There are 40 new teachers in the building, and this year’s roster may look unfamiliar even to a returning senior. With names like Karakas, Finck, Eisert, Rothrock, Nichols, Willson, Rogers, Duran and Giles now missing, along with 40 new names, things have definitely changed.
“With 50% new students and so many new teachers it’s going to be a challenge for previous students and teachers to make sure the climate and culture here at Free State is maintained,” Principal Ed West said.
But with all of the losses some returning students are left wondering where all of their past teachers went:
Infographic
Rothrock-wants to go back to engineering
Finck-retired
Willson-retired
Nichols-teaching at KU
Rogers-teaching at a middle school in Bogota, Columbia
Eisert- retired
Duran-moved to New Mexico to be closer to family
Karakas-became a stay-at-home-mom
Lynne Renick, a freshmen English teacher from Southwest, has come up to the high school from junior high to teach the literature that she loves.
Teaching English before ninth grade is mainly teaching writing, according to Renick. By teaching freshmen she’s able to teach books she loves like Great Expectations and Romeo and Juliet.
This year Renick is teaching Advanced English 9 and one section of English 10. When asked if she’s planning to branch out from Advanced English 9 in the future, Renick replied, “I have ‘that reputation’ [of teaching Advanced English 9] but I’d be willing to go wherever they need me.”
Although she will be teaching basically the same classes this year, Renick will have to make some adjustments. She shares a room with Skip Bennett and has to move during the day.
“The room is smaller so I left my toys behind and brought my enthusiasm,” Renick said.
She will also think twice before doing activities and assignments that could be considered immature.
“[At the junior high] I didn’t hesitate at all to do coloring assignments… but in a high school… I don’t want them to roll their eyes too quickly,” Renick said.
Anyone who has had Renick in the past remembers the hours of almost AP-level work with Great Expectations, book analyses and SAT vocab that also paid huge dividends.
Perhaps its her genuine love of literature she teaches that makes Renick such a uniquely challenging and enthusiastic teacher. Whatever the case the English department has gained a quirky teacher with a big personality.
Mary Jo Swan looks like the average high school student. However she doesn’t sit
behind a student’s desk; she stands at the front of the classroom.
Her friends helping her unpack her things before the first day of school and move into her new classroom could have just as easily been helping her move in to her first dorm room. But having recently completed her degree in education she’s joined the math department and will teach Algebra II and Geometry this year.
Teachers Swan had in high school who couldn’t relate math to students inspired her to become a math teacher who could help make math more enjoyable.
“Math always came pretty easily to me and I want to make it a little less scary for students than it was before they walked in to the classroom,” Swan said.
