Hi there, I am Susan Fike, and I live in Greensboro, NC-right where you all are doing this training. I teach at Southeast Guilford High School. Greensboro has a nickname of “Jeansboro" because the town played a major role in making America’s blue jeans since the early 1900s. Cone Mills made denim for Levi’s, and Wrangler’s roots are still strong in the city today.

2026-06-11 18:46:56 UTC

My name is Susan Hoke. I work in Randolph County in Wheatmore Middle School. Randolph County is home to a large natural habitat zoo, many covered bridges, and a lot of beautiful pottery in Seagrove.

2026-06-11 20:05:00 UTC

Hi everybody!! My name is Lily Hartsell. I teach 7th grade Social Studies in LaGrange in Lenoir County. A fun fact about Lenoir County is that according to the NC Arts Council, my town of Kinston (which is mainly known as a stopping point on the way to the beach) is the "Birthplace of Funk: Kinston's music scene is legendary; the city produced five founding members of James Brown's iconic band in the 1960s."

The school in which I teach, E.B. Frink Middle School, is currently the oldest in our county but only for a few more months as we are in the final stages of building our brand new school!!

2026-06-12 13:31:47 UTC

Hello! My name is Kristina Hiatt. I teach English at Stanly STEM Early College in Stanly County. Stanly County is mostly rural farm land, but we also have Morrow Mountain State Park, part of the Uwharrie Mountains. The Uwharries are thought to be what remains of ancient volcanoes. Also, Kellie Pickler, the country singer from American Idol, is from here.

2026-06-16 18:33:39 UTC

My name is Emily Larson, I teach at South Central High School in Pitt County. A random fact about Pitt County is that Petey Pablo is from here.

2026-06-16 20:11:34 UTC

My name is Lauren Fougerousse. I teach 7th grade ELA at Central Middle school in Gates County. Fun fact - The county is named in honor of General Horatio Gates, the commander who led the American Army to a massive victory at the Battle of Saratoga.

2026-06-16 23:58:05 UTC

Hello! My name is Rachel Moysan. I teach social studies at East Rowan High School in Rowan County, the home of Cheerwine :)

2026-06-17 02:27:29 UTC

Hello. My name is LeeAnn Mohr, and I teach English at Rowan Cabarrus Early College High School in Concord - home of NASCAR.

2026-06-17 04:35:10 UTC

Hello. My name is Dr. Shanta (Shan-rhymes with man) Terry. I teach High School Social Studies (Honors Civic Literacy, AP Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, Honors World History, AP World History, and/or Honors Argument, Theory, and Practice) at Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (a public, single-gender, early college middle and high school) in Raleigh, NC. Wake County is named after Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of former royal governor William Tryon.

2026-06-17 12:57:07 UTC

Hi, My name is Marty McKenzie, and I teach Social Studies at Ashe County High School in West Jefferson. I teach mainly EPF to seniors now, but also teach a Holocaust Studies class every other year. Ashe County is the Coolest Corner of NC, is home to the New River (the second oldest river in the world and it flows north), and is the largest Christmas tree producing county in the US.

samuel_mauney — 2026-06-23 13:06:28 UTC

My name is Samuel Mauney. I have taught for 14 years in the Public Schools of Robeson County (13 years Red Spring Middle School and 1 year at Purnell Swett High School). I teach English 1. I have taught a unit on the Holocaust for the last 10 years. Last year i had the privilege to attend a field trip to the memorial. My two English I teammates are Teacher Fellows and encouraged me to participate in the workshop. As the name of my school system says, I am from Robeson County.. the largest county in North Carolina in land area and is home to the newly Federally Recognized Lumbee Indian Tribe.

Looking forward to meeting everyone at the Workshop.

2026-06-23 20:44:42 UTC

Hi everyone! My name is Sydney Watson and I teach social studies at East Forsyth High School in Forsyth County! This will be my second year teaching! Forsyth County is the birthplace of Krispy Kreme!

2026-06-25 13:15:41 UTC

Hi! My name is Catherine Poynter. I teach ELA at AC Reynolds High School in Buncombe County. I will be teaching a Holocaust and Genocide Studies course this fall for the first time, and I am super excited about it. Otherwise, I have taught Holocaust units for about 18 years. A fact about Buncombe county is that the highest point is Potato Knob ~ an unusual name for sure!

2026-06-25 18:46:10 UTC

Hi. My name is Mark Holmes and I am in going into my 7th year teaching High School English now at Northern Nash High School in Nash County. Prior to education, I spent 35 years in the newspaper and Media industries supporting a free and democratic press that is so critical to our democracy. At age 61, I am the child of a WWII Veteran, U.S. Army Air Corps SSGT. Robert S. Holmes (1923-1993) and feel a strong connection to this period of American history and the lessons we can never forget. I look forward to learning and growing with my fellow cohorts.

A unique fact about Rocky Mount. NC is that shortly before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, he first delivered it to an audience at Rocky Mount High School about a month prior receiving a standing ovation.

2026-06-25 19:43:32 UTC

Hi! My name is Leigh Ann Cooper and I teach 7th grade ELA at Greene County Middle School. After many years in the medical field I finished my degree at ECU and changed careers, making the 2026-2027 school year my second year teaching. I am currently enjoying summer as the Camp Commissioner for East Carolina Scout Reservation in Blount's Creek. Originally, Greene County was originally named "Glasgow County" in 1791 to honor James Glasgow, North Carolina's Secretary of State. After Glasgow was indicted for widespread land-grant fraud, furious residents forced a name change in 1799. The county was subsequently renamed Greene County in honor of Revolutionary War Major General Nathanael Greene, who wasGeneral Washington’s trusted right-hand man.

tameikajones — 2026-06-26 01:21:47 UTC

Hello! I am Tameika Jones. I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English Language Arts at the Opportunity School in Cabarrus County. Random fact: In 1799, twelve year old Conrad Reed discovered a 17 pound gold nugget in Cabarrus's Little Meadow Creek - the first documented gold discovery in the U.S! This ignited a gold rush in North Carolina, that sprouted manufacturing. By the late 1800s, Cabarrus became home of textile mills, becoming at one point, the largest producer of sheets and towels in the world. By 1897, seizing an opportunity, Warren C. Coleman established the first and only cotton mill in the nation that was owned and operated by African Americans.

2026-06-30 17:17:19 UTC

My name is Ashley Bumgarner, and I teach at Alexander Early College in Alexander County. I am also an adjunct instructor at Catawba Valley Community College. I am starting my 15th year in education, and I teach Composition and Grammar, English I and II, Civics, Global Impact, and College Transfer Success. Alexander County is home to the Emerald Hollow Mine, which is touted as the only emerald mine in the world that is open to the public for prospecting.

2026-07-01 22:18:48 UTC

Hello, everyone! My name is Stephanie. I am an ESL teacher at North Asheboro Middle School in Randolph County. I teach in the town of the best zoo in the nation!! My district also is home to one of only 5 Zoo Schools in the country!

phuggins — 2026-07-02 14:59:34 UTC

Hello! Nice to meet everyone my name is Paul. I am a social studies teacher at Washington high school in Washington North Carolina. Looking forward to learning and growing with all of you!

2026-07-07 00:22:40 UTC

Hi, my name is Julie Baker and I teach 9th grade English at SandHoke Early College Highschool in Hoke county: The most random fact about Hoke County is that it literally exists because local residents hated traveling to the courthouse. When the county was created in 1911, it was drawn from parts of Cumberland and Robeson counties simply because traveling to the older courthouses took up to four days and criminals were running wild in the un-policed pine forests

2026-07-07 01:00:06 UTC

Hi there! My name is Carrington Tyson, and I am the Middle School ELA teacher at Liberty Charter Academy in High Point, NC. High Point is known for their furniture, often being called the furniture “capital” of the world!

2026-07-07 13:04:43 UTC

Nice to meet you all. My name is Antonio Powers. I teach AP Social Studies here in Greensboro, North Carolina, at Trad Math and Science Academy High School.

Looking forward to the learning experience

2026-07-07 14:06:11 UTC

Hi! My name is Nicole Starling, and I teach high school English at Lee County High School in, you guessed it, Lee County. I live in Harnett County, which is 601 square miles and much larger than the county in which I teach. This will be my 17th year teaching, and English I is my passion; however, I taught English II for the first time three years ago (and for the last three years). I also love teaching the ESL population, especially newcomers.

2026-07-07 14:32:48 UTC

Hello all! My name is Katherine Chriscoe. Originally, I’m from Asheboro, NC but I moved to Wilmington, NC to attend college at UNCW. I graduated with my masters and now teach English at Laney High School! This is my 5th year teaching, and I mostly teach English 1 and 3. While our county is well known for One Tree Hill, my specific high school is where Michael Jordan graduated from!