Three Generations, One Village: A Teacher’s Lasting Legacy

For retired educator Rosa Rand, a tutoring session recently hosted by Southeast Raleigh Promise at Beacon Ridge Apartments was more than an opportunity to help students prepare for End-of-Grade testing.

It was an opportunity to reconnect with a family whose lives she has touched across three generations, offering a powerful reminder that educators shape lives and strengthen communities for decades.

The tutoring session was part of the second annual EOG Prep Series, held in the community room at Beacon Ridge, located on the Beacon Campus. The prep sessions are hosted by Southeast Raleigh Promise in partnership with Southeast Raleigh Elementary School. This year, accompanied by a parent, 19 Beacon Ridge students attended, a 72% increase in participation over the previous year.

Among the students Rand worked with during the EOG tutoring sessions was 10-year-old Thomas, the grandson of Virginia, a Beacon Ridge resident who Rand taught as a second-grade student at York Elementary School in the 1980s.

The connection didn’t stop there.

Virginia’s daughter, Veronica, Thomas’ mother, remembers Rand when she attended York Elementary School decades later.  Though not her teacher, Veronica recalls her mother instructed her to introduce herself to Rand and to rely on her whenever she needed guidance and support.

“We’re still connected,” Rand said. “That’s three generations I’ve been in this family’s life.”

Listening to Rand reflect on the relationship, Veronica quickly identified the reason it has endured.

“It’s trust,” she said. “It really is full circle. Now, my son gets the same thing that I got.”

The connection represents the lasting impact educators can have beyond the classroom, long after lessons in the classroom have ended.

Rand credits her own educational journey to the example set by teachers she encountered as a student at Southeast Raleigh’s historic Washington Elementary School.

“I saw Black excellence in the teachers I had at Washington Elementary School,” Rand said. “They impacted my life greatly and led me to teach.”

One of those educators was Southeast Raleigh resident and retired Wake County Public Schools educator Sydney Roberts, now 93, who taught Rand when she was herself a second grader at Southeast Raleigh’s historic Washington Elementary School.

During our conversation with Rand, she shared memories of Roberts. After learning how to reach her, Rand contacted her former teacher, renewing a relationship that began decades ago.

Roberts shared that she wanted to be the best teacher she could be and use her teaching skills to be a positive influence and example for her students.

“As a Black educator, I wanted my students to see what was possible and to know they could achieve great things. We were more than teachers. We were role models. Seeing former students like Rosa continue to serve and uplift others makes me proud because it shows the impact of that example,” said Roberts.

Inspired by teachers like Roberts who helped shape her belief in and understanding of what’s possible, Rand dedicated 40 years to Wake County Public Schools, impacting the lives of countless students and families. Although she’s now retired, Rand continues to answer the call.

“As a person who has been there on the front lines, the need is prevalent,” she said. “I believe it takes a village, and I’m still willing to be part of the village. I see every child as part of my responsibility.”

That commitment extends beyond education. Rand also serves as president of the Fourth Ward Historic Neighborhood Association, working to preserve the history and advocate for recognition of the Southeast Raleigh community she called home for 50 years before it was displaced by urban renewal.

The story of Rosa Rand and Thomas’ family reflects the kind of generational connection that helps communities thrive. Just as Virginia encouraged her daughter to seek guidance from a trusted educator, Veronica now watches her son benefit from that same relationship decades later.

It’s what can happen when a village shows up – for generations.

The EOG Prep Session Series was hosted by Southeast Raleigh Promise in partnership with Southeast Raleigh Elementary as part of our Cradle-to-Career Education component. At Southeast Raleigh Promise we believe that relationships, access, opportunity, and a shared commitment to the next generation build strong communities.

Looking ahead, as demand for academic support continues to rise, Southeast Raleigh Promise hopes to build on that momentum by helping to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities for students, while strengthening connections among families, schools, and community members.

As we support today’s students, we also honor legacy residents and educators like Rosa Rand, whose dedication strengthens the village and inspires those who will lead it tomorrow.