compiled by kathryn schiliro • photo by jesse walker

Once a year, a new school year starts. As is our annual tradition here at the Citizen, we’d like to introduce you to the Morgan County School System’s newest staff members. These are the new faces you’ll see in the halls.

Joan Sherwood
Joan Sherwood will be a collaborative special education teacher for seventh grade. She has a BBA in marketing from the University of Houston and just completed a graduate certification program at the University of Georgia in special education. I became interested in learning differences years ago when one of my own children was diagnosed with learning disabilities.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I am very excited about working with middle schoolers and being a part of the MCMS team.
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: My inspiration as a special education teacher is a learning specialist, Patty Keith, who was instrumental in leading my daughter to be successful in spite of her learning difficulties.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional character in pop culture?
In the world of literature, I love all the various teachers at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books.

Jared Register
Jared Register will be teaching chorus and general music at MCMS. He has worked as a graduate teaching assistant at Georgia Southern University and was the director of music at Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro.
Register receieved a bachelor of choral music education from Brewton Parker College and a master of music in choral conducting from Georgia Southern University.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: As a new member of the Morgan County family I plan to bust a move with chorus and general music this year. I am so excited about developing and nurturing the talents and gifts of these young musicians!
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: Billy Nye the Science Guy
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food?
A: On Fridays in middle school we had "Fiestata." It was like pizza but so much better! It was amazing!

Samantha Kickbush
Samantha Kickbush will be teaching agriculture education to all grades at Morgan County Middle School this year, as well as serving as the MCMS FFA advisor.
She graduated from the University of Georgia in May with a bachelor's of science degree in Agriculture, majoring in agriculture education; this will be her first year teaching.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I hope to get the middle school FFA chapter  really  involved in the community and school and to have a  successful year in the classroom and in FFA.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: My favorite fictional teacher would have to be Mr. Escalante  from the movie "Stand and Deliver."
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: I get my  inspiration  from my high school agriculture teacher, Sidney Bell.

Sam Cutler
Sam Cutler will be a school counselor, working with students whose last names begin with "N" through "Z," at Morgan County Middle School. Following college graduation in 2008, Cutler was the in-school suspension coordinator at Hart County Middle School for two years. Following that, as a full-time grad school student, Cutler took part in a half-year counseling internship at Whit Davis Elementary School in Clarke County. During the 2011-2012 school year, Cutler served as a counseling intern at Malcom Bridge Middle School in Oconee County. This year at MCMS will be Cutler's first full-time counseling position.
Cutler has bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Georgia and, this past year, graduated from UGA with a master's in education in professional counseling.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: We are really hoping to see our mentor program in Morgan County grow this year. I would love to see a great number of people who are willing to love and support our youth through volunteering their time as mentors in our schools and community.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: George Feeny or Mr. Feeny from "Boy Meets World." He always knew the correct approach to take and the appropriate thing to say in every situation. He was kind and compassionate yet also showed his students tough love when the time was appropriate. He was great at motivating his students and challenging them to work hard and think critically.
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food?
A: One thing my friends and family all know about me is that I love to eat! At school, I have always eaten lunch in the cafeteria. I have heard great things about the food here at MCMS. My favorite cafeteria food has to either be the turkey and dressing or country-fried steak and gravy!

Lottie Aziamadi
Lottie Louise Aziamadi will be the assistant principal at Morgan County Middle School.
She taught math and computer Science at Auburn High School, in Auburn, Ala., 1997-1999; math at Disque Middle School, Emma Sansom High School and  J.K. Weaver Vocational School (she was also the Yearbook sponsor) in Gadsden, Ala., 1999-2002; and was a math teacher and istructional coach at Stephenson, Ronald E. McNair, Clarkston and Stone Mountain high schools in DeKalb County, 2002-2012.
Aziamadi received a Bachelor of Science in Education (Mathematics) from Auburn University; a Master of Science in Education (Education Administration) from Jacksonville State University and an Education Specialist in Administrator Leadership from Walden University.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: It is my vision that all students, at their highest potential, will learn and gain success in academics, athletics, and the arts. Also,  I hope that all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the general public), will have a blast this year carrying out their responsibility to make sure Morgan County school students are on the right road for success!
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: I have two: Mr. Miyagi ("Karate Kid")– There is a lesson in even waxing a car. Also for his amazing ability to identify and connect with students, Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte), in the comedy-drama "Teachers."
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food?
A: The classic school pizza
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is my inspiration. She had an amazing gift of loving and caring about people.
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom (or school).
A: A vision, a book, and a brain!!!

Bridget Yallery
Bridget C. Yallery will be teaching culinary arts to high school students. She has worked as a culinary arts instructor at DeKalb County Schools for three years and has been previously employed as a chef at Grady Hospital, Twin Towers Atlanta, and Eurest Dining Services-Compass Group. She also worked as bookkeeper for 11 years in New York at The Hebrew Home For Aged and has more than 11 years of commercial banking experience in Trinidad and Tobago. She owned and operated a contract catering establishment in Trinidad.
Yallery has a bachelor's of science in culinary arts from The Art Institute of New York and Atlanta. 
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I am very passionate about culinary arts. My goal for the upcoming school year is to get as many students as possible "fired up" and as passionate about the culinary industry while maintaining a professional yet fun climate within the culinary lab.
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: Mrs. Judith Bazzey, my home economics teacher at both my elementary and high school,. She was my mentor and a major influence in developing my interest in culinary arts.
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom.
A: 1. Passion – In all that they do
2. Excellence – Strive for it daily in all tasks
3. Honesty – Is the backbone of life

Jean Mcintosh
Jean McIntosh will serve as Assistant Principal for Morgan County High School this year.
McIntosh is in her 25th year in education. She spent her first seven years teaching English in North Carolina and the past 18 years at Winder Barrow High School– the first 14 years as an English teacher and department chair and the last four years as curriculum and instruction assistant principal.
McIntosh has a bachelor of arts in english education from Mars Hill College; a master of education in adult education from the University of Georgia; and a specialist in education in educational leadership and Policy from Georgia State University.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I hope to be able to support teachers and administrators in continuing to move forward with the successful programs already in place at Morgan County High School.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: Ron Clark because of his enthusiasm for teaching and learning
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food?
A: Milk!
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: My dad
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom.
A: In my office: computer and personal calendar

Tara Mahoney
Tara DeRock Mahoney will teach ninth grade English this year. She is considered the "Writer Emeritus" for the Morgan County Citizen.
She received a B.A. in English from Tulane University and a M.A.T. in secondary English education from Piedmont College.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I would like for my freshmen to have an appreciation (if not an outright love) for the great literature we are going to read this year, and I want to see my students improve as writers and communicators.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?  
A: I love that Indiana Jones is a teacher. And I really dig Professor McGonagall's tough-but-beloved vibe.
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food?
A: The high school's spaghetti is awesome, as are the turkey-cornbread-stuffing-and-gravy days.
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A:  My mom, who teaches science and math in Gwinnett County. She wrote the book on "I-love-you-but-I-really-want-to-see-you-get-your-act-together" teaching.
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom.
A:  A pen, a sense of humor, and a knowledge of how to correctly use hyphens. Well, if they bring the first two, we can work on the third.

Alec Johnson
Alec Johnson will teach Chemistry, IB physics and physical science at Morgan County High School to all sophomores and juniors. Johnson taught during his undergraduate years at the University of Georgia as a teaching assistant in the chemistry department. He also provided tutoring to students in chemistry, physics and mathematics through the University's Collaborative Education Program during his time at UGA.
Johnson received a B.S. in chemistry and B.S. in science education both from the University of Georgia. (He adds: "Go Dawgs!!!")
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: To simply get students excited about the world around them and how science plays such an integral part in their daily life.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: Bill Nye, of course, simply because I think every science teacher would like to meet the man!
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom.
A: An open mind, an imagination, and a willingness to learn

James Ignoffo
James Ignoffo will teach freshman academy algebra and accelerated algebra this school year. Prior to coming to Morgan County, Ignoffo taught for 16 years in Broward County, Fla. He's taught middle school and high school classes; in fact, in high school, he's taught all levels of math up to pre-calculus.
Ignoffo has a B.S. in mathematics from Cumberland College, now called University of the Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, Ky.  He's currently working on a master's degree in mathematics education at Western Governor's University.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: To make a positive impact on the incoming students of MCHS and help  improve this already great school system.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture? 
A: Ben Stein from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off. " When you're in my class you will see why.
Q: What's your favorite cafeteria food? 
A: Is there a cotton candy machine?
Q: Who's your inspiration? 
A: I'm inspired by my students' motivation.
Q: Name three things students can't be without in your classroom. 
A: Your notebook, shoes, and a writing utensil

Erica Finley
Erica Finley will be the School Counselor for the Classes of 2014 and 2016 at Morgan County High School. She has experience as a substitute teacher.
Finley has a B.A. in psychology from Spelman College and an M.S. in school counseling from Mercer University.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: I hope the One Morgan concept will continue to be implemented and accepted by everyone, new and returning.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A: Emma Pillsbury from the show "Glee" (guidance counselor)
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: My mother is my rock. Watching her makes me want to do more.

Kaitlyn Butler
Kaitlyn Butler will teach agriculture education to all grades at Morgan County High School this year, as well as serving as advisor for the MCHS Future Farmers of America chapter.
She is a 2012 graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, majoring in agriculture education. She's been involved in agriculture education and FFA since she the age of 12.
Q: What's your hope for the upcoming school year?
A: The Morgan County High School agriculture education program as a longstanding tradition of success, and my hope is that by sharing some of my knowledge and experiences, I can maintain that prestigious history while helping my students achieve their own successes.
Q: Who's your favorite fictional or non-fictional teacher in pop culture?
A; Mr. Keating, played by Robin Williams, in the movie "Dead Poet’s Society." His methods were unorthodox, but he had a real talent for inspiring his students.
Q: Who's your inspiration?
A: Statewide, Georgia has built one of the top agriculture education programs in the nation, and the people primarily responsible for that are the agriculture education teachers. As a first-year teacher, I am both humbled and inspired by the work that has been done by all of those teachers who came before me and gave me the opportunity to teach a subject that I am passionate about.

Printed in the August 9, 2012