“My journey started as a kid growing up in a small town, it was there that I began to see the many social inequities that plague our country today. After attending college and returning home, I knew I wanted to make a difference but I also knew so much had changed in the four years I was away. It was at that point that I dug my heels in the ground and became a change agent in my community.”

• As a second grade teacher with KIPP NC Schools, she served as the Grade Level Chair for her team and led them through the COVID-19 pandemic. She created countless digital lessons for hundreds of students.
• In college, Toren was a resident advisor and campus tour guide. She enjoyed organizing community events and connecting with her peers.
• She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Toren lives in Eastern North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful children. She balances her dedication to her work with long walks, reading novels and frequent trips to the beach.