Chelsea Kolff - 11th Biology

Hello! It's been great to read everyone's posts - I look forward to meeting you all soon! I feel a bit like Jennifer that I'm cheating a little by being on here; I actually starting teaching 11th grade biology at Westminster at the end of September last year. I originally subbed for a teacher who ended up not being able to return, so here I am! I'm excited to start school as an official member of the faculty.

My history with Westminster goes back to the first day of seventh grade, when I officially became a Wildcat! In addition to being a Wildcat, I'm also a Princeton Tiger at heart. I graduated from Princeton in 2009 with a major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a certificate in Theater and Dance. I've taught dance at the Westminster Summer Theater Intensive and been involved with the extracurricular theater program since I graduated in 2005, which is what originally drew me back to Westminster when I returned to Atlanta.

Next year, I'll be teaching regular Biology again in addition to one section of AP Environmental Science. I'm also excited to be the faculty adviser for the newly re-established Dance Club in the high school in addition to my work in the theater program. This summer, I taught dance in June, and I've gotten to spend most of July with my mom and sisters in upstate New York. I've been doing lots of sailing, baking, and playing my sister's new favorite game Bananagrams, which is like a board-less version of Scrabble. I also took an AP Summer Institute for environmental science, so I've been doing (or at least, trying to do) a lot of prep work for that class - at this point just reading our textbook!

I hope everyone enjoys their last week of the summer!

Hi from a new history teacher!

Hello everyone! My name is Christine and I'll be teaching US History and Modern World History in the high school next year. I'm super excited as this is going to be my first full year teaching position! I graduated in 2009 from Wash U after completing the teacher education program where I student-taught, etc. Then I spent this past year getting my masters in history at Yale, which was such an amazing experience. I just moved to Atlanta a week ago and I'm loving it already! if there's anyone else that's new to the area and wants to explore around, just let me know!

In terms of hobbies, I love to travel. This May I went with a friend of mine to visit our friend who is working in Lima and explore around Peru (that's the three of us at Machu Picchu - I'm on the left). Since that visit, I really want to go back and visit other parts of South America. I'm a New Yorker and thus a huge fan of the New York Yankees and baseball in general, so I figure I can give the Braves a shot since they're in the NL. I also love to bake and I'm trying to learn to cook, though it's a slow learning process. Anyways, I can't wait to meet you all in a week!

My name is Katherine Hicks and this will be my second year at Westmi nster teaching chemistry. I graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2008 with a B.S. in chemistry after transferring from the University of Georgia in 2006. I again graduated from KSU in the summer of 2009 with a Master of Arts in science education. I am a native of the Atlanta area and bleed red and black on gamedays (sorry Owls!). My son, Jack, turned 4 earlier this year and can tell you anything you ever need to know about construction, construction equipment, and fire trucks. A future engineer, perhaps?

My first year here at Westminster has been rewarding on so many levels, and I especially had a blast teaching summer school this year! I am a firm believer in the power of student choice and try my best to maintain a sense of practicality in what I teach. This year I will be a co-sponsor of the Robotics team and am so excited to see what the team can accomplish. It’s going to be fun to learn along with the kids!

I look forward to meeting you all very soon, and hope that everyone has had a relaxing summer!

Brooke Hight - 1st grade Co-Lead

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke Hight. I am very excited about the opportunity to join the 1st grade team and work with Mya King.

I was fortunate enough to be one of those people who knew all my life that I wanted to be a teacher. I got my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a master's degree in Children's Literature from The University of Georgia. I definitely bleed Red and Black!!!

I began my career teaching 1st grade in a Title 1 school in Athens. It was a truly life changing experience. After three years, I moved back to Atlanta and began teaching 2nd grade at Lovett. After three years in 2nd grade, I taught 5th grade for 2 years. And here I am - back in 1st grade!

I was born and raised in Atlanta. Pictured with me in the photo, is the man in my life - Charlie! He is my precious (and HUGE) two year old Shih Tzu. I love to travel. I went on my first mission trip last summer. I worked in an orphanage in Jamaica. It was such an amazing experience. I can't wait to do another one. I am also a voracious reader. I started a book club about 3 years ago, and really look forward to the monthly meetings. I am also a year round tennis player.

I'm very excited about joining the Westminster faculty and can't wait to meet everyone!
Brooke

Tina McCormick: Junior High Chaplain, 7th Bible

Hey Everybody: My name is Tina McCormick and I will be serving as the Junior High Chaplain and teaching 7th grade Bible. I am so excited to be joining the Westminster faculty and to meet all of you!

I graduated from the University of Redlands in 1987 with a degree in Psychology and initially worked at a home for abused children. From there I made the natural transition (?) to working for a start-up computer software company where I eventually became the Marketing Manager. During this time I began volunteering with the young people at my church in Newport Beach and it was through that experience that I felt called to go to seminary. I soon packed up my life in California and moved to New Jersey where I received a Masters from Princeton Theological Seminary. My first call was to The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ, as Associate Pastor for Youth and Families where I served for the next 13+ years. I had an absolute blast working with the young people in Westfield and being a pastor in such a wonderful community.

I first set foot on the Westminster campus in 2006 when I was the speaker for the Junior High during Christian Emphasis Week. I was so impressed with the people I met and the ethos of the campus that I have since been hopeful about one day being a part of the Westminster team. That dream is coming true!

I am a proud and devoted aunt to my niece and four nephews (See pic with the eldest, Sean, who graduated in May from Penn State). I am also a baseball junkie--a lifelong fan of a recent World Champion team (I will withhold their name because it tends to make people not like me). But, alas, I am becoming more of a Braves fan with each passing moment. :) Other hobbies include traveling the world, spending time with my friends and family, and a passion for technology.

See you soon!

Stephanie Spears - 3rd Grade

Hello all!

I'm Stephanie and I will be teaching 3rd grade with Elaine Chestney in August. This past year I had the privilege to work as a teaching fellow with the Center for Teaching. I spent the fall semester at Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta and the spring semester in 3rd grade here at Westminster. I'm extremely excited to be coming back as a member of the faculty!

In December of 2008, I graduated from the University of Georgia with majors in Child and Family Development and Spanish. During my undergrad, I taught dance classes several nights a week and I realized how much I love to teach. This past spring I started the MAT program at Brenau University, and I'm hoping to graduate in December of 2011.

A little more about me... I am originally from Los Angeles, CA, but I grew up in Lawrenceville. In a way I feel like an Atlanta native since I grew up here, but my roots are still in southern California! I've been married to my husband Matt for a little over a year now and we live in Vinings. When I'm not working or studying, I'm spending time with my husband and family, cooking, hiking, or reading.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Sabrina Waldron - 9th and 10th grade English

Hello All,

My name is Sabrina Waldron and I’m excited about teaching 9th and 10th grade English this fall. I recently moved from Brooklyn, NY and I very happy to be back in the South (and out of a moving truck). I was born in New Jersey, grew up in South Florida and I’m a very proud graduate of the University of Florida – GO GATORS!

I’ve spent the last eight years in New York City where I earned a Master's of Comparative Literature from New York University and a Master's of Education from Brooklyn College. Before entering the field of education, I spent my professional career in New York working for an international foundation, several youth service organizations and a non-profit dedicated to revitalizing public libraries. For the past two years I worked at a wonderfully collaborative public school in Brooklyn where I taught 10th grade English.

In terms of hobbies, I’m a big foodie and a cook – I talk about food more than any normal human being should. I’m a sports-lover and traveler – I’ve been to Europe, the Caribbean (where my family is from) and visited South America for the first time last summer. This summer I’m staying in the States with trips to Sonoma and Lake Michigan. It almost goes without saying that I’m an avid reader, but I’m also an occasional DJ (records, turntables, and all).

I’m looking forward to exploring Atlanta with my boyfriend who relocated to Atlanta a year ago for work, and I’m also very excited about becoming a part of the Westminster faculty. I look forward to meeting all of you.

I'm Back From Florida

Hi Everyone,
Florida was wonderful - lots of time in the water, on the water, and on the dock!
It is really fun to see the posts that have appeared so far. I hope to see more in the near future. I will be in and out of the office now for the rest of the summer so call me if you need anything. Thad and I will meet tomorow to begin the transition.
We can help with the southern accent, Liesel. Eric, you should practice blogging with this opportunity (actually, this is my first and only blog :-) S.E. we are glad you won't have to travel to Charlotte now. Jennifer, you are such a traveler. Can't wait to hear all. Mecia, I am going to try to post a picture. If it works, I will let you know how I did it. Lee, a huge welcome to you - we will be so lucky to have you with our students. Jenica, long term sub is a really great way to get to know us and we are very grateful for your willingness to fill in.
Keep on resting and send news.
See you in August - some dates and a schedule will be sent probably by the first of August.
Sandra

A Connecticut Yankee…

Hi Y’all! (I’m practicing my southern accent.) I’m Liesel Krueger and I’ll be joining Westminster this year as the new Head Librarian at the Carlyle Fraser Library of the high school. For the past ten years I’ve been working at private schools in Connecticut, having recently tried my hand at a university in Florida closeby to where my husband and I purchased a vacation home. However, I am really excited to get back into the high school library.

I have lived in New England all of my life completing my bachelor’s degree in New Hampshire and masters in Library Science in Boston. So, I imagine Atlanta will be quite a change! I hear it’s a fantastic city with lots to do and going on. I am currently seeking an apartment and plan on moving there at the end of the month. If anyone has any suggestions or helpful tips, I would greatly appreciate it.

As for my hobbies, well, I guess you could say I am obsessed with Tennis; I play every chance I get and will enjoy working with the girls team. I am also a big fan, so after this weekend’s Wimbledon finals, I’ll be able to resume normal activities;) Vamos Rafa!

Looking forward to meeting and working with you all!
Liesel

Greetings from Jenica Alvarez!

Hello Everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer. My name is Jenica Alvarez and I will be serving as a long-term sub for the fall semester in sixth grade Science. I am very excited about joining the Westminster staff!

I have lived in Georgia for most of my life. I attended North Georgia College and State University where I received my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science. I went to the University of Georgia to get my Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology. I am a student at heart and will never stop learning. I have been working for North Georgia College and State University’s Post-Baccalaureate program this past year where I helped aspiring teachers earn their teaching certificate. Most of my teaching experience has been on the collegiate level working with the School of Education and the Health and Physical Education departments.

I am a huge sports fan (Go DAWGS!) and enjoy being active outdoors. I was competitive in swimming and basketball through high school and continued playing basketball in college. I currently enjoy running and training for sprint triathlons. I have also taught aerobics for years and enjoy teaching a variety of classes.

My family and I just moved this past weekend into a new home in Cumming, Ga. We are very excited about this new chapter in our lives. We are also going to Colorado in July for a HUGE family reunion. My extended family is all over the country so we will be gathering in Colorado for a week of fun and family times.

I am looking forward to meeting each of you! Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Take care!

Hi from New US History Teacher

My name is Eric Combest, I will be teaching US history in the high school, and this is my first ever blog. First, the biographical facts: I grew up in NJ, studied American Studies at Yale and NYU, lived in California (where I worked in the restaurant business and met my wife), then got my PhD in history at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Tarheels!). I taught college history around North Carolina for a few years, then joined the staff of the American Association of University Professors in Washington, DC, where I worked on academic freedom issues and tenure rights. My family and I moved to Atlanta a few years ago when my wife accepted a position at the CDC. I am truly excited about getting back into the classroom, a place I've really missed being, and thrilled to be coming to Westminster! I look forward to meeting everyone, learning from my new colleagues, and getting involved in the Westminster community.

Let's see, what else? My daughter is entering middle school next year (!), we're going to Maine later this summer for a family wedding, I expect to see "Toy Story 3" before the semester begins, I have a cat that thinks it's a dog, I like to cook, and . . . well, they say you should always save some information for the next blog, so I guess that will have to do for now. See you all in August!

Hello from Lee Steele, 2nd Grade

My name is Lee Steele. I'll be teaching 2nd grade with Kay Conyers. I am thrilled to be joining the Westminster faculty! I've been to school a few times this summer and already feel at home. It helps that I have friends who teach in the elementary school and my husband who teaches art in the high school. I also have a very special connection to Lee Friedman, Principal in the Elementary School- he was my principal when I was in elementary school!! It is such an honor to be working with him.

I'm coming to Westminster after teaching third grade for two years in Cobb County. Before that, I worked for two years at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and received my MEd

from Loyola University in Baltimore.

This is a very busy and exciting summer for me. I've been doing lots of traveling. I attended my sister's college graduation in Ohio and went on a girls' trip to Las Vegas at the very beginning of the break. My husband and I just returned from a road trip to Austin for a friend's wedding. On the way, we stopped by New Orleans and enjoyed some music and beignets... yum! Next week, I leave for a two week trip to Italy during which we're going to visit Rome, Florence, and Venice. I can't wait!

I look forward to meeting all of you in August! Until then, I hope that you enjoy your summer.

Happy summer from Mecia Israel!

HI! I'm Mecia- pronounced (Mish-a) last name Israel (like the country)
I was born and raised in New Orleans & moved to Atlanta in '99. This past year, I've been working with Bob in the Center for Teaching, managing the Teaching Fellow program . For the two years prior, I was a stay-at-home mom with my daughter Sophia. I'm thrilled to be teaching 7th Grade Math and 8th Grade Science at Westminster. GO WILDCATS!!! For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to post a pic- sending out an SOS!

Hi from Jennifer Bailey, High School Math

Hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying the break. I've already spent almost 2 weeks in France and signed on for a major kitchen remodel that starts Monday, so it's shaping up to be a big summer.

My name is Jennifer Bailey and I feel a little like I'm cheating by being here. I'm not exactly new to Westminster, but this will be my first start of school as full-time faculty. I've been in Math Education since 1994 and for the last few years actively subbed in the Math department at Westminster. In January, I joined the faculty to take the place of a teacher whose family moved to New Jersey.

Aside from travel and kitchen remodeling, I'll be doing some running and studying this summer. In the fall, I start a new role as assistant coach for Junior High Cross Country, so I really need to get in shape to keep up with the kids! Also, I am excited to be teaching Multi-Variable Calculus in the fall. It was over 2 decades ago that I learned it, so you can believe I am curled up on the couch most days with a snack, my two cats, and my Multi text book. Strangely enough, I am enjoying it.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in August, in the meantime wish me luck with the kitchen and the calculus!

Hello from your new 5th Grade Lang Arts/SS Teacher

Hi Everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your summer. Okay, so one of us has to go first so I'm the taker!

I'm Sarah-Emily Peterson (most everyone calls me SE), and I am one of the new teaching staff at Westminster. I'll be teaching 5th grade Lang. Arts and Social Studies - what fun! :) A little about my educational and professional background: I have been teaching for almost 10 years and received both my M.Ed. and BS in Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. I've lived in the south (NC and GA) since 2004 and LOVE life here. I've been a permanent resident of Atlanta, GA since 2009, but have been commuting back and forth, living and teaching in the Charlotte, NC area until now. I am so thankful for the wonderful position which opened at Westminster and allowed me to officially make Atlanta my home. I was waiting for just the right position to open up, and it finally did. Yay! Good things do come to those who wait.

What brings me to Atlanta other than the fantastic new teaching opportunity at Westminster? My sweet and loving fiance, Michael, who has tolerated our long distance and commuting relationship since 2008! Needless to say, we are BOTH very happy to be in the same city at the same time for good. Our wedding will be in July of 2011, so we have about a year to go.

In addition to teaching, I love anything related to music, travel, and the outdoors/fitness. I have been a part of a number of CD recordings as a back-up singer, and have even sang back up for a country superstar. I enjoy giving piano lessons to young students and watching them learn and grow. Previously, I served on the Board of Directors for Carolina Voices, a singing group out of Charlotte. I also performed at one time or another in all 4 of their singing groups. I'm looking for a community-based Atlanta choir/singing group to become involved with if anyone has any suggestions.

I love to camp and hike, and I have a goal to visit each of the GA state parks. So far, I've been to about 7! ha! I also enjoy jogging and walking - I have participated in a number of 5K's, 10K's, etc. My goal is to do a half marathon at some point.

Travel is a big part of my life - both within the U.S. and abroad. I have been fortunate enough to live for a time in Guatemala and have traveled throughout Siberia/Russia, Europe, Mexico and Canada, as well as the Caribbean. Not sure what is next on the travel agenda, but I am open to any recommendations!

Again, I am really looking forward to beginning my Westminster career. I think the fact that so many staff members are 'lifers' speaks volumes about the tremendous environment and educational atmosphere we're going to be a part of. Can't wait!!

Thanks for the opportunity to say hello and introduce myself.

Until I receive my Westminster email, you can reach me at sarahemilypeterson@gmail.com if you'd life to get in touch.

SE :)

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the Westminster New Faculty blog. We started this idea three years ago, and it has been fun to collect the bios and some pictures of all our newest faculty members in one place. Andrea has sent you the instructions for logging on and uploading to the blog. Please share some information about yourself, and we will begin to get to know each other before school begins in August. The format is up to you as is the focus of your information. You can tell your hiring story, your educational experience, teaching stories, hobbies, fun facts about yourself – anything at all. Pictures are great too.
I will start by sharing with you that I have been teaching art at Westminster since 1970. I guess I have grown up here. My administrative work began in the early 90’s after I finished a leadership degree in a program and Bank Street College and Parsons School of Design in New York. I have been Dean of Faculty for the last 15 years. You will soon realize that there are quite a few of us who have made long careers here. I know most of you as hiring for grades 6 – 12 has been a wonderful pleasure for me. The elementary process is handled by Lee and Sandy and other as those of you joining that faculty know. I look forward to meeting you in August.
I have really loved my time as dean. The learning never stops as each day brings a new challenge or incredibly rewarding experience working with teachers across the campus. Next year I will return to a job I held earlier in my life here – Department Chair for the Visual Arts. My new location will be in the Broyles Art Center, and I hope you all will visit me there. You will be in good hands for your induction process, as the newly named Dean of Faculty, Thad Persons and Andrea Corley are already preparing for your arrival. Thad is a graduate of Westminster and and English teacher. He has most recently served as a grade chair in the high school. Thad’s office will be where I have been, Scott Hall., located in the center of the campus with easy access from the high school, junior high, and elementary buildings.
We will put some helpful information on the blog site as we go through the summer. The academic calendar is already there. You can ask questions of each other and any of us in the office – write or call. We are working on getting your log on information to school email and your telephone extension. You all will have a mentor and those names will be shared as soon as all are finalized.