CFNN Reporters: Rachel Leonard and Karie Ann McDavid

This week’s teacher of the week is an all around favorite, Mrs. Grace Holden! Mrs. Holden is a history lover at heart. She currently teaches AP Human Geography, AP United States History, and AP Seminar. Mrs. Holden is entering her 8th year of teaching. She previously taught 3 years at Clinton High School and is entering her 5th year of teaching in Colt Country.

Mrs. Holden hasn’t always lived in the Cape Fear district. She went to high school in Boynton Beach Florida at South Technical High School before moving to North Carolina. After moving to North Carolina she attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she majored in history and then later went back to school for her teaching credentials. 

Mrs. Holden was always on and off about wanting to become a teacher, she definitely did not expect to become a history teacher. Growing up she always enjoyed English over other subjects, her dream job was to become a writer. She did not like history because “It was always football coaches teaching,” and she could never truly appreciate learning history during that time. 

If Mrs. Holden was not a teacher, she would want a job that works with people,like a job in customer service. She truly loves being around other  people which is what makes her such an engaging teacher. 

“Mrs. Holden is truly a teacher unlike any other. She makes you feel so loved and appreciated every day. She teaches some of the hardest classes CF has to offer and she truly cares about each student and them learning the content. As one of the first seminar kids, sophomore year will always be my favorite because of Mrs Holden,” Mrs. Holden’s TA Kaydin Brown exclaimed.

Mrs. Holden’s favorite part about being a teacher is the “ ‘lightbulb moment’ that students get when they understand things, it makes me feel like I’ve done my job. It’s literally the best feeling!” Mrs. Holden considers herself very lucky that she gets to teach AP classes that are part of the capstone program where students have the opportunity to gain a capstone diploma or a capstone certificate because with these classes it shows the students actually want to be there to learn and grow as not only students, but people. 

“Mrs. Holden is the best teacher and role-model away from home I’ve ever had! From freshman to senior year, she has supported me, and that’s not including all of the other kids she has helped over the years. She makes learning less of a bore and more of a joy and I am very thankful for that,” Mrs. Holden’s student Alexis Martin explained. 

“AP Human Geo is a very applicable class that will help students as they become adults and enter the real world!” Mrs. Holden related when asked about her 1st period AP Human Geography class..

When it comes to Mrs. Holden’s home life her family is her whole world. She has been married for 7 years and has two kids, Annabelle who is 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Mac Williams Middle School and Atles who is 5 years old and just starting kindergarten at Eastover Central Elementary School.

Both in and outside of the classroom Mrs. Holden is a very creative person. She enjoys all things crafty! From sewing her own dresses and clothes, to working with vinyl and resin, to even having her own etsy shop during her last year of college. As you can tell, crafts have always been her thing! When she is not working with crafts Mrs. Holden loves to watch sitcoms especially That 70s Show and her all time favorite movie, The Notebook!

It is so amazing to see teachers that want to engage with their students and see them excel! Mrs. Holden truly cares about her students and has shown that time over time which is why she was chosen as this week’s teacher of the week!

CFNN Editor: Kennedi Brown