Jamie Akridge
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
akridgej@calhounschools.org
Jamie graduated from Lee County High and the University of Georgia. She has worked extensively with children with Autism and has been a teacher for the past three years. Her goal is to be the teacher that her students need to be successful. She and her husband have a toddler, two dogs and two cats. She enjoys outdoor activities and is looking forward to working in Calhoun City Schools.
Rick Baggett
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
baggettr@calhounschools.org
Rick is a graduate of Huffman High School and the University of Alabama. He has been an educator for three years and has taught all subject 6-8 in the psycho-educational program. He will be teaching math and language arts at the middle school. Rick has been married twenty four years and has four sons ages 22, 22, 19 and 16. He enjoys camping and rock climbing.
Casey Baxter
Fifth Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
baxterc@calhounschools.org
This will be Casey's first year as a teacher. He is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Shorter College. Casey was recently selected as the new Head Boys Basketball Coach at CHS. Casey applied to teach with Calhoun City Schools because he loves the tradition and family atmosphere that goes along with it. Casey has jumped right in and has already visited with the Rotary Club to share his excitement about the upcoming basketball season. He encourages everyone to come out and support the Calhoun Yellow Jackets.
Andrew Bowen
Math Teacher
Calhoun High School
bowena@calhounschools.org
Andrew is a graduate of Murray County High School and Berry College. He completed his student teaching experience with CHS several years ago and has been teaching algebra and geometry at Adairsville High School. He has been an educator for the past four years. He says that he applied to teach in Calhoun City because he wanted to be a part of an excellent system with a family atmosphere. Andrew is married to his high school sweetheart Charity who teaches in Dalton. He enjoys church, family and music. He is a second generation Baptist minister.
Kathy Brown
Fifth Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
brownkathy@calhounschools.org
Kathy taught for Gordon County Schools for seventeen years and chose to make a change this year. She has a love for learning and wants to instill that same desire in children. Kathy is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Kennesaw State University. She has four children and three grandchildren. She and her husband Larry have been married for more than 38 years. She is a great cook and master gardener. Recently her family opened a restaurant off of McDaniel Station Road where she enjoys throwing parties and celebrations.
Kelli Fowler
Math Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
fowlerk@calhounschools.org
Kelli is a graduate of Model High School and Shorter College. She has been an educator for the past three years and has taught math, reading and science. She comes to us from Ashworth Middle School. Kelli became a teacher because she wanted to deposit into other children what has been deposited into her, "a quest for knowledge and a desire to succeed." She will be teaching seventh grade math. Kelli is married to Austin and they have a daughter Ava who is five months old. She enjoys singing, visiting new places, listening to music, and playing with her daughter.
Tammy Griffith
Assistant Principal
Calhoun Primary School
griffitht@calhounschools.org
Tammy is a graduate of Trion High School and has attended Georgia Southern, West Georgia and Lincoln Memorial. She has always loved mathematics and began her career as an educator by tutoring baseball players at Georgia Southern. She taught high school math for more than eighteen years and has been an educator for 25 years. Having served several years as a high school assistant principal and principal, her goal is to learn more about primary school. She will experience an empty nest as her son goes to Georgia Tech and her daughter goes to West Georgia to study to be a primary school teacher. She enjoys reading, golfing and traveling
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Tom Griffith
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun High School
griffithtom@calhounschools.org
Tom is a graduate of Cartersville High School and Furman University. He chose to teach because he wanted to work with students of various backgrounds and abilities to help them become life long learners. He has taught in the alternative school program at Sonoraville High School and will be teaching special education at CHS. His goal is to be the best teacher possible. He and his wife Michelle have a son Adam who is a student at Calhoun Middle School. He enjoys cycling, running and building houses. You may check out some of Tom's latest projects on Pisgah Way.
Kari Groce
Third Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
grocek@calhounschools.org
Kari is a graduate of Trion High School and Shorter College. She has a heavy heart to see children succeed. She has been an educator for the past five years. Her husband is the youth minister at Calhoun First United Methodist Church and they have two beautiful children Brady and Abby. She enjoys singing, shopping and spending time with her family. The Groce family resides in Calhoun and are looking forward to becoming a part of the Calhoun community.
Heather Hall
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
hallh@calhounschools.org
Heather graduated from Upson Lee High School and UGA. Heather was born in Germany and raised in Thomaston, GA. She loves being around children. She has taught in a fourth grade resource room and has been a camp counselor for elementary and middle school students with disabilities. Her goal is to give all of her students the type of instruction they need to learn effectively. Heather enjoys exercising and is looking to get plenty of this at the new complex.
Tommy Hoblitzell
Physical Education Teacher
Calhoun High School
hoblitzellt@calhounschools.org
Coach Hob just returned from Football Camp with the Calhoun Yellow Jackets. He will teach physical education classes at Calhoun High School. Tom comes to us from Rome High School, Rome City Schools. He and his wife Stacey have two children; Trip who is seven and attends Calhoun Primary School and Anna who is four and she attends Calhoun Pre-Kindergarten.
Bethany Holt
Fifth Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary Schools
holtb@calhounschools.org
Bethany is a graduate of Trion High School, Truett McConnell College, Georgia Highland and the University of West Georgia. Her goal is to inspire children to learn and to be excited about it. When she attended Calhoun City School's Recruitment Fair in March, she knew she was home. Bethany is engaged to be married next April. She enjoys spending time with family, photography, soccer and gardening.
Edward Kemper
Science Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
kempere@calhounschools.org
Edward graduated form Chattanooga Central High School and UTC. He loves new things and challenges and hopes to pass this onto others. He has taught fifth, sixth and seventh grades and has been an educator for the past thirteen years. Edward is married with six children, yes...six children and one grandchild. He enjoys outdoor activities. Ask Edward about his experiences jumping out of airplanes.
Kim Kiker
School Nutrition Director
Calhoun City Schools
kikerk@calhounschools.org
Kim is a graduate of Northwest High School and the University of Georgia. Kim is a Dietitian and Food Service Manager with Hamilton Medical Center and will begin her new role with Calhoun City Schools on August 20, 2007. She is a certified Diabetes educator and weight loss counselor and has taught numerous nutrition classes over the years. She has been in the nutrition field for more than fourteen years with extensive experiences in nutrition and food services. Her goal is to provide excellent nutrition services to the children and staff of Calhoun City Schools. Kim married her high school sweetheart and they have two children Harrison and Caroline. She enjoys Georgia Football, shopping, traveling and bike riding with her kids.
Ryan Land
Social Studies Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
landr@calhounschools.org
Ryan is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Kennesaw State University. He became a teacher because he wanted to have a profound impact on his students in the way his teachers affected his life. He has taught geography and government. His goal is to give students the best possible chance for success. He chose to teach in Calhoun City Schools because he wanted to give back to the system that gave so much to him. Both of Ryan's parents were educators for more than thirty years. He is a pretty good cook and enjoys football, working with young people and he loves to laugh.
Anna Leatherwood
Third Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
leatherwooda@calhounschools.org
Anna attended Calhoun High School where she graduated with highest honors. She is a Georgia Bulldog fan, having attended and graduated from the University of Georgia. Her husband Nathan teaches at Calhoun Pre-K where he teaches the "Red Dogs". Anna enjoys reading, playing tennis, cooking and shopping. Her goal is to help each student achieve success.
Julie Leggett
English Teacher
Calhoun High School
leggettj@calhounschools.org
Julie is a graduate of Calhoun High School. She attended Rhodes College and Indiana University. She has taught at Gordon Central High School and will be teaching English at CHS for the 2007-2008 school year. Her goal is to be the best teacher she can be. She chose to teach in Calhoun City because its her home and the school system for her kids and family. Many may remember Julie for her role in the CHS Senior Play "The Sound of Music". Julie is married to John and they have three daughters, Kate, Lucy and Caroline.
Laura Edwards Long
Fourth Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
longl@calhounschools.org
Laura is a Calhoun High School Graduate who attended UGA and Dalton State. Laura's goal is to be an effective teacher while making learning fun. She hopes to be as positive a role model and as good a teacher as she had throughout school. Laura recently married Josh Long. She is the daughter of School Board Chairman Al Edwards and Pam Edwards, a kindergarten teacher at Calhoun Primary School. Laura has two sisters Carrie and Emily.
Ken MacKnight
First Grade Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
macknightken@calhounschools.org
Ken has been an educator for the past twenty nine years and has experience teaching every grade at the elementary level except fourth grade. He enjoys challenging his students. Ken's wife Kim is a special education teacher at Calhoun Primary School and they have three children. He enjoys the outdoors and exploring new places. Ken admits that he'd rather speak in front of a room full of first graders before he'd speak to room full of adults.
Kim MacKnight
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
macknightk@calhounschools.org
Kim has been an educator for the past fourteen years with experience in special education, kindergarten, first and second grades. Her goal is to learn as much as she can about Learning Focused Schools and the promotion of inclusion. Kim's husband Ken will be teaching first grade at Calhoun Primary School and they have three children ages 10, 9 and 6. She enjoys spending time with her children.
Charisse Mann
First Grade Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
mannc@calhounschools.org
Charisse is a graduate of Rome High School and the University of West Georgia. She has taught kindergarten at Anna K. Davie Elementary School in Rome. Her goal is to be the most effective teacher she can be. Charisse comes from a family full of educators, teachers, principals and Board of Education members. She is passionate about teaching and learning and is looking forward to first grade. She enjoys eating, sleeping, shopping and vacationing.
Mary Ellen McCall
Social Studies Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
mccallm@calhounschools.org
Mary Ellen has a background in theatre and has chosen to finish her career in a more meaningful way by becoming an educator. She is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Auburn University. She has come home to teach! Her dad graduated from CHS in 1934; her sister in 1959 and her brother in 1961. Mary Ellen admits that she is addicted to C-SPAN and loves current events.
Josh McCanless
Science Teacher
Calhoun High School
mccanlessj@calhounschools.org
Josh is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Rhodes College. He became a teacher because he wanted to help children love the subjects that interested him. He has taught for the past sixteen years and has enjoyed teaching Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Science. Josh came to Calhoun City Schools because its his home and where his children attend school. Josh and his wife Lisa have two sons, Michael and Matthew and a poodle named Chloe.
Nancy McFry
Science Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
mcfryn@calhounschools.org
Nancy graduated from Red Bud High School and Shorter College. She chose teaching because she wanted to do something meaningful and rewarding. She has taught the past five years at Ashworth Middle School. Her goal is to make CMS her new home and the students more knowledgeable. She and her husband Bobby have a daughter Lindsay and twin sons Brandon and Dillon. She enjoys her flower garden, reading and spending time with her children.
Elizabeth Parrott
Math Teacher
Calhoun High School
parrotte@calhounschools.org
Elizabeth graduated from Wheeler High School and UGA. She loves math and enjoys being around kids. She has taught in three different states and four school systems and has been an educator for seventeen years. She will be teaching math at CHS where she has completed several substitute teaching assignments. Elizabeth and her husband have two daughters, a son, a cat and a dog. She enjoys playing tennis, running, cooking and sudoku.
Susan Perry
Third Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
perrys@calhounschools.org
Susan graduated from Coosa High School and Berry College. She has taught oversees for two years and has taught students form South Korea, Brazil, Sweden, Holland, Latin America, Bosnia, England, Canada, Vietnam and India. Susan completed her student teaching experience with Calhoun City Schools several years ago and is glad to be back. She is bilingual which is certainly a valued skill. She and her husband have a two year old son. She enjoys planting flowers.
Greg Petersen
Special Education Director
Calhoun City Schools
peterseng@calhounschools.org
Mr. Petersen served as Special Education Coordinator for the Bartow County School System for the past two years. Prior to this position, he was an Associate for the Department of Student Support Services for Bartow County Schools from 1997-2006. Greg was a lead special education teacher / speech language pathologist at Kingston Elementary School from 1980-1997. Mr. Petersen holds a Masters and Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from the State University of West Georgia. He is an Executive Board Member for the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education. He is the founder, and former owner and operator of Kid's World Learning Centers in Rome, Georgia. Mr. Petersen's wife teaches kindergarten for Rome City Schools and he is a proud father of two and grandfather of two.
Robin Proffitt
Art Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
proffittr@calhounschools.org
Robin is a graduate of Calhoun High School and the University of Georgia. She has been an educator for three years. She chose to come back home to Calhoun City because she was a city schools student from kindergarten until she graduated and wanted to be able to give back to the community that she lives in and to the system that provided her with a wonderful educational experience. She and her husband Brian are expecting their first child in December. Most people know Robin's mom Judy who owns Diprima's Shoes. Robin enjoys woodworking, playing tennis, painting, reading, photography and decorating.
Brandy Rainey
First Grade Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
raineyb@calhounschools.org
Brandy is a graduate of Murray County High and West Georgia. She loves children and has taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. She enjoys movies and reading books. She and her husband Nicholas have three dogs and reside in Murray County.
Dedra Rasbury
Math Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
rasburyd@calhounschools.org
Dedra returns to Calhoun City Schools after fiftheen years as a stay at home mom. She taught for several years in Alabama and one year at Calhoun High School. She returns to education to help students become leaders. She and her husband have two children, Hunter who is in the seventh grade and Savannah who will be a freshman at Calhoun High School. Dedra is a graduate of Southside High School and the University of Alabama.
Ray Reece
Math Teacher
Calhoun High School
reecer@calhounschools.org
Ray is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Shorter College. He became a teacher because of the impact Frank Mills and Coach Tucker had on him as a high school student. He has taught physical education at Tolbert Elementary and mathematics at Gordon Central High and has been an educator for ten years. He chose to come to Calhoun City because he felt it was way past time to come home. He and his wife Julie have two children Jessi, a freshman at CHS and Nolan, a second grader at CPS. He enjoys watching college football, hunting and fishing and probably earns the all time prize for the most embarrassing story ever told in Calhoun City.
Ashley Reeves
Second Grade Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
reevesa@calhounschools.org
Ashley is a graduate of Calhoun High School and Dalton State College. Her goal is to help her students learn and grow and achieve all expectations. She wanted to come "home" to Calhoun City. Her father is Tommy and mom is Sue. She has an older sister Julie Reeves Holton and a younger brother Chris. She enjoys shopping and playing with her puppy Lilly. Ashley just bought a new car to go along with her new job.
Jessica Silvers
Kindergarten Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
silversj@calhounschools.org
Jessica is a graduate of Barron Collier High School, Harding University and Nova Southeastern University. She was born and raised in Naples, Florida. She has been an educator for the past two years and is ready for a new start in an excellent school system after recently being married on June 15th. She and her husband (a long time resident of Calhoun) will reside in Gordon County. She enjoys playing with her black lab, Bear.
Tammy Swink
Fourth Grade Teacher
Calhoun Elementary School
swinkt@calhounschools.org
Tammy graduated from Troup High School and West Georgia. She loved being a teacher's aid in high school and couldn't wait to become a teacher. She taught preschool for three years and has been a substitute teacher for Calhoun City Schools for the past two years. She and her husband Tony have been married for nineteen years and they have three children: Tommy, Savannah and Cecilia. She enjoys reading, being outdoors and spending time with her family.
Amy Tate
Second Grade Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
tatea@calhounschools.org
Amy has taught second grade for Gordon County Schools and chose to come to Calhoun City Schools for a new challenge. She is a graduate of Adairsville High School and the University of West Georgia. She and her husband reside in Calhoun. She enjoys reading, shopping and watching movies.
Nicole Tibbs
Special Education Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
tibbsn@calhounschools.org
Nicole is a graduate of Gordon Central High School and the State University of West Georgia. She has taught fifth grade reading and language arts and seventh grade language arts. Nicole grew up in the Calhoun City School System. She is married to Matt and they have two sons, Ethan and Eli. She enjoys traveling, reading, writing and spending time with family. Nicole has been a guest columnist for the Calhoun Times.
Beverly Veatch
Sixth Grade Language Arts Teacher
Calhoun Middle School
veatchb@calhounschools.org
Beverly has been an educator for the past eighteen years and has taught math, language arts, social studies, and reading for the Chattooga County School System and language arts for the past three years at Ashworth Middle School. Beverly has many friends who teach for Calhoun City Schools and their positive attitude and praise for the students and administration encouraged her to seek employment with the school system. Beverly has three children and five grandchildren which includes a set of twins. She enjoys reading, cooking, sewing and playing with her grandchildren.
Warren Weeks
Assistant Superintendent
Calhoun City Schools
weeksw@calhounschools.org
Mr. Weeks comes to us from Valdosta City Schools where he has served as Assistant to the Superintendent responsible for special projects, extended day learning, alternative schools, tribunals, social services, grants management, facilities, transportation and the day to day operations of the school system for the past five years. Prior to this position, Mr. Weeks held administrative positions at Auburn High School, Alexander City Middle School and Hale County High School in Alabama. He has taught science, social studies, math, English and physical education at various levels. Mr. Weeks is a 2005 graduate of the Lowndes County Leadership Program. Mr. Weeks earned a Bachelors Degree in Education from Auburn University, a Masters Degree in Leadership from Troy State University, a Specialist Degree from Valdosta State University and will complete his Doctoral Degree from Valdosta State in the fall of 2007. Warren's wife Mandy is a nurse for Gordon Hospital. Children: Lauren will be a freshman at CHS and Wil will be a sixth grader at CMS. Warren and Mandy are expecting a baby boy to arrive in January.
Melea Welch
Kindergarten Teacher
Calhoun Primary School
welchm@calhounschools.org
Melea is a graduate of Calhoun High School and attended the University of West Georgia. She recognizes that some of the most influential people in her life have been teachers and she wanted to follow in her grandmother's footsteps. Her goal is to be the best teacher and support for her students that she can be. Melea's mom is a CHS grad. and now owns Thurston's Café. Her brother was a recent CHS grad and was her favorite football player. Melea enjoys yard work and spending time with family and friends.
Natalie Williams
Calhoun Elementary School
Fourth Grade Teacher
williamsn@calhounschools.org
Natalie is a graduate of Chattooga High School and attended Shorter College, Floyd College and the University of West Georgia. She has taught first grade EIP and will be teaching fourth grade at CES for the 2007-2008 school year. She has a six month old daughter and a wonderful husband. Natalie's claim to fame is that she played Barbie for Mattel when she was in high school. She enjoys singing, shopping and spending time with her family.