Photo Credit: Jordan Cox[/caption]Orange High School has many new teachers for the 2014-2015 school year. One addition to the English Department is Meredith Newlin, who teaches English I and II.
Newlin came to teach at Orange after teaching summer school here this past summer. “I love all the other teachers and the overall atmosphere,” says Newlin. She said she loves all of the students here, their ability to work hard, and their willingness to learn. “I’ve missed teaching high school, and I’m glad to be back,” said Newlin.
This year marks Newlin’s 10th year of teaching. She is very fond of writing and reading. She used to work for a magazine before she began teaching. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys participating in activities outdoors. She likes hiking or running, or just any outdoors-related activity. Along with exploring the great outdoors, Newlin loves spending time with her one-year-old daughter, Lola.
What encouraging do students here at OHS need? According to Newlin, they don’t need any encouragement! She believes that all the students here are doing fantastic and don’t need any advice. “Don’t sweat the small stuff and believe in yourself,” is the advice she gives the students if they really needed it.
Newlin decided to be an English teacher because she loves to build the confidence of her students as readers and writers. She is excited to be here for her 10th anniversary of teaching, and we’re lucky to have her!
Photo Credit: Mia Frenduto[/caption]A familiar face to many former CW Stanford students has arrived in the Orange High history department, and she couldn’t be more thrilled. “Oh, I love it,” said Traci Barger, referring to her new home as one of Orange High School’s social studies teachers. Barger remarked that she much prefers teaching high school students to middle school students, as they are more mature and responsible.
Barger comes to Orange after a year of teaching at a Durham charter school and ten years of teaching at McDowell High in Marion, North Carolina, as well as many years of teaching English at CW Stanford Middle School. Barger prefers Orange to many other schools she has taught at, listing the block scheduling unique to our school as well as the absence of recess as two of her new favorite things.
Barger is now serving as an American History I teacher, a change from her previous role as an English teacher at CWS. This is an exciting prospect for Barger, who actually received a degree in History from Appalachian State University.
“I believe that the truth can be stranger than fiction,” says Barger, reflecting on how she most enjoys teaching the “crazy parts” of history that you won’t often find in a textbook. Her passion for history is only matched by her passion for teaching--Barger remarked that she loves teaching kids and watching them learn.
Outside of school, Barger is an active member of her church and enjoys running, sewing, and reading. Among the things she is most intrigued by at Orange is Ag Day. She remarked that she is “curious” to experience this Ag extravaganza for the first time, but “not quite sure of what to expect.”
All in all, Barger is thrilled to be a member of the Orange High School family this year. Her excitement to be a member of Orange High’s faculty as well as her passion for both teaching and history prove that she will soon become a favorite teacher of many Orange High students.