Editor’s note: The following is a letter Rowan County Early College teacher Theresa Pierce sent to Superintendent Lynn Moody this week. It has been edited slightly for publication in the Post.

By Theresa Pierce

I have never been more proud of Rowan Salisbury Schools than I have during this pandemic.

Under Superintendent Lynn Moody’s leadership, I have had amazing professional development — for example, the Innovation Academy. RSS is growing their own leadership. I currently work with not one but two teachers who are working on their principal add on certification.

• Everywhere we look, parents have left their child’s signs up to indicate that their child is an “extraordinary reader.” 
• Bus drivers and cafeteria staff are preparing and delivering not just lunches, but also smiles and a presence for children. 
• All over social media, teachers are declaring their love for their students including providing storytelling. 
• Teachers have stepped up with confidence because e-learning was already in their toolboxes. 
• Students are still continuing to keep high school club life alive by volunteering in a wide variety of ways in our community. 
• RSS leadership is keeping us in the loop with constant communication. 
• Coaching and other leaders are providing daily opportunities to learn more via professional development that is live and recorded for those who want to refer back to it. 
• Technology facilitators are providing much-needed support for students and staff. 
• Principals and assistant principals are praising and supporting our efforts, “zooming,” meeting across all lines and helping us prove our accountability. 
• The central office is keeping up with the support that has always been needed, and often not even understood until it is needed. All of us feel the love and support from the top down. 
• Administrative assistants and financial secretaries are untangling field trip money and sending out report cards. 
• Custodians are keeping the facilities germ free, stripping floors and doing the work that no one sees. 

While I am sure I have not mentioned everyone, I know they are doing their job because that is how we are. When I have traveled, I brag on Rowan Salisbury Schools and now is no exception. 

I am reminded of Mother Teresa’s poem “Anyway”:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Theresa Pierce is a world and American history teacher at Rowan County Early College and a two-time teacher of the year.