“We are working to plant those seeds of possibility, helping them to understand it is possible to do the things you want to do in life — be who you want to be.”

— Shonda Hairston, the 2019-2020 principal of the year speaking in an interview with Salisbury Post contributor Maggie Blackwell.

“I was treated differently because my parents worked in a factory. Because of that, equity is very
important to me.”

— Theresa Pierce, the 2019-2020 teacher of the year whose parents were successful business owners until a supper club they invested in burned down and they declared bankruptcy. Her family moved to Kinston for jobs at Dupont.

“I’m happy to see my kids smile. When I see them happy, I’m
happy.”

— Tenae Thomas, the mother of two girls who were surprised to receive bikes this week during a giveway organized by Gerry Wood Auto Group and the Salisbury Police Department.

“They die, plain and simple … You have a lot of people in this community that are elderly, their spouse in deceased, their children live in Texas, Florida or Wisconsin. This is going to be life-saving for them.”

— Bill Graham, incoming chairman of the Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Foundation who was speaking about the importance of having an option for cancer treatment locally.

“Voices across our county deserve to be heard when important legislative decisions are being made.”

— Al Heggins, mayor pro tem of Salisbury and a candidate who’s running as a Democrat for the 76th House District.

“To represent an entire country is such as awesome thing. It was an experience like no other.”

— Grace Yatawara, a Salisburian and East Carolina University student who recently won two gold medals playing in the South Asian Games.