TEACH: Who do you consider one of the great teachers in your life and why?
NH: Ms. Delcenia Hill (Thomas). She was my school band director (I played the flute) and my school mom. She was compassionate and godly and saw the good in her students. She genuinely cared, not just about our performance in her class but overall. And when we were in her classroom, she was present. She spent her time teaching and created the space for learning. She made me work hard, and even though she was really tough, you couldn’t help but love her. Her energy pushed me and others. Her focus on systems, classroom-management and empathy continue to inspire me.

TEACH: What do you love most about working in education?
NH: It’s all about impact, about making an impact on people and communities. Working with others and creating opportunities for children and adults alike is something I aspire to do. I believe we can make an impact simply by listening. As a society, we often miss out on the greatness of other people because we don’t take the time to listen to them or get to know them, particularly if we think they’re different from us. I’m a person who wants to get to know people. You never know who you might be able to guide in a positive way.