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David Norwood, who previously coached at Walker High School, recently returned to the school where he coaches the Vikings linebackers and teaches special education. Norwood is one of several new teachers at the school.
Several new employees have joined the Jasper high school’s staff for the 2010-2011 school year.
“We’ve got some quality teachers we’ve added to the staff,” said Walker High principal Jeremy Crigger, who was himself a newcomer to the school this time a year ago.
One new instructor, the football team’s linebacker coach, David Norwood, is actually coming back to the high school where he formerly taught.
“He was here back when (former coach) Bubba Davis was here,” Crigger said about Norwood.
During his absence from Jasper, Norwood coached at Shades Valley High School, Gardendale High School and Austin High School.
“We were fortunate to get him back,” said School superintendent Robert Sparkman, who played football with Norwood when the two were students at Hartselle Middle School.
Along with coaching football, Norwood also teaches special education. He also will serve as the assistant girls track coach.
According to an article published on the school’s website, Norwood said he is glad to be back at Walker High. “It’s a great school, and I love the students, teachers and the town,” he said, according to the article.
Another new coach at Walker High is Brooks Dunn, who coaches baseball and teaches physical education classes at Walker High and Maddox Middle School. “I’m really excited about being a part of the Jasper community and the Walker family,” said Dunn who previous coached at Spain Park High School.
Dunn’s experience includes being a professional baseball player. After graduating from Mississippi State University, which he attended on a baseball scholarship, Dunn continued his baseball career with the San Diego Padres.
For another rookie at the school, history teacher Lauren Vickery, working at the high school is old hat since she was hired last year to fill in for two teachers who went on maternity leave. This gave her an opportunity to gain experience teaching English.
“Even though technically I wasn’t a full-time employee, it kind of feels like I’m just coming back to school like the other teachers,” said Vickery, who earned her undergraduate degree and masters degree from The University of Alabama.
Vickery, who teaches ninth grade world history and 10th grade American history, plans to utilize what she learned from her experience as an English teacher in her history classes.
Another new teacher at Walker High School is Julianne Moore, a Cullman County native who previously taught at Carroll High School in Ozark. Moore said she is happy to be closer to home in her new job in Jasper. The 9th grade English teacher who earned her teaching degree from Athens State University, said, “I was very excited to come home.”
Also new at Walker High is Jonathan Deloach, who is the school’s new assistant band director. “The kids are great and everyone here is very hard-working,” Deloach said, according to the school’s website.
Deloach formerly taught at Rome High School in Georgia. He completed his undergraduate degree at Jacksonville State University and he hopes to begin graduate school in the near future.
Also new at Walker High is Whitney Jordan, a Curry High School graduate who is performing a student teaching internship, the final requirement of her degree in Special Education from Athens State University. Jordan is teaching under the direction of Fred Greer. “I love working with the students here,” Jordan said according to the website article. “It’s been great so far.”
In addition to the new educators, Crigger said he excited about the addition of Anthony Hammond as the school’s resource officer.
Hammond, who attended Walker High School before transferring to Parrish High School where he graduated, has been with the Jasper Police Department four years and in law enforcement 12 years.
“There is no greater service than to work with youth,” Hammond told a student who interviewed him recently.
Crigger said he feels Hammond’s presence at the school will improve school security.
Other new teachers and administrators at Jasper city schools include Jabree Davis, Amy Rogers, Meagan Peters, Casey Cornett, Darla Boteler, Mary Elizabeth Hallman, Cynthia Garner, Amy Hogan, Kerri Beall, Vickie Wash, Betty Odom and Elliott Harris.