Student Profile: Rosiland McGee

Vincent Gray Student Testimonial

Difference Maker: Rosiland McGee

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  • Wants to be a crime-scene investigator once she attends college.
  • "Lost Focus" in high school, but that changed after having her first child.
  • She wanted to go back to school to "be educated," and wants her child to be educated.
  • The teachers were what made the difference: they "help you physically, mentally, and spiritually."

Rosiland McGee has big plans. “When I graduate I would like to go to college for crime scene investigation because I want to be a detective.” However, things weren’t always so optimistic for Rosiland. After a death in the family, Rosiland was so heartbroken she left her home high school, with no plans on coming back. “I just lost focus” Rosiland said about her time out of high school.


All of that changed when she had her first child, Ivory Davis. Now three months old Rosiland credits her return to school with his birth, and wanting to set a tone of achievement in her new family. “He truly helped me get back in school. I didn’t want to raise my son without an education. My son looks up to me and I want him to grow up and be educated as well.” She adds, “I want him to be focused on school like I was.”


Thankfully, Vincent Gray Academy was there for Rosiland when she needed it most. Rosiland is now in school and set to graduate this spring. She thoroughly enjoys her time earning her high school diploma at Vincent Gray. “What I like most about going to Vincent Gray is that the teachers help you physically, mentally, and spiritually.” She loves the sense of community at the school as well. “We’re all very close and get along very well. We’re truly a family school.” She credits the teachers with her success in the classroom. “The teachers help you not only with school but also with issues in your personal life. They really do try their best to get you to achieve.”

Her favorite teacher is the reading and science teacher at Vincent Gray Academy, Ms. Janise Owens. “She just always gives me a lot of great advice and tells me if I have a problem, I can always just talk about it with her.” That level of personal support and comfort in academics as well as in life helped Rosiland overcome her grief and be successful in high school this time around. “I would recommend anyone to come to Vincent Gray who needs to focus. They will help you focus and help you get by. You will be successful if you come here.”

Class Snapshot: Technology Education

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Raspberry Pi 3

The mini-computer with a lot of heart.

Thanks to support from Monsanto Fund, we are able to offer our students the opportunity to use "Raspberry Pi 3s" these little devices are the same as what you would find in a desktop or laptop computer, minus the power supply, display, mice, and a keyboard. But with those devices added to it the Raspberry 3 functions the same as a computer.

Our students get to use these little gadgets to learn how computers actually work inside their case. Students will learn what a circuit board is and how a computer functions. Although there is so much more that these devices can do. Our students can use these devices to learn how to code and program new machines. Since these devices are miniaturized computers, people have turned Raspberrys into all sorts of things. Including an automated tea-dunker, an edible lollipop remote control, and even an Alexa-like voice operated personal assistant (see Slide 6).

What's even more amazing is that our students will have the opportunity to use these devices to learn more about opportunities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field thanks to the generosity of our partners.

Class Snapshot: African American Studies

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Class Snapshot

Reverend Phoenix Barnes, right, our African American Studies Teacher and the Chairman of our Board teaches students a lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights struggles in Selma Alabama. © 2017 Vincent Gray Academy. All Rights Reserved.

This week our students read from The Willie Lynch Letter and the Making of a Slave. An important lesson on America's ugly history of slavery. According to Reverend Barnes, our African American Studies Teacher, "These are topics that our students rarely learn about, but that are critically important." A focus on this chapter of history is indeed eye-opening and we look forward to our African American studies teacher empowering our students with this knowledge.

Class Snapshot: Employment Skills

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Class Snapshot

Students learn in one of our two computer labs. © 2017 Vincent Gray Academy. All Rights Reserved.

Vincent Gray welcomed it's newest faculty member, Mr. George Arteaga this month. He will teach the core subject of Social Studies for our school. Mr. Arteaga is also helping students learn an important skill for school, work and life: computer usage. In his Employment Skills course students will learn how to operate a computer for all life's challenges such as finding and keeping a job, securing healthcare, and finding additional schooling opportunities.