Born in the early 1960’s, Celeste “Lisa” Frazier remembers when the building where she teaches now didn’t exist. Rather, the area only consisted of a two-way road stretching through the land. 

Considered the baby of the bunch out of five children, Frazier also remembers being the only one of her siblings to attend Rock Springs Elementary during the start of desegregation.

“There weren’t many of us there,” she stated, recalling how many of the Black students remained at a school located where a Catholic church currently stands. 

Frazier went on to attend East Lincoln High School (ELHS), the same school where she would ultimately land a teaching role after graduating college. For decades, Lincoln County has continued to be the place that Frazier calls home. 

Love for Maw Maw and Jimmy Poo

 “I’ve always wanted to be a special education teacher,” Frazier shared. 

In junior high school, she would often find herself wandering into Jeanie Travis’s class where she was allowed to help out around the classroom or simply play with the students. This continued into high school as Frazier accompanied Wanda Reynolds, the teacher she eventually replaced at ELHS following Reynolds’ retirement. 

While in high school, Frazier recalled receiving many inquiries from her father regarding her reason for inviting numerous of her peers to their home. It was common for her to extend a welcome particularly to other students who were bullied for their differences. 

“I hung out. That’s what I did. I did it in the neighborhood — the kids in the neighborhood that I knew that would have problems. I was always that nurturer,” she said. 

Even at family gatherings, while many kids her age opted to play outside, Frazier said that she preferred taking care of her cousin, Jimmy Poo, alongside her great aunt, affectionately referred to as “Maw Maw.”

Faced with a condition that prohibited Jimmy Poo from feeding himself or completing many other actions independently, Frazier felt drawn to help. As a little girl, although other children were afraid of him, Frazier would play with her cousin, having possessed the patience and tolerance necessary to endure having her hair pulled and face slobbered on. 

“I just knew then ‘this is what I’m doing for the rest of my life,’” she expressed.

Journey to being an educator

Her pursuit to serve students with learning and developmental differences led her to Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). Having been raised in a time and place where her classrooms were predominantly white, Frazier said that it was impactful to experience “Black people being together” and the culture that is offered at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

“It was the best experience that I’ve ever had in my life,” Frazier said. 

While at WSSU, on top of taking 18 credit hours every semester, Frazier was extremely immersed in campus life. She was involved in Big Brother, Big Sister and served as president of the Student National Education Association during her senior year. In the spring of 1982, Frazier became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

During her undergraduate years, Frazier secured a work-study position as a tutor in the athletic department under the late Clarence”Big House” Gaines. At nights, she worked on the adolescent ward of a behavioral health center. 

Overall, Frazier maintained an active student life, working to explore a multitude of interests.

“You couldn’t get that experience sitting in your dorm,” she asserted.

Her connection and involvement at WSSU has continued as an alum. Frazier proudly shared that since graduating in 1984, she has attended every homecoming at WSSU. In 2024, her return to Winston-Salem marked the 40th anniversary celebration for her graduating class.

Decades of service to students

After leaving WSSU, Frazier initially accepted a teaching position in Virginia. However, due to her father’s health concerns, she made her return home, becoming a high school teacher with Lincoln County schools. For three years, she taught a math and English resource course in addition to coaching basketball, volleyball, and track at West Lincoln High School. 

Once presented with the opportunity to reconnect with her former high school basketball coach, Henry Barkley, she worked for him during his time as principal at East Lincoln Junior High. Frazier transitioned with Barkley to East Lincoln High School in the following years, where she remained until she first retired in 2014.  

Her time away from the classroom was short lived. Beginning in 2018, Frazier started tutoring with Lincoln County Schools. In 2021, she was welcomed back full-time at Lincoln Charter as an Exceptional Children teacher, which is where she currently works. Even during her four years of retirement, Frazier remained on the move through her volunteerism and service in her community. 

A commitment to creating opportunities

It was in her first year at WSSU that she was introduced to the Special Olympics in Forsyth County. In her return to Lincoln County to teach, she was also recruited to be a coach by Karen Leonhardt, the county’s Special Olympics coordinator. Later on, Frazier took over the coordinator role following Leonhardt’s retirement.

“A lot of people thought that this was a job, that I got paid for this, but I’ve never been paid to do this,” she explained. For Frazier, her experience with the Special Olympics as a volunteer is done sheerly out of love. 

This commitment to individuals with special needs meant that she also focused on expanding access and opportunities. Camp Love is one initiative used to expose her athletes to different experiences. The five-day sports camp allows participants to engage in various activities, including bowling, swimming, and even visits to Top Golf. Additionally, Frazier offers a three-day music camp to her athletes, allowing them to interact with professional musicians. In partnership with the camp’s director, John Fitzgerald McGill, the summer camp focuses on incorporating music, art, and dance. 

Frazier shared that both programs have grown over time. Last year, 50 students participated in the music camp and 70 participated in weeklong Camp Love. Frazier stated that they don’t just focus on playing. Aside from sports and arts, she also prepares students for various public experiences, such as learning job skills or teaching them how to communicate their order at restaurants. 

When speaking on the reasoning, approach, and impact of providing new opportunities to her student athletes, Frazier expressed the importance of treating individuals with special needs with dignity, understanding that they are capable of learning new things.

“They want to have a chance in society, just like everybody else,” she said. 

Recognizing Frazier’s years of effort and care

For years, Frazier was a foster parent as well. Her one stipulation was that she would only foster kids who had special needs, recognizing the difficulty of finding them a placement.

“That’s just where my heart has been all my life,” she said. 

Frazier stated that what she does isn’t about recognition or compensation but rather about loving people. Many times, she has been reminded that she wouldn’t make money in her line of work. Her response: 

“If I’m happy, if I can go to work happy every day, and go home happy every day, then I’m good. I don’t need your money because I’m already rich.” 

Yet, Frazier’s 40+ years as an educator and servant leader have landed her much recognition. she was recently crowned the 2024 Lincoln County’s “Woman of the Year” for her effort and dedication to her community. 

While Frazier said she felt honored and humbled, she asserted that the recognition and accolades won’t change what she does — “taking care of people, making sure people are okay, and just loving them.”