WINSTON-SALEM TEACH 2024-2025 COHORT
Danyelle Beamon is in our Elementary Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree from Salem College. Danyelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a Minor in Sports Medicine from Winston-Salem State University. During her time at Winston-Salem State, she played university softball for three consecutive years and was named a CIAA Softball Champion. She received several honors, including being named to the Dean’s List for five consecutive semesters, serving as a leader in the Physical Education Majors Club, and being selected as a Student Athletic Trainer her senior year. Throughout her undergraduate career, Danyelle volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club of Winston-Salem and at Northeast Elementary School and Philo-Hill Middle School. For the past three years, she has served as a fourth-grade teacher at Mineral Springs Elementary School in WS/FCS on an emergency license. She chose to join Winston-Salem TEACH “because it is evident that WS-TEACH is committed to my success…I value knowing that I will be supported by a team of individuals who are dedicated to helping me succeed, ultimately contributing to the excellence of the WSFCS district.
Anna Breaugh is in our Secondary Education strand and will receive a Master’s degree from Wake Forest University. Anna graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan with a degree in English and Secondary Education and a minor in History. Throughout her college career, Anna engaged in unique opportunities to travel and teach in diverse settings, including at the Lakota Sioux Rosebud Native American Reservation in South Dakota. She also studied writing and literature through a Writer’s program in Dublin, Ireland. At Hope College, she held many leadership positions, including service on the Education Technology Team and Hope’s long-standing The Pull and Nykerk competitions, through which she was able to mentor younger peers and foster community. She decided to join Winston-Salem TEACH because “I have wanted to be a teacher for most of my life. I now take the next step towards furthering my education and teaching skills through the Winston Salem TEACH program. I am excited to stimulate further growth and experiences through the community of WS TEACH, my fellow residents, and my future students! I am ready to bring my passion and love for people and English/language education to North Carolina, engage in conversations, and learn from many new and diverse perspectives.
Gerald Dickerson is a part of our Special Education strand and will receive a Master’s degree from Winston-Salem State University. Gerald graduated from North Carolina Central Universitywith a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. After devoting many years to security operations in the banking industry, he made a pivotal decision to shift to education. For the past few years, he has been serving as a Behavior Assistant at East Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem. Gerald’s significant contributions to the behavior team led to him being named the Classified Team Member of the 2023-2024 school year. Seeing firsthand the transformative impact of dedicated educators on young minds and growth, Gerald’s commitment to nurturing students’ potential deepened. He chose to become a part of Winston-Salem TEACH because he wants to “continue making a meaningful impact on student’s lives by fostering a culture of learning and empowerment within Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and the community.
Kyla Dove is in our Special Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree from Winston-Salem State University. Kyla graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a degree in Liberal Studies, where she maintained Dean’s List Honors for academic excellence during all four years of her undergraduate degree. She also held leadership roles within her church’s youth group and various work environments. She decided to join Winston-Salem TEACH because it “was a natural choice” for her, “given its commitment to fostering inclusive education and community engagement, which perfectly aligns with her values and aspirations.” She says that she is “excited to pursue special education licensure to create equity in education and make a positive impact in the field, drawing upon the rich experiences and knowledge gained during her time at WSSU and through her involvement with WS-TEACH.”
Alva Spells-Hicks is in our Special Education strand and will receive a Master’s degree from Winston-Salem State University. Alva attended Wake Forest University, where she graduated with degrees in Philosophy and Communications. A four-year member of the university’s track and field team, Alva earned numerous athletic honors and awards. After graduation, Alva felt a pull towards the field education. She joins the Winston-Salem TEACH, having recognized its unique fit for her aspirations. Alva chose Winston-Salem TEACH, stating, “No other program seemed to match the support and community I’ve found here. I am grateful, appreciative, and excited to be on this journey with such dedicated and uplifting educators.
Kristin Henderson is in our Elementary Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree from Salem College. Prior to joining Winston-Salem TEACH, Kristin received an Associates degree from Forsyth Technical Community College and then obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Winston-Salem State University. During her undergraduate career, Kristin received multiple honors including the 2020 Dr. Michael Taylor Award from North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association, the 2022 Thurgood Marshall Leadership Award, and was a Dean’s List Recipient from 2021-2023. She currently serves as an educator at Ibraham Elementary School, but she is looking forward to becoming a fully-licensed teacher with a Master’s degree in Education through Winston-Salem TEACH. She joined Winston-Salem TEACH because “my ‘why’ begins with a need in the community, and I have a calling to help fulfill this need. The authenticity of this decision is based on servant leadership and diverse ingenuity. It is a privilege to grow into the hard spaces of educational literacy and make a difference in the lives of future generations.
Ryan Harris is a part of our Elementary Education strand and will receive his Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Salem College. Ryan received his Bachelors degree from East Carolina University and also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ryan is an active volunteer and has served organizations like North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ), where he assisted with diversity and inclusion initiatives and supported a summer program for high school students. Ryan also contributed to disaster relief efforts with All Hands and Hearts, aiding hurricane victims in the US Virgin Islands, and mentors young Black students while teaching life skills and professionalism through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Since 2020, Ryan has been teaching 7th grade math and coaching girls’ basketball in Guilford County, and he is joining Winston-Salem TEACH to become a licensed teacher and continue his interest in teaching at the middle school level. Ryan explained: “I chose Winston-Salem TEACH because they afforded me the opportunity to continue doing what I love and further my skills as an educator.”
Mikayah Parsons is a part of our Secondary Education licensure strand and will receive a Master’s degree in English Education from Wake Forest University. Mikayah graduated with Highest Honors from Catawba Valley Community College in May of 2020 with an Associate in Science degree. This May, she graduated from Amherst College with a major in Black Studies, History, English, and American Studies with a concentration in Black Feminist Literary Theory. At Amherst, she was a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow, a Questbridge National College Match Scholar, a Diversity Outreach Intern with the Amherst College Office of Admissions, and a Gregory S. Call Research Fellow. She chose to be a part of Winston-Salem TEACH because she wants to “help students of every background find a sense of belonging in the classroom to promote greater equity in education and beyond.”
Kevin Powell is in our Secondary Education licensure program and will receive his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education from Wake Forest University. Kevin is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a degree in History. During his undergraduate career, he was honored with several awards, including the Raymond Starr Scholarship and the Kyle Hilliard Presidential Scholarship. Kevin furthered his studies in Latin American history at the University of Chicago, where he was the recipient of the Brenda and Earl Shapiro Fellowship. Following his academic pursuits, Kevin gained valuable experience working in the recovery and caregiving fields. He served as a recovery tech at Omega Recovery and later as a Lead Caregiver at Imagine Art in Austin, Texas. He decided to become a part of Winston-Salem TEACH because “I chose to be a part of Winston-Salem TEACH with the goal of empowering upcoming generations of American youth, recognizing that their education is vital to the health and prosperity of not only our nation but our local communities. As I know from personal experience, it takes only one quality mentor-teacher to ignite a spark of wonder and curiosity which can burn for a lifetime. I want to be able to ignite that fire of inspiration for as many students as I can reach.”
Kennedy Orrell is a part of our Elementary Education strand and will receive a Master’s degree from Salem College. Kennedy graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in English, where she was inducted into the National Honors Society. She is also published poet and creative nonfiction writer. Prior to applying to Winston-Salem TEACH, she taught English as a Second Language as well as yoga and creative writing. She chose to join W-S TEACH “to hone her skills and give back to her hometown community with her passion for teaching.”
Harolyn Rorie is in our Elementary Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree from Salem College. Harolyn received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from Winston-Salem State University and also holds a Master’s in Clinical Research Administration from Walden University. For the past 20 years, Harolyn has worked in the banking industry and as a business operation manager. While in these roles, she started to serve as a counselor in an after-schools program in high-risk communities and also served as an instructor at Winston-Salem State University. She chose to change careers after these experiences that helped her realize that teaching best aligned with her mission to empower others and positively impact society. Harolyn decided to join Winston-Salem TEACH because she wanted to “encourage others to seek learning and opportunities in historically challenging [science] fields.” She continued that she is “committ[ed] to positively influencing students to boldly and advantageously impact society with an understanding of the importance of making a difference.
Alex Strait is in our Secondary Education cohort and will receive his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education from Wake Forest University. Alex graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he majored in History and English, with a passion for 20th century U.S. History. He loves hiking, traveling, reading, and playing both soccer and ice hockey. He shared: “I am excited to be a part of Winston-Salem TEACH because I want to help serve a community and learn to be a meaningful leader in the classroom. I am also eager to visit the Winston-Salem area and to explore all that it has to offer!”
Imani Williams is in our Special Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree at Winston-Salem State University. Imani graduated from Claflin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Education. In college, she was a member of many organizations, including the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Psychology Club, Triumph over Tragedy, and the South Carolina Public Health Preparedness Student Corps. During the summer prior to her senior year, she had the privilege to intern as a summer camp counselor with the Autism Society of North Carolina at Camp Royall. She is excited to join Winston-Salem TEACH: “I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to expound on my education. My undergraduate degree and experience as a summer camp counselor has equipped me with the necessary tools required to contribute thought provoking perspectives to classroom conversations. I am eager to be able to learn from others as well.
Elizabeth Wheeler is a part of our Special Education strand and will receive her Master’s degree from Winston-Salem State University. Elizabeth received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Livingstone College. At Livingstone, Elizabeth was in the university gospel choir, served as senior secretary in the Student Government Association, and also volunteered at Livingstone Head Start and Ward Elementary School. As an undergraduate, she also received multiple awards and honors including the Dr. Erby R. Oglesby Memorial Scholarship, the Wells Fargo Leadership Scholarship, and the Winston-Salem Alumni Scholarship. Since graduating from Livingstone, Elizabeth has been serving as a Teacher Assistant in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and is this year’s Classified Employee of the Year award in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She chose to become a part of Winston-Salem TEACH because she wants to be a licensed classroom teacher and “I aim to support students in various ways, including demonstrating compassion, empathy, and kindness, while also maintaining high academic standards and advocating for student needs.” She continued: “I chose to be a part of the WS-TEACH program because it’s something that has been waiting in store for me over the years. I’ve wanted to go back to school, but I wasn’t sure how it would happen. A great co-worker of mine referred me to this program and it’s the best thing she ever did.
