Her Story
About Cynthia
I've been a high school English teacher for 29 years, and it's the only job I've ever done. When I first started, I taught high school English, journalism, and yearbook at a K-12 school. My principal asked me to help raise middle school scores, and what was supposed to be one school year turned into 12 years. Eventually, I decided to go back to high school because the literature is just a little bit more fun and you can dive a little deeper into it. My typical day involves interacting with students and parents, writing college recommendation letters, and reading over college essays. I'm really focused on helping prepare students for that next step outside of high school, whether that's college or beyond. One of my most notable achievements was speaking at an event called Fresh Take, where I talked about diversifying literature in the classroom. I'm really interested in making sure literature looks like the classroom, that we're not just teaching the dead white poets and dead white authors, but teaching literature that looks like the students. I'm currently pursuing my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at UNC Charlotte because I believe in being a lifelong learner. There's so much out there to be learned, and I continue to enroll in college so I can keep getting that knowledge. The more I have, the more I can give to my students. I try not to get stagnant in my education because I feel like I won't be able to give my students the best that I could give to them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cynthia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just my never give up attitude. I just don't give up. I'm like, I can continue to do this. I'm always asked how long do you think you'll teach, and I'm like, I guess until it's time for me not to teach. I just want to keep doing it. And I think it's also about wanting to help as many people as possible. I love going to the grocery store and hearing someone say 'Miss Rusley?' - that was my maiden name - and I'm thinking, someone still knows me by my maiden name even though I've been married now 18 years. It's always amazing to me when I run into former students. I brought so many kids along the way, and while they had one 7th grade English teacher, I had 141 students. But knowing that I've made an impact on their lives, even if they never say thank you or never come back to talk to me, I know that without me they would not have gotten to that next level. That's what keeps me going.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If it's your passion, do it, because I think that all students deserve to have at least one good teacher in their life, and that could be you. Just keep at it, no matter when it seems bleak, when it's hard. You're gonna have those tough parents, you're gonna have those overbearing parents, and you're gonna have those students who you're thinking this kid can't be taught, but just keep at it. That's my big thing - just keep at it. If your vision is clear and your mission is promising that you want to help people, and those people just happen to be 18 and under, then keep at it. It's going to pay off in the long run. You may not see it, but in the long run you will help a student get to another level of their life goals. They may never say thank you and they may never come back to talk to you, but you know that without you they would not have gotten to that next level.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · North Carolina
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.