At Merit Preparatory Academy, three powerful words summarize the school’s mission: lead, learn, serve.
Beyond impacting the learning activities in Merit’s classrooms, these values are also woven into the daily life of the school community. One of the most inspiring examples of living Merit’s mission is Lorena Moody, a beloved teacher and mentor who has dedicated her life to the service of others.
Merit believes that learning should lead to action, and students are regularly invited to apply their knowledge through service-learning opportunities. Whether through local outreach or global initiatives, Merit students develop not only their minds, but also hearts and habits to prepare them to share their personal light with the world around them.
Moody has been instrumental in helping this unique vision thrive. As a dedicated teacher, she brings global awareness into her Spanish classes and a contagious spirit of service into a program she directs called Ameritus Service Knights. She also co-leads the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society alongside fellow faculty member Sydni Fawson. Under their guidance, NHS students strive for academic excellence, take on leadership roles within the club and broader school community, and commit to meaningful service. Students are required to log and report their service hours, and Moody encourages them to do so with integrity and purpose. Her mentoring approach is a blend of care and accountability, always helping students to recognize their strengths and use them to uplift others.
Additionally, Moody plays a key leadership role in Quest Time, Merit’s unique school-wide mentoring program. Quest Time offers daily opportunities for students to meet in small groups with faculty mentors to set personal goals, develop life skills, and engage in growth-based discussion. One of the hallmark features of Quest Time is its focus on service. Students plan and participate in service projects—both small and large—and reflect on their experiences through writing and group dialogue.
This past school year, Merit students logged an impressive 14,578 hours of intentional service. Lorena not only mentors her own Quest Time group but also helps organize large-scale Quest Time service projects, such as writing thank-you letters to essential workers or assembling hygiene kits and care packages for individuals living without secure shelters, thus providing even more opportunities for students to engage in meaningful service.
Perhaps most notable is Moody’s leadership in Meal for Mtulu, Merit’s annual Legacy Project that supports students in Kenya. Through many years of fundraising and service, Merit has helped build schools in Africa and supply food and educational materials. This year, under the direction of Moody and student-leader Olivia Jay, along with the generous support from Kenya Keys and numerous local community groups and businesses, Merit met its goal of raising over $10,000 to provide assistance to students attending its sister-schools in Kenya. Moody and Jay worked together to guide an inspiring team, composed of both students and staff, to reach their fundraising goal and also find joy in the process.
At Merit, service is more than a checklist item; it’s a way of life! Moody lives that life daily. Her quiet strength, consistent mentoring, and tireless efforts have left a lasting impact on her students, colleagues, and community. At Merit, in our local community, and throughout the world, Moody is a shining example of what it means to lead, learn, and serve daily.
