Local teacher Anthony Zeppetella nurtures student interest in the criminal justice system and was the first to offer the Law & Justice program in the county.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Liberty University. He began teaching in Fayetteville in 2019 and began teaching at Pinecrest High School in 2023, where his wife teaches.
“I teach a course called Law & Justice, which is essentially a Criminal Justice class. In it, we explore topics such as police work, investigations, the practice of law, corrections, forensics, and everything in between,” Zeppetella said about teaching high school students.
He said the “real joy” in connecting with students is when students enjoy the class.
“I strive to build a culture of safety and acceptance, where students can feel free to be themselves without the usual high school social pressures,” Zeppetella said. “Seeing them thrive in that environment is where my love for education truly lies.”
“While the pay leaves much to be desired – though that’s a topic for another discussion – my least favorite part is seeing capable students sabotage themselves,” Zeppetella said about students not completing classwork and failing.
Concerning the victories, Zeppetella said one student stands out.
“A student once visited me before school to discuss a project on leadership,” he said. “Unbeknownst to me, she had written about me. Reading her kind words about how I had unknowingly helped her through a dark time in her life was incredibly moving. I saved that note and revisit it whenever I need a reminder of why I teach.”
His Law & Justice program expanded to Union Pines High School, and he plans to expand to other Moore County Schools.
“Eventually, I’d also like to run for the school board,” Zeppetella said. “Unfortunately, that would require stepping away from teaching in the county, which I feel is a fundamental flaw in the system. For that reason, it’s a goal that may not happen for a long time.”
If you have a teacher you would like to nominate to be showcased in this series, please email [email protected].
Feature photo: Pinecrest High School teacher Anthony Zeppetella. Photo contributed.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers. Stephanie is also an English instructor at Central Carolina Community College. She is the author of young adult fiction, including When the Yellow Slugs Sing and Sky’s River Stone, and a suspense, GUTTERSNIPE: Shakespearean English Stage Play with Translation.
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel breaking news and weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
