The opening of the new school year at William Byrd High School has been dominated by athletic news— a new football field at Robert A. Patterson Stadium and two wins against Cave Spring and Hidden Valley High Schools by wide margins.

WBHS has also welcomed 25 new faculty and staff members for the 2017-2018 school year.

There is a new assistant principal— Marcee Cook, most recently an assistant principal at Hidden Valley Middle School. Cook is a William Byrd graduate, as were her father and older brothers. She was enrolled in Vinton schools from grades k-12, and played varsity basketball and softball. She still holds the record for three-point shot percentages.

Cook earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education from Roanoke College and her Master’s in Administration online from the University of Phoenix.

She started her teaching career at WBHS where she taught for nine years and was the head coach of the girls varsity basketball and softball teams. She left William Byrd to become an assistant principal at Green Valley Elementary for three years before transferring to HVMS.

“I was born and raised a Terrier,” says Cook. “The feeling of working at WBHS is like no other. The school spirit and community support is outstanding.”

Hannah Blais is teaching geometry and algebra at WBHS. She is from Chesterfield, Va. She majored in math at Virginia Tech and earned her Master’s Degree in Secondary education. This is her first year of teaching. She says she did her student teaching in Roanoke County and liked it so she decided to stay with the county.

“I really like the staff at Byrd; everyone has been so welcoming and I know I can be a successful teacher here,” said Blais.

Michael Burkhart is teaching 10th grade Pre-AP and College Bound English classes. He is from Indianapolis and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in English Education. He and his wife moved to the area to be closer to her family. This is his fourth year of teaching.

“The entire Vinton community is incredibly supportive of the high school,” said Burkhart. “A supportive community helps make a school great. I am excited to be working around people who have so much passion for their school and the students.”

Jackie Collins teaches Spanish language studies to eighth through 12th graders. She is a Cuban American born and raised in New Jersey. She has lived in Roanoke for about 17 years. Her undergraduate degree is from Rutgers with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Communications. She did her graduate work at Hollins University with an MAT in Secondary Education. She has been teaching for 10 years but started as an instructional assistant prior to becoming a licensed teacher, for a total of 13 years in education.

“I was assigned as a mobile teacher to meet the changing needs of foreign language learning in Roanoke County,” said Collins.” I am currently split between Northside Middle School and WBHS.”

“I am very happy to be at WBHS,” says Collins. “I actually started with RCS at WBHS in winter 2015 through the remainder of the academic school year. I loved the students, staff support and encouragement offered then and now. I count it a privilege to be assigned once again to WBHS and look forward to forging new relationships among the staff, students and the community that makes up this wonderful school. “

Josh Cunningham is a special education teacher co-teaching Algebra I, Geometry, and English 10. He is also the head boys varsity basketball coach. He grew up in Vinton and graduated from William Byrd ten years ago. His parents still live in the Vinton area. He majored in Physical Education at Emory and Henry.

He was hired as the head basketball coach back in April and also accepted the teaching position. Cunningham taught at Roanoke Catholic for six years. He has worked as an assistant coach for three years, and a head coach for three years as well.

“It’s a dream of mine to be back teaching/coaching here,” said Cunningham. “I feel that I have been called to the teaching and coaching profession. To do that where I went to school and made some great memories is truly a blessing!”

Andrew DeCoster is teaching Algebra I. He is from Alexandria and graduated from Roanoke College with a degree in Economics. He moved this summer from Abingdon to Roanoke and was hired at William Byrd. This is his second year of teaching and his sixth year in education overall. He will be coaching track.

“This is such a welcoming community,” said DeCoster. “I feel valued and supported.”

Savanna Donathan teaches French 3 and 4 AP at Byrd. She grew up in Shawsville and now lives in Christiansburg. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in French at Radford and her Master’s in Teaching at Hollins. She was hired by Roanoke County to teach in three schools— Hidden Valley Middle, Hidden Valley High, and William Byrd. This is her first year of teaching.

Mary Flora is teaching World History II for 10th graders and Personal Finance to 11th and 12th graders. She attended Franklin County High School and now lives in Franklin County on a large farm. She graduated from Radford University with a Special Education endorsement and has taught for 10 years. She says she loves the “joy and excitement a student demonstrates when understanding what has been taught.” She also volunteers with fire and rescue.

Michael Florek teaches AP Physics. He is from Nebraska and spent a year in Germany after high school. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska. His Master’s in Teaching came from Hollins University. This will be his second year of teaching Physics and his fourth year in science education overall.

Casey Foutz teaches special education with mostly freshmen and sophomores. She will be co-teaching with Hannah Blais in Algebra I and Geometry. She is a Vinton native and graduated from WBHS in the Class of 2011. Her father, older brother, and younger sister are Byrd graduates as well. She earned her Masters of Science Degree in Special Education from Radford University with a minor in Music.

As for how she came to be at William Byrd, “I wanted to come back to the school that made me fall in love with specialized instruction. I have had two years of student teaching experience in Montgomery County and Radford City. I also taught for a semester in Roanoke City.”

“I’m so eager to see all of the change Vinton and the Vinton schools, are about to have.,” said Foutz. “I am passionate about special education and I am so excited to bring my passion to the school that gave me so much growing up. It was here at WBHS, during my Teachers for Tomorrow class, where I decided I was going to go to school for education. What better way to share my skills and love for students and modified instruction than to come back home?”

Phil Gallagher teaches Latin I and II. He is from Illinois and studied Biology and Classic Studies at Cornell College. He spends his summers working for Virginia’s Latin Academy, and he is a semi-professional Magic: the Gathering player.

Amy Herzel is an ELL teacher at William Byrd and Glenvar.

Jacqueline James teaches English 9 and English 9 AP courses. She is from the Philadelphia area, but graduated from St. Gregory the Great High School in Oxford, UK. She did her undergraduate work at Cornell College and her graduate work at the University of Kansas. She moved here to be closer to family and to “live and work in a great school district.” James has taught for four years.

Katherine Jenkins co-teaches English 9 with James. She is from Bluefield, Va., graduating from Graham High School. She majored in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education K-12 at Concord University. She has been teaching for four years.

She has family in Vinton. “I’m excited to be a part of a new school and work with a different age level of students,” said Jenkins, who has been teaching grades 3-5.

Daniel Lewis is teaching World Geography. He is from Blacksburg. He earned his undergraduate degree in History at Virginia Tech and is currently working on his Master’s in Education at Radford University. He did his student teaching at Glenvar High School and “was really pleased and impressed with everything I saw going on in the county. So, when I got the call to come interview for a position at WBHS, I leapt at the chance. Everyone has been very supportive and really gone out of their way to make me feel welcome.”

This is his first year in teaching; he will be co-sponsoring the Drama Club with Carol Webster.

“I am very passionate about theatre and music, especially when they intersect,” said Lewis, who originally went to school to study opera.

Alan Moore is the new Testing Coordinator at William Byrd. He graduated from Cave Spring High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Roanoke College and his Master’s from Radford University. He played baseball in high school and college.

Moore taught math at Cave Spring High School for six years and at Lord Botetourt for one year. He came to Byrd this year when there was a job opening in his area of interest.

“It is a good step in my career,” said Moore. “I love working with students, and I am happy to be working with the staff and administration here at WBHS.”

Moore grew up attending Vinton Baptist Church and is the part-time student ministry director at Fellowship Community Church.

Jordan Persinger is teaching Advanced Marketing, Fashion Marketing, and Advertising at William Byrd, working with students in grades 9-12. She is from Craig County and earned her Master’s in Education from Virginia Tech.

She did her student teaching in Roanoke County and her high school mentor is a teacher at WBHS. This is her first year in teaching. She will be serving as a DECA advisor.

“Byrd has an excellent Marketing program along with great teacher/ mentors to help my first year of teaching go smoothly,” said Persinger

Benjamin Ripple is teaching special education at WBHS. He is from Roanoke, a Patrick Henry High School graduate. His Bachelor’s degree in psychology is from Virginia Tech.

“I am happy to be working at WBHS because the staff and administration are very supportive,” said Ripple. “Also, the teachers provide a very family oriented atmosphere, and that is something I really enjoy.”

Christopher Rupe is teaching Earth Science to mostly ninth graders. He is from Dublin and graduated from Pulaski County High School. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Meteorology and earned his M.S. in Engineering Geology at Radford University.

This is his 12th year in teaching. He is the assistant coach for the boys lacrosse team. He and his wife, a Byrd graduate, have lived in Vinton for over six years. He is glad to be working at WBHS because “I am able to make an impact in my community.”

Chloe Scales teaches Latin 1, 3, 4, and AP Latin. She will also be a Special Educator co-teacher in Personal Finance. She is from Vienna, Va. She majored in Classical Studies at Virginia Tech and then earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Hollins University. She is currently working on courses in Special Education at Radford University.

“Last year I started working at WBHS and WBMS as a long-term substitute when the Latin teacher went on leave; then I wanted to stay,” said Scales. “This will be my first official year, and my first year in Special Education, but I taught all levels of Latin at William Byrd last year from September to June.

“The students and faculty are wonderful and welcoming,” said Scales. “I was so grateful for how they helped me through my first teaching experiences last year, and as I meet new teachers and students this year I become more and more grateful to be a part of this community.

Scales says that she loves music, “I play cello and mountain dulcimer, and I often play music with my husband (who plays guitar and banjo) on Friday nights in Floyd or for weddings and other events.”

Robert Shumate teaches Technical Education, specifically all the Computer Aided Drafting and Design classes, Digital Photography, Electronics, and “the occasional Woods class.”

He graduated from Cave Spring High School before earning his degree from Bluefield State. His career in education began seven years ago as a long-term sub at WBHS.

Duncan Smith teaches Algebra Functions and Data Analysis at William Byrd. He is originally from Warrenton and graduated from Virginia Tech with Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Mathematics, and then a Master’s in Education. This is his third year as a teacher.

“I did my student teaching at WBHS a few years ago, and this year when I moved to Northside, I became a traveling teacher for WBHS as well,” says Smith. “I am very lucky to get two great administrative groups to work with, so that makes me very happy to know that I will have the support that teachers need.”

Lisa Stover is the College and Career Center Coordinator at WBHS. She is from Roanoke and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. Her husband Dwayne is a Byrd graduate.

Her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies is from Virginia Tech, her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is from Hollins.

“I was a part of the PTA at WBMS for four years and enjoyed getting to know Tammy Newcomb when she was there,” said Stover. “I felt a higher calling to become a teacher and I have decided to switch careers and work on teaching licensure. I really have enjoyed the compassionate culture at Byrd.”

“This is my first job in a school environment and I cannot imagine a friendlier place to work,” added Stover. “I’m in the Counseling area and parents should feel very confident that their children are well-cared for in a compassionate environment.”

John Templeton is teaching Advanced Marketing to seniors. He is from Lynchburg and majored in Marketing Management at Virginia Tech. He has been a teacher for five years. and will serve as Work/Study Co-op Coordinator.

Elizabeth Whitehead is co-teaching English 12. She is from Rocky Mount, but has lived in Mount Pleasant for 14 years. She graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor’s in Social Sciences and her Master’s in Special Education.

Whitehead transferred from William Byrd Middle School where she has taught for 13 years, teaching for a total of 21 years in all.

“It’s exciting to see many of my ‘old’ students who are less than a year from entering their college or career paths,” said Whitehead. “The faculty and staff at the high school have been very welcoming. I needed change to grow in my career.

“My husband Scott, “The Voice of the Terriers”, teaches at the middle school in addition to his position as golf coach and the announcer for the football games,” Whitehead said. “My daughter is a seventh grade student at WBMS.”