Jennifer Pride of Heritage Middle School is Teacher of the Year!

 Pride, left, receives the award from Superintendent Cathy Moore. She is pictured with her son on the homepage photo.

Feb. 12, 2021

Our heartfelt congratulations to Jennifer Pride of Heritage Middle School, who has been named the 2021-22 Teacher of the Year for the Wake County Public School System.

Pride has been an eighth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Heritage for four years. Prior to that she taught in public schools in Durham and in Virginia.

She is a graduate of Elizabeth City State University, with a bachelor’s degree in English. She is certified as an Academically Intellectually Gifted teacher and in Continuing Education.

Pride serves on Heritage Middle’s School Leadership Team and is co-chair of the school’s Equity Leadership Team. She is known for encouraging students to express themselves through the “Find Your Voice” book club she co-founded.

The school administrator who nominated Pride cited the tremendous level of respect for her among students and colleagues alike. 

'Students connect with her'

“Students connect with her because she values each one of them as a person first, then a learner,” stated the administrator. “Ms. Pride loves what she does and breathes life into the curriculum by making connections to students’ lives and keeping a positive energy to motivate them daily. She is respected by her peers because of her leadership, perspective and goal to do what is best for all students.  

Pride was surprised at her school during a virtual celebration held on Feb. 11. Superintendent Cathy Moore presented her with gifts and flowers at a very small celebration that followed all COVID-19 health guidelines.

International study and additional awards

As Teacher of the Year, Pride will participate in the Global Teachers Victoria Falls Region program - a year-long study that includes an international immersion in the Victoria Falls Region of southern Africa - in summer 2021, or as soon as travel conditions allow. The $6,500 fee is sponsored by the Dan Royster Memorial Teacher Award, in honor of a former WCPSS science teacher.

In addition, Pride will receive a $1,000 monetary award, compliments of event sponsors; an engraved award; a flatscreen TV compliments of the Horace Mann Educators Corporation; a $100 gift card for The Angus Barn compliments of corporate sponsors; a tote bag filled with various classroom and office supplies compliments of Office Depot; a $100 Amazon gift card from Strawbridge Studios; a $50 Amazon gift card from Lifetouch; a Target gift card from Pierce Group Benefits; and a gift bag from Chick-fil-A.