#DoingItForLenoir - Ms. Shannarra Barrow
During the month of March, we'll be recognizing members of our community that have demonstrated college and career success. On today, we're proud to have Ms. Shannarra Barrow, a leader, mentor and role model in our community who is truly #DoingItForLenoir, as our first honoree!
Ms. Barrow currently serves as the STEM Teacher at Rochelle Middle School in Kinston, and as owner of Stage LYFE, LLC., a youth-based dance and performing arts company here in Kinston. Prior to going to college, she was a student at Kinston High School where she participated in various clubs and school programs—but most notably the Future Business Leaders of America club.
"FBLA taught me a lot about business, and had a huge focus on business finance and accounting," said Ms. Barrow. This pushed me into going into the Accountancy major at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University, where I proudly graduated from in 2006."
Through her work as an educator in the Lenoir County Public Schools system, as well as owner of Stage LYFE, Ms. Barrow believes she has put her college degree to good use.
"I'm using my degree to teach students how to explore mathematics and technology through our STEM Program, and how they can utilize the components of STEM in our everyday lives. In addition to my work as a teacher, I get to utilize my skills and knowledge in accountancy with Stage LYFE, where I have to oversee proper management of the funds we raise and expenses we have through our programs."
Ms. Barrow knows that attending, and graduating, from college is very important—so she encourages her STEM and dance students to do just that.
"College is a life experience that I talk to my dancers and students about all of the time. College is about bettering yourself as a whole—receiving a higher education, networking, finding yourself, embracing new opportunities and new people. The degree is a bonus to all of the other experiences and knowledge that you gain.”
We salute you, Ms. Barrow! Thank you for investing in our young people, and encouraging us to go to college! Thank you for #DoingItForLenoir!
Check back next week on the Kinston Teens website and social media pages for our next #DoingItForLenoir spotlight!
