Greetings to My Durham Family

My Dearest Durham Family:

I am very excited to be a part of the Durham Middle School learning community. I have found Durham to be a place where people are genuinely excited about doing what is best for all students. I have personally witnessed the fact that every effort is being made to make sure that no child is being left behind. In all my years as an educator, I have never felt that my thoughts and beliefs were better aligned with other faculty members where it comes to wanting what is best for students. Transitioning to Durham has been effortless. I fully credit my transitional experience to the willingness of all staff to assist in whatever capacity necessary to make me feel at home.

Who is Verna? I am a native of Jamaica, West Indies who migrated to the United States thirty-seven years ago. Five years after my arrival in this country I chose to become a naturalized citizen. Despite my early training as a teacher; my first employment in this country was with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), where I worked for a number of years prior to returning to the profession I so dearly love. I thoroughly enjoy working with students and assisting others in realizing their dream of educating students to achieve at their highest potential, in the academic, social and behavioral arenas.

My husband Harry and I are the proud parents of four girls. All of our girls are graduates of the Cobb County School System. Melissa, the eldest, attended Lassiter High School, Furman University (BS degree) and Mercer University (MS Degree). She currently resides and works in the health care field in Canada. Nicole, my second, attended Lassiter High School, Yale University (BA degree) and Georgetown University (Law Degree). She currently works as an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security here in Atlanta. Our daughter Nadia attended Lassiter and McEachern High Schools, the University of Georgia (BA degree) and American Intercontinental University (MBA degree). After working as a director of admissions for a number of years, Nadia has decided to stay home with her three-year old, Benjamin. She resides here in Kennesaw. Lauren, our baby girl, attended Kennesaw Mountain High School (class of ’06) and is currently seeking a degree in Musical Theatre at New York University. Our girls have solidified my belief that any child can be what they want to be if the proper support and resources are made available to them to achieve their goals. It was not only us as parents who allowed them to be who they are today; along their developmental journeys they crossed paths with some of the most awesome teachers Cobb County has to offer.

My mission here at Durham is to help students to set high, achievable goals and to be the best that they can be in every area of their lives. I will support every staff member in every way that I can so that they too may continue to thrive in this exciting academic environment.

Thanks again to everyone.

Sincerely,

Verna