Clarke Central High School fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson sits in his office in the CCHS band room on Sept. 27. Simpson graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2010 and has been teaching fine arts for eight years. “I taught in South Carolina for five years. Taught high school for four years there. One year of middle school in South Carolina. Taught in Valdosta, Ga. for two years. This is currently my first year here at Clarke Central,” Simpson said. Photo by Tecoya Richardson.
Clarke Central High School fine arts department teacher Christopher Simpson discusses the challenges he has faced this year as a new teacher, while serving as the CCHS assistant band director.
Tecoya Richardson: How long have you been a fine arts teacher?
Christopher Simpson: I’ve been a band director for eight years. (I) graduated in December of 2010, so I’ve been teaching since 2011 until now. It’s my eighth year teaching.
TR: Where have you been teaching?
CS: I taught in South Carolina for five years. Taught high school for four years there. One year of middle school in South Carolina. Taught in Valdosta, Georgia for two years. This is currently my first year here at Clarke Central.
TR: What brought you here to CCHS?
CS: For one, the fine band program that (Director of Bands Dr. Robert) Lawrence has established here. I remember when I was in college and he would bring (the band) to South Carolina State University as the guest band for the symphonic clinic that we used to host. I just tracked the progress of the band from when he got here 10 years ago to now, and it’s amazing what he’s been able to do. He turned the band program around also with the culture of the band program. Also on a personal note, I’m a lot closer to home. I’m about two hours away from home and I like spending time with my family and being able to go home and spend as much time as I can with them. So, being here in Athens teaching allows me to be a little closer to my family.
TR: How did you and Lawrence meet?
CS: Dr. Lawrence was my college professor. I was one of the first students he met when he got to South Carolina State in 2004. I knew him from college, so I had a relationship with him then. When I first got out of college, I was a second year teacher. I called him to work with my band in South Carolina and ever since then, we’ve kind of kept in touch over the phone. I remember when he was down in the basement in the other part of the school with JROTC, I came and visited him then. Two years ago when I finally moved to Valdosta, and I was coming to some of the conferences here, I was able to come and check out the new band room that they funded. We met while I was in college and kind of just maintained a relationship and then kind of blossomed into a friendship.
TR: Switching to marching band, what is the goal this year for the students?
CS: We have a competition coming up on Oct. 20. We’re going down to Blackshear, Georgia which is five and a half hours away so really right now, that’s what we’re gearing up to. So, the ultimate goal, last year, I believe they were a couple points away from being best in class. Meaning that they had the highest score in class or the division that we’re in and I think they got a superior last year. So, our goal is to definitely maintain that superior rating. I know their personal goal is to become best in class because it’s almost like, you know, finishing second place. It’s that much more work they could’ve gotten done to win first place so I think that’s the goal that they have.
TR: What are your thoughts on the song selections for this year?
CS: I think the kids are very excited about the song selection and that really reminds me of why I got into teaching. The kids were so excited to the point where they couldn’t stop talking but it’s just excitement of them being able to do some things. Them being able to recognize the songs that they’re playing. Also, from a proud aspect, seeing the crowd engage with what their doing on the field, and giving them applause. Even some of the kids in my other classes are saying, ‘We really enjoy some of the things that y’all are doing on the field. It was really entertaining.’ So, I think when they hear that positive feedback and they really see how much the crowd is getting behind what they’re doing, it makes them work even harder.
TR: After Lawrence’s retirement, will you be the next band director?
CS: We’ll have to see how things go. That ain’t my focus right now. This being my first year, I really want to learn as much as I can about the program. I’m an outsider coming in. The future is always uncertain, so you can always prepare for the future, but you never know how things are going to go. My biggest thing is that I want to learn as much as I can about Clarke Central and as much as I can about the band program. I want to make this first year about me learning, and as we progress, we’ll kind of see how things go. Learning all the students out there and making sure they are doing what they need to do, and that they understand that. They understand what their job is and what it is we need them to do. That’s kind of where I’m at this year. So, we’ll see what the future holds and we’ll go from there once things get better.
