New teachers welcomed to Demopolis City Schools
Published 8:26 am Friday, August 14, 2015
New teachers and staff at Demopolis City Schools attended an orientation last week and teacher institute on Monday prior to beginning the school year on Thursday.
With a new school year beginning this week, the Demopolis City Schools will welcome, not only students, but a group of new teachers and staff as well.
The system has hired about 25 new teachers this summer and most attended an orientation on Thursday, August 6, as well as teacher institute programs this week. These new teachers will enter the classroom to teach students on the first day of school on Thursday, August 13.
“Teachers are the most important resource in a school system and we are extremely please with the knowledge, training and abilities our new teachers possess,” said Demopolis Interim Superintendent Frank Costanzo. “Teaching, in my opinion, is the most challenging yet demanding career and we congratulate them on their to decision to teach. The Board, adminsistrators, and central office staff will work coopratively to provide them with the support and tools they need to be successful in the classroom.
Ashley Allen
Allen has joined the staff at Demopolis Middle School as a business technology and career preparedness teacher. He is entering his eleventh year in teaching. A resident of Thomasville, he is a graduate of Faulkner State and Alabama State. He is married to Bridgett Allen and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smiley.
“My goal for this school year is to change the culture in the classroom and grow the football and basketball programs,” Allen said.
Logan Colvin
Colvin joins the staff at Demopolis High School and will teach tenth grade U.S. history and twelfth grade government and economics. He is entering his first year as a teacher. A native of Albertville, Alabama, he is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. He is the son of Mike and Cheri Colvin.
Jannalee Duke
Duke has joined the staff at U.S. Jones Elementary School as a third grade teacher. She is entering her seventh year in teaching. A native of Demopolis, she is a graduate of the University of Alabama. She is married to Jake Duke and has two children, Charlie and Joanna.
“My goal for this school year is to help students realize their own potential,” Duke said.
Brittany Dunson
Dunson is joining the staff at U.S. Jones Elementary as a physical education teacher and will serve at Demopolis High School as the head coach for volleyball and softball. She is entering her first year of teaching. She is a native of Pensacola, Florida and is a graduate of the University of Mobile. She is the daughter of Tim and Tina Dunson and has one brother, Allen Dunson.
Julie Foster
Foster has joined the staff at Demopolis Middle School as an eighth grade English and language arts teacher. She is entering her eighteenth year teaching. She is from Hoover, Alabama and is a graduate of the University of Montevallo. She is married to Dale Foster and has two sons, Aslan, 11, and Josiah, 8.
“My goal for this school year is to teach COS standards and to attract children to English skills for life,” Foster said.
Lisa Martin
Martin has joined the staff at Westside Elementary as a Pre-K teacher. She is entering her eleventh year in teaching. A native of Demopolis, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is married to Drew Martin and has two children, Jon Daniel, 7, and Mary Blanche, 4.
Libby McKinley
McKinley is joining the staff at Demopolis Middle School as a sixth grade special education teacher. She is entering her first year as a teacher. A native of Camden, Alabama, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is the daughter of Kim and Wallace McKinley.
“My goals for this school year is to ensure that all students understand that no matter what, all children can learn,” McKinley said.
Patriia Moore
Moore is joining the staff at Westside Elementary School as a second grade teacher. She is entering her fifteenth year in teaching. A native of Demopolis, she is a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery. She is married to Sebastian Meon Moore.
“My goal for this school year is to take my second graders above and beyond as well as to develop lasting relationships,” she said.
Chelsea Morgan
Morgan is joining the staff at Westside Elementary School as a second grade teacher. She is entering her sixth year in teaching. A native of Linden, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is married with two children.
“My goal for this school year is to establish relationships and motivate students to give their best everyday,” she said.
Sam Mosley
Mosley is joining the staff at Westside Elementary School as a K-2 physical education teacher. He is entering his seventh year teaching. A native of Camden, Alabama he is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. He is married to Whitney Mosley and they have one son, Forrest.
“My goal for this school year is to teach kids to enjoy PE and to win state championships in football,” he said.
Whitney Mosley
Mosley is joining the staff at U.S. Jones Elementary School as a third grade teacher. She is entering her third year in teaching. A native of Pine Hill, Alabama, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is married to Sam Mosley and has one son, Forrest.
Judy Pritchett
Pritchett has joined the staff at Westside Elementary as a Pre-K auxiliary teacher. She joins the school system after having served 12 years with Head Start. A resident of Demopolis, she is a graduate of Concordia College. She has a daughter, Stacie, 24, and one son, Samuel, 26.
“My goal for this school is to introduce our children to a second language in their early years,” Pritchett said.
Bert Rice
Rice has joined the staff at Demopolis Middle School as a seventh grade social studies teacher. He is entering his sixth year as a teacher. He is from Fort Deposit, Alabama and graduated from Troy University.
“My goal for this school year is to introduce and explain concepts that will encourage DMS students to be active and productive citizens in the future,” Rice said.
Angela Richardson
Richardson is joining the staff at Demopolis High School as a lunchroom employee. She is a resident of Demopolis.
Laura Smith Rouse
Rouse is joining the staff at Westside Elementary as a second grade teacher. She is entering her sixth year in teaching. A native of Philadelphia, Mississippi, she is a graduate of East Central Community College and Mississippi State University. She is married to Will Rouse and has one daughter, Caroline.
Will Rouse
Rouse is joining the Demopolis City Schools as an algebra teacher. He is entering his ninth year in teaching. A native of Union, Mississippi, he is a graduate of Belhaven University and the Mississippi State University. He is married to Laura Smith Rouse and has one daughter, Caroline.
Carly Stacey
Stacey has joined the staff at Demopolis Middle School as a seventh grade English and language arts teacher. She is entering her first year as a teacher. A native of Repton, Alabama, she is a graduate of the University of Alabama.
“My goal for this school year is to encourage students to fulfill their maximum potential,” Stacey said.
Jackie Tripp
Tripp has joined the staff at Demopolis Middle School as a sixth grade math teacher. This will be Tripp’s fourteenth year as a teacher. A native of Demopolis, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is married to Tim Tripp and has three sons, Brian, Grey and Tyree, and one daughter, Olivia.
“My goal for this school year is to become an effective team member and leader and to develop a love of learning in my students,” Tripp said.
Dawson Turberville
Turberville has joined the staff at Demopolis High School as a health teacher. He is entering his first year as a teacher. A native of Excel, Alabama, he has attended Alabama Southern and Stillman College. He is the son of Neil and Leisa Turberville.
“My goal for this school year is to introduce to students new and healthy activities,” Turberville said.
Caitlyn White
White joins the staff at Demopolis High School as a science teacher. She is entering her first year in teaching. A native of Springville, Alabama, she is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. She is married to Jeremy White and is the daughter of Ken and Susan Barham.
“My goal for this school year is to encourage students to explore the world of science,” White said.
For this and other local stories see the Wednesday, August 12, print edition of the Demopolis Times.
