The ROCS Board of Directors is thrilled to share with you the following introduction from our new Executive Director, Ms. Sarah Ross. You will hear more from her in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, please join us in giving her a warm ROCS welcome!
Dear ROCS Community,
I hope this finds you all well and warm as we approach the holiday season!My name is Sarah Ross, and I am so excited to join the team and family here at Raleigh Oak Charter School as Executive Director. I consider myself extremely blessed to be surrounded by such a supportive community that is dedicated to educating the whole child. Upon my first visit to the ROCS campus in November, I immediately knew that this school was incredibly special and something that I wanted to be a part of. Throughout each stage of the interview process, that feeling was confirmed in conversations with staff, meetings with the board, and classroom visits. It is abundantly clear that every teacher, family, and community stakeholder here is committed to the growth and development of each child as well as the greater school culture at ROCS.
I have been an educator in my home state of North Carolina for fourteen years. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC-Chapel Hill before joining Teach for America as a Corps Member in Eastern North Carolina. I spent the first half of my career teaching grades 4-8 English/Language Arts in the rural northeastern part of the state. I then returned to Chapel Hill, where I worked as a middle school teacher and Literacy Coach before going back to UNC-Chapel Hill to earn my Master of School Administration degree. Since then, I have worked as an Assistant Principal and Principal in both public and public charter school settings in the state.
I am passionate about the Waldorf philosophy, having my oldest son attend early school at Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill. I have always hoped that my career would lead me to a community that shares my values and belief of educating the whole child- head, hands, and heart. I believe wholeheartedly that our children can grow and achieve– as people and learners– through the teaching of North Carolina Standards, grounded in the Public Waldorf philosophy.
I look forward to getting to know each of you over the course of the upcoming weeks. Please be on the lookout for information regarding opportunities for us to meet in person as we enter 2023. I am here to connect, listen, and answer any questions you may have. I’m honored to be able to steward ROCS in our future and continued growth and successes.
Best,
Sarah Ross
