A Q&A with administrative intern Lakisha Perkins
By Sydney Ginsberg
The Pirates’ Hook (PH): Where are you coming from before Riverside?
Lakisha Perkins (LP): I was a fourth grade teacher at Pearson Town Elementary School. I was with my students in second grade. I went with them to third, and then I moved with them to fourth.
PH: What brought you to Riverside?
LP: I’m doing a principal internship.
PH: Are there any things that stand out or immediate differences from Riverside to other places that you’ve been?
LP: This is my first high school, so I’m coming from 20 plus years in elementary, but I will say that high school is completely different.
PH: What about this job and working in education brings you the most joy?
LP: I enjoy interacting with students. I like to make students feel special. I’m trying to learn students’ names, see them in the hall, speak with them, make them feel welcome. I just like to know that students feel welcome in their school.
PH: What about Riverside are you most looking forward to?
LP: I’m looking forward to learning just the culture. I’m looking forward to learning just the different grade bands. What’s interesting is, I went to ECU, which they’re pirates, and in my high school, whose initials were “RHS.” So I feel like there are a lot of commonalities where I’m like, ‘Is this destiny?’
PH: What are the challenges that you anticipate here at Riverside?
LP: Students that may not be able to access the curriculum…barriers that they may have, or that may cause frustrations for them. So, I guess I would say each student being successful in accessing their education.
PH: If you weren’t in education, what would you do?
LP: I used to want to be a flight attendant. But my major at ECU was communication, so I used to want to be on TV. So it seems like the welcoming theme is very resonant.
