After a move from Virginia to North Carolina in 1997 left behind his first teaching job, Mr. Benjamin Rush was welcomed with open arms at a newly renovated Green Hope High School. The longest-employed teacher at the school, Rush has served as a devoted Falcon since the grand opening in 1999.

During his time at Green Hope, Rush contributed to the education of several students through a variety of subjects. “I have taught AP Environmental Science, Marine Ecology, Earth Science, Astronomy, Physical Science, a little bit of everything,” he said.

Although he enjoys having variety in his schedule, even teachers have a favorite subject or two. For him, this happens to be both AP Earth and Environmental Science and Marine Ecology. “Every spring, Ms. Robinette and I run a field trip to UNCW,” explains Rush. During this trip, students can learn firsthand about topics such as beach ecology in one of the most engaging ways possible. His annual trip to the beach with students continues to create many of his favorite memories from teaching, along with going down to the wetland for both educational purposes and a wetland race that marks the end of a semester.

As the longest-employed teacher at Green Hope, Rush saw both the school and community surrounding it change quite a bit throughout its 25 years of practice. “What’s changed the most about Green Hope is the area around it. We used to be in the middle of nowhere, so it really kind of exploded,” he said.

“There’s a lot more places for students to go eat at lunch. I remember the first couple years they would drive to Highway 64 to Bojangles and it would be hustling back in an hour to go to lunch.” However, he shares that with the changes over the years, the feel of the school has stayed the same.

Rush’s multiple years of experience in teaching were incredibly insightful, with his students teaching him countless amounts every day. “I have learned infinite patience from all of my students. I think that teaching students ages 16, 17 and 18 helps to keep me young,” he explains. The Green Hope community is incredibly thankful for all Mr. Rush has done for the school and looks forward to watching him continue to educate future generations for years to come.

A well-loved staff member, Ms. Cathy Dillon fulfilled the role of Green Hope’s registrar since the school’s official opening in 1999. Before she began working in an educational setting, Dillon served in multiple other professions around the country, “My first job was in Marshalltown, Iowa, as an audiologist, and then I went to Minneapolis and North Dakota as a speech pathologist,” she shares. “From there I started having a family and I was lucky enough to be able to stay at home during that time.” When her daughter was a senior at Cary High School, Dillon became familiar with the role of a registrar, ultimately sparking her interest in pursuing the profession.

During her time at Green Hope, Ms. Dillon has seen the school change both inside and out. A brand new Green Hope had a much smaller student body than it does today. “I started as both the receptionist and registrar because there were so few students that we all doubled up,” shares Dillon. She now serves solely as the school’s registrar, providing students with transcripts and keeping track of important information.

A limited number of students in the beginning years meant that sports teams didn’t have the option to be picky.  Every student made a team, regardless of whether or not they played before. The early sports eras of Green Hope have created many of Dillon’s favorite memories from working. “My favorite memory is the first year that we opened. My oldest daughter was both the men’s and women’s tennis coach,” she said.

The role of a registrar is underrated but essential, providing students with the necessary documentation needed to pursue their education. While it is undoubtedly a tedious job, it allowed Dillon to create relationships with countless students that she wouldn’t otherwise have met. It has also taught her the importance of addressing each student as an individual and recognizing their requirements.

“They all have different needs, and we all support each other in so many ways. That’s why it’s so much fun to get to know the students and to get to know the teachers,” she said. “By getting to know the students, I learn so much. Every day, there’s something else that comes up. I just enjoy being part of a school.”

A crucial staff member since the school’s opening in 2001, Mr. Michael Miragliuolo is one of Green Hope’s most devoted history teachers. His education career kicked off in Bangor, Maine, where he taught at John Bapst Memorial High School for five years starting in 1996. “I attended the school as a student, then I started teaching my first five years there,” he said.

After a move to North Carolina, Miragliuolo continued his teaching profession at Green Hope. Throughout the years, he taught an excessive number of classes; including AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, American History, Civics, Civics and Economics, World History, P.E., and Sociology, with AP United States Government being his all-time favorite to teach.

Similar to the other long employed members of the staff, Miragliuolo saw the school and its community change frequently throughout the years as the area around it began  to shift. Students and staff come and go, often affecting class sizes. “Green Hope started with fewer than 1600 students and it grew close to 3000. Then the student population began to shrink, and now here recently we’re growing again, so the size has changed,” he said.“We’ve added all the mod trailers over the years, and then the faculty and staff have turned over a lot.”

His multiple years at Green Hope created a plethora of memories, some positive and some solemn, “I wouldn’t call it my favorite, but the one that probably left the biggest mark on me was when I was teaching the day of 9/11. That’s one I’ll never forget,” explains Miragliuolo.

Through his many years of experience and the variety of subjects he’s taught, Miragliuolo was able to form relationships with and learn from his students indefinitely. He shares, “I try to always remember what it’s like to be a student in high school.” By putting himself in the shoes of his students, he can better connect with them and understand the factors that play into their success. Miragliuolo further explains, “Sometimes when I forget, I think the students get me back on track by remembering what it’s like to be in high school; doing sports, clubs, having worries and being stressed out. ”

One of Green Hope’s longest-employed teachers, Ms. Julie-Anne Thomasch, held a career in education for many years and is a crucial aspect of the Green Hope community’s success. She began teaching in 1996 at Royal Vale Academy in Montreal, Canada, before moving to the States and joining  Green Hope during its 2001-2002 school year. She shares that this was also Green Hope’s first graduating class. During the length of her career, Thomasch taught multiple classes, including Algebra 1, Earth Science, AP Environmental, Biology, and AP Biology, with her favorite being AP Biology.

Along with providing her multiple opportunities to teach multiple subjects, Thomasch’s many years at Green Hope allowed her to witness the growth and development of the school and its community. “The population grew much larger,” shares Thomasch, which she explains is highlighted by the addition of modular and trailer classrooms. She also mentions that the population has gotten more diverse.

Teaching has created many of Thomasch’s most cherished memories. Although she has too many favorites to pick, she shares that all of her favorite memories stem from seeing those students who struggle the most to become successful and graduate.” Most importantly, teaching has taught her the invaluable lesson that we are all human and that it’s okay to make mistakes.

A crucial aspect of student creativity, Ms. Melissa Poppe began her education career in 2003 and fulfilled the role of a Green Hope art teacher. During her time, Poppe taught Art 1, 2,  3 and 4, AP 2D, AP 3D, Sculpture 1, 2 and 3. This allowed her to work with beginning, intermediate and advanced artists through a variety of different media. Although she taught a variety of curricula, she says, “I don’t have a favorite to teach. They’re all unique and awesome.”

Change is unavoidable over long periods, which can be seen throughout many revamps to both the school and its community during Poppe’s years of service. “The size of the place has changed as well as the use of technology. Technology and the internet were still young and new,” shares Poppe. “When I first started teaching at Green Hope, the gray trailers and the mods weren’t here. It was all open land.” Additionally, new technological developments allowed her new opportunities to further students’ education through resources that were previously inaccessible. “I give the students different ways of critiquing art, watching how-to videos for further learning, and we look at different artists from around the world,” she said.

Poppe’s years in education have provided her with countless invaluable memories, as well as a plethora of life lessons. “I have many wonderful memories from teaching here. From the students I’ve taught to the staff, I have had the chance to meet and work with. Every year is different and brings something new,” she shares. “The students continue to teach me different music, pop culture references and art styles from around the world, as well as their unique way of looking at and creating art. It’s an honor to watch them start, develop, and complete a piece in their distinct artistic voice.”