001I am a Henry County native born and raised. I attended Rich Acres Elementary School, um, and then I transitioned to Drewry Mason Middle School and graduated from Magna Vista in the year 2001. I'm now back as an administrator here after also seven years as a teacher. Born and raised Henry County. A product of Henry County Public Schools. I went to Laurel Park High School. Got to be a teacher there the last three years it was a high school before transitioning with consolidation. Went to Magna Vista, spent 12 wonderful years there, got an opportunity to work with students at our alternative career and technical school. Started the Career Academy, which was a great opportunity. Worked for the central office and now I'm at my favorite role which is principal of Bassett High School. Ms. Linda Reynolds
002was my ninth grade English teacher. She allowed me to see that education is the key to really change your future. I graduated from Henry County, I went to VCU in Richmond, Virginia. I actually graduated and stayed in Richmond for a total of ten years. I wanted to pursue my administrative degree and I was a single mom, so I knew I needed some support to do that. So I wanted to come back to my family where it was more safe and then I would have that support to pursue my administrative studies. It just gave me the opportunity to go back home and give back to the community that gave me so much. So after twenty-six years I've been able to stay at home with my family and help my students, and my family, my own children
003grow and learn from a community that's a great place to live. Henry County, first of all, the Legacy you know. We have a long history of raising future educators and leaders in our community. One of the things that sets major cities who are flourishing apart -- they have people who come back to that community, give back. And so I just want to encourage all of our youth -- yes, go off to college, go pursue your dreams, but come back and pour back into the people who have raised you so we can continue to grow. It's one of the best places to work with great benefits for our staff. It's a world class education. We have amazing facilities and we're looking at our facilities to grow them and we're not just looking at we'll they're structures,
004they're ready to go. We invest in our students and in our staff every day. I wouldn't be in this position that I am without Henry County Public Schools giving me the keys to go to college and be a first generation college graduate. It's just been tremendous. Being able to be the principal for my eldest daughter and now principal for my middle daughter has just been a treat for me and being able to see their education and just the amount of work that teachers put in for our students is amazing. What I love most about working here is the kids. I mean, knowing that I have a connection to their families, like oh I went to school with your sister, I went to school with your aunt or your grandmother was my teacher You know just
005having those connections it really gives you buy in with the kids cause they're like oh you know such-and-such and so just that everything eventually is connected and I love it.