As the school year begins, an influx of new faces is added to our campus. This school year, there are four new teachers at Florida High, and they already have plans to make an impact on campus.
Band teacher Amanda Griffis is one of those new additions, and she is eager to leave her mark. With a passion for music and a vision for school culture, Griffis hopes to bring the band front and center in student life.
“I would love to strengthen the presence of the band on campus. I want to make it something embedded into the culture of our school,” Griffis said. “I want it to be where when you think of Florida High, [you think of the] band.”
For other new teachers, the focus is on sparking curiosity and joy in the classroom. They see this school year as a chance not just to teach content, but to inspire students to find excitement in learning. The hope is that by building connections and making lessons engaging, students will walk away with a deeper love for the subject matter.
“Since a young age, I’ve always been a part of the performing arts. The love that I have and the opportunities I’ve gotten from this [field] are something I want to give back to my students,” theater teacher Elajah Carty said.
Florida High is also welcoming a new face to the English department: Morgan King. King is excited to share her passion for literature and writing with students and looks forward to building connections both inside and outside the classroom.
Beyond passion for their subjects, the new teachers also bring fresh opportunities to Florida High. They are eager to challenge students academically while also preparing them with skills they will need beyond graduation. Each new face brings a unique approach tailored to the real-world demands of their field.
“We’ll have a lot of group projects. [It’s important because] everything you do in emergency management is teamwork,” TJ Dawkins, Emergency Management teacher and football coach, said. “I take it in the aspect of I’m the coach, they’re my players, and how we would work together.”
With their energy, dedication and vision, these four new teachers are ready to help shape both the culture and the classrooms of Florida High. Let us all give them a warm welcome as they begin their journey on our campus.
