As she builds relationships with students and learns their needs, she asks herself – how do I want my kids to feel at school? How do I want them to be treated? What do I want them to learn? Most importantly, she makes sure to show them that they are loved and that there is someone who is always there for them.
“Mrs. Lowe has definitely been committed to building those student relationships and learning what their needs are,” said Gate City Principal Natasha Robertson. “I think what stands out most is that she meets kids right where they are.”
Lowe is in her sixth year at Gate City but her first as a special education paraprofessional. National Heritage Academies’ commitment to weaving Moral Focus into curriculum initially appealed to her as a parent, and she has enjoyed helping student showcase those traits in the classroom and in their lives.
In addition to learning on the fly in her first year in the special education cohort, Lowe has carried additional responsibility with other staff members on maternity leave. It hasn’t stopped her from asking questions about how to improve and sacrificing much of her time to support students with high needs to enable them to grow.
“I’ve taken over that responsibility and that role and just stepping up to the plate and really making sure the communication gets home, making sure they’re doing their part,” Lowe said. “We’re all here for the kids and making sure that the train is rolling.”
Robertson admires Lowe’s steady demeanor and ability to consistently bring passion to her work no matter the circumstances.
“Mrs. Lowe does all this because she's got a genuine heart of wanting to do what she’s doing well, and I appreciate that about her because the job is not easy,” Robertson said. “She is a great example of what perseverance looks like when I think about this time of year, continuing to grind even when it’s difficult.”
Keep up the excellent work, Mrs. Lowe!
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About Gate City Charter Academy
Gate City Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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