Reidsville, NC- It's hard for Katina Chance to believe life almost led her on a different path, because she can no longer picture herself in any other occupation outside of education. With 20 years under her belt, Chance has seen many changes throughout her time, but she says one thing has stayed the same —her love of building bonds with students and their families. It's one of the biggest reasons she continues to thrive in any role she takes on.

Currently, Chance is the Assistant Principal of Rockingham County School's new Reidsville Elementary. She became a licensed administrator in 2023 and joined the RCS family during the 2024-2025 school year. She quickly made her mark by being named Assistant Principal of the Year in 2026.

However, a young Katina Chance almost chose another career field. Growing up in Greenville, NC, Chance always had a love for learning. Her favorite subject in school was reading. In fact, she still reads all the time and is a part of two book clubs! She also loves music and played the viola from 4th through 12th grade and was part of her school's chorus and gospel choir in high school. It was in her junior year that Chance thought she would go to college to become a lawyer or physical therapist.

Life has a funny way of steering you in the right direction, though, because Chance says the desire to be a teacher was always in her heart. Her father may have instilled in her that love of education. He had a goal of becoming a history teacher after graduating from East Carolina University.

"When he graduated from college, there were not a lot of teaching jobs available at that time," Chance says. "But it [teaching] was ingrained in me. He taught a lot at our church, and I have always just loved the art of teaching."

That's why Chance says she then took the route her heart was telling her to and went to school to become an educator. Her father was excited, thinking his daughter was about to attend his alma mater, but the "born-to-be Pirate" chose to move to Greensboro and become a Spartan at UNCG.

After receiving her degree, Chance thought she would go back to Greenville to be with family, but the Triad became home. She began her career as a teacher with Thomasville City Schools and stayed with the district for five years. After that, she moved to Guilford County Schools where she worked for 13 years. Over the course of that time, Chance found herself in many roles including working as a literacy coach and curriculum facilitator.

While working as a Curriculum Facilitator in High Point, she was made aware of an open position at Reidsville Middle. Her principal told her it was time for her to take that next step in her career and apply for an administrative role. That's how she ended up with RCS. Chance spent two years at Reidsville Middle serving as the Assistant Principal before moving to Reidsville Elementary and continuing in the same position.

As an Assistant Principal, Chance doesn't find herself in the classroom as much, but that doesn't mean she hasn't discovered loopholes when it comes to teaching others.

"When I go into the classrooms, I'm able to give teachers some feedback, and I try to be very intentional with that. So, not just telling them, but giving them examples," Chance says. "I like to keep my feet wet, keep my skills sharp."

Interacting with fellow staff members is an important part of being an Assistant Principal, especially nowadays. Even over the course of 20 years, the way school leadership teams are having to prepare and train their staff has changed. The need for teachers in schools is high, and the background of a newer educator may not be as robust as one who started years ago.

"They're learning on the job. There are more demands, and we're having to prepare them in a different way than what teachers had to be prepared in years past."

Chance made it clear that this is not a difficult part of working in education, it's just one of the many changes she's experienced that leaders are having to deal with now that they weren't before.

One thing that has not changed during her 20 years is what she considers the most rewarding part of her job —building relationships with students and their families. Chance feels rewarded knowing the families of her students can depend on her and come to her whenever their child may need help or guidance.

"I had a student who was having a hard time transitioning back into school, and her grandmother came in. We talked a little bit, and I told her, 'Grandma, I got her.' She said, 'I know. I trust you. I trust you.' So, that really means a lot to me that she felt like her grandbaby was in good hands."

Not only is Chance building a sense of community between herself and her staff, students and beyond, but she says the feeling of being part of one big family is what she loves most about working with RCS.

"It's very common for us to see our Superintendent in our building, and he knows many of the staff. Our Board Members visit as well and provide their support. The community is very supportive of its schools."

Her message to her Reidsville Elementary Ravens —"I love being your Assistant Principal, and I look forward to every day in the nest with you!"