Rose basketball highlights
TUE. |10-7-25| FEATURES
New teacher Renee Hoggard brings more than just teaching to the classroom; her countless experiences in nursing and healthcare have shaped the person she is today.
"When I was little, I didn’t know if I wanted to be a teacher or a nurse," Hoggard said. "I got a job as a CNA working for the summer, and I was like, this is what I need to do."
Hoggard has worked many jobs, some of which include Pitt Memorial Hospital, Pediatric Services of America, other home health agencies, Lenoir Community College, Maxim Healthcare, Walgreens Infusion, Interim Healthcare and now Rose.
"Every job I had taught me something new," Hoggard said. "I went from pediatrics to home health to teaching, and every step built on the last."
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Photo by Gabriella Castillo
At Rose, Hoggard found ways to incorporate a little of
all her past jobs. Hoggard teaches Nursing Fundamentals and Practice Honors and Health Science Two Honors.
Hoggard cared for countless patients during her careers in healthcare, but one experience left more of a lasting impression. Hoggard jumped at the chance of becoming a nurse for an eight-year-old girl, a role that would stay with her for many years.
"I had this little girl when I was with the infusion company; she had been transferred from agency to agency because her level of care was so hard," Hoggard said. "She was on [Total Parenteral Nutrition] and lived in Elizabeth City, which is two plus hours from here."
The patient was an eight-year-old named Allie. She had a central line, feeding tube and a severe bedsore. At first, Allie would not speak or even look at her, expecting another nurse who would leave. Hoggard ended up caring for her weekly until she was 16, drawing labs, managing her care, and even accompanying her on vacation.
Their time spent together resulted in family-like bonds. Eventually, Allie asked Hoggard to be her godmother and even attended Hoggard’s children’s birthday parties. However, after eight years of connection, Allie passed away at age 16. Her legacy left a profound impact on Hoggard, altering her life and perspective permanently.
"She is truthfully the most rewarding thing ever and the thing that made me decide to really become a nurse," Hoggard said.
Hoggard’s experience in the healthcare field gives her a unique perspective as a teacher, helping students understand real-world patient care and build a strong foundation for careers in nursing and other health fields.
"What I’ve done, the knowledge base doesn’t change," Hoggard said. "It’s just doing what I did a little differently, and now it’s with students instead of patients."
Her years of nursing did not just give her medical knowledge, but also patience, sensibility and a way of breaking down complicated information for her future students.
"It’s actually the best of both worlds; I get kids and teaching and nursing and all of it... I love helping people and helping people understand," Hoggard said.