An education alternative in Pittsboro

By Nona "Amena" Mensah
Posted Monday, February 4, 2008

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Pittsboro, NC - I am responding to Rita's post about her 13 year old son and his school experiences. Rita, I would like to personally commend you on your strength, insight, commitment, endurance, and love that it took to advocate so diligently for your son. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

I would also like to take this opportunity to share my experiences when I visited My Neighborhood School. I first heard about Donna Bianco from a friend who said she had met a teacher who shares the same vision that I have about children. "When children are in a nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment, they all learn and experience success. And in turn, they all love to learn." I could not wait to meet her.

I showed up at her school while she was still in the construction stage. She welcomed me at an obviously very bust time and we talked for about an hour. Her philosophy, commitment, energy and love for children was obvious in the first 10 minutes of our conversation. I have visited ONS on several occasions since she has been open. It was a delight to see her work with such insight and care for each student. When a teacher makes his or her classroom/school their second home, you know that the "Love of Learning" is growing there. Donna has made Our Neighborhood School her second home.

During my 20 years of teaching in Chatham and six years in New Jersey, I have met many teachers that nurture the "Love of Learning" in public school, alternative schools, and in home schools. Donna Bianco is another shinning example.

Thank you, Donna, for your vision, love and commitment.

Nona "Amena" Mensah is a second grade teacher at Perry Harrison School