Christian Robinson

A new school year has begun. Seniors are getting their due and freshmen are getting lost. In the sardine-packed corridors of LOHS, some fresh faces are welcoming students into classrooms. 13 new teachers have arrived at LOHS ready to mold their students into informed, productive members of society. Chris Thornton (Arts and Humanities), Kathi McSparin (Business), Kirby O'Donoghue (Agriculture), Keila Morris (English), Marshall Toy (English), Stephanie Hinz (Math), Mike Murphy (Math), Lexi Brinly (Math), Tammy Chapman (Math), and Josh Barnett (History) are all new teachers at LOHS but not all are new to teaching and not all are new to LOHS.

While some of these teachers are new to LOHS, they are certainly not new to the world of teaching. Stephanie Hinz has 9 years of teaching experience including stints at at Calloway County, Livingston Central, and Heath. Hinz says she is looking forward to "fantastic AP scores for all of my 37 AP Calculus students." Other experienced teachers include McSparin and Murphy who are familiar faces from LOMS, Chapman who visits LOHS on Gold Days to teach AP Statistics, and Barnett who comes from PTHS where he was an accomplished girls basketball coach.

A number of the freshmen teachers arriving this year at LOHS are alumni of Lone Oak themselves. Keila Morris (2005) says she was a "very disciplined" and accomplished student, making all As her junior and senior years while holding down a job at Old Navy and participating in color guard. Morris says she is ready to be learning with her students, and working to make her first year a great one. Marshall Toy (2005) taught previously at Fulton County High School and is honored to return to his alma-mater. He intends to continue the legacy of exceptional English teaching established by his uncle, Mr. J.T. Toy. Lexi Brinly graduated in 2007 as Lexi Davis. Brinly likes the feeling of home she gets from teaching at LOHS.

Among all the fresh faces around LOHS, students will likely be less than thrilled to behold Austin Patterson, the new ISD teacher. Patterson says he is excited to be meeting some LOHS students, even though the acquaintance may not be made under the best of circumstances.

Whatever their content area, the new staff members seem pleased to be teaching at Lone Oak High. Students are eager for the teachers to "show us what they've got" according to Libby Spear (12).