Starting a new chapter in education, Yarilise Rodriguez, a former Robert B. Glenn High School graduate, has returned to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, but this time on the other side of the classroom. As a first-year teacher at Mineral Springs Middle School, Ms. Rodriguez has come full circle in a career path that blends her passion for learning with an unexpected teaching opportunity.
A former Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools student, Yarilise Rodriguez attended Robert B. Glenn High School from 2019 to 2023, where she balanced academics with an active role in sports and the JROTC program. Ms. Rodriguez's educational journey in the area began even earlier after relocating to North Carolina in 2017. "I did my seventh-grade year at Flat Rock Middle School and my eighth-grade year at South East Middle School," she recalled.
Born in Kissimmee, Florida, she now calls North Carolina home and is currently pursuing her passion for aviation. "I'm attending Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) in their Career Pilot and Aviation Management Program. I'm working on my associate's degree while completing the necessary flight hours to get my licenses to fly professionally," she explained. However, despite her love for aviation, an unexpected opportunity led her back to the classroom.
Teaching was always something that lingered in the back of Ms. Rodriguez's mind. "When I was a child, I always paid extra attention to observing the ways my teachers taught and wondered what it would be like to be on the other side of education," she said. But it wasn't until her senior year at Glenn High School that she seriously considered becoming a teacher, initially shadowing as many educators as possible.
However, life had other plans. She pursued her passion for aviation but hit some roadblocks when seeking medical clearance from the FAA. "During that time, I got a call about an opportunity to possibly teach Spanish to middle schoolers here at Mineral Springs, and here I am today teaching 6th and 7th graders!" She now teaches Spanish at Mineral Springs Middle School, embracing her role in shaping students' lives while pursuing her dream of flying.
Reflecting on her high school days, she admits she wasn't always the model student. "In the beginning, I was a bit of a hot head and a little bit of a troublemaker," she said. However, the pandemic forced her to mature quickly, and by the time schools returned to in-person learning, she had become more involved in the community. "No matter what, I could always be described as dependable, athletic, kind, mature, and disciplined," she shared, characteristics that serve her well now as a teacher.
Though teaching wasn't her first career choice, Ms. Rodriguez has found meaning in the work. "I like to think it was the universe trying to push me in another direction for the time being because of the timing coincidence," she mused.
This former Glenn High School student turned teacher now influences young minds at Mineral Springs Middle School, drawing on her own experiences to inspire the next generation. While Ms. Rodgriguez continues to aim for the skies with her aviation dreams, she's grounded in the reality of the impact she can have in the classroom.