Adjunct Professor,
Wake County Technical Community College;
Former Legislative Analyst,
NC General Assembly
What is the best career decision that you have made?
In a broad sense, I think that the best career decision for me was to “never say no.” Whenever asked to do anything in any of the positions that I have held, I have always said, “Okay, I can do that,” even though I wasn’t always sure that I could. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many different countries and help them to establish programs for young children with disabilities, just because I have always said, “Sure, I can do that, ” and then worked hard to turn those opportunities into teaching and learning success stories. In a more specific sense, it was a wise career choice for me to obtain as many degrees and certifications as I could in my field of early childhood special education and literacy.
If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t “sweat the small stuff” so much, and let negative people deter me, as I sometimes did in my different positions.
How have women helped further your career?
I have been so fortunate to have a long-time friend and mentor Dr. Pat Porter, with whom I continue to work, even in retirement. I worked for her and with her in several different positions, and she has always been so supportive.