NCCU alumna Taylor-Grace White,’13, has been named 2020 Teacher of the Year by Durham Public Schools. White was surprised with the honor at the school during a socially-distant celebration on Sept. 23.
White has served as an English teacher for the past seven years at the health care-focused City of Medicine Academy in Durham. She joined the school only a few months after graduating from NCCU.
“Durham felt like home; I was not ready to leave after graduation knowing I could make a difference in the schools here,” White said. “As a student, I spent a lot of time volunteering with the Durham Public Schools – ultimately completing my student teaching assignment at Jordan High School.”
White is chair of the English Department and teaches grades ninth through 12th grades.
“I am grateful to be a part of the City of Medicine Academy family,” White said. “I love the school, students and staff. It mirrors NCCU’s intimate family-like environment.”
She credits NCCU's School of Education for preparing her to teach in culturally diverse learning environments immediately upon graduation. She said the Department of Language and Literature gave her an important primary framework for using classroom curriculum.
“I was given the skills needed to understand how to teach any student from any background and how to differentiate my instruction to be able to tailor the educational experience for every learner,” White said. “The leadership skills I learned at NCCU have equipped me for my initial success, I am humbled that my colleagues trust and respect me enough to allow me to lead.”
During her spare time, White works as an advocate at the local non-profit organization Student U, where she conducts weekly meetings with students and communicates with their families to create individually-tailored academic improvement plans. White is also a curriculum writer and professional development facilitator of Inquiry-Based Learning.
White was one of 10 local finalists for the award.
“I would not be who I am or where I am today without the support of my professors and the people I met while at NCCU,” White said.
White obtained a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in secondary education from NCCU in 2013.
She encourages students seeking to follow in her career path to take advantage of every opportunity that NCCU provides and build a strong network of people to rely on professionally and personally.
“Remember to help others along the way,” she said. “’Truth and Service’” shouldn't end when you graduate.”
