Graduate of Americus High School.

Graduate of Georgia Southwestern with a BS in Education / Major - Spanish.

This school year begins my eighteenth year as a Spanish teacher at Southland Academy y estoy muy emocianada (I am very excited)!  I teach Spanish 1, 2, and 3 and each course is a unique experience.  The students are great and it is so much fun watching them learn another language and realize that they can actually use it in their everyday lives!  Hearing them tell of conversations with native speakers, working with Hispanics and ordering (in Spanish) at Mexican restaurants brings the language to life for them.

Several years ago, I taught elementary Spanish at Southland, and so I am super excited that we are are continuing to have Spanish at not only the high school level, but also elementary and junior high.  I look forward to working with Coach Hicks (7th grade) and Mrs. Leverette (4th / 5th grades) as they introduce more students to Spanish.  

I have traveled to Mexico twice and I went to Costa Rica with our church work team. It is great to practice with native speakers!  Summers 2013,  2015 and 2018 I led a wonderful group of students, teachers, former teachers and friends from Southland to Europe (Spain, France and Italy) with Education First Tours. THEY WERE INCREDIBLE TRIPS AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!! We traveled to London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome for 2 weeks in June 2018 and, as always, it was an unforgettable experience.  One of my students who had just graduated from Southland commented that he was surprised at how much he had learned and remembered when he actually used the language.  I was so excited to hear him say this :)  Travel provides opportunity for our students and adults to actually see and experience the many places they have studied/ taught throughout their school years.

Plans for June 2021 - Education First Tours - London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome

I have also taught an adult Conversational Spanish class at Georgia Southwestern State University.  Many adults in our community are interested in learning Spanish as part of their jobs.

• We have 3 children, (all graduates of Southland), two sons-in-law, one daugher-in-law and one grandson -                                           
  Meredith Law Murray - SAR Class of '97 - Teacher 4th grade Math, Social Studies and Science - Lee County Elementary - Leesburg, GA 
  She is married to Rod Murray who is the Head Football Coach at Southland!  
  Meredith was named Teacher of the Year at her school for 2018 - she is a wonderful teacher!
  
  
• Mallorie Law Stewart - SAR Class of '08 - Valdosta State University Graduated May 2012 / Graduate School May 2014 - Major Speech and Language Pathology / Communication Disorders   Mallorie is married to Jordan Stewart, a pilot for Spirit Airlines.  They live in Newnan where she is the SLP at Northside Elementary School - Newnan, GA
  
  
• Preston Dismuke - 7 years old   Preston started first grade at Elm Street Elementary School this year.  He was a Blueberry in Mrs. Jenny Stapleton's 3K class so I know that he will be well-prepared.    Being an "abuelita"  is so much fun and Preston definitely keeps us busy!   He loves to play golf,  soccer, basketball and to swim.
  
  Mason Law - SAR Class of '10 - Kennesaw State University - Major Psychology - Graduate 2014
  Received his Masters of Divinity degree from  New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in July 2019.
  Lived in Lafayette, LA for 2 years where he was an intern with the Baptist Collegiate Mission. He married Sydni Aceves in 2017 whom he met in Alaska on a mission workteam.  Mason is Youth Pastor at Valley View Baptist Church in Vine Grove, Kentucky.

• I live in Leslie, Ga.

• My family attends Central Baptist Church.
  
  My hobbies include traveling and working in my yard.  I love to travel having taken 3 student tours to Europe through Education First.  Intoducing students (and adults) to the history, culture and art of Europe is amazing!
  I plan to lead another group in June 2021 to London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome.