Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Meadowlark Elementary

Cheryl Bullard has been with WS/FCS since 1997 and currently serves as an instructional facilitator for Meadowlark Elementary School. She’s a two-time winner of the Winston-Salem Foundation Teacher Grant. She’s a vital part of many students’ paths to academic success, and it warms her heart when she sees them thriving years later.

“I knew those students, and they and all who will cross over a stage are my motivation for what I do as an educator in WS/FCS,” Bullard said. “I am honored to be a support to their teachers and to have the opportunity to play a small part in shaping the lives of our students.”

Carver High

Kashemi Ferguson has supported math students and teachers as a coach, teacher, and multi-classroom leader since 2006. She’s a believer in continuing education and is set to earn her master’s degree in administration this spring. As a WS/FCS graduate herself, she takes a special joy in knowing that her efforts to enrich the next generation go right back into her community.

“Working in my hometown allows me to engage with the local community, foster strong relationships with students and parents, and have the opportunity to shape the lives of many of my fellow classmates’ children, making my experience richer and more meaningful,” Ferguson said.

Cook Literacy Model School

In the past decade, Madelyn Hughes has been a media coordinator, teacher, mentor teacher, guardian ad litem, and disaster relief committee co-chair. As Cook Literacy Model School’s media coordinator, she manages about 10,000 books and organizes the annual free book fair. She feels fortunate to work in a community with so many colleagues and partners who are dedicated to enriching students.

“I choose to work in WS/FCS because of our collective commitment to bettering the educational experience for children,” Hughes said. “I see this commitment daily in my work at Cook Literacy Model School. We have countless folks from the community in our school daily.”

Cash Elementary

As Cash Elementary School’s media coordinator, Jessica Schaefer has expanded the role the school library plays in the classroom experience by helping teachers design unique integrated lessons for each grade level. Last year, she also helped establish the school’s award-winning student newspaper. She wants her library to be a place where students can explore new ideas, work together, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

“I am dedicated to making the school library the heart of Cash Elementary – a vibrant hub where students gather, collaborate, and grow as learners,” Schaefer said. “I want my students and teachers to think of the library as more than just a place for books; rather, it is an extension of the classroom, fostering curiosity, creativity, and teamwork.”

Ashley Elementary

Andrea Taylor has 20 years of experience as a social worker, 16 of them with WS/FCS. She conducts home visits, attends truancy court, completes psychosocial histories, assists with crisis intervention, leads small group sessions, and more. She uses her position to be a voice for the voiceless and help those who don’t know where to start.

“As a social worker, I understand the importance of support,” Taylor said. “I understand how intimidating it can be when you know you need help, but don't know where to begin. As I honed my skills working in the community and in healthcare, I felt called to combine those experiences and use them to enhance the educational journeys of the students of WS/FCS.”