Use the clues and following profiles to meet the county’s newest educators.

The children of Morgan County rubbed the sleep from their eyes early Wednesday morning, donned their bookbags and walked into a new classroom (or classrooms) to kick off the 2010-2011 school year.
There are new faces in all of the county's schools, and not just those of students. Meet this year's newest recruits to the Morgan County School System.

Heather Chamberlain

Heather Chamberlain will be teaching first grade at Morgan County Primary School beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

A native of Tucker, Chamberlain graduated from Tucker High School in 1996. She received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University in 2000, when she also married her high school sweetheart.

She taught first grade at Ficquett Elementary School in Newton County for two years. After leaving teaching briefly to become a stay-at-home mom – she and husband, Justin, have two children, McCall, 7, and Andrew Scott, 5 – Chamberlain picked back up two years ago, teaching Pre-K part-time at Madison Presbyterian Preschool.
Chamberlain began work on her Master's degree through Georgia Southern last summer.
"My mother taught for 40 years (and still substitutes in DeKalb County) and I always knew I wanted to teach," Chamberlain writes.

More about Ms. Chamberlain...

Favorite school memory: "My favorite school memory was my first grade teacher Mrs. Showers at Livsey Elementary. She was such a loving and accepting teacher and she taught us all how to love school and have fun!"
Crayons or markers, and favorite color to use: "Markers. My favorite color to use is blue because it is calming to me and it makes me think of the beautiful sky and the ocean!"

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The most important thing posted in my room is my 'All About Me' board. I think it is so important for the teacher to know all about the students and how they learn and for the students to know all about their teacher so they can connect with them. The more we know about a child and how he learns, the better we can reach him and teach him!"

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "I find this a very difficult question. I do not compare myself to a famous person. My co-workers said I am like Wonder Woman because I am a mom, wife, teacher, nurturer, etc. We as teachers wear many hats. We are able to take of many things and do it with poise and grace."

Jeremy Skidmore

A new addition to Morgan County Primary School, Jeremy Skidmore will be teaching music this school year.
He graduated from Milledgeville's Georgia College & State University in 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Music, with a concentration in Vocal Performance. From there, he went back to school to gain certification to teach music.
"This is my first year teaching ever!!! I'm excited!!!" he writes.

More about Mr. Skidmore...

Favorite school memory: "Pajama day in Ms. Rivers's fifth grade class. We all brought our sleeping bags and read many books throughout the day."

Crayons or markers, and favorite color to use: "Red or Black marker. What can I say? I like UGA football."

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The banner that says, 'Never settle for less than your best.'"

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "Everyone says I look like Rob Schneider. I don't see it, but I can be a goofball like him at times."

Caroline O'Neal

Caroline O'Neal will teach third grade at Morgan County Elementary School this year.
After graduating from Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta, O'Neal moved to Gainesville, Fla., where she attended the University of Florida. She majored in Elementary Education with a focus in Literacy while pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education; obtaining that degree, she stayed in Gainesville for an additional year to get her Master's degree in Education.

She began her career in education in her hometown of Marietta, teaching Kindergarten at a Cobb County school for three years. After her marriage – on June 12 of this year! – she and her husband moved to the area.
O'Neal is currently working towards getting her Specialist degree in Teaching and Learning, with a focus in Reading, from Georgia Southern University. She expects to complete this program in May 2011.

More about Ms. O'Neal...

Favorite school memory: "When I think of being a student in school, the first memory that jumps to mind is not a single memory, but a reoccurring event that occurred every year. This event was the day we would go to the school to find out our new teacher and our classmates for the upcoming school year. I loved this day because I was able to meet my new teacher, and see a lot of friends I had not seen over the summer! This pumped me up for a wonderful school year!"

Crayons or markers, and favorite color to use: "I love markers because they write smoothly, and are so bright! I typically choose the color green because it tends to be a soothing color, but still stands out for all of the students to see!"

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The most important thing I have posted in my room is the new 'TEAM' policy that we are implementing at MCES. It reminds the students that we are working together, and they are all key components to the success this school year."

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "I don’t really think I am much like any of the current famous people, but I will lean towards one of my favorite singers, Carrie Underwood. Although I am not as talented in the vocal area, I do love music. Like Carrie Underwood, I also had my wedding this summer in Georgia."

Anne Marie Webb

Anne Marie Webb will be joining the Morgan County Middle School team as a sixth grade Support Education teacher.

She attended Jonesboro Senior High; Georgia College & State University, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Education; then Piedmont College, where she earned an MA in Teaching and an EDS in Teaching and Learning with an additional concentration in Leadership Pre-Service. She has ESOL (that English for Speakers of Other Languages) training, is "highly qualified in SP Ed Adaptive," and started teaching in 1991 in Greene County; she has also taught in Oconee and Barrow counties.

More about Ms. Webb...

Favorite school memory: "My favorite school memory was a Dissection of a Greyhound Dog in Anatomy (I loved the study of the systems, we had to be tested as a group, and we never knew who would be called on in the group to name all the muscles, bones, organs, etc.) Whoever was called upon would determine the grade for all! I participated in the Creation of Science For All Americans Benchmarks because of Ms. Butler's excitement of Science!!!"

Favorite pen color to use: "The one available at the spur of the moment. I don't like red for students."

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "For me– my calendar. For my students– Thinking Maps for High Order Thinking."

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "My Mother is famous to me. I have her empathy, and creativity. A hero is famous; a hero is someone who leaves a strong impression which transcends to others. Someone who makes an impact on your life, someone that changes your direction for good, someone whose influences cause a positive change. This positive change is retroactive, it explodes, and it never dies. She was a teacher and mother to my sister who has Down Syndrome and Autism. Who was your hero?"

Major Robert G. Atkins, USAF, Retired

Major Robert G. Atkins, United States Air Force, Retired, will be at Morgan County High School this year with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) as Senior Aerospace Science Instructor for ninth through 12th grade students.

Major Atkins is graduate of Slocomb High School, Slocomb, Ala. He received his Bachelor's degree in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, and his Master's degree in Information Technology Management from Touro University International (TUI) out of Cypress, Calif. Additionally, he taught – technical training and professional military education – for about eight years in the USAF.

More about Major Atkins...

Favorite school memory: "GRADUATION!"

Favorite pen color to use: "Black...to remain consistent with the rest of the text."

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The most important thing I have posted in my room (office) is a small plaque my daughter recently gave me listing the Air Force Core Values. It says, 'Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do...Core Values for the Air Force. Core Values for Life.'"

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "Yoda...I bring more agility to the force than I look."

Lindsey Hughes

Lindsey Hughes will be collaboratively teaching English and Math at Morgan County High School this year.
A native of Richmond, Va., Hughes moved to Johns Creek, Ga. – Fulton County – when she was in seventh grade. Graduating from Chattahoochee High School, she attended Georgia College & State University for two years and studied Music Therapy. Realizing a desire to be in classroom, Hughes transferred to the University of Georgia, and received her Bachelor's degree in Special Education from that school

More about Ms. Hughes...

Favorite school memory: "In high school I treasured the opportunities we were given to travel and learn outside of school. I had the chance to travel to Washington D.C. my freshman year and sing in the National Cathedral. The trip in its entirety and that experience were absolutely incredible and something I will never forget."

Favorite pen color to use: "I love to use green and orange pens! I get bored of the usual blue, red, and black. I like to mix it up!"

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "In my office I have a sign that says 'Nothing is Impossible' that  was given to me as a gift by one of my mentor teachers. It is a great reminder to me and my students to push forward and never give up."

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "Shirley Temple! I am short, energetic, and can burst out in song at any moment."

Laura Oliver

Laura Oliver will be joining the Morgan County High School team with the beginning of this school year, teaching English and Language Arts at the school's Freshman Academy.

Oliver has a Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Speech, from Madonna University as well as a Master's degree in Teaching from Marygrove College. She attended Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Mich., where she also taught for 12 years before making her way to Georgia.

More about Ms. Oliver...

Favorite school memory: "My favorite school memory is being involved in extra curricular activities, and playing in the State Finals for my high school volleyball team."

Favorite pen color to use: "My favorite pen color to use is purple because it is not a judgmental color and has a calming feel to it."

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The most important thing that I will post in my room will be student work because I feel it is important for students to take pride in what they have done."

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "The famous person that I would compare myself to would be Carrie Underwood. I think that she is a good match for me because she has demonstrated that she has good morals and uses good judgment, she is caring, she is true to herself and grounded, as well as a humble and modest person."

Laura Oliver

Laura Oliver will be joining the Morgan County High School team with the beginning of this school year, teaching English and Language Arts at the school's Freshman Academy.

Oliver has a Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Speech, from Madonna University as well as a Master's degree in Teaching from Marygrove College. She attended Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Mich., where she also taught for 12 years before making her way to Georgia.

More about Ms. Oliver...

Favorite school memory: "My favorite school memory is being involved in extra curricular activities, and playing in the State Finals for my high school volleyball team."

Favorite pen color to use: "My favorite pen color to use is purple because it is not a judgmental color and has a calming feel to it."

What is the most important thing you have posted in your room? "The most important thing that I will post in my room will be student work because I feel it is important for students to take pride in what they have done."

If you could compare yourself to a famous person, who are you most like and why? "The famous person that I would compare myself to would be Carrie Underwood. I think that she is a good match for me because she has demonstrated that she has good morals and uses good judgment, she is caring, she is true to herself and grounded, as well as a humble and modest person."