Stephanie Stubbs is a seventh grade Social Studies teacher at East Junior High School. She has been with Fayette County Public Schools for 12 years. We appreciate the dedication and commitment to our students Ms. Stubbs shows every day!
Jana Mitchell has taught at Southwest Elementary for six years. This is her third year teaching Math and Science to third grade students. Ms. Mitchell holds a Bachelor in Education. She had awesome teachers when she was a little girl, which led her to become a teacher. Her favorite thing about teaching is when she can see that wonderful “lightbulb moment” on the face of her students letting her know that they truly understand what they are learning about. Ms. Mitchell loves to see excited and happy students as they grow and help others.
Ms. Jan Badovinac is in her first year at West Junior High as Library Information Specialist. She has been a school librarian for 10 years and either a librarian or teacher for different age groups ranging from first grade to college level. Ms. Badovinac holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University and a Masters of Science in Library Media and Information Technologies from the University of Central Arkansas. Her reason for entering the education field is because she was led to help children develop a love of learning and reading so they would grow to become savvy consumers of information. Ms. Badovinac’s favorite thing as a librarian is to match students with books they love and to help find the kind of books that turn a reluctant reader’s claim of “I don’t like to read” into “I loved reading this and can’t wait to read more like it!” She loves working with teachers and students on research activities as well as teaching students to become savvy consumers of information.
Mrs. Kris Chapman is in her first year teaching first grade at LaGrange-Moscow Elementary but has been with the district since 2017. She has been in the education field for 32 years and taught in 3 states covering grades PreK, K, 1st, and 4th and was also an Assistant Principal in K-5th for twelve years in Missouri. Mrs. Chapman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University, a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Lindenwood University, and holds a degree as Education Specialist: Education Administration from Missouri Baptist University.
Mrs. Chapman has always enjoyed helping others and loves working with children. She once asked her favorite teacher how she could thank them for all they did for her and they replied, “Be there for someone. Do for them what we did for you.” This was part of the reason that her goal is to give back after her own teachers did so much for her.
She enjoys watching children grow, get excited about learning something new and accomplish goals whether they be in the areas of academics, behavior, or social skills. Mrs. Chapman strives to build relationships with each of her students and their families. Her goal is to teach the whole child and be there for them. Any time progress is made, Mrs. Chapman feels good to know that she is making a difference in the lives of her students.
Mrs. Chapman is married with two adult children and is currently raising a 15 and a 13 year old that she met at LMES in 2017. She feels blessed beyond measure with a great family, an awesome school family, and a faithful church family. She loves teaching and serving others and feels called to do so. If you see Mrs. Chapman, please thank her for her dedication to our students and district!
Mrs. Leah Andres currently serves as English instructor at Jefferson Innovative Learning Center for grades 9-12. Mrs. Andres, who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ole Miss, has been at JILC for 5 years but has a total of 28 years in the teaching profession. She dreamed of becoming a teacher because she has always loved reading and writing and has a passion for teaching her students to communicate well so that they can succeed in life. Her favorite part of teaching is witnessing her students get that “lightbulb moment” where they suddenly understand a concept that they previously did not understand.
Mrs. Andres grew up in Somerville and has been married to her husband Craig for 39 years. She has two grown children, Paul and Ashley. Ashley followed in her mother’s footsteps in becoming a high school teacher. She has two dogs, Andy and Brooke. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, and attending Ole Miss football games.
Ms. Kellie Thompson is a first grade teacher at Oakland Elementary School. She has enjoyed being at OES for the past four years. Ms. Thompson earned her Bachelor in Elementary Education at Crichton College and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Grand Canyon University. Ms. Thompson’s mother was a high school teacher and taught her a love for reading at an early age that inspired her. Her great aunt taught in a one room school house and through ancestry research found that their ancestors came from England to America to be school teachers.
Ms. Thompson’s favorite thing about teaching is when a student has that “light bulb” moment as they fully grasp a concept and understanding washes over them. She is currently in her nineteenth year of teaching and she still loves to make connections with her students and be in the classroom with them as they learn and grow. Her classroom’s motto is: “We can do hard things!”
Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School Computer Technology and Networking Systems instructor Jerry Henderson teaches grades 9-12. He has been part of FCPS for twenty-seven years. Mr. Henderson holds a A+ CompTIA Certification, IT TestOut Certification, New Horizons Computer Center certification, and earned his teacher licensure from the University of Memphis and University of Knoxville.
Mr. Henderson chose to be a teacher so that he could impact the lives of students and help shape the next generation. His favorite thing about teaching is watching a student as their eyes light up when they get an answer right that has eluded them as the concept clicks in their mind. At that point, all the time and effort put in as a teacher is worth the hard work involved. When students can repair something all on their own, it makes Mr. Henderson proud to be a teacher and impart that knowledge upon the students.
Mr. Henderson is extremely proud of his students and the accomplishments they make every day such as these: 10 out of 33 students passed their TestOut Certification this year; 95% of students that choose Computer Technology as their program of study finish the concentration and enroll in his TCAT dual enrollment program; 65% of students enroll in his Work Based Learning program where they get on the job training to better prepare them for the workforce.
Diane Norton has taught at LaGrange-Moscow Elementary School for twelve years. This is her first year teaching fifth grade ELA and Social Studies. She has been in FCPS for nineteen years. She has two sons: Daniel, who is currently in the US Army and Grayson, who is a senior at Fayette-Ware.
Ms. Norton earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Memphis. She chose to pursue education because she wants to support children at all times. She wants to follow in the steps of her sixth grade teacher and help her students see how much potential they have and what they can achieve by just stepping out and believing in themselves while they work to achieve their goals.
Ms. Norton’s favorite thing about teaching is interacting with students, especially in discussion-led lessons. Getting to hear her students' ideas and their takes on the world fills her with hope and joy. To see them have an understanding of whatever they are learning coming over them and the excitement that comes with realizing they understand the concepts they are working on renews her heart with appreciation for the art of teaching all over again.
Wesley Holmes teaches 9th-11th grade Mathematics at Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School. Mr. Holmes has been a Wildcat for the past five years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis. Mr. Holmes is married to Dr. Mia Holmes. They have two children, Lizzy and Boyd. Outside of school he enjoys spending time with his family and working outside.
Mr. Holmes began teaching because he enjoys seeing and helping others grow and develop. As a teacher, he gets to witness and be part of this evolution every day. His favorite thing about teaching is having the ability to build relationships with and impact the lives of young people in a positive way.
Cindy Joy Swift is a 5th grade ELA and Social Studies teacher at Buckley-Carpenter Elementary School. She has enjoyed being in FCPS for the past 17 years. Ms. Swift earned her Bachelor of Science in Education at Crichton College, her Master of Science in Education at Walden University, and her Educational Specialist in Teacher Leadership at Walden University.
Ms. Swift wanted to become a teacher because of her amazing, inspirational third grade teacher at Southwest Elementary School. That teacher’s ability to guide students, her fairness, her compassion, and her sense of justice and impartiality was the inspiration behind the way Ms. Swift runs her classroom to this day.
Ms. Swift’s favorite thing about teaching is getting the opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives. When she sees a struggling student that has been positively influenced by being in her classroom develop a love for learning and reading, it gives her a sense of joy, peace and accomplishment. When that same child comes to her in the year and excitedly proclaims that they read a whole chapter book, it does her heart good. When a parent shares with Ms. Swift that their child loves reading now, that makes her day! She loves seeing children actively engaged in their learning and knowing their purpose for learning. This makes her love her job even more!
Demetrius Bradford is a fifth grade ELA and Social Studies teacher at Southwest Elementary School. He has been with Fayette County Public Schools for the past 18 years. He loves teaching and watching his students learn and grow every day. We appreciate Mr. Bradford’s dedication to our students and our district!
