Why the Bailey’s Glenn Partnership Is Essential to Hough

February 20, 2026 - Amelia Wyatt (9)

“Find what you’re passionate about and do it. Look at the opportunities in the world and do something you truly want to do” (Kat Martin, the president of the Bailey’s Glenn Partnership). Many of you don’t know much about Hough High School’s partnership with Bailey’s Glenn. To be honest, I had no clue. But then I interviewed Kat Martin. Mrs. Martin is the president of the Bailey’s Glenn Partnership and works so hard to support not just the staff and admin at Hough, but also all of the students.

How Did the Bailey’s Glenn Partnership Form?

North Carolina is ranked 50th in the country for the nation's public school funding; most of this money goes to the basics, leaving it up to the teachers to buy the common necessities for a classroom. The residents at Bailey’s Glenn noticed this, many of them being former teachers and administrators, so they wanted to help. As a result, they started a campaign to raise money to find grounds for teachers and assist students when necessary. 

Who is Kat Martin, and What Does She Contribute to this Partnership? 

Kat Martin is a resident of the Bailey’s Glenn community. She loves the Hough community and all the events we do. She has been a member of the partnership for 9 years. Mrs. Martin always thought more needed to be done. She had a lot of experience in managing and wanted to create an inclusive space. Her main goal in running for president was to try something new; she aimed to increase funding for scholarships while also expanding financial support for teachers and students. One of the partnership's primary goals is to not only help the teachers and staff but also make their lives more stress-free. 

What Has the Partnership Done to Help Our School? 

The Bailey’s Glenn Partnership has done so much for Hough. Over the past eleven years, they have awarded mini-grants to 307 teachers, provided $47,600 in scholarships, and assisted 485 students. Overall, they have donated over $186,000 to Hough High School. The Bailey’s Glenn Partnership has been able to change students' lives. 

Mrs. Martin told me that a few years ago, there was a color blind student, and that student's teacher reached out to the members of the Bailey’s Glenn Partnership and asked if they could get the student color-blind glasses. They were able to do this, and when they gave the glasses to the student, they cried tears of joy. Wholesome moments like these give the members of the partnership motivation to do more. More recently, after learning that teachers were paying out of pocket for paper towels and wipes, they organized a supply drive to provide those items.

Why Hough?

A question I always had was: Why Hough? Why just our school? First of all, Bailey’s Glenn is a neighborhood located right next to Hough, giving residents easy access to our school. Second, many residents of Bailey’s Glenn are former teachers or administrators, so they were eager to help in any way they could. Lastly, the Hough community is so vibrant. The events Hough hosts are well-loved by the partnership’s members, especially the dances and sporting events.

What Can You Do to Support the Partnership? 

The partnership goes above and beyond to support the Hough community, but what can we do for them? The members greatly value student feedback and support, particularly thank-you notes and other thoughtful messages. After all, they have done so much for us, so the least we can do is show our gratitude.