2009-2010 Teacher of the Year & Scholarship Awardees
Allie Mangin (pictured with Dr. Art Paschal - teaches English as Second Language
Ventured to Winston Salem from St. Louis MO as a college freshman attending Wake Forest University I never imagined that I would subsequently spend the next 10 years and counting of my life enjoying this thriving town.
At Wake Forest I studied sociology and Spanish having no idea how the two interests would fit into a future career. I knew I enjoyed working with people from different backgrounds, and my summers were spent in a variety of settings working and volunteering with youth from urban environments. I've traveled to several Spanish speaking countries and I studied abroad in Spain my junior year. When I returned, I began to feel drawn to the immigrants living both in the city of Saint Louis where I had grown up and in the community of Winston-Salem. The struggles that many young immigrants face peaked my interest in social justice, multiculturalism, issues of poverty, and the difficulties of being an outsider in a community.
I sought out some courses at Wake Forest that specifically addressed social inequalities, and focused on issues related to specifically to youth. That landed me in the education field. I was assigned to observe and assist Diane Iseman, one of the legendary ESL teachers at Reynolds High School. She transformed my view of education and the ability teachers have to empower their students to achieve. Diane allowed me to dive in and help some of the students who most recently had arrived in North Carolina (one from Honduras, another from Mexico, and the third from the Dominican Republic). These students were beginning with the English alphabet and very basic vocabulary. I was stunned that they only had Mrs. Iseman in class for the morning, and that right after learning numbers and colors in her class they were sent on to the next period when the bell rang. Biology!
After observing and tutoring, I realized I had never felt so excited to get up and go somewhere in the days I was scheduled to be at Reynolds. I continued pursuing education classes as electives in between the Sociology and Spanish. Once I graduated, I went back to Saint Louis and taught at an International School for adult immigrants and refugees. I taught ESL and quickly discovered that I loved it. When my husband was accepted back at Wake for graduate school, I knew I had to teach at Reynolds. That is exactly what happened. I was fortunate enough to come during a year of transition for other teachers and was able to slip into the renowned ESL department period.
I'm extremely proud to be working at Reynolds, and while some people have negative perspective on public education: I am able to cite hundreds of examples of what is right about the way our students are learning at Reynolds. The diversity is beautiful and is unmatched anywhere in our city. The privilege we have as educators to work with students representing every demographic in our city is amazing. It speaks to the cry of my heart to interact with different people every day, and of course it always keeps things interesting. Reynolds has a great school spirit and for as much as we feel the weight of responsibility being placed on our shoulders: the staff has a very positive attitude. I attribute much of that to the leadership and an administration that sets an excellent tone within the school.
Varni Jane Vinluan
My name is Marnie Jane Vinluan and I was a graduate of Reynolds High School (RJR) in June 2010. I will be moving to Appalachian State University, but I will never forget my experience at RJR. I've made friends with students and teachers, and based on the amount of time I spent at RJR: found second home. Reynolds High School is a family that I'll always be a part of, and keep warm in my heart.
I'd wake up at 7:00 in the morning to get to school before the bell rings at 8:45 to get to my first class. The rest of the day is a blur, until the school day would end at 3:40 every weekday. There would always be something keeping me there later. If it wasn't a club, basketball, or orchestra, it would be friends to linger with and wait for their way home. I didn't get to drive until my senior year, but I wouldn't complain about the other years without a car. Even with a car my senior year I'd still “hang out” after school and talk with my friends. I was a Career Center (CC) student part of the time during my senior year. The one thing I'd want to change if I could would be how uninformed most of the RJR students that take English at CC are. Students are informed about most of the events, concerts, due dates, fundraisers, and other school events through their English teacher, and having English at CC my senior year: I missed out. However, attending Career Center is just another wonderful opportunity that RJR provides, and taking English there wasn't death.
People say that a person can change in high school, and that statement is true. Changes are for good and the bad, but for me, RJR was a place that I could grow up and learn not only academics but about life. My knowledge wasn't taught by just teachers, but other students, friends, coaches and guidance counselors…the whole community of RJR. I spent four years playing varsity basketball at RJR, fought hard on the court, and learned important lessons in life. One of the people I thank at RJR is coach Gray, who was like a father to me. There were times that I loved him, for the care and inspiration he gave to his players. But I hated him at the same time, for how hard he’d work the team. He pushed me to further develop my skills, and built my confidence on and off the court. I will always commit to memory how far basketball has taken me and how I learned I didn't just like basketball, but that I love it.
Basketball took a lot of my time during the school year, and parts of the summer. Almost everyday I would have workouts or practice, and it was hard to be part of clubs…but there is always a way. I not only participated on the basketball team, but joined various clubs, and played viola for the orchestra. If Coach Gray was my dad away from home, my mother would be Mrs. Margaret Lou Rehder (my Orchestra Director). I've had her class everyday since 6th grade, because she taught at my middle school, as well as at RJR. I love music, but she showed me an appreciation for music that without her I would never reached.
I love RJR…through the good times and the bad…through the sweat and tears on the court…and through the heat of the stage light. The friends I've made there may not be forever, but will have a lasting effect on my heart. The welcoming students and staff that RJR has were what I look forward to every morning at 7.
Justin Floeter
My time at RJR has been everything but forgettable. My average school day consisted of waking up at 7:00 am in order to make it to my first period class at the Career Center that started at 8:10 am. Before lunch I traveled back to RJR where I'm in class until 5:00 or 5:30 pm. Typically my day includes nine classes due to after school and Career Center classes. After class I go to soccer practice, play rehearsal, chorus rehearsal, or scouts. Often I would return home around 8:00 or 9:00 pm where I grab some dinner and begin the evening's homework. Usually I'd be able to go to sleep by 11. On the weekends I work two jobs plus course rehearsals homework and performing on stage.
As busy as I was I loved every part of it. In fact it was a performing arts that allowed me to be so active on and off campus. For all four years I was active with the tech crew, advanced acting, and chorus. If I could change anything about RJR it would be to keep the before and after school arts classes. They each provided life changing experiences for me that help develop time management leadership and work skills. Outside of school I was active in church choirs, Boy Scouts (I'm an Eagle Scout), and an Ultimate Frisbee club while working two-part time jobs.
My favorite classes at RJR included seminar civics with Mr. Bright, AP Environmental Science with Mr. Scott, and chorus with Mr. Hicks. Each of those classes had teachers who were passionate about their topic and and could engage the students. Even in the driest of topics, economics with Mr. Bright, he incorporated games and stories that held the classes attention and helped teach economics.
This fall I will be attending Appalachian State University with a focus in political science and history. After graduating from Appalachian I plan on continuing onto the law school. While at Appalachian I plan on joining choral, Frisbee, and acting groups while taking guitar and piano lessons on top of school and possibly on top of one or two side jobs.