Henrico's Top Teachers – Angela Persaud, Henrico High School, exceptional education

During lunch, after school, during the summer, at a McDonald’s – Angela Persaud is willing to be there to help her students get what they need to be successful, even if they don’t yet believe that they can be.

Persaud, who was born and raised in Trinidad, started out as a social worker in New York City before switching to education. Her passion was always working with the most vulnerable children and families; her 18 years at Henrico High School have been dedicated to teaching exceptional education students in collaborative general education classes and in separate self-contained classes.

Persaud is patient with all of her students, general ed and exceptional ed alike, but she never underestimates her exceptional ed students, knowing that many have overlooked strengths.

“You should never compare a general ed student to an exceptional ed student, because every student has their own strengths and weaknesses,” she said. “And to be honest with you, a lot of general ed students can learn from exceptional ed students, because sometimes they are more advanced in certain areas than some general ed students.”

As a teacher, Persaud’s main goal is to cultivate those strengths and weaknesses into a “vision” for each student. Persaud regularly helps her students get their driver’s license or learner’s permit, set up doctor appointments, apply for jobs – and most importantly, visualize a path of success for themselves after high school.

Persaud remembers one student who was absolutely terrified of driving and dead set on the idea that she likely never would get her driver’s license. But Persaud had a vision for her – one in which she knew how to drive – and would work with her outside of class to study the DMV manual.

“In her mind, it was destined that she would never drive. But I knew she was capable of getting her learner’s permit and her driver’s license, it would just take time,” Persaud said. “During her lunch time, I used to have her look at the New York DMV, the Arizona DMV, and we would study the road signs. We would practice the questions from DMVs all over.”

The student has long since graduated from Persaud’s class, but now, she is a licensed driver.

And to this day, 10 years after being in her class, she still texts Persaud on Mother’s Day every single year.

“Even though she struggled academically, even though she had an [Individualized Education Program], she’s independent now. She lives on her own and she has her own little apartment. And guess what? She drives to and from work,” Persaud said.

Persaud has many other “success stories” – a student who wasn’t accepted into the high school early childhood education program and instead had to work at a fast food restaurant, but now works in a daycare after Persaud encouraged her to start volunteering at her church’s childcare program; another student who had no idea what he wanted to do in his future, until Persaud noticed during her lunches that he had taken an interest to her Caribbean food and encouraged him to think about opening a food business.

Persaud, or “Ms. P” to her students, has quite a plate full of responsibilities: she teaches in collaborative general ed classes, directs her own exceptional education math classes, and manages caseloads of IEPs. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school, you will find her tutoring countless students in math, regardless of whether they are her students or not, and every summer, you will find her working at Henrico Schools’ extended year program for students with disabilities.

“Ms. P is, quite simply, the best exceptional education teacher and case manager I have ever seen or worked with. She is approachable, knowledgeable, funny, and kind, but puts up with no nonsense,” said one nominator. “She is one of the most hardworking and dedicated colleagues I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and her hard work is always in the best interest of students.”

Even during moments of student outbursts or conflict, Persaud knows how to lovingly calm her students down, using a few soothing phrases – or sometimes, how to make a student laugh a little: “Girlie, are you for real?!”

“You don’t have to say a lot, just tell them it’s going to be okay and to take a deep breath,” Persaud said. “Just having that verbal connection or relationship with them, and not just my students but any students of the school, just a few words may help make a difference.”

For Persaud, the well-being of her students trumps any of her other concerns. At Henrico High, she is the facilitator of their potential, honing in on the visions she has for their futures.

“The kids, the kids, the kids – that’s the most important. The kids are our future,” she said. “I love where I’m at. I love working with the staff and the students, and the impact we have on students, making a difference in their future, whatever that future may be.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.