With the new school year, comes new faculty to Sterling High School.
Guidance counselor Hannah Carbaugh is adjusting to a new position this school year. Formerly an English instructor, Carbaugh sought the guidance counselor position following a recent opening. Carbaugh describes her move as great while receiving “support and help as [she learns] the ins and outs.” She is also happy to fulfill her dream position in a building “where [she] started my teaching career and where it feels like home.”
Tyler Everett is now a Life Skills teacher, marking his introduction to the field of education. Everett’s job is different from that of a regular teacher. He describes his position by saying that “in life skills we teach English and math as well as lessons at the Woodlawn house (dishes, cleaning, folding clothes, etc.). We also cook in the teacher’s lounge twice a week learning new recipes and cooking skills.”
Special education instructor Gretchen Gould has moved from instructing third grade to Algebra 1, Biology, and English 3. Gould’s “biggest culture shock is how independent high schoolers are in comparison to third graders.” She also reflects on her time as a student at S.H.S., sharing how “many of [her] current co-workers are the reason [she] wanted to be a teacher when [she] was a high schooler.”
Taylor Irvin has joined the agriculture department after graduating from Illinois State University this past spring. Irvin instructs agricultural science classes, such as animal science and introduction to agriculture.
Montana Mull now serves as an English instructor, teaching English 1, Accelerated English 1, and College Readiness English. In addition to S.H.S., Mull has joined C.M.S. athletics as a seventh grade volleyball coach. Mull explains her transition to S.H.S. saying, “I went from having to tie shoes a million times a day and walking them down to the restroom to standing in the hallway watching teenagers to ensure they get to class on time!”
Former C.M.S. eighth grade science teacher James Shamp has taken on the open chemistry position. J. Shamp decided to move across the street to the high school in order to have more experience with chemistry, as it was his favorite topic to teach in his previous position. J. Shamp is grateful for his fellow faculty members, saying that “the SHS Science Department is a very supportive and cooperative group. It took no time or effort to be ‘accepted as one of their own.’ Lastly, the whole of S.H.S. staff have been inviting, kind, and helpful. I can’t think of a better place to be!”
Moving from West Carroll Elementary School, Melissa Shamp joined the S.H.S. family as an English teacher. The largest difference for M. Shamp has been the “greater independence from the students, and no one has sneezed in [her] face yet.” M. Shamp will be instructing English 3 and College Readiness English this school year.
Following the retirement of former Head Custodian Gary Dettman, Justin Allen has now moved from C.M.S. to take on the job. With S.H.S. being a larger square footage than the middle school, Allen has much more space to monitor for cleanliness and efficiency. Allen describes his transition by discussing how “it is always nice to have the support of faculty and students when taking on new challenges.”
S.H.S. students and staff are excited to see the new faculty members succeed in their positions.
