College and Career Readiness Blog

Fun Q & A with Sandra & Arbony

To celebrate our outgoing and incoming leaders, we are highlighting them on our blog! 

Sandra Thompson – outgoing AVP of College & Career Readiness 

• A student Sandra is especially proud of working with is a young man in Virginia who came through Southside Virginia Community College’s Middle College program when she served as director for the program. During his period of enrollment, he received his HSE and an HVAC certification. Fifteen years later, she ran into this gentleman at her mom’s house because the HVAC company he now owns was installing a heat pump in her mother’s house.  

• If Sandra had to substitute for a CCR class on short notice, she hopes it would be for math or ESL. 

• Sandra is looking forward to a river cruise on the Nile this summer. 

• Something interesting about Sandra that most people in N.C. don’t know is that balloons make her nervous — she doesn’t do well with things that explode out of nowhere!” 

Arbony Cooper – incoming State Director of WIOA Title II 

• A student Arbony is especially proud of working with is a young man from Pamlico County participated in the GEAR UP program during the 2012–2013 school year. He faced significant challenges—coming from a single-parent household with limited parental involvement in his education, and with no immediate family members (mother, father, or grandparents) who had attended college. Despite these obstacles, he remained committed to his education. He maintained a 3.7 GPA while excelling as a three-sport athlete. However, he lacked knowledge about the college admissions process and had limited access to information about four-year universities. He was at risk of “undermatching,” attending a college that didn’t align with his academic potential or career goals. This student met with Arbony at least once a week to discuss his college and career goals, as well as his overall preparation for higher education. At the beginning of his senior year, he had not yet taken the SAT, which was another barrier we worked together to overcome. Fortunately, he fully engaged in the GEAR UP program, participating in College Application Day, GEAR UP Days, and college visits. These experiences broadened his perspective and helped him make informed decisions about his future. He graduated from high school with honors and chose to attend East Carolina University. He completed his degree in four years and now teaches middle school math and science. Arbony is incredibly proud to have played even a small role in his journey. She says, “Knowing him and his mother has made me a better person. Every student I worked with left a meaningful mark on my life, and I am deeply grateful for the time I spent with the students of Pamlico County.” 

• If Arbony had to substitute for a CCR class on short notice, she hopes it would be for Developmental Education English (This marks the initial step in a student’s introduction to curriculum programs.). 

• Arbony is looking forward to spending time at the pool this summer with her 4-year-old daughter, Max. 

• Something interesting about Arbony that most people in North Carolina don’t know is that her favorite thing to do is sing and perform songs with her family at gatherings. These moments bring her the most joy and reflect her deep love for music and togetherness.