Siler City, NC – Jordan-Matthews High School English teacher Lily Rosene has been named Chatham County Schools’ Beginning Teacher of the Year.
“I am so overwhelmed with feelings of joy and support today,” Rosene said Wednesday when the news was announced. “First and foremost, thank you to the heart of this entire operation, my amazing students. Without them walking with me throughout this education journey, none of this would have been possible. Thank you to my incredible JMHS administrators, my mentors, my BT coach, Jackie Aponte, the Chatham County Schools BT program and coordinator, Ms. Boone, my colleagues, my phenomenal former co-teacher-turned-English-teacher who has taught me so much of what I know, Katie Rehder, my mom who has been my role model in life and education since day one, my family for cheering me on through my career change into secondary education, my friends, and of course my adoring and supportive husband. I would be nothing without this amazing group of people surrounding me.”
“We are extremely proud to have Ms. Rosene as the district’s Beginning Teacher of the Year,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson. “She represents the best of what our educators are doing in the classroom to engage and inspire our students.”
Rosene believes in standard-led, skill-based assessment, student-choice focused curriculum, finding her students excel using it. “When students have a choice in what they read and have the opportunity to take some ownership in their education, they rise to the challenges and surpass any expectations by myself or other parties,” she said.
Rosene followed in her mother’s footsteps in her journey to become a teacher.
“As a child, I would watch my mom work tirelessly to connect with and inspire her students,” Rosene said. “Little did I know at the time, she was planting a seed of a passion for education in me that would bloom decades later as I followed my dream of becoming an educator.”
Rosene began teaching at Jordan-Matthews High School in August 2020 in a remote setting and was unable because of the pandemic to be in-person with her students until spring 2021.
“I can’t say enough how much I love my job and feel honored to have been selected as Chatham County’s Beginning Teacher of the Year. I am blessed beyond measure to do what I love every day with people who make it fun,” Rosene said. “Thank you to the Jordan-Matthews High School community, as well as the larger Chatham County Schools community, for celebrating student and teacher successes each and every day while providing the opportunities to make these successes possible.”
Jordan-Matthews appreciates the value Rosene brings in helping educate students.
“Ms. Rosene is an outstanding educator. Her ability to connect with her students and elevate their learning shows in the progress her students are making,” Jordan-Matthews Principal Donna Barger said. “We are so lucky to have her on our team, and thrilled with the impact she’s had on her students.”