North Carolina Conversations Summer-Fall 2008.pdf

Seminar Offers Personaland Professional GrowthTiffany MayoMayo is a Media Specialist with theCarteret County Schoolsin Morehead City, NC.I recently attended the2008 Teachers Institute summerseminar sponsored by the NorthCarolina Humanities Council. As aTI alum, I was eager for an excitingjourney of learning and growing.However, I was unprepared forthe personal growth that I wouldexperience.The Teachers Institute is alwaysenlightening. This year, I learnedabout Somerset Place, slavery inNorth Carolina, experiences ofthose involved in the Civil RightsMovement, and about AfricanAmerican culture and heritage.Somerset was unlike any museum Ihave ever visited. Walking the plantationand hearing the stories of thepeople who lived there was riveting.Both intellectual and emotionallearning occurred as my colleaguesand I reenacted some of the jobs thatslaves were required to do every day,such as cooking over an open hearth,weaving baskets, churning butter,and making rope. The intense heatof summer, the exhaustion of theday, the thirst in my throat, and therepetitious work — for just one day— was enough to humble me.I was also moved by discussions withDorothy Redford, TI lead scholar andExecutive Director of Somerset, ofher extraordinary work over the pastthirty years to build Somersetinto a place of learning through theeyes of those who lived there. I wasinspired by her passion, honesty,and intellect.The other lead scholar, HeatherWilliams, an associate professor ofhistory at UNC Chapel Hill, spokeeloquently about the separationof enslaved families, making clearhow much we take our own freedomfor granted.Mayo churns butter in a 19th-century replicachurn. Photo by Donovan McKnight.I also learned from visiting scholarTim Tyson’s encouragement ofopen discussion. Discussing racewith honesty can be difficult, butacknowledging my own issues withrace was empowering to me.I am so grateful to the HumanitiesCouncil, the General Assemblyof North Carolina, and generousdonors for providing these seminars.I consider myself a lifelong learner.The opportunity to learn and to growis unique to the Teachers Institute.Moore-Robinson Endowed Scholar,Heather LynchAcademic Facilitator, Charlotte MecklenburgSchools — Scholarship gift from Sandra andBill Moore of Chapel Hill, NC, and Sallyand Russell Robinson of CharlotteMcKinnon Scholar, Kevin ClaryMedia Specialist, Stokes County Schools— Scholarship gift from Grace and JohnMcKinnon of Winston-SalemMoore-Robinson Endowed Scholar, Larry L.MooreFrench, Gaston County Schools — Scholarshipgift from Sandra and Bill Moore of ChapelHill, NC, and Sally and Russell Robinsonof CharlotteMorton Scholar, Julie BordoSpanish, New Hanover County Schools —Scholarship gift from Patty and Thrus Mortonof CharlottePhotos by Donovan McKnight.NC Conversations • Summer 2008 • 31