Marisha Merchant is an English teacher and beginning teacher coordinator at White Oak High School, her alma mater. She began her teaching career in Craven County Schools, where she taught for six years before returning home to Onslow County Schools in 2018. She attended North Carolina Central University as a participant in the NC Teaching Fellows program and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2012 with a B.A. in English, a concentration in secondary education and a minor in writing. She holds an AIG certification from UNC Wilmington, where she is currently working toward a Master of Science degree in instructional technology. Currently, she serves on the NC Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee and the Onslow County Schools Teacher Leadership Council