With the school year moving swiftly along, the arrival of new teachers has brought eagerness and positivity. With new teachers in almost every department, students can expect to see fresh faces on the way to their next class.
Alton High School has seen the addition of 12 new teachers, two new assistant principals and one new guidance counselor this year. Starting his first year teaching, history teacher Thomas Unkraut said he is eager to bring a new, positive side to teaching.
“I think that as a younger teacher it makes me more approachable,” Unkraut said. “I hope to bring in some new energy to the school.”
As for his transition into his first year as teacher, Unkraut said he has received a multitude of guidance from his coworkers, emphasizing such a supportive work environment.
For English teacher Stephanie Hawkins, the Alton School District is nothing new. With Hawkins moving over from Alton Middle School this year, she is excited to watch her past students grow. She also serves as the assistant tennis coach for both the girls’ and boys’ team, seeing many familiar faces in her classroom every day.
“The transition has been great, having the kids here that I had last year and seeing former students has made it such a pleasant experience,” Hawkins said. “I feel like I’m more actively involved in the student body, and getting to see the school spirit has been my favorite part so far.”
Along with new teachers comes the addition of the American Sign Language class, with a multitude of students taking up the new opportunity.
Taught by Peggy Rice, students can be seen communicating through their hands on the daily, while also connecting with each other.
“The idea is to layer complexity over time, and starting ASL can seem very overwhelming at first,” Rice said. “I strive to create a shared experience in the classroom, as this is a new experience for me as well.”
Rice has been a teacher for the deaf since 2001 with this being her first year teaching hearing students. Being deaf herself, she has had to face some adjustments, such as receiving accommodations for the first time in her career.
“For many years, I did not need to use my speech to teach so that changes everything,” Rice said.
Since my students do not yet know how to sign or read signs, I explain or give directions in speech, and sign silently as well.”
The addition of ASL to the language department has been deemed successful, and students can even expect to see an advanced ASL class as an option next school year.
Overall, Rice said her main goal is to instill her love of ASL in her students. She hopes to create the next generation of teachers of the deaf, ASL interpreters, audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
These new additions to the Redbird community have already brought their personal experiences and passions into their classrooms. They are not just teaching a lesson, but hoping to make a mark in each student’s life, both inside and outside of the classroom.
