Over the last four decades, Davie County High School has undergone countless changes, from moving to a new campus to navigating the challenges of digital learning. Education has evolved, technology has advanced, and generations of students have passed through DCHS’s halls. Through all of it, one thing has remained constant: the presence of Donna Dunn, one of Davie High’s more respected, beloved, and enduring English teachers.

Dunn began teaching at DCHS in 1986, her recent retirement marking the end of a nearly 40-year career in education. When asked what inspired her to become a teacher, Dunn credited the curiosity she experienced as a student herself.

“I used to sit in my high school classes and think, if I could teach this concept, I would try doing (insert whatever idea I had),” Dunn said. “I don’t know why my brain did that, but it often did.”

Dunn also chose teaching because she wanted to make an impact on those around her.

“I had some soul searching in college about what job I wanted to do that might help people or make a difference for people,” she said. “I have never regretted—not a single moment—that I chose to be a teacher.”

A Lasting Impact

Throughout her 40 years of teaching, Dunn has left a mark on countless students, from giving them a strong foundation in grammar to creating a welcoming environment where students felt encouraged to grow. For many students, it was Dunn’s classroom culture that stood out the most.

When asked for his favorite memory of being in Dunn’s class, Davie High alumnus Sean Lane (‘25) commented that it was the classroom environment that Dunn had created.

“Ms. Dunn has a special way of making everyone in her classroom comfortable,” Lane said.  “She creates an environment where you’re not afraid to get the answer wrong, and when you do, she just says, ‘You missed the ball, try again.’”

Sophomore Caroline Bauguess echoed that sentiment.

“My favorite memory was just that she made sure that everybody had their voice,” Bauguess said.  “She made sure that everyone could speak their mind on whatever we were talking about.”

For sophomore Natalie Quance, Dunn made an impact by helping her understand grammar in a way she never had before and showing her what it meant to be compassionate yet firm.

“She taught me what a preposition was… I think that is the first class I’ve had where I’ve really understood grammar,” Quance said. “Another thing that Ms. Dunn taught me a lot was having compassion, but having a strong hand with compassion. She is very much a person who is very sweet, but she fights for what she wants and what she needs for the children.”

As a teacher, Dunn always made sure to push her students to succeed while encouraging them to work hard. Alumnus Katie Shoaf (‘17) said that Dunn’s standards are what impacted her the most in her time as one of her students.

“Ms. Dunn held high standards,” Shoaf said. “She expected you to work hard and made you want to at the same time. She would notice and appreciate your achievements in and out of her classroom.”

The relationships Dunn strove to create with her students were among the most important things her students remembered. Bauguess remarked that Dunn’s connections with her students were what she appreciated most.

“I appreciated that she made a connection with all of her students and didn’t pick favorites,” Bauguess said.

For Quance, what she most appreciated about Dunn was her random knowledge and eagerness to answer her students’ questions.

“I really appreciate her, honestly, her random knowledge. I think it’s fun,” Quance said. “She’s wise beyond anyone else I’ve known my entire life. And you can ask her anything, and she will either find the answer or know the answer. And she’s very good at making sure her facts are not one-sided in any way.”

Throughout her time as an English teacher, Dunn not only impacted the students she taught but also the teachers she worked with. Science teacher Collin Ferebee, who has both taught and been a student at DCHS during Dunn’s career, discussed the lasting impact she has had on the school.

“I think at the end of the day, she was a constant positive force that everyone knew that, if you’re on Donna Dunn’s side, you’re on the right side of history,” Ferebee said. “That usually meant that you were doing things right, because she was always leading the charge of adapting and doing things the right way.”
Like her students, Ferebee appreciated that she would always stand up for what her students needed and what she believed in.

“I think my favorite thing about her would be that she was always so kind and pleasant and fun, except when she was sitting in meetings and she didn’t disagree with something. And man, that was so fun to see her get riled up,” Ferebee said. “I don’t think she would think that that’s her favorite, but I loved how much she still, after 40 years, stood up for what she believed in. I think that’s probably my favorite. Just seeing her in all those times really care about the school and the kids.”

Looking Forward

As Dunn closes the door on her career in the classroom, she begins a new chapter of both excitement and reflection. Having worked in some capacity since the age of 13, Dunn admits that retirement is a change that comes with a bit of uncertainty. However, she is also looking forward to the possibilities that are to come.

One opportunity Dunn is looking forward to the most is the chance to travel more freely. No longer limited solely to summer breaks for travel, Dunn says that she already has tickets booked for future adventures.

In addition to exploring new places, Dunn also has plans to begin construction on a greenhouse, a project that has been in the works for years, allowing her to continue pursuing her love of gardening, a passion many students have recognized through the plants that fill her classroom.

Aside from personal projects, Dunn plans to dedicate more time to community organizations, a continuation of the same desire to help others that defined her time at Davie High. While her days may no longer be filled with lesson plans and class discussions, Dunn is also looking forward to slower mornings.

“I look forward to that third cup of coffee some mornings with my wonderful (60 lb) pooch in my lap.  (Yes, she thinks she’s a toy poodle.),” Dunn joked.

Looking ahead, Dunn says that the thing she will miss the most about being a teacher is the students she taught. As she reflects on her career, she hopes they will continue to be self-reflective and proactive, taking the lessons she taught them as students far beyond the classroom. 

She encourages students to remember the value of perseverance, an idea reflected in one of her favorite quotes from Winston Churchill: “If you are going through hell, keep going.” She also urges students to be mindful of the need for resilience on the most difficult days, leaving with them a quote from Regina Brett that she herself has tried to live by: “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up.”

Though Dunn’s classroom lights may be off, her influence will continue to remain deeply rooted in the memory and culture of Davie High. As she continues on to the next chapter of her life, her legacy lives on in the students she led, the colleagues she inspired, and the lessons she taught us all. The impact she made will remain a lasting part of the school’s story for generations to come. 

As Ferebee emphasized, “Davie County High School is not Davie County High School without Donna Dunn.”