Red Bay High School welcomes new teachers
By Brandi Miller for the FCT
There were several new faces waiting to greet students at Red Bay High School Aug. 11.
RBHS became home to five new teachers for the 2015-2016 school year. D’Andra Robinson is the new elementary teacher, while Richard Boyd, Hugh Johnston, Jonathan Hill and John Torisky are all new high school teachers. This group is excited to be at RBHS, and each teacher has hit the ground running to make sure this is a great school year for their students.
Jonathan Hill is a graduate of Red Bay High School and said he is excited to be returning to his alma mater. Hill is returning to Red Bay in a teaching role after one year of being at Vina and Tharptown, where he would be half a day at one school and half a day at the other.
Hill attended Samford University and earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in music education. When asked why he chose music education as a career choice Hill said he wanted to teach students a greater understanding and love for music. Besides teaching, Hill also is band director, driver’s education teacher and music/band teacher for grades 5-12.
“The biggest surprise for me since starting at Red Bay has been the eagerness and willingness of the band members to learn and work hard,” said Hill. “This has been a very pleasant surprise.”
D’Andra Robinson is the newest elementary teacher at RBHS. Robinson is teaching kindergarten. This is her fourth year as a teacher; she has taught previously at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tenn.
This might be Robinson’s first official year as a teacher in Red Bay, but she is a familiar face at RBHS, having served as a SFA reading tutor and P.E. aide for six years.
Robinson attended Welch College in Nashville, Tenn., where she earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education. She then graduated from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where she earned her master’s degree in elementary education. When asked why she chose teaching as her profession, she said a love of learning and the enjoyment of working with children made this an ideal choice for her. Robinson said her first week of school was exciting and a little overwhelming.
“My family is so excited to officially be a part of RBHS,” said Robinson. “My children say I finally have a real job.”
Hugh Johnston, another RBHS graduate, returns to teach at his alma mater after teaching in the Russellville City Schools district for six and a half years. Johnston attended Mississippi State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in poultry science and a master’s in general science. Johnston teaches seventh grade life science, tenth grade physical science, eleventh grade earth and space science and twelfth grade physics.
When asked why he decided to go into teaching, Johnston said he liked being surprised every day. He also said his first week went very well and will be even better when he learns everyone’s names.
“I’m glad to be back in my hometown,” said Johnston.
As for his biggest surprise of the year so far, Johnston said it has to be how friendly and helpful everyone has been in helping him get his classroom set up.
John Torisky begins his teaching career at RBHS. Like all first year teachers, that first week can be a little scary because you do not really know what is going to happen.
“My first week went surprisingly well, considering I wasn’t sure of what to expect,” said Torisky.
He attended the University of North Alabama for undergraduate school and is currently in the master’s program at UNA.
Besides teaching eighth and ninth grade world history, Torisky will also be the varsity boys basketball coach and girls track coach.
“I enjoy teaching and coaching young people,” said Torsiky, when asked why he wanted to become a teacher and coach. “I am very happy and proud to be a part of Red Bay High School. From being around the kids so far, it is obvious to me that the future is going to be very bright for them.”
Richard Boyd is returning to his alma mater to teach after being at Oak Mountain High School, Clay-Chalkville High School and Bibb County High School. He is beginning his sixth year of teaching and, after being at larger high schools, some things have been surprising to Boyd.
“I guess the biggest surprise to me so far would be seeing middle schoolers and elementary students in the same building as high schoolers,” said Boyd. “For the past five years I have taught only high school students.”
Boyd attended Itawamba Community College for two years and then transferred to the University of North Alabama. It was at UNA that Boyd made the decision to choose teaching as his future career.
“During sophomore year in college, I felt the call to change my major to science education,” said Boyd. “I cannot see myself doing anything else.”
Boyd said his first week went really well, thanks to the support of all the faculty and staff. Besides teaching biology, anatomy and physical science, Boyd will be assisting with the girls softball program at RBHS.
“As a native of Red Bay and an alumni of RBHS, it is really great to be back home,” said Boyd. “I have missed the small town atmosphere I was raised in.”
