Clarke Central High School science department teacher Brittney Bateman poses by the Dungeons & Dragons Club poster in Room 307 on Nov. 6, 2025. Bateman became the D&D Club’s sponsor at the start of October, when it was founded, and has made her room a place for students to use their imagination in Dungeons and Dragons gameplay every Wednesday after school. “Usually, students are either super into academics or art (or) band, and I love supporting all of them in all of those different ways,” Bateman said. “D&D is an extension on all of those things because it gives another creative outlet for students to find what they’re interested in doing and applying it to things.” Photo by Isabella Gresham
CCHS freshman Jaden Brooks and sophomore Zoe Bodie created CCHS’ Dungeons & Dragons Club to provide an open space for creative students.
Imagination and creativity are at the forefront of Clarke Central High School’s Dungeons & Dragons Club, co-founded by CCHS freshman Jaden Brooks and sophomore Zoe Bodie.
At the beginning of October, Brooks, who has played D&D for four years, and Bodie worked together to found the club. Now, regardless of experience, club members gather in Room 307 every Wednesday after school until 5:30 p.m. to play D&D, a tabletop game where participants role-play as fantasy characters with a Dungeon Master who dictates the story.
“When I was at (Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School), D&D Club was popular, so when I got (to CCHS), I was surprised that they didn’t have one. Me and Zoe had nowhere to play D&D, so we made the club for people at Clarke Central to be able to play D&D,” Brooks said. “I want to give a place for students to use their imagination, feel free and make new friends.”
CCHS science department teacher Brittney Bateman serves as the club sponsor, and although she doesn’t have experience playing, she’s grateful for what D&D provides the students.
“I wanted to make sure that (the club members) had an opportunity to do their creative stuff in a safe space that was welcome to them,” Bateman said. “If I tried to join in, I (couldn’t) think about it as deeply as some of these kids. They’re thinking of absolutely crazy ways to get out of (fantastical situations), so I definitely see the importance of it.”
“I want to give a place for students to use their imagination, feel free and make new friends.”
— Jaden Brook,
CCHS freshman and co-founder of Dungeons & Dragons Club
With the club currently having just over 10 members, Brooks is working to expand it in the future to run two games concurrently. Brooks views the club as a place for future members to bond in high school, particularly younger students.
“It’s a place to have fun (and) let the stress of high school melt away,” Brooks said, “Especially for freshmen, since it’s our first year of high school, it’s good to have a place to be able to talk to friends and not have to worry about school.”
