Meet the new CCHS teachers: 2022-23Stories by the ODYSSEY staff, package by Anna Shaikun
Math department teacher Amy Walden explains the concept of rotation in Room 121 on Aug. 17. Walden previously taught at Clarke Middle School for three years where she learned to create an environment that students felt capable and were excited to learn in. “I don't think that kids hate math. I think that they hate being confused, they hate being wrong and they hate being frustrated. When they finally understand a concept, it's like this light bulb goes off and you start to see the excitement and you start to get more buy-in from them,” Walden said. “That's why I like teaching math. If you can really tackle those issues, if you can instill confidence in kids, if you can make them feel like they can succeed and really empower them, then they get excited about learning.” Photo and story by Audrey St. Onge
Special education department teacher and varsity girls soccer head coach Jacob Baxley stands in the Billy Henderson Stadium on Aug 24. After coaching soccer at Lake Oconee Academy, Baxley decided to return to Clarke Central High School for the 2022-23 school year. “I student-taught at Central about four years ago (under social studies department co-chair Courtney Jones) when I was in college and I really enjoyed my time here,” Baxley said. “I've been wanting to come back ever since and the soccer position was one of the main reasons that drew me to Clarke Central.” Photo and story by Aza Khan
English department teacher Molly Dorkey assists a student in Room 323 on Sept. 15. Dorkey student-taught at Clarke Central High School last year and is now a fully certified teacher. “I had a lot of different jobs where I didn't have a lot of purpose in my work. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a teacher, but life takes all kinds of twists and turns and things happen,” Dorkey said. “It was really having my daughter Jane four years ago and then Ada a year ago that made me realize that I really wanted to return to that thing I wanted to do when I grew up. ” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Isabelle Galis.
Special education department teacher Tara Bernstein Urquhart sits in Room 212 on Aug. 16. Bernstein Urquhart started teaching at Clarke Central High School in 2022 as part of the Selected Training Received in Vocational Education (STRIVE) program, which seeks to prepare students for their post-high school lives through study and social skill training. “I have always been a helper. I've always been one of those people who, if I see someone who seems to be in need, it's always my innate nature to go, ‘How can I help you?’ (Teaching has) served my needs well as a human being,” Bernstein Urquhart said. “My goal (is) to be able to work with students who are about to graduate and make sure that they are prepared to leave (Clarke Central High School) stronger, more confident, independently focused and able to handle themselves in spite of any struggles they may have had leading up to this year.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Anna Shaikun
Associate Principal Dr. Cindi Lowe speaks at a press conference in Room 231 on Aug. 23. Lowe was originally accepted into the music program at the University of Georgia before pursuing a career in education and believes that some of the skills she learned in music carry over into her roles as an educational administrator. "Really good teachers have a little bit of performance in them. They're interesting and they have a way to attract people to them (and) to (make students) want to be with them in the classroom,” Lowe said. "Teaching's a lot of being on stage.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Wyatt Meyer
Social studies department teacher Steve Hardwick poses in Room 285 on Sept. 9. Hardwick attended the 2022 Economic Education Summer Institute in Atlanta to prepare for his new role as a lead instructor for economics classes. “What I keep learning is how to apply (economic knowledge) in the class. I love the theory and I would stay there, except I want to take more people with me to the economics I love,” Hardwick said. “As the light bulbs went on in my head, I wanted to see that happen in students.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Wyatt Meyer
Math department teacher Mallory Thomas explains a concept to students in Room 106 on Sept. 9. Thomas took a four-year break from teaching to run her painting and calligraphy business, and has returned to teaching with an artistic outlook on her Geometry class. “Teaching geometry (with) shapes and figures and spatial reasoning is (similar to) having worked in art. They kind of go hand in hand. I thought I'd be exhausted (while transitioning back to teaching), but I feel pretty great at the end of every day, and it's nice to come in in the mornings and check stuff off and interact with people,” Thomas said. “Doing art full time, I was mainly working by myself to create things which can sometimes be hard. You just kind of spend a lot of time alone so it's nice to be back surrounded by people all accomplishing a similar goal.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Anna Shaikun
Agriculture department teacher and FFA adviser Emily Courson sits at her desk in Room 109 on Sept. 7. Inspired by her high school agriculture teacher, Courson's passion for the subject has led her to her current position. “When I was in high school, I got put in an (agriculture) class and I really didn't want to be there, (but) my (agriculture) teacher actually turned out to be really cool. She invited me to an FFA meeting and then I fell in love with it," Courson said. "When I was a junior in high school, she told me that she thought I would be a good (agriculture) teacher. The closer I got to graduation I was like, ‘I never want to leave (agriculture) class and I never want to leave FFA.’ So I just decided I was gonna be an (agriculture) teacher.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Temprince Battle
Special education department teacher Simone McCown poses in Room 323 on Aug. 11. Throughout her three years in the Clarke County School District, McCown has used a student-centered approach in order to keep her students more engaged. “I try to lead (the student) to take responsibility for their learning and I always invite them to make decisions," McCown said. "I don't want to be the one that's going to make decisions about their learning process. So I like to bring them to the picture all the time and ask, 'What (do you) need? How is it going? How can we do this better?'” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Kendarius Butts
English department teacher Cat Mills poses at her desk in Room 232 on Aug. 12. Mills taught at Clarke Middle School prior to the 2022-23 school year, and is excited to work with high schoolers; this year, she hopes to create a welcoming environment for her students. "You can have teachers, who are really great at the content and really great at delivering it, that nobody wants to be with because of how they treat people; how they engage with students. The material is important, but making people feel like they're heard, seen, and belong in the room is just as important,” Mills said. "If you don't have an environment that is conducive to everyone being able to learn, then no one learns." Photo and story by Lukas Cornish
English department teacher Jessica Bradbury assists junior Detaize Moses in Room 227 on Aug. 24. Bradbury started at Clarke Central High School in the spring term, and has been teaching for nine years with a clear focus on engaging students. “I think my love for literature was my driving force. I didn't really enjoy high school, but I felt like my English teachers made me want to come to school,” Bradbury said. “I wanted to do the same for students who might be in similar situations. I wanted to make English class something meaningful and enjoyable, so that's what drove me into teaching.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Jesse Dantzler
Media specialist Naomi Craver sits in front of the fictional literature section in the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Sept. 7. Craver, formerly the Media Specialist at Alps Road Elementary School, has worked to cater to the needs of students beyond books in the past and has made it her goal to do it again. "One of the most amazing things about working in a high school is that it's so student-led. Kids come in here and they feel comfortable here," Craver said. “I want the library to be a place where students and staff feel like they can find whatever they need, whether it's a book, a quiet corner, or just a place to sit and work for a little while.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Salai Diekumpuna
English department teacher Keisha Hamilton stands in the second floor English department hall on Aug. 12. Hamilton taught 10th grade English Language Arts at Clarke Central High School for the 2020-2021 school year before leaving to be close to her husband while she was pregnant. She returned to CCHS for the 2022-2023 school year due to the sense of community the students provide. “I think that teaching is the best way to reach and touch a lot of different lives and to really make an impact on a student for their lifetime,” Hamilton said. “The kids in Athens are special. Even though a school might say, ‘Hey, we're family, We're one big happy family,’ that's not necessarily always true, but that is true for Clarke Central.” Photo and story by Victoria Garland
In-School-Suspension coordinator Christa James stands outside of the Fine Arts Wing on Aug. 17. James, a first-year teacher, followed an unexpected path to the field of education. “I grew up in a family of educators, but I kind of went a different route. I was in the medical field for a little bit,” James said. “I have two daughters of my own, and started noticing that I really enjoy doing different schoolworks and things like that with them. And I was like, well maybe that would be a good fit. So I applied and took this job and then started my (Bachelors of Education) degree.” Photo and story by Lucas Donnelly
Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department teacher Rosaria Bang poses in front of student artwork in Room 164 on Aug. 23. Having taught in the United Arab Emirates, China and Japan, Bang intends to share her global perspective with her students through teaching. “I’ve taught for 20 years, 10 of which have been abroad. (I feel that) because of the diversity here at Central, (it will) give me a chance to interact with people with different ways of thinking and doing things,” Bang said. “I already know I will enjoy teaching here simply because I have (many) resources that are readily available, (alongside) a supportive faculty and administration.” Story and photo by Mykolas Kumpis
Assistant Principal Tamika Henson, a former CCHS math department teacher, sits outside of the Miller B. Jordan Jr. Food Court on Sept. 1. While Henson didn’t always plan to pursue a career in education, she found inspiration to become a teacher through one of her daughters’ middle school experiences. “My daughter, who is now 28, struggled with the math CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Test) when she was in eighth grade. She failed the math CRCT by some points and she was distraught, so I met her at (her) school because, at that time, if you didn't pass the eighth-grade math CRCT you couldn't go on to the next grade,” Henson said. “Of course, she retook it and passed, but the long story short about that is when I got to Hilsman Middle School, in the office (there) were (mainly) black and brown students. They were the students that had failed the math CRCT, so they were the students that were calling home. There was a lot of tears and then at that moment, I said, ‘I love math and I can help them. I can help out students.’ So I went back to school and got my master's in secondary education, of course with a concentration in math, and then I landed a teaching job.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly, story by Miles Lawrence
Special education department teacher Dana Nunnally sits in Room 386 on Aug. 29. Nunnally, who previously taught at Cedar Shoals High School for six years, started the 2022-23 school year with a goal to become an advocate for Clarke Central High School students. “Being a high school teacher, specifically, I wanted to be able to provide the things that I feel like I wasn't provided when I was in high school,” Nunnally said. “There are certain students who fall in between the cracks (and) I feel like I was one of those students. I just want to be someone who advocates for those students who might fall through the cracks.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly, story by McKinley Dykes
In-school suspension coordinator Samuel Price sits at his desk in the ISS room on the first floor on Aug. 16. Price recently switched to a teaching career and is currently engaged in a master’s program to become a math teacher along with his work at CCHS. “I have a major in finance and I have a minor in financial accounting, but during college, I was an after-school counselor and really loved building relationships with kids and tutoring them,” Price said. “After a few years working in the finance industry, I decided that education was what I wanted to do and (being the ISS coordinator is) the first step that I'm taking.” Photo and story by Riley Ramsey
Math department teacher Tamara Mousa explains a concept to her class in Room 134 on Sept. 7. Mousa taught at Clarke Central High School for two years, took a year off following the birth of her second child, and returned to teaching this year. “ I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. When I was 8, my family moved to the United States. I think it was one of the more difficult things that a kid can go through. I didn't realize how much of an impact it had on me until I was older,” Mousa said. “I want (my daughters) to know that we're different. Where we're from we have cultural things that are different from others. Because I remember when I came, I had to kind of suppress those. I was encouraged not to speak Arabic at home because it would help with my English. Things like that.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Riley Ramsey
Science department teacher Matthew Shuman assists a student in Room 114 on Sept. 8. Shuman worked a variety of jobs before becoming a teacher and plans to translate these lessons learned outside of the academic environment into Clarke Central High School’s classrooms. “I bring a worldview (to CCHS) that isn't academic based. I think that not only the stories, but just the reality of what (adulthood) is truly (gives a) sense that making good choices gives people a lot of freedom, and I think that that is something that I lived,” Shuman said. “(This school year,) I want to get people engaged. I want hands on and I want people to experience things that would get them enjoying science and school, in general.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Janie Ripps
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department teacher Carrie Emerson poses outside the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Aug. 19. Before she began her position at CCHS, Emerson taught ESOL to adults through a partnership with Casa de Amistad, a local nonprofit working to support Athens’ Hispanic community. “This past semester, I started (teaching ESOL to adults) again through a program that's funded by the Title III funds from the (Clarke County School District),” Emerson said. “ I'm really excited about that because a long term goal of mine is to help build a better relationship between the schools and the parents who don't speak English because there's definitely a disconnect there. So I really want to advocate for them and try to find ways to help them be a part of the school community.” Photo and story by Maya Shrivastav
Foreign language department teacher Tamita Brown points to the places she’s lived and worked on a world map in Room 391 on Aug. 22. Throughout her 22 years of teaching, Brown has found middle school classes in the United States more difficult to teach than high school classes. “It was a constant fight at (the) middle school level just to get (students) interested in the language. But at the high school level, I find that the students are more receptive to the teaching and they're (more) engaged. That's what I've experienced in teaching in Jamaica, Puerto Rico and in Japan, so I am actually loving it.” Photo and story by Cadence Schapker
World Languages Department teacher Aziz Coleman writes in Spanish in Room 388 on Aug 15. Coleman started teaching at Clarke Central High School at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year and wants to and wants to teach in more unorthodox ways in his Spanish class. “I like coming up with new ideas to do (creative) things so I like to mix art and music and movement into whatever I'm teaching,” Coleman said. “Eventually, I want to do a thing where (I) take everyone to a restaurant to actually order in Spanish and make it (a) practical activity.” Photo and story by Antonio Starks
Special education department chair Ryan Johnson poses at his desk in the admin suite on Sept. 9. Driven by his passion for helping students, Johnson has worked at CCHS since 2004, spending time as a paraprofessional and athletic trainer, and was excited to take on the role of special education department chair for the 2022-23 school year in order to better serve the school community. “I love the idea of helping kids,” Johnson said. “I feel good (going into the year). It's a bit overwhelming because there's no way of knowing what each day is going to hold, but every day is something new and special.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Isabella Westrich
Fine arts department teacher Kayla Griffin stands in the Black Box Theater at Clarke Central High School on Aug. 15. Griffin’s experience working in Griffin Spalding County elementary school gave her insight into how students of different ages approach theater. “(High school) is the make or break time for people like young artists where they're either going to decide to do something that they don't want to do, or they're going to take the jump to do something that they love and fall in love with,” Griffin said. “And a lot of the high school love starts in theater when you can really kind of comprehend what you're doing. When you're really young, you can't really understand all the nuances of theater.” Photo and story by Olivia Daniel