When you step into Anne Shaw’s kindergarten classroom at Greensboro Academy, you immediately sense the magic, the kind that can only be crafted by a teacher who has devoted more than two decades of helping young students discover learning.
For 25 years, Anne has been a steady and committed presence at Greensboro Academy. She joined National Heritage Academies (NHA®) before Greensboro even had its own building and has been shaping the school community ever since.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
Anne’s journey to NHA came by pure chance when she was out to dinner one night and ran into the principal of the newest NHA school, Greensboro Academy.
“He encouraged me to come see what they were building. I went to three or four beginning-of-year meetings before I finally thought, ‘Well I guess I’ll give this a try.’”
That “try” became a decades long career.
She began in 1999, when the school operated out of two church buildings while the permanent campus was still under construction.
“It was exciting,” Anne says. “Everything was new: the curriculum, the team, the community. We were building something from the ground up, together.”
A Kindergarten Teacher Through and Through
Anne was placed in kindergarten and never left.
“I’ve been in the same classroom for 25 years,” she jokes. “And I have the junk to prove it.”
But that classroom has become a second home, filled with the memories hundreds of students whose first steps into learning began with her.
What keeps her loving kindergarten year after year?
“They’re so innocent. Everything is new. When you sit with a student, and they sound out a word for the first time when that lightbulb goes on, it’s the best part of teaching.”
Teaching With Heart and Moral Focus™
Ask Anne what she loves most about NHA, and she answers without hesitation: Moral Focus.
“In kindergarten, everything is brand new to them, every single virtue,” she says. “It never gets old. They remember the stories, the activities, the awards we give. Some of my former students come back and say, ‘I still have my Moral Focus certificate.’ It matters to them.”
Anne also credits NHA for listening to teachers and evolving curriculum and assessments.
“They really do take our feedback. The changes over the years have made teaching smoother, more meaningful, and more centered on kids.”
One of the most powerful markers of Anne’s impact is the number of students who return to visit her.
“That’s the heartwarming part,” she says. “Seeing them grow, succeed, and still remember kindergarten with joy.”
Greensboro Academy has changed over the years, but many of the original staff remain, a testament to the school’s strong culture.
“We have a longevity here,” Anne says proudly. “We’ve grown together.”
Advice for the Next 30 Years
With 25 years of teaching behind her, Anne offers this wisdom to future NHA educators and leaders: “Always keep the student first. Policies and tasks come and go but teaching the child in front of you, that’s the heart of what we do. Give them your best every single day.”
A Fun Fact You Might Not Know
While Anne may be known for her literacy lessons and her volleyball coaching, she shares one more delightful detail: she loves Barbies.
She once even received a Barbie cake from her students, a cherished memory she still laughs about today.
As we celebrate NHA’s 30th anniversary, it’s educators like Anne Shaw who remind us why our mission matters.
Thank you, Anne, for your 25 years of dedication to National Heritage Academies!
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About Greensboro Academy
Greensboro 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 network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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