Her Story
About Ritha
Ritha Selby is a long-tenured elementary education professional with 31 years of teaching experience at WCPSS. She joined the district in 1997 after moving from Florida to North Carolina and spent her career at Lynn Road school, where she taught students in grades K through 6, focusing primarily on 3rd grade, 5th grade, and sometimes 1st grade. She has extensive experience in instruction, student support, tutoring, assessment, and building meaningful rapport with children from all walks of life. While working full time, she pursued graduate studies and earned an MBA in Business Administration and Management to have additional options beyond the classroom.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ritha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to lots of prayer and meditation. I believe in the higher power and count on that strength and endurance. Patience is key, as you cannot buy it, and I found myself being very patient for 31 years with those little babies.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell her to take some courses, do some personal development for herself. Not only learn the ABCs and all the practices in education, but also do something for yourself because you're going to have to have some type of vigor to go back into that classroom every single day. Find something else to do, some type of development courses or psychology courses.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My why would be just to be an influence. I try to influence everybody. In my family, they call me the peacemaker because I'm always intervening and trying to mediate. I really feel like I have left an impact on those children that I taught, on my family, and just people in general. I find there's a reason to smile for everything and for everybody.
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