Whether she was working from a police cruiser or an elementary school, Denise McCoy felt called on to help young people and their families. It’s a calling that has guided her from law enforcement to public education, where – over the course of her 17-year career – she has become a local, statewide and national leader.
Recently named Education Support Professional of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Educators, McCoy is in the running for national ESP of the Year. A supervisor in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ transportation department, McCoy will contend against other state-level winners next year for the National Education Association’s top award for non-teaching education employees.
“It feels good to be representing Winston-Salem and North Carolina,” McCoy said.
It’s not a new feeling. Last year, McCoy was elected to an at-large seat for ESPs on NEA’s Board of Directors. She campaigned for the spot during NEA’s national conference, speaking to delegations from other states to seek their endorsement and votes.
McCoy was the right person for the job, said Val Young, a first-grade teacher at Ashley Academy. Young served with McCoy at the Forsyth County Association of Educators and helped her campaign for the NEA position.
“I wanted to make that that it wasn’t just someone taking the position for popularity,” Young said. “I wanted someone I knew would do a good job. I really believe in her as (someone) that’s going to work.”
Before entering public education, McCoy worked as police officer with the Statesville Police Department. She was promoted there, becoming the department’s first female detective. But, she still wasn’t having the impact she wanted. McCoy said that after arresting enough children and serving as Iredell County’s truant officer – having to take families to court for their children’s poor school attendance – she said it was time for a change.
“I thought, ‘There’s a calling out there for me,’” she said. “I wanted to do something on the front end, rather than the back end.”
It was the start of a second career. McCoy has spent nearly the past 20 years in public education.
She joined Forsyth County schools in 1996 as a parent involvement coordinator. She spent one year in that role at Lewisville Elementary before moving to Konnoak Elementary. The majority of Konnoak’s families are low-income, and many of its students face challenges in and out of the classroom. McCoy said she found her place working with that population, taking the time to listen to families and children who may not have anyone else doing that for them.
“Sometimes, people just want to be listened to,” she said. “If you built that relationship, it can go a long way.”
McCoy left Konnoak just last November, when she transferred to her new role in the transportation department where she oversees about 40 bus drivers.
McCoy said she misses more regular interaction with students, but is still advocating for them through her day-to-day work and position as a leader in the state and national education conversation. Prior to her position with NEA, McCoy held offices within both the state and local affiliates.
More than anything, it is McCoy’s leadership that stands out said Yvonne Williams. Williams, recently retired from Parkland High School, met McCoy through FCAE. They’ve worked closely together, Williams said, on state and local issues.
Williams nominated McCoy for the state ESP of the Year award.
“She’s a doer,” Williams said. “She’s an activist, but she does it in a very quiet way.
