CLASS ACT

CLASSROOM

CONNECTIONS

Getting to know students is a priority for the regional teacher of the year

By MICHELLE SAXTON | Photos by DARIA AMATO

Poetry, field trips, and simple conversations are among the ways New Hanover High School English teacher ABBEY NOBLES builds rapport with her students.

“I just love getting to know these individual kiddos and their stories and what makes them who they are, and what their goals are, what their dreams are, what they did over the weekend,” says Nobles, who is North Carolina’s Southeast Region Teacher of the Year for 2022.

Nobles devoted time at the start of the recent school semester learning more about her students by talking, team building, and playing structured games. She compares it to figuring out a puzzle revealing what personalities drive her students.

“She really connects and cares deeply about the students, and that shows in her teaching and interaction with them,” New Hanover County Schools media relations manager RUSSELL CLARK says. “Her overall genuine spirit and care of learning really shine through.”

Nobles is a National Board Certified Teacher in her seventh year of teaching. The district notes she earned degrees in English with a concentration in secondary education and international studies with a Spanish minor from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

She serves as a member of New Hanover County Schools’ Equity Workgroup and coleads Student Equity Teams to help empower students and foster group advocacy.

In the classroom, poetry is a favorite subject for Nobles. Her methods include teaching the writings of Rudy Francisco and Tupac Shakur.

“We can get into what is diction, what is a simile, what is an allusion, what is a metaphor,” Nobles says. “But they first have this deep understanding of what they’re reading, and they can connect to it.”

Nobles also focuses on behavior interventions and works with English as a Second Language students, and she co-teaches with an Exceptional Children’s teacher and an ESL teacher. Some classes include lessons in English and social skills, with field trips around

the community to help students grow both academically and socially, Nobles says.

“Taking students on field trips is something that is so powerful – to see them in a different environment, whether it is two blocks away on a walking field trip or hours away at a museum, to see them out of their element and stepping up, rising to the occasion and excited to do something different,” Nobles says, later adding,

“Seeing them curious, asking questions, it’s all a part of learning.”

Nobles credits LACHAWN SMITH, the district’s chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with inspiring her to plan class field trips, and she appreciates the teamwork she has with other educators.

“I feel so honored to have achieved this,” Nobles says of the regional recognition. “But it is not without the help of everyone else in my school building and district supporting me.”

Nobles joins eight other educators across the state in being considered for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year program started in 1970 to promote the education profession through advocacy and support while recognizing professionals implementing their best practices in the classrooms, says SONJA BROWN, educator advancement lead at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and leader of the state Teacher of the Year program.

DPI-selected judges will interview the regional winners in February, and the state Teacher of the Year will be announced in April.

“We look for innovation,” Brown says. “We look for years in the classroom, we look at their service, we look at their speaking abilities.”

The winner will serve on the state Board of Education for two years and take a one-year sabbatical from teaching to participate in professional learning opportunities and visit schools throughout the state, Brown says.

Regional teachers of the year will work together with the state winner to plan professional development activities and attend conferences.

“Regardless of what happens I am part of a really awesome team, and I’m excited to collaborate with other people,” Nobles says, adding she is eager to learn from other teachers about education issues such as school suspension rates and nutrition.

“I’m really excited to see what everyone else brings to the table, what everyone else’s platforms are, what everyone else is passionate about,” Nobles says.

Schools everywhere have faced disruptions and challenges due to the pandemic, and Nobles says COVID has highlighted the overwhelming issue of helping some students want to come to school every day.

She also understands the struggle educators have with limited time to teach many lessons.

“But there’s always time to get two know the students and to understand their stories and where they come from,” Nobles says. “It can be a daily question when students walk in the room – ‘What did you eat for dinner last night?’ ‘What’s your favorite restaurant?’

“You get to know them as individuals and care about them as individuals, instruction will follow.” W

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SEASIDE HONEYBEES

BRING THE MAGIC OF BEEKEEPING TO YOUR OWN BACKYARD

There’s something really special about watching honeybees. The way they gather at the entrance of their hive - some leaving, some returning, some resting, all communicating. You can focus on each individual bee with their specific role, playing their own part to work cohesively as a unit towards a shared, unspoken, but well understood mission. Or you can focus on the cluster itself moving in its predictably unpredictable way, like watching the flames of a fire.

It draws you in. It’s peaceful. It’s therapeutic. It’s one of the things that makes me most proud about what we are doing at Seaside Honeybees.

We’re sharing this unique experience and helping people connect with nature through honeybees. An unexpected reward I receive from doing this work is witnessing the joy that it brings people. It warmed my heart when I saw chairs set up in front of one of our clients’ hives. I was touched when another sent a picture of the entrance to her hive with a note saying she was enjoying some “bee therapy”. I melted when a mother told me we would have helpers today, and brought out her twin 4 year old boys in mini bee suits.

The feedback and questions I get from people reinforces that what we are doing is important. We are doing more than just caring for bees. We’re providing a service that brings people joy, and educating them along the way. Our detailed reports that follow each hive visit provide fascinating insight into the inner workings of the hive.

Honeybees have gained a lot of attention in recent years, which has sparked a widespread interest in and curiosity about beekeeping. This new awareness has done wonders to support beekeepers and promote better care for our pollinators.

While many people love the idea of beekeeping, it can seem overwhelming in practice. Seaside Honeybees makes it easy, and you can choose to be as hands on or hands off with the hive as you would like. We’ll be your beekeepers indefinitely, or until you’re ready to take over.

All the honey we’re able to harvest from the hive on your property belongs to you, and the harvesting is included as part of our service. When you sign up with us, you’ll be getting the most local honey you could ask for. Honeybees fly around 3 miles to get the food they need, so you know your honey is from nectar within this small radius.

If this experience sounds appealing to you, don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions. We help people in a range of situations, from having their own equipment and bees, to just having some equipment, to being completely brand new to the concept. You may have considered getting honeybees, but maybe don’t know where to start or don’t have the time. Either way, we’re here to help!

Join the Seaside Honeybees family in 2022. We’re taking clients now for the spring, and spaces are limited.

Jessy O'Keefe is the owner and founder of Seaside Honeybees, a beekeeping management company that installs and maintains hives for residences, businesses, and schools. She's been a professional beekeeper since 2013 and has managed hundreds of hives over the years. Seaside Honeybees offers a full service beekeeping experience, complete with education and care for these important pollinators.

JESSY@SEASIDEHONEYBEES.COM | SEASIDEHONEYBEES.COM

SCARLESS VEIN CARE

ARE YOUR LEGS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING? You May Not Realize What These Symptoms Could Mean

When your feet hit the floor in the morning, do you feel refreshed or tired and in pain? Your legs may be telling you something. Are you ready to listen? Signs and symptoms of vein disease include: -aching or heaviness in the legs -night cramps -general tiredness in the legs -swollen feet and legs -burning sensations or leg muscle cramps -varicose veins -skin discoloration -skin texture changes

What is vein disease?

Vein disease is a commonly overlooked condition that affects millions of men and women around the world, regardless of age and abilities. Vein disease occurs when vein valves become faulty and cause blood to move in both directions. This causes an increase in venous pressure and can cause blood to pool in your legs and give way to the symptoms listed above. Venous insufficiency can also impact blood flow to the calf muscles which can in turn impact muscle performance. This can greatly impact the quality of life for athletes and others with active lifestyles. When left untreated, vein issues worsen over time. Who is at risk for developing vein disease?

The staggering fact is that one in every two people in the US over 50 has vein disease, but vein disease does not discriminate when it comes to age. In fact, individuals in their 40s, 30s and even 20s can suffer from the condition. Those without visual signs of vein disease, such as varicose veins, may not seek treatment due to myths and misunderstandings associated with vascular problems, which puts them at risk for developing more of time: From teachers to truck drivers, those who stand or sit for long periods run a higher risk for developing vein disease due to impaired circulation.

Pregnant women: It’s not uncommon for women to develop vein complications during pregnancy. And the truth is, many women still face vascular issues after the birth of their little ones and

serious complications like venous ulcers and blood clots. Here’s a look at some populations who have a higher risk for encountering the condition:

Those with a family history of vein disease: If your parents or grandparents have or had vein disease, the odds are, you will too!

People with professions that require them to sit or stand for significant periods experience issues like tired, heavy achy restless legs.

Tall individuals: Stanford University School of Medicine indicates taller people could have an increased risk of developing varicose veins. This is thought to be connected to the fact that the veins have to work a little harder to return blood to the heart. New location in Wilmington

The journey to Nice Legs with Dr. Kamran has never

910.218.0933 | SCARLESSVEINCARE.COM

been easier! Now with TWO convenient locations - Dr. Kamran sees patients at his vein center in Wilmington in Howe Creek Landing on Military Cutoff Road and in Leland in the Waterford Medical Center. Life is moving forward. Don’t let vein disease stand in the way. Scarless Vein Care by Dr. Kamran is one of the nation’s preeminent locations for the treatment of venous insufficiency and varicose and spider veins and is now offering *Free Vein Health Screenings. *Note: The ‘Free Vein Health Screening’ offer is not valid for Medicaid beneficiaries, or other recipients of federal or state health care benefit programs, or when prohibited by an insurance coverage provider. New patients only. One free screening per person. Not redeemable for cash.

Dr. Kamran is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of phlebology and vascular surgery. Dr. Kamran has been providing general, thoracic, vascular, laparoscopic, and both upper and lower endoscopic surgeries for more than 40 years. As one of the first physicians and centers in the state of North Carolina to offer intravascular laser ablation for the treatment of varicose veins, Dr. Kamran is known for outstanding patient outcomes and satisfaction rates.

TEACHINGHORSE

WHAT IS NEXT?

Whether it be because of the “Great Resignation” or “Pandemic Flux Syndrome”, so many people are experiencing a level of confusion and instability that is intolerable. People leaving their jobs are asking themselves, “What do I really want to do with my life?” People feeling anywhere on the spectrum from anxious to uncharacteristically lazy are asking themselves, “Where do I go from here?” Business leaders struggling to find people to fill jobs are searching for what will motivate people to embrace their mission and vision. These big questions deserve reflective answers.

Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and author said recently in a Wall Street Journal article that, “The Great Resignation isn’t a mad dash away from the office. It’s the culmination of a long march toward freedom. Flexibility is more than choosing the place you work. It’s having the freedom to decide your purpose and your priorities.”

One of my most treasured mentors taught me that “Freedom and accountability are two sides of the same coin. Many people began their careers with the promise working for a company that would secure their futures. Now, people are questioning spending their lives working for an organization that does not give them a sense of purpose. People are not abdicating accountability. In fact, many people are taking accountability for their futures for first time and are willing to take the risk of entrepreneurship to live their purpose.

I was working with a client last week who stepped into the paddock with my horse, Galen, and put her hands on his neck and back. She closed her eyes and exhaled for the first time in months. Galen leaned his head around her and they just enjoyed a moment of peace and quiet together. Having that moment of stillness allowed her to silence the noise in her head that was preventing her from finding clarity of purpose.

Recently, a client stepped out of her car and just stood there for a second. She looked up at the sky and listened to the simple sounds of birds singing and wind rustling through the trees. She walked up on to my front porch, sat down in a rocking chair, and said, “Wow, it is so peaceful here.” We then proceeded to have a very meaningful conversation about how to bring that calm into how she leads her organization. To anyone reading this article, this is what TeachingHorse at Double Run Farm in Leland, NC is here to do. We will work with you to lead yourself through the uncertainties of our time. We are currently scheduling individual and group coaching sessions customized to your desired outcomes. To hear more, email me at junegunter@ teachinghorse.com.

910.633.5890 | TEACHINGHORSE.COM

June Gunter is the Co-Founder and CEO of TeachingHorse. With 32 years of experience in leadership development, June brings depth of understanding and clarity of purpose to preparing leaders for innovation and transformation. June holds a Doctor of Education degree in the field of Adult Learning from North Carolina State University. She is a Certified Equine Guided Educator (CEGE), Certified Equine Interaction Professional (CEIP-ED) and the author of TeachingHorse, Rediscovering Leadership.

PLANTATION VILLAGE

RESIDENT FEATURE: MEET TOM & BONNIE BURRELL Living and Aging Well at Plantation Village

To put it simply, Tom and Bonnie Burrell are planners and preparers. They met in grade school and have been married for 50 years. Tom graduated from West Point Academy, spent 22 years in the Army and then worked for a consulting firm for 23 years. Bonnie taught elementary school before staying home with her children; she then returned to work as a Department of the Army Civilian for 25 years.

The Burrell’s spent 10 years researching CCRCs before deciding to call Plantation Village home. They visited communities all over the east coast, looking for a place with an engaging and vibrant environment with a high level of service for cost in a prime location. “You can wait too long, but you can’t move in too early,” Tom said.

The Burrell’s moved to Plantation Village in May 2021 after living in Northern Virginia for 33 years. They are living in a villa home while waiting on their brand new village flat to be completed as part of our expansion. Tom and Bonnie immediately found activities and opportunities for engagement they could enjoy together as well as individually. Tom is involved in the Men’s Coffee group, the PV Civic Affairs Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and he participates in regular exercise classes.

Bonnie has fallen in love with circuit training classes. She helped start another book club at PV (there are several!) and is active in our women’s group called “Women on the Move.” The Burrell’s wanted to connect with their new neighbors and so they began a weekly gathering they dubbed “Villa Vino.” They gather to share wine, community news and fun. They wanted resortstyle living with a relaxed lifestyle and they found it. PV offers a “maintenance-free lifestyle” by taking care of the upkeep and cleaning of both the inside and the outside of the homes. They say these services are proving even better than expected.

Bonnie calls Tom “Mr. Fix It” but at Plantation Village, he has an entire team of associates to depend on. Bonnie and Tom now have the freedom to not have to take care of things themselves – and they love it!

Bonnie says to live well is to maintain a level of freedom to do what she wants to do. As they age, they believe that living well will lead to aging well.

At Plantation Village, the Burrell’s have found the freedom to define their own future – and to know them is to know that they are living well!

1.866.825.3806 | PLANTATIONVILLAGERC.COM

Anna Cook is Marketing Coordinator at Plantation Village, a non-profit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches.