When former students come back to visit Dr. Adrianna Davis, they bring news of what comes after high school—and reminders of what helped them get there.

Some tell her that the experience they gained in her classroom made medical school feel more familiar. The instruments, the procedures, the chance to try things themselves: those lessons stayed with them.

For Davis, who has spent 15 years guiding students at Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts, hearing that means a great deal.

“It’s so important to me, and this is why I do what I do.”

In her classroom, students learn about laboratory tests that help doctors identify diseases and disorders. Working with medical equipment gives them a chance to understand that work firsthand and explore where it might take them.

Davis wants them to leave high school with experience they can build on. When they return to share how they’re doing, she gets to see that happen.

Her story reflects a rewarding part of teaching: you don’t always know right away what a lesson or an opportunity will mean to a student. Sometimes, they come back years later and tell you.

If you’d like to help students find their next step, explore teaching opportunities with Duval County Public Schools.

Join the A Team with Team Duval.

Walk-in interviews: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon