"I had no idea," Sarah admitted. "I didn't even know specials teachers could win that type of award. So, I was really excited."
Sarah's achievement was revealed as a surprise during a Tuesday staff meeting, with her husband, her daughter, and former DSQ Zach Perfitt, who joined via video chat, there to support her. The moment was doubly rewarding for Sarah, as her own mentee, Ms. Vanessa Torre, was named Johnston's Teacher of the Year during the exact same meeting.
"She's the music teacher and she's absolutely amazing and she's a second-year teacher. So, it was really exciting to celebrate with her."
A Journey of Adaptability: Wearing Every Hat
Sarah didn’t take a conventional path to the art studio. In college, she studied business and art, realizing late in her senior year that her true calling was education. She entered the school system through North Carolina's lateral entry program as a middle school math teacher, later joining NHA at Research Triangle Charter Academy as a Teacher in Residence. In that role, she became a jack-of-all-trades, teaching fifth through eighth-grade science, technology, English, and long-term subbing in a fourth-grade classroom.
That intensive period proved to be foundational. Sarah recalls commuting an hour on the highway, only to get a text asking her to completely pivot her lesson plan and sub for a first-grade class instead.
"Those two years really taught me how to be adaptable and to go with the flow," Sarah reflects.
As her family grew, her hour-long commute became unmanageable, and she considered leaving education entirely. Fortunately, she discovered that her former dean, Principal Jamila Bowser, had taken the leadership role at Johnston Charter Academy, just 15 minutes from her house. She reached out, filled a sudden sixth-grade math vacancy for a year then transitioned to become Johnston’s art teacher the following year.
Where Math and Masterpieces Collide
While Sarah admits she prefers teaching art, her love for mathematics has never faded.
"I love math," she shares. "Any opportunity I get to help tutor kids or do a quick review; I love doing it."
She seamlessly weaves mathematical concepts directly into her art curriculum. During a recent middle school playing card project, her students had to master scale.
"They had to use equivalent ratios to make sure that whatever they drew on their little sketch was the same ratio on their large poster board," Sarah explains. This interdisciplinary approach spans all grade levels.
Cultivating Character and Creativity with Moral Focus™
At NHA schools, academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with character development. Through the Moral Focus™ curriculum, educators instill fundamental virtues into daily learning. For Sarah, this means being highly intentional with her large student rotation.
"I see a lot of kids. I see about 130 to 150 kids a day," Sarah notes. "I try to be very intentional about giving a compliment, just trying to make it a point to say something to them so that they feel supported and they want to come back."
Sarah views her studio as a safe haven and a completely level playing field for children who struggle with traditional academics.
"I want students to remember me as somebody that helped build their confidence," she says. "Building confidence is huge here. When students walk in here, it's a clean slate. Everybody has an equal opportunity to create a masterpiece."
This supportive atmosphere fosters deep student engagement. Sarah loves to bring high energy to her projects, whether she is dressing kindergartners in smocks for neon splatter-painting sessions while they sing and dance along to the "Gummy Bear Song," or leading advanced middle school electives. In her digital art elective, students use Google Drawings to create intricate digital portraits.
"They get into this flow state," Sarah says. "The work they produce, it looks like a professional adult artist did it. They get so incredibly proud of them that I have other teachers messaging me saying, 'Hey, so-and-so is working on their art project in my class.' They just want to work on it all day."
Her relief printmaking elective sparked a similar passion. This year, her middle schoolers learned to use speedy carve blocks and gouges to print their own designs. The deep impact of her mentorship was on full display during Teacher Appreciation Week, when a student bought printmaking supplies at home, carved a custom design, and hand-stamped a canvas tote bag as a heartfelt gift for Sarah.
"She made me a tote bag with it. It was the sweetest thing."
Congratulations Sarah on your well-earned Excellence in Teaching award! Thank you for all you do for your students, colleagues, and community.
About Johnston Charter Academy
Johnston Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Clayton, 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 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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