“Mrs. Moore started as a mentor for me… [and] she is such a wonderful person; I love her to death, and so we very quickly developed a friendship that extended outside of school,” Gallup said. “She had a huge effect on Rose, and she's one of those people that [others] went to, to get her advice, whether it was within the math department or outside of it.”

     For over two decades, Moore has seen five principals pass through Rose and worked with numerous teachers and interns. Although she has loved them all, there was one in particular whom she remembers fondly.

     “[Former math teacher] Tim Dameron stands out,” Moore said. “He was one of those teachers who could teach high and low-level students equally… rather than trying to be book smart, he helped [show] me how to make teaching where the [students] could understand it.”

     Moore stayed at Rose all these years not because of the benefits of having a stable job and income, but because of something much deeper: her love for her students.

     “It’s a calling on my life, and I had to live into it,” Moore said. “I don't know any other job where you get hugged at least a dozen times a day… I probably get six hugs before the first bell even rings.”

     Undoubtedly Moore has left a lasting impact on her students. One of the ways she has done so is through her creation of the Taking Steps Beyond Rose (TSBR) program. This program teaches participants how to be leaders, not only in school but also in their community, assisting them with their transition into adulthood.

     “I hope [students] take away confidence in themselves, that they are not stupid and not to let any math problem get the best of them,” Moore said. “Terrence Streeter stands out; he came to me with a 0.9 GPA his second freshman year… [and] he ended up being in leadership [in TSBR] and graduating with a 2.5 GPA.”

     Streeter was not the only student who has left a lasting impact on Moore. Silas James lost his mother during his freshman year of high school while enrolled in her class. Moore ended up being a huge role model during this time in his life, and by his junior year, Silas James was officially a part of Moore’s family and he has been ever since.

     “Our relationship started as student and math teacher, that relationship evolved into two partners as far as educating students in rough areas of life,” James said. “Now she is my godmother.”

     Moore’s presence in James’ life not only assisted him through high school but also carried him into his adult life, giving him the encouragement he needed to achieve his goals.

     “I do not think I would have maximized my full potential if I had not met Tracey Moore,” James said. “She taught me not to settle but always to shoot for the stars; she deserves the world.”

     James is not the only person who Moore has left a deep impact on. Gallup’s love for her has only grown since the former math teacher retired from Rose last year and she cannot wait to see what her future holds.

     “This is hard to say without crying, but Tracey is just a uniquely amazing person, completely devoted to everything that she does and that is evident in the classroom and teaching,” Gallup said. “I'm excited for her next step, but she's an irreplaceable teacher.”

     Looking back, Moore would not change anything regarding anchoring herself to Rose. She truly has a passion for teaching, and for her students, and is forever grateful for the decades she has spent with her math department, calling Rose her home.

     “The teachers here, we are all friends, we’re not just colleagues or co-workers, we care about each other [and] everyone will do anything in the world for each other,” Moore said. “It's been a great run, I never thought I would have taught this long, never, and I have no regrets.”