2008-2009 Teacher of the Year & Scholarship Awardees
Tim Scott - teaches AP Environmental Science
I must say that my road to the teaching profession was unorthodox to say the least. I began my journey to teaching as a lab technician for the electron microscopy department at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. While working there I had to make a decision to go to graduate school to further my career or think about changing professions. This is when I decided to obtain my teaching certification. I had always had very positive memories of my high school experience so i thought this would be a great move.
During this same time my wife and I began raising llamas. This proved to be another life changing experience. We began to travel across the country showing, buying and selling llamas, and met many interesting people from a variety of backgrounds from cattle farmers to movie stars. One day a man came to my farm looking to buy some llamas. Well, what happened was I ended up going into business with this gentleman. It turns out he owned three Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, and one day he asked me if I had ever considered the restaurant business. So my teaching certification was put on hold.
To make a long story short, I ended up as a partner for the franchise. It is during this time of my life that my life began to change. When I began, I remember telling the many high school employees I had working for me that if I ever that if they ever needed help with their science work at school, I would be glad to help them. Several took me up on that offer. Also, I made it a rule that if one of our high school employees missed school on the day they were to work they would not be allowed to work that day. I also remember telling parents that if they were concerned about grades, I would reduce their hours. So, in a way I was using my teaching skills.
As time passed, I began to change. I became more concerned with the profit and less concerned with the cost of making that profit. From a business standpoint the franchise was more profitable than ever before. However, something was missing. I began to question why I was doing what I was doing. This is when the next life changing event began to took place in my life.
With the restaurants making money and the llama business making money I began to get more involved in backpacking and then mountain climbing. I trained for three years for an expedition to climb Mt. McKinley, North America's tallest mountain. After working nearly eight years without a day off I was away from the restaurants for a month to accomplish the climb. It was while I was on the mountain I made the decision to get out of the restaurant business. There was nothing like being on the tallest mountain in North America with the realization that one small step could be your last to allow you to put things into perspective. It was this experience that gave me the courage to leave the very prosperous restaurant business. I had finally realized that the restaurant business had cost me my empathy and compassion for my fellow man. I returned home from Alaska, called my partner informed him I was leaving the company. It was now that I was finally going to give that teaching certificate a chance.
As I applied for teaching positions the first call I got was from RJR. The problem was I happened to be on vacation. When I were returned the job was filled and I took a position at another school. Later the same school year RJR called once again, and this time I was quick to return the call and landed the job. I remember Dr. Vaughn taking me on a tour of the school. I could not believe this was a high school. Then we entered the auditorium. All I could say was “wow.” This was during the 2002-2003 school year, and I plan on staying as long as they will have me.
I have been teaching AP Environment Science for the last four years and I must say I think the students enjoy the class as much as I. The concepts we cover are current and relevant and I think this is what makes the class. When students enter the class, they find out they can have a good time but still have a lot to learn. They will tell you the tests are the crux of the course. I tell them if they master the tests they will succeed on the AP exam. Now that we are an arts magnet school I see more creativity on projects. I find myself being more creative in assigning projects. Over the past two years I've been saving more of their work for display. I find myself becoming more of a collector of my students’ work because it is so good.
Kate Brown
I enjoyed my time at Reynolds because of the friendships and bonds that I've come across during my time there. It is more than a high school, but a family. I've had many amazing teachers while I was at Reynolds. I really couldn't pick a favorite. Some of the few who have taught me more than just their class materials have been Mr. Clemons, Mr. Gallard, Ms. Oakley, and Mr. Scott. They have all taught me the value of education, along with life experiences. I chose to go to Auburn because of their large community, beautiful campus, great sports, and emphasis of equality education. After college I plan on writing for a newspaper or magazine and continuing what I learned on the “Pine Whispers” newspaper staff. I also want to travel and write for different newspapers.
Jack Foster
I have grown, over the past four years, to love R.J. Reynolds High School. Ever since my freshman year, I have been consistently impressed by the diversity and determination of the student body and the full commitment of the faculty and staff. From what I've heard of other high schools in the county from my friends at the Career Center, Reynolds is an institution unmatched in these regards. I particularly enjoyed the years learning under yearbook advisor Mr. Allen, Junior Civitans sponsor Mr. Wiley, mathematics teacher M. Freitag, English teachers Mr. Gallard and Ms. Powers, and Civics teacher Mr. bright. These teachers stood out as extraordinary mentors and instructors. These men and women, along with every other bulwark of the Reynolds ‘experience,’ have had significant impressions on me, and no other school could have brought such individuals together. These teachers sparked my interest in social sciences and encouraged my leadership abilities. Outside the classroom I was a four-year member of the Junior Civitan service club, the Global Concerns Club, the Young Democrats club, and a three-year black and gold yearbook staffer. In these clubs, I proved myself worthy of responsibility, and became President of the Junior Civitans and Young Democrats, as well as co-editor of the yearbook. Other extracurricular activities I engaged in were the junior varsity Lacrosse team, the Shooting team, and the Social Sciences and General Knowledge Academic teams. In fact, I lettered in the last two of these activities.
The high level of academic integrity at RJR largely led to my desire to attend a top tier university. The urban setting of Reynolds led to my search for a university both deeply ingrained in a large city and being a community into itself. Northwestern soon stood out as it met all these interests. The impressive academics and the well-rounded nature of the university made the school my top choice. As of now I am undecided of my major, and I have been considering a one-year deferral from Northwestern to take a “gap year.” My reasons for this deferral are both financial and interest in an experience unlike that of my college-bound peers. I hope that my application to the Habitat for Humanity location in Charleston SC will be accepted. In Charleston I would work construction and supervise the volunteer construction teams. I cannot quite explain my complete excitement about this endeavor, but it is certainly there.
I am completely thankful for my four years at Reynolds high school, years I will soon not forget.