Clarke Central High School social studies department teacher Kalli James-Wyrick works with CCHS freshman Jose Manuel Alejandro on Jan. 24. Wyrick graduated from CCHS in 2002 and recently returned as a teacher. “I enjoyed my time (at CCHS) for the most part besides the typical high school drama, and I thought Athens was a nice place to live,” James-Wyrick said. “It was pretty nice to be in an environment that I already knew (when I) started out teaching, because teaching is really hard and to have that kind of safety net a little bit in your first year is kind of nice.” Photo by Gerardo Navarro
Clarke Central High School alumni reflect on their experiences moving from a student to staff position.
Out of 115 teachers working at Clarke Central High School, 14 of them attended CCHS when they were students. Having attended the school, these teachers hold unique insights into current students’ day-to-day experiences.
For some CCHS teachers, including science department teacher Roenessa Witcher, returning to CCHS was not their original plan.
“After I graduated from Piedmont (College) and finished my student teaching, I always wanted to teach outside of Athens,” Witcher said. “Because, I mean, this is where I grew up. I just wanted to experience something different.”
However, according to CCHS physical education teacher Alex Holmes, his positive experience as a student at CCHS immediately sparked his interest in pursuing a teaching career at his alma mater.
“I always wanted to come back for sure to see what it was like. You graduate from your high school and, regardless of what your experience is, it’s still a part of you,” Holmes said. “I had an overall pretty good experience, so (I) wanted to come back and try to give back and try to be a positive influence.”
Name: Stefan Smith
Position: Math Department Special Education Teacher
Enrollment: 1987 – 1991
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I was in Savannah State College, (we) went to a Boys and Girls Club. We had to go do some tutoring and we had to go tutor some kids, that was the point of our class. We had to go tutor some kids and I was kind of pretty good at it. I just remember (that) and they kind of liked me. They learned, they were like, “we learned from you”. And they were just saying positive things to me. And after a while, you start doing whatever you’re doing and you started working and then you started realizing that ‘OK, dang that (I’m) somehow good at (that).’ So that kind of sparked my thought. When I came back home from college, a lady named Anita Barnett, Dr. Barnett now, she told me to come work at East Athens community center. And I went over there, and that’s kind of where it started too because I was working on a camp in the summertime. And it kind of went from there. And that’s when I kind of knew I wanted to be a teacher.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“I think (it’s different) the way things are now, with all the social media and phones and all this stuff, because I had some teachers that told me some things that if they said that stuff now, they would (probably be) fired. It was good stuff. I had a teacher and I just remember him taking me out in the hallway and giving me some tongue lashings. Because I disrupted class or because I kind of cut up in class. It was what I needed at the time. I think nowadays, people wouldn’t understand that, helping the teachers. But I knew he cared about me. (If) you even sneeze wrong and a kid now it’s like, ‘Oh, you hurt his feelings.’ You couldn’t sleep in class, you couldn’t do some of the things that kids get away with nowadays. I think we’ve taken the power away from the teachers. I think teachers (had) more power back then.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“A lot of times I know a lot of their parents and you have different types of insight and in each kid because I even went to school with their parents. I know their parents, I did some athletic thing against their parents or family members, something. A lot of times I know somebody in (a kid’s) family, so it makes (it) a little easier for me to discipline them cause a lot of people know me, and I’ve never really been a bad guy. So most people know I (have) good intentions. So I think that helps sometimes. I think that insight helps when you try to motivate kids to have better lives.”
Name: Emily Hulse
Position: French teacher, foreign language department chair and swim coach
Enrollment: 1991 – 1995
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I taught English in France for (a year). After that year was finished, I came back to Athens and I was kind of trying to figure out my next move. Was I going to go directly to grad school? Was I going to try to find a job? If so, what job? And then I heard that the French teacher who I had (at Clarke Central) was leaving kind of unexpectedly in the middle of summer. So they needed a French teacher (at) Clarke Central, and I was like, ‘Well, I just came back from spending a year in France.’ That was my second of two years in France, I speak fluently and feel good about that part of it. Do I want to teach it? I don’t know. But I did have that little taste of teaching it in France for that one little year. It was kind of like I was a teacher, it was more like I was a teaching assistant. So I would do like games and songs and stuff with the students. But it was a little bit of a taste of actually teaching and I had a great year, it was a wonderful year. ”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“I feel like there may have been more school spirit back in the day than now, but that wasn’t the case for everyone. For example, during the homecoming spirit week here this year, I don’t feel like people really participated very much at all. I don’t know if that was just my perception (of) the students that I happen to see didn’t and others did. But that’s just kind of the impression I got. Back in the day, students (and) teachers really participated in stuff like that, like, dress up days and getting excited about games. There is definitely (a) certain amount of that still today. But just that school pride, I don’t know if it’s quite as strong as it was back in the ‘90s.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“It was only strange the first month or so. That first month, that was very strange, because it really hadn’t been that long since I had been a student when I started teaching. I didn’t feel like I could go behind the counter or go into the back of the library. I didn’t think I was allowed because I still had that student mindset, but that faded and it didn’t take long for it to just feel like a different place in a way. Because, when you have a different position, it feels totally different as a teacher versus as a student. It’s a very different feeling. It didn’t take long for it to not feel weird.”
Name: Latoya Hill
Position: Principal’s secretary
Enrollment: 1992-1996
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I say this is kind of the best of both worlds because I do get that administrative clerical side. But then also, I think part of my assignment in life is to reach and teach young people. So it gives me that ability to do that as well. Every day I am working hard for the teachers and making sure that their pay is right and their this and their that but also I say hello to the students that come in the office and try to listen to whatever they want to tell me and then sometimes it’s problems. They come to my desk for any and everything. So I always say, I only have two children at home, but then I have 1800 here. So it’s a lot and I really am grateful for the opportunity every day to come here. I get up ready to come to work unlike most people. It’s a joy.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“I think a lot of the time, just the basic fun that we used to have is not there. Like pep rallies and fun stuff and I want to bring some of that back. So you all actually enjoy being here and make great memories here. So, that’s kind of my personal mission is to make sure that it’s fun. This is high school, it’s not college yet, so you should still be having a good time. There’s nothing wrong with getting college credit and taking AP courses, but I think it really does need to be balanced and ours was more of that socially. We did go to the homecoming dances and the prom and some kids here don’t even think that’s important. So it’s different. And I think you guys have so much grabbing for your attention so much more social media.”
What is it like to work at a school that you have attended?
“I kind of know the background of what the school is all about. I feel that that helps me better connect with the kids because I’ve walked the same halls and known some of the same people that you all are dealing with now, some of the teachers here graduated (from) here in the same time period that I was here. Ms. Hulse is a graduate (and so is) Mr. Ragsdale (and) Ms. Jewel. There’s a lot of people who are here that were homegrown here. I think that gives us a connection different than some other people have because we’re fully vested in this place that is Clarke Central Athens and making sure that you all are ready and prepared to conquer the world.”
Name: Alex Holmes
Position: Physical Education Teacher
Enrollment: 1995 – 1999
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I had some great teachers who had a positive influence on me, and then I had some teachers and coaches who are the opposite, and (it) kind of pushed me to try to be the one that does care about people. So, I know that I’m always gonna have students who don’t like me for whatever reason. A lot of times it’s because I have high expectations, both in the classroom and when I’m coaching, and they don’t like those expectations, because maybe they’re a little too high for them. So they think I’m mean or pushy or whatever, and I try not to be like that.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“(The new) gym was not here, so the Crawford gym was our main gym. The weight room was the other gym. And that was the original gym actually, (for) the school. So that could tell you how much the school has grown because that was the old gym. The main office was at the middle entrance. That’s where the main office was when I was here and then the media center would have been actually up a floor, and then the cafeteria was right below it, and then that West Wing wasn’t even here at all.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“I think you take pride in this being the school that you went to, so you try to even be a better teacher. Not that I wasn’t trying to be a great teacher. I have high expectations as a teacher. And so it’s pretty cool to have Coach (Damien) Gary back here because Gary and I graduated together, and we only teach one period together, but it’s cool to be able to teach a class period with him because he and I went to Alps Road, Clarke Middle and Clarke Central together. So it’s cool to be back.”
Name: Kalli James-Wyrick
Position: Social studies teacher
Enrollment: 1998 – 2002
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I really liked working with kids. When I was in fifth grade at Alps Road, I mentored students in third grade, and I would work in after school when my mom was the After School Director. So I would go do homework help and stuff. And then I did a youth apprenticeship program through Clarke Central where I taught at Alps Road during first period instead of coming here. I really enjoyed teaching and seeing people learn, helping people work through problems and stuff like that cause I’m good at that stuff. I just really liked the interaction with younger people.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“We’ve remodeled, so a lot of stuff looks nicer. We don’t have lockers anymore, cause they’re kind of unnecessary now, since most classes don’t have a textbook and stuff a lot, so there’s no reason to really have a locker. I didn’t even have a locker for two years when I was here, and we had textbooks and stuff to carry around. So it makes the halls a lot nicer, cause they were pretty dingy. There’s been a lot of improvements with the greenhouses and stuff like that, looking nice. And just the new ROTC building. But as far as the care and abilities of teachers, they’re the same. We always had pretty good teachers. You’re never going to be 100% perfect or anything, but I feel like our teachers are great, and I had great relationships with my teachers back then as well.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“It’s really fun. Students like it. It’s a good way for me to build relationships with students, especially since I bring my yearbooks to class. They get a kick looking at it, and a lot of them are related to people that I went to school with. Like I’ve got students whose parents I graduated with or went to school (with). I’ve got one in my third period right now, his mom graduated with me.”
Name: Sophia Campbell
Position: Biology teacher
Enrollment: 2000-2004
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I never wanted to be a teacher. I come from a family of educators. I had an epiphany moment, within the last year (that) this was something that I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to help people. And I was doing that at the lab, but I couldn’t touch it. I couldn’t see the benefits of what I was doing. So I thought about nursing school, (I) started that. My heart wasn’t really in that and then I thought to myself ‘Did I really have the stomach for it?’ So I came to a job fair for Clarke County and actually had like four job offers and I got into (teaching). And I’m loving it. It’s rewarding at the end of the day, even if I have rough days, I feel like I’m making a difference. There are some kids that some teachers may not reach that I’m able to and I take pride in that or at least having an effect on someone and it be positive, not negative. I can see what I’m doing every day. It’s tangible. I got excited about it. And now I’m like, I probably should have been doing this all along. But sometimes we have to take a different path to get to where we’re supposed to be.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“Respect (and) goals. You set a goal and then set up steps to reach that goal. And just talking to some of my students, it’s sad, but I just don’t think that they think past or look past this weekend, or next month or this year, but there’s no ‘Where do you see yourself three years from now? Where do you see yourself five years from now?’ I don’t think if I were to say something like that to some of these ninth graders, ‘Where do you see yourself in three years?’ Really you should say, ‘Graduating from Clarke Central and doing this.’ But it’s a live for today type thing. And that’s it. When you don’t have any goals or anything to work towards, you’re living for what? You’re just existing.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“It’s cool to be around teachers that taught me. There are several teachers that are still here that were here when I was here. So it’s cool to even talk with them about changes that they see in the kids and the generational gaps. It’s just nice to be a gladiator again. I hope to stay here. I’m glad that this was a place that I could start out because I do have those teachers that have been here since I was here. And I think they’re good mentors. I pick their brains all the time and see different ways to deal with kids, different ways to deal with certain situations. Because I am new to all of this.”
Name: Demetrius Edwards
Position: Government special education teacher
Enrollment: 2003-2007
Why did you want to work in a school?
“When you see a kid get it, like when you ask them a question and they’re finally like ‘Oh, that’s what that means.’ I think that is the biggest part. Seeing their faces light up when they actually get something. I like seeing that. And it’s the same with coaching. When a kid actually gets it and does something well. It’s a sense of, ‘OK, I helped them get that.’ You want more for someone younger than you got yourself so you always want them to be better than you. And that’s a lot about teaching. It’s more about wanting the child to be better than you and (having) more opportunities than you did. I think that’s what made me want to come back here and what made me want to teach.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“How many kids go here for one. It’s amazing to see how much the community has grown from when I was a high school to now. And how many more kids go here and the fact that the building is pretty much the same size and seeing how all these kids fit into the school every day. It’s pretty cool. I like the change we did with the library. I think that is pretty cool. From where the library used to be. But it’s crazy to see it, how much it’s growing and the fact that it’s still growing.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“It’s fun. It has its fun moments, it has its difficult moments at the same time because you see a kid that you might have known for a long time, and you have the actually discipline them sometimes. It’s like, ‘You know I know your parents, I went to school with your parents.’ So you have to remove the fact that you actually know the kid outside of school. So that could be the hard part but it’s also a good part cause you can get them to listen to you sometimes a little bit better because you know them outside of school. So it’s kind of both. It can be good and bad.”
Name: William Lance
Position: Paraprofessional in the L.I.D. Department
Enrollment: 2006 – 2010
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school, and then I went to college. And then I worked for a tire company, and I just wasn’t happy with it. Then I was coaching, and I really enjoyed that. And then I started thinking like, ‘What’s going to be more meaningful to you? Just working this job that you hate? Or do you want to try to do something that you feel like maybe you’re making a positive difference?’ And so enough people whispered in my ear that you need to go do this and be a teacher so I was like, the worst that happens is I fall flat on my face, it’s gonna be OK.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“I think now they’re starting to key in more on the actual students with the restorative circles and stuff like that. We’re trying to get students to talk through things and actually open up about their feelings like you can tell that it’s the students, it’s being driven more by students. The focus is on students whereas before it was kind of just like, you come to school, you’re learning, get out. I feel like the culture is different in the sense that they understand that y’all have issues going on. There’s more to this than school, and they’re trying to prepare y’all for life by doing those things. Whereas when I was in (school), it’s just out here to do this.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“I enjoy it. I feel like I have skin in the game. So I feel like I care more than maybe the average person. And not that anyone here doesn’t care about what they do– I just feel like I take pride in the fact that this is my community. This is where I went. This is where I’m from. I want to make a difference here. So that helps me out. I was born and raised in Athens, I understand the community. I understand the dynamics of it. To me this is home and if I was going to ever do this, I always said, this is where I want to do it.”
Name: Adam Lowe
Position: Ninth grade counselor
Enrollment: 2008 – 2011
Why did you want to work in a school?
“I think having a parent that was a special ed teacher (made me want to). He showed me the pros of it. But he also kind of showed me the struggle that being a teacher is. His skill set was not the same as mine. He was naturally just a different communicator. And I knew that my skill set was similar to his but just not in the same way. So I wanted to be in a school system. I always knew I wanted to work with kids and young adults. So finding my way into working with students, and helping build up their future, their dreams, their passions, I think that’s always something that was in my mind, but how it came to be was finding my own strengths and then finding a route to help students.”
How has Clarke Central changed since you were there?
“It’s gotten bigger. I think it’s gotten a lot nicer. Like yellow tile was a real thing. Yeah. It was tile that used to be white that turned yellow. It was a real thing. Lockers were a thing. Like smart boards were just coming into fashion when I was in high school, so now everything’s technology-based. I don’t know. I feel like there is a lot more like student activist groups. And I think that’s really powerful. That’s been something I’ve been impressed with, especially as Clarke Central has moved forward. I think the advocacy piece for students to express themselves has been a great improvement. So I think that’s a really positive thing about Clarke Central.”
What is it like to teach at a school that you have attended?
“It’s surreal. Ms. Begnaud was my teacher. Ms. Miller down the hallway was my teacher. Mr. Ragsdale was my teacher. So it’s surreal working with them as a colleague, and as a student. And the transition has been more seamless than I thought. Because you’ll be surprised when you’re in high school, you’re a certain way but as you mature, you change. But there’s still a part of you that you still remember in that instance.”
Story by Margaret Kelleher
Package by Ireland McCage
