An excerpt from an archived issue of the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine showcases former Clarke Central High School teacher Charlie Wooten. Wooten left a positive influence on many in the CCHS community, including former science department chair Buddy Sims, before he died on April 30. “Charlie was my friend. I could always talk to him about kids, issues with school, anything. He always had time for people,” Sims said. “He was a friend/support for the marginalized kids. He was unconventional, sometimes irreverent, and had a good view of the big picture of the school. He was my friend.” Images courtesy of the ODYSSEY archives.
Former CCHS teacher Charlie Wooten, a positive influence on many students, died on April 30.
Longtime CCHS teacher — Social Studies, German and English — and founding coach of the soccer program Charles “Charlie” Clifford Wooten, Jr. died on April 30.
Wooten student taught at CCHS from 1976-77 and joined the faculty full-time in the fall of 1977. Wooten was viewed as an influential teacher until his retirement in 2006, whereafter he would substitute teach and help with Governor’s Honors Program interviews at CCHS.
CCHS Class of 1982 alumnus Alex Sams says that Wooten treated students not as kids, but instead as grown-ups.
“Woot taught me just how close I was to being an adult by simply treating us, (his soccer players), as adults. His language, while controlled and appropriate in my opinion, was adult language,” Sams said. “He made us feel like his peers even though we knew he was the coach and boss of the team. Kids need a taste of feeling like an adult. I like to think I have a little of him in my coaching.”
“Woot taught me just how close I was to being an adult by simply treating us, (his soccer players), as adults. His language, while controlled and appropriate in my opinion, was adult language. He made us feel like his peers even though we knew he was the coach and boss of the team. Kids need a taste of feeling like an adult. I like to think I have a little of him in my coaching.”
— Alex Sams,
CCHS Class of 1982 alumnus
Not only did Wooten impact students during his career, but he was also seen as a trusted colleague. Buddy Sims, a retired science department chair who served at CCHS from 1983-2012, remembers Wooten fondly.
“Charlie was my friend. I could always talk to him about kids, issues with school, anything. He always had time for people,” Sims said. “He was a friend/support for the marginalized kids. He was unconventional, sometimes irreverent, and had a good view of the big picture of the school. He was my friend.”
A private service will be held for Wooten at Bernstein Funeral Home at 3195 Atlanta Hwy.
