Former science teacher Jason Potts is excited to return as principal and appreciates the opportunity to serve a school that he loves. Potts comes from a family of educators and decided to study teaching in college out of a love for learning science and working with at-risk students. He plans to spend his first year learning how the school works and making any adjustments that are needed. One such adjustment, he believes, will be trying to free up teachers to actually teach, rather than them having to focus on administration tasks.
“I want to support them and empower them to teach,” Potts said.
Outside of his goals at school, Potts follows WVU sports and is active with his family through hiking and trips. He loves books, science, academics and arts. His favorite movie is “Remember the Titans” due to its inspirational story of people coming together and working towards a common goal.
Potts wants students to know that he is approachable and consistent and that he will work with students to help them achieve more. He thinks that he often listens before he speaks. The new principal encourages students to enjoy school and get involved since it makes high school more meaningful.
“Every Big Red matters,” Potts said.
New School Resource Officer (SRO) Ryan Bargerstock came to PHS after serving on the Uniform Division of the Parkersburg Police Department for three years. Bargerstock has also worked for several other departments, including Pittsburgh, Morgantown and Ravenswood.
“I’m looking forward to forging a relationship with the students,” Bargerstock said. “It’s really important at this level especially, since there are a lot of kids that don’t have very fond memories of law enforcement.”
The married father of one son said his goal is to change the perceptions of those who may have a negative opinion of the police. He spends his free time with his son and working out, and hopes that his experience with his son will help him with students.
“I want the students to know I’m extremely approachable,” Bargerstock said. “I’m easy to talk to and I’m here to help them. I’m not here to take people away, I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m here to provide security and safety for the students. I’m here for protection, but I also want them to know that I’m not someone to avoid conversation or run away from.”
New head counselor Pam Bauman has worked in the field for 16 years. She took a counseling class in college and fell in love with the profession. Before coming to PHS, she worked at Pressley Ridge and Lorrie Yeager Juvenile Center. She looks forward to getting to know students and participating in school activities.
Outside of school, Bauman likes to make memories with her family by traveling, camping and attending outdoor concerts. Her favorite hobbies consist of decorating and training her dogs.
Bauman wants students to know that her door is always open and that she is always happy to talk and help out. She also wants students to enjoy their time at PHS.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Bauman said. “After high school the little things aren’t going to make a difference so just enjoy being here and enjoy the classes and enjoy your friends and enjoy the activities and participate in the activities. That’s where the memories happen.”
New teacher Katlyn Cunningham teaches U.S. and world history to ninth and 10th graders. A teacher of three years, her favorite topics to teach are Ancient Greece and Ancient China. She came to PHS after teaching at Blennerhassett Middle School. This year, she looks forward to figuring out how high school works. Her favorite part of teaching is the connections and relationships she gets to build with the kids.
“I like to help and put myself out there. I feel like everyone kinda needs some love sometimes,” Cunningham said.
Outside of school, she enjoys reading and coaching volleyball. She gives one piece of advice to her students.
“Laminate your notes so your tears roll off of them,” Cunningham joked.
Former Wood County Christian School administrator Jason Dougherty is eager to get into a classroom and do what he enjoys: teaching. He is a special ed teacher who is thrilled to educate his students and show them how exciting a good education can be.
“I enjoy being in a classroom reading books and learning hands on. I think it’s fascinating to seek and understand reality,” Dougherty said. “That’s just something that has been important in my life, so I like to share that with my students…the passion for learning and the value of education.”
Outside of the classroom, Dougherty likes to spend his time outdoors doing activities like hiking and mountain biking. When he’s not outdoors, he may be reading books such as “Lord of the Rings” or anything by C.S. Lewis. Dougherty also enjoys composting with his leftover food scraps or lawn waste.
“My wife likes to garden in the flower garden,” Dougherty said. “It’s fun to generate this nice nutrient rich dirt.”
Big Red graduate Taylor Foster is excited to get back to her alma mater after 10 years. The physical education and health teacher has wanted to be a teacher and a coach for as long as she can remember and enjoys teaching about health. Foster’s favorite part of teaching is being able to learn from her students. She values getting to see different viewpoints and experiences.
“I value respect and understanding,” Foster said. “A lot of the subjects that we talk about are very personal, so respecting and understanding that and then learning from different viewpoints, not just our own (is important).”
The former South teacher enjoys coaching soccer and basketball and likes to paddleboard, camp and travel. She also likes to watch “Gilmore Girls” and “Friends”.
Foster encourages students to do their best to enjoy high school.
“At times, it’s tough and things are hard, but at the end of the day, these are going to be really good four years for you to learn and grow as a person,” Foster said.
New teacher Amy Norman teaches Algebra 1 and special education. She taught at Jackson Middle School for two years and Hamilton for two years. Norman’s favorite place she taught at was Hamilton because she loved teaching science. She is from Fairmont where she went to Fairmont Senior High School and Fairmont State University. Norman first started substitute teaching because it fit into her kids’ schedules, and that’s when she fell in love with teaching. Her background is in investments, and she was a stockbroker before becoming a stay at home mom.
Despite her distaste for walking around a big school, she is enjoying her time as a Big Red so far.
“The staff has been so welcoming and kind,” Norman said. “Teaching is the last thing I ever thought I would do.”
In her free time, she loves to go camping, boating or do anything outdoors. Her favorite kind of books to read are suspense and thriller novels. Norman has a dog named Gizmo and a cat named Wednesday and her favorite animal is a zebra.
New teacher Alexa Griffey has come back to her alma mater to teach business.
Graduating in 2012, Griffey taught in South Korea for two years before returning home to teach in Wood County. She then went to WTAP to be the morning news anchor and producer.
“I lived in a very rural city in Korea and, in my position, (I was) the only foreign teacher at my school,” Griffey said. “I got very immersed into the city and got to try so much food.”
Now, the alum and former member of the Red Wing Drill Team teaches business classes along with helping with the Red Wings.
“I’m really looking forward to working within this department,” Griffey said. “I think it’s a very interesting position to be in and I do like the topic because it was my undergraduate degree. I’m also really excited for the year with the Red Wings.”
Outside of the school day, Griffey enjoys reading, running, dancing and traveling.
The new resident in 215C wants students to know that she is always there to talk and that effort is everything.
“Whether they (students) have me or not, I’m always here,” Griffey said. “If they ever need anything, a safe place to go, questions answered or just a little guidance, I’m here for anybody. You’re not going to be perfect. You’re going to be making mistakes but it’s the process of trying, making those mistakes and learning from them that end up helping you in the future.”
Former plumber Joe Mason teaches the new Plumbing CTE course. He’s worked in the field for over 30 years, including working maintenance for schools for 13 years.
“The way I look at it, it’s a way to pass my 30 years of knowledge on,” Mason said.
His goals for this year are to equip the shop and teach students with the resources they currently have. A first-time teacher, Mason said that the thing he values most in his classroom is participation.
“A lot of stuff we’re going to do in the shop is going to be a team effort,” Mason said. “They’re going to have to come together as a team for the end of year project I have planned.”
Outside of school, the former plumbing business owner enjoys the outdoors.
“I go hunting, fishing, anything that has to do with the outdoors,” Mason said. “Trail riding, walking trails, riding four wheelers, anything like that.”
