Congratulations to East Forsyth High School Economics and Personal Finance Teacher Damia Jones on becoming a nominee for the National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year Award!
LifeChanger of the Year is an annual program recognizing K-12 educators and school employees who make a significant difference in students' lives by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership. Grand prize winners earn an award of $20,000 to be split between themselves and their schools. Jones is one of only 31 nominees from among North Carolina’s 3,000+ schools.
Jones started teaching just two years ago after graduating from North Carolina A&T University with a degree in political science. She takes pride in preparing her students to be thoughtful, civic-minded adults through her curriculum, but she says that the most important part of being a teacher is “leading with love”. Her students go through a lot in their everyday lives even outside the pressures of school, and it means a lot to them when a teacher is patient and understanding.
By creating a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming space in her classroom, Jones has built a reputation as someone who students can talk to about anything. She says that her students have come to her with issues ranging from career advice to thoughts of self-harm, and she takes every concern of theirs seriously. Seniors from her first year are already making routine visits to the school to see her again, something she takes as a sign that she’s making a real impact.
“I know these kids like the back of my hand,” Jones said. “I can be sitting down during my planning period, and I’ll have five kids knocking at my door because they just want to talk. Kids just want someone to talk to.”
Jones is thankful for the idyllic start to her career that East Forsyth has provided. She’s had plenty of help as she’s gotten into the swing of teaching, especially from her mentor, Nicole Norman. She’s never felt like she has a problem that no one is willing to help her overcome. She feels as close with her colleagues as she does with her students, and even though she’s been there for such a short time, it already feels like a home.
“I’ve been on TikTok and seen first-year teachers just crying and bawling their eyes out, and I’ve never had that experience,” Jones said. “I almost felt left out. Like, am I supposed to be pulling my hair out? But I did not. I didn’t have to. I had wonderful support.”
Comments supporting Damia Jones for LifeChanger of the Year can be submitted online at https://app.lifechangeroftheyear.com/nomination_detail.cfm?NominationID=25153&NominationYear=2025&SchoolState=NC.