This year BJHS has so many new teachers. Seventeen to be exact. It can be difficult to be a new student, but what about being a new staff or faulty member?
Jamie Golden:
Q: How many years have you been in education?
A: This is my sixth year as a teacher but I was a para for five years.
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: I taught at Bryant High School and I worked at Lakeside School District.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: It’s a lot nicer of a building for sure and all the teachers are really nice and friendly. It feels more like a home.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: California State in Hayward, California, and then I came here and went to Henderson.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: Well, I started as a sub in a special education class, and after the first week I knew this is what I wanted to do.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: For the kids I teach, most of the time I’m their voice when they can’t. I like to see them do their best and get better each year.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: I love it! The hallways are crowded but other than that…
Coach Lacey Hall:
Q: How many years have you been teaching?
A: This is year 18!
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: I taught at Foreman. And I taught at De Queen.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: I really like it. I’ve worked at smaller schools and so this is a lot larger but, it’s more tight knit with just the two grades. I’m able to focus on what I’m doing. It’s very well taken care of and it runs like a very well old machine and I love it!
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Bismarck High School, and then I went to college at Henderson, and then I got my masters at SAU.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: Well, it runs in my family, there are lots of teachers on both sides. Starting college I was going to be a graphic designer. I married a coach and knew that my chances of moving to Dallas and becoming a graphic designer were slim. After that I took graphic design and turned it into just regular Art Education and that’s what my undergrad is in. Teaching kind of comes naturally, it’s what I did, it’s what I know.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: You can really reach kids in a way that other adults can’t. You can help in ways other adults can’t becuase we see a side of you (students) that other adults don’t. We get to see you without parents and with your friends. Kind of the real you and the struggles that you go through. That’s when we can really make a difference and help.
Q: How has your experience been at Bryant Junoir High so far?
A: I really like it. I’ve been pleasantly surprised, sometimes it’s hard to go back to work after the summer but everyday I get here even if I’m tired, it’s a happy place and I’m just happy when I get here and I stay that way throughout the day. Year 18, I feel like I enjoy everyday. There are good people to work for and work with.
Coach George Henderson:
Q: How many years have you been teaching?
A: This is my third year.
Q: Where else have you taught
A: I taught at Wonder Junior High in West Memphis.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: It’s very diverse. Very technology based. At Wonder, kids normally have to ask to go to the restroom, and here you just fill out an ehallpass and you’re good to go.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I went to school in West Memphis, at West Memphis High School.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A; I started out coaching when I was 22. I started coaching and I had a passion for working with kids so I just got into education.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: Everyday you’re learning something new. Whether it’s academic related or just common knowledge which you need in the everyday world. You can’t get enough of learning or teaching, really.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: Great! This is by far the best school that I’ve been to as far as working wise. I did internships in Little Rock and Mayflower and Bryant is completely different.
Melinda Ellington:
Q: How many years have you been teaching?
A: This year will be my 24th year teaching.
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: Before here, I worked at Mountain Home School District, in Mountain Home, Arkansas for 19 years.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: Where I came from, the students did their assignments on chromebooks and here you guys use iPads. It was the same for teachers; we didn’t teach on iPads. We also had block schedules. Teachers had four classes a day. The students had 8 classes but they had A and B days.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I went to ASU in Jonesburo.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: My favorite subject in school is math and it’s a really neat thing to take somhthing you’re good at and to be able to explain it to another person.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: Because when you start out teaching at a 9th grade level, it is the foundation for students and it’s really important that students have a strong foundation so they can be more successful as they grow up.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: It’s been great. There is more technology here that there has been.
Jonathan Gregory:
Q: How many years have you been teaching?
A: This is my 14th Year.
Q: Where else have you taught
A: I’ve taught at Pine Bluff, Sheridan, and White Hall.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: The building’s brand new. The technology actually works. Everything is operational and everything works. It’s probably the nicest place I’ve ever been. Very well maintained.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I went to school here. Born and raised here. I went to college at Arkansas State and UALR.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: My mom was a teacher for about 40 years. I wanted to get into teaching to coach originally but it kind of shifted to where I just wanted to be around kids and be a positive influence because not all kids have a positive influence in their life.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: We’re basically kind of shaping the world for tomorrow, really. Sometimes you can help kids with self belief and confidence. It’s important to me because I like to be a positive influence in their lives.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: I absolutely love it! Everybody’s friendly and there’s nothing that we need that we dont have. I have no complaints whatsoever.
Nancy Solomon:
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: Eight years total.
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: I have been a para at Bryant High School; Springhill Elementary; Bryant Elementary; Amarillo, Texas; Jetmore, Kansas; and Dodge City, Kansas.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: Bryant Junior High is different than any other school I have worked at because I have never been in 8th and 9th grade levels before. I believe kids this age group are going through many transformations at this time during their lives, not only physically but emotionally as well. They are all trying to figure it all out, this thing called life.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I went to school at Florida Junior College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: I started to be an educator because I raised my grandson and wanted to be on the same schedule as him. Many times we went to the same school early on.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: I think educating kids is important because they are our future leaders in this world. If we want our leaders to make smart choices, we need to start early in life teaching kids how to make smart choices.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: So far my experience at BJHS has been a good experience since it has only been two weeks! I am hoping it continues to be a great experience. The staff is awesome!
Katrina Robinson:
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: This is my first year as a paraprofessional.
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: I have been subbing on and off for years for Bryant Public Schools. I also subbed for Benton a little when I first started.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: When I first started subbing I did it because I wanted to profoundly impact the lives of children. My son was in first grade at the time. He is now in fourth grade and goes to Hill Farm Elementary. I enjoyed being able to see him grow and stay close to him while he was in school. I started subbing at the junior high and the staff and students were so welcoming. They made me right at home! I found myself subbing there every time I got the opportunity to. Bryant Junior high is one of the best in my opinion because of the staff here. They pour their heart and soul into impacting the lives of their students.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I went to School here at Bryant. I’m a hornet. I graduated in 2007. Hornet Proud.
Q: Why did you want to become an educator?
A: Honestly, I never wanted to be a paraprofessional. I never saw myself in this field of work. When I started I really enjoyed helping and connecting with all the students, helping them in the classroom and seeing them grow so much by the time the school year ended. One of the best parts is when I started subbing at the junior high, I ran into one of my old teachers, Karen Trantham. She is still teaching at Bryant. I loved catching up with her and being able to hug her. I got to tell her what a wonderful teacher she was to me. I was able to tell her what an impact she made on my life. Honestly, it wasn’t until that moment I realized I wanted to become an educator. I pray one day that I am able to have such a beautiful impact on one of my students’ lives.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: Teaching Is important to me because I get to see and help them achieve things that they thought they couldn’t. Cheer for them when they have victories and help them work through the hard things. I am preparing them for their next steps in life. I’m honored and truly blessed to be able to be a part of that.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: The first two weeks have been such a blast and rewarding in so many ways getting to know the students. I’m excited to watch them grow this year.
Kelvin Parker:
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: 17th year
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: Arkansas School for the Blind, Jacksonville Lighthouse, LRSD.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: BJHS is well organized and structured.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: UALR, Masters at UAPB
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: I wanted to Coach!
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: I believe I can make a difference in the lives of my students!
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: This is the best school I have ever taught at!
Bart Reynolds:
Q: How long have you been an educator?
A: This is my 26th year of teaching. I am a special education teacher.
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: I have been teaching all of my career at Bryant High School.
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: Bryant Jr. High administrators are top notch people as well as top notch professionals. This is what separates BJHS from all the others.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I graduated from Bryant HS in 1991 and then went to UCA to get my degree in special education
Q: Why did you want to become an educator?
A: Teaching allowed me to continue to be around the sport of football for a few years longer. Plus kids are fun to me.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: Teaching is important to me because it’s not easy and I like the challenges that each day brings.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: My experience here has been great so far.
Lawrence Jefferson:
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: 25 years
Q: Where else have you taught?
A: Bryant High, Arkadelphia High, Douglas County Middle in Georgia, Russellville Middle, and Viola High
Q: How is Bryant Junior High different from where you have taught before?
A: It has been a while since I have taught 8th grade students
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I grew up in Flippin, Arkansas. I graduated from Lyon College (Bachelor) and Arkansas Tech (Master)
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: I had great teachers at Flippin who really challenged students and cared for our well being.
Q: Why is teaching important to you?
A: Teaching allows me to help all students become who they want to be and be a role model for those who might struggle with right/wrong or who don’t have a positive adult role model in their life.
Q: How has your experience at BJHS been so far?
A: So far so good.
