After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Terenzi joined National Heritage Academies (NHA) where she has become a veteran teacher and leader. Earning her Master of Education in Reading from Wayne State, she credits all of these experiences with making her into the educator, coach, and leader she is today.
“My favorite part of my job is instructional coaching,” Terenzi said. “I loved being a dean because I got to coach teachers, and now I love being principal because I see my deans’ growth and it makes me really proud.”
As a student in Ann Arbor, Terenzi tutored urban students as a part of her work study program, and that was when she realized her passion for teaching and coaching. She helped young students learn how to blend words and read short stories.
“I just really enjoyed it,” Terenzi said. “I was able to see growth in them, and seeing their excitement was special. They didn’t have a lot of one-on-one help at the time whether it was because their classroom only had one teacher or they didn’t get help at home, so it was nice to able to help them.”
Terenzi is a career-long educator with National Heritage Academies (NHA), serving Canton Charter Academy first- and second-grade students as a teacher for the first nine years of her career. She transitioned to a dean role at Achieve Charter Academy, where she was able to lead her colleagues to success. Terenzi served as principal at South Canton Scholars from 2014-2019 and is now leading Plymouth Scholars, which she has done since 2019.
Always an optimist, Terenzi infuses positivity into every day at Plymouth Scholars. She is intentional with her actions, making it a priority to be in classrooms and interact with students in the halls. Whether asking about a student’s math test or sitting in on a social studies class, Terenzi has built a positive environment geared toward consistent growth.
The school’s culture and focus on NHA’s Moral Focus virtues was recognized with the 2024 Founder’s Award, NHA’s top award given to one school embodying Moral Focus virtues. Terenzi emphasizes all nine Moral Focus virtues, but her favorite is integrity.
“I believe if you’re honest, you can get through anything,” Terenzi said. “Everybody is going to make a mistake. If you can own it and say ‘I did the wrong thing,’ then everything’s going to be OK. If you have integrity, you are showing all of the other Moral Focus virtues.”
Integrity is the foundation of everything Terenzi does and how she leads. Her commitment to doing the right thing helps her be the best coach and leader for her school, inspiring her students and staff to achieve.
“I believe that even though Plymouth Scholars is one of the best schools, we still have room to grow,” Terenzi said. “We don’t just stay mediocre. We always find something to make us better, and we look for ways to grow. We always push ourselves to be the best.”
Quick Facts:
- Principal Terenzi is a dual citizen of the United States and San Marino, a country embedded in north-central Italy. Her family’s Italian roots make homemade lasagna a favorite.
- She has been in the audience for a taping of The Price is Right. While Principal Terenzi didn’t get called to “come on down,” she did get the chance to say “hi” to Bob Barker in the post-show Q&A.
- Principal Terenzi loves to spend time with her family and enjoy vacations during her favorite season, summer. When she is not on vacation, Principal Terenzi’s favorite hobby is reading a good book.
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About Plymouth Scholars
Plymouth Scholars is a tuition-free, public charter school in Plymouth, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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