New faculty and staff members for 2017-18
Miss Breanna Landers, multi-grades
Miss Landers is the new Math Interventionist for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. She grew up in the Lindale area and attended Pepperell Schools from pre-k until tweith grade -- graduating in 2013. She received her Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education degree from Shorter University in 2017. “I love being able to give back to the community in which I grew-up.” stated Miss Landers. If she had not pursued a career in education, she would have gone into the pharmacy field. Pepperell Middle School is glad to have Miss Breanna Landers back as a teacher to students in her hometown.
Mrs. Debra Self, cafeteria
Mrs. Self comes to us from Armuchee Middle School where she was the Assistant Manager of the middle school cafeteria. Mrs Self is a Model High School graduate and a 20-year veteran of food service and cafeteria work. She loves to cook, bake and spend time with her family. She has been married for 35 years and has two sons and five grandchildren. “If I wasn’t working here in the foodservice industry, I would be a cake decorator!” stated Mrs. Self. Everyday you can find Mrs. Self working hard in the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch. We appreciate her hard work.
Mr. Brett Burgess, sixth grade
Mr. Burgess is from Centre, Alabama. This is his first year teaching. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Georgia Southwestern University and he holds an Associate degree in Science from Snead State Community College. Mr. Burgess loves sports, Star Wars, ping-pong, music and Alabama Football! “The best thing about working at Pepperell Middle is great co-workers, great students, and chicken biscuit Friday’s,” said Mr. Burgess. Had he not pursued a career in education, he would work for the NBA.
Miss Michelle Castellanos, Spanish
Miss Castellanos is a Rome native. She studied at Shorter University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Political Science. She teaches Spanish classes to high school students and seventh and eighth graders here at PMS. “The awesome staff members and students make working at Pepperell a blast,” stated Miss Castellanos. Although she started at Pepperell last year mid-year, this is her first full year. She said that if she had not pursued a career in education, she would have been a flight attendant because she loves to travel.
Mrs. Rhonda Jones, SLP (not pictured)
Mrs. Jones was born in Salina, Kansas. She has lived in Kansas, Missouri, Ohio. Now she calls Georgia, home. She earned a Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts degree from the University of Georgia before pursuing her Educational Specialist in Instructional Leadership at Lincoln Memorial University. She is a Speech/Language Pathologist. This is her twenty-third year in education. She said, “The faculty and staff have been very welcoming, supportive, and helpful.”Mrs. Jones has four children and lives on a farm. If she wasn’t in the field of education she would want to be a marine biologist.
Mr. Zach Valentine, paraprofessional
Mr. Valentine is from Covington. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Berry College and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at Georgia State. He considers himself a fun, quirky, and young at heart new teacher looking to add some fresh, new ideas into the field of education. “The close-nit community feel from the teachers and administration is what makes Pepperell a great place to work,” stated Mr. Valentine. If he had to be doing something other than education, he would be an athletic trainer. Mr. Valentine is engaged to Anna Golden, a first year teacher at Van Wert Elementary in Polk County. They are getting married in July.
Other new faculty and staff members:
Dr. Dan Webb, eighth grade Ms. Jana Hubbard,seventh grade Mrs. Amy Boyd, bookkeeper Mrs. Gwynn Hilliard, paraprofessional Mr. Kyle Harris, paraprofessional Ms. Karlee Akin, eighth grade