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From Survivor to Servant: GCS Teacher Inspires Students with Compassionate Action
Gabrielle Brown
Greensboro, N.C. - Hurricane Helene is now the third-deadliest storm in the 21st century. While families across the Southeast scour what's left of their homes, help is pouring in from across the country, including Guilford County Schools.
Schools across the district, including Eastern High, Southeast High, Northwest High and Southeast Middle, are collecting money and supplies. Allen Jay Middle students are writing cards to send to families, Greensboro College Middle College has partnered with the YWCA of High Point and the NC Diaper Bank to collect diapers for babies.
Lindley Elementary, Oak Ridge Elementary and others have opened their doors to new students who were displaced when the historic storm moved through the area in late September.
Pictures and videos of the damage are sobering. Streams swelled into raging rivers, swallowing homes and cutting off communities. For Briton Wertz, a firefighter/paramedic, EMT and Public Safety teacher at Southern High, the disaster brought on a sense of deja vu. In 2017, she was deployed from the NC coast to assist in wildfire relief in Chimney Rock. A year later, her own world was turned upside down when Hurricane Florence hit, leaving her and her children with nothing.
“I became someone on the other side of the spectrum,” Briton recalls, reflecting on her transition from being a first responder to someone in need of assistance. “It’s in my blood to serve, but I had no idea how to let others serve me.” When the news of Helene’s devastation in western NC broke, Wertz shared her story with her students, describing the mold-infested remains of her home, the worry of not having enough cash to get supplies, the anxiety of not being able to communicate with others and the struggles of rebuilding. Her students were moved, recognizing that disaster relief is more than an abstract concept; it’s about real people facing unimaginable loss.“They saw me, their teacher, someone they view as strong, go through this,” Briton said. “And that vulnerability inspired them... my kids were like, Chief we, we got to do something. And I was like, you're absolutely right.”
“Never underestimate the value of a clean, dry sock”
Together, with Southern High’s Assistant Principal Allison Adams, Briton and her students organized a donation drive to collect basic items for those affected by the hurricane including two simple but essential items that bring a world of comfort to those in need, socks and lip balm. “How often do you think about, wow, it feels so amazing to get a new pair of socks,” Briton said. “I mean, normally it's like a new phone, because I love my electronics, but I mean socks. And I said, guys, a toothbrush, a toothpaste... little sample size bottles you get from the hotels where you stay and they just collect in a drawer, that means something to someone...you can make a difference.”
Learning beyond the classroom
Guilford County Schools is home to the first EMT and public safety pathway in the county. Students enrolled in the courses have expressed an interest in serving their communities after graduating high school and have earned skills and credentials that will help them reach that goal sooner than their peers. Their drive is not based on a one-time charity event – it’s become a lesson in empathy, civic duty and the power of small contributions that has spread throughout the school community. Students, staff and local families are all pitching in. Each grade level is competing to collect the most items, with the winning class earning the chance to pie an administrator in the face. It’s a light-hearted twist on a serious cause, designed to engage students and spark their desire to give back.
“As a firefighter, we're great at putting out fires, but I also really like lighting fires under people," Wertz said. “Because every human has a fire, they just might not have the components to keep the flame going or to even ignite the flame.” The impact of this drive goes beyond just collecting supplies. Briton and her students are learning that service, in all its forms, builds resilience and strengthens communities. "They are becoming more than just students—they're becoming compassionate, driven citizens of the world."
How to help
Wertz dropped off supplies collected at Southern and then joined a group of friends to clear a roadway.
Southeast High, Eastern High and Northwest High are collecting donations throughout the month of October. According to Governor Cooper’s office, donors raised more than $2 million for the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. If you’d like to donate, visit www.nc.gov/donate. If you’d like to volunteer, visit nc.gov/working/volunteer-opportunities/volunteernc.