Graceville School has several new faces on campus this year

Graceville School is starting a new school year with more than a dozen new faces on campus. Returning administration team Carlan Martin and Kayla Wilson are excited to welcome all back to another successful year at Graceville School.

Sandy Arroyo is a new face on campus. She is a graduate of Dothan High School and continued her education at Troy University where she earned her Masters’ degree in Early Childhood and Early Education. This will be her 35th year teaching all grades and will be teaching Kindergarten at Graceville. Sandy retired from the Alabama education system but is coming back to teach at Graceville. She and her husband of 30 years have three children, and she attends Bethel Baptist Church in Dothan. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, quilting, and reading. She finished, “I am happy to be here at Graceville and I’m looking forward to a great year!”

Alicia Bell graduated from Immokalee High School before continuing her education at Nova Southeastern University where she earned degrees in Elementary Education and Industrial and Organized Psychology, as well as her Masters’ in Educational Leadership. She has been teaching for 27 years with experience as an ESE Staffing Specialist in Henry County and Director of Student Services at Glades County. She will be working with the school at RTI (Response to Intervention) . Her and her husband Flint have three sons – Lane, Eli, and Lance. Her hobbies include reading and renovating homes with her husband. She finished that she is “Super excited to be part of the Graceville and Graceville School community.”

Jill Berquist graduated from Northville High in Northville, Michigan before continuing her education at Albion College and Penn State University. She received a B.A. in English/Anthropology and her masters in English. She commented that she had been teaching “forever” at various universities, colleges, high schools, and even in Costa Rica. She will be teaching ninth through twelfth grade English and her goal is to “create safe spaces in my classroom where students will feel comfortable growing and learning.” Jill and her spouse of 37 years Lynn Wallace have two daughters Grace and Joy as well as son-in law, Ryan and granddaughter Janey. She is a member of Lake Jackson United Methodist in Tallahassee and her hobbies include piano, sewing, and facetiming her granddaughter. She finished commenting, “I’m excited to be at Graceville School!”

Yaritza Figueroa is another new face on campus but not to the area. She graduated from Cottondale High School and attended Chipola College where she earned her degree in Secondary Biology. She has been teaching for six months with her previous experience in sixth and seventh grade Science. Yartiza will be teaching Biology and Physical Science at Graceville School. In her spare time, she enjoys arts & crafts, writing, and videogames.

Donna Granberry is a graduate of Houston County High

School. She continued her education at Troy University where she earned degree in Early Childhood Education and Library Media Specialist. She has taught for 26 years as a Media Specialist and first grade teacher. She will be teaching first grade at Graceville School. Her goal for the year, she laughed is “to survive”. She and her husband have three married children and two grandchildren. She recently moved from Georgia and her hobbies include playing with her grandchildren.

Miranda Jordan is a new face many will recognize. Ms. Jordan is returning to Graceville after teaching several years at the school. She is a graduate of Malone High School and attended Chipola College where she earned her degree in Elementary Education. She has previous teaching experience in grade from PreK to third grade and will be teaching fourth grade English Language Arts and Social Studies this year. Her goal for the school year is to “help my students grow in their confidence and academic abilities”. She and her husband of 17 years, Adam, have two daughters, Chloe and Cara who both attend Graceville School. She is a member of Truth Church in Chipley and enjoys going to the beach, fishing, and reading a good book in the peace and quiet.

Amity Killmer is a graduate of Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Kansas. She continued her education at Pittsburg State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Technology. This will be her first-year teaching however she was a substitute teacher at Graceville School last year. She will be teaching both middle and high school. Amity and her husband Cody have two children Ezekiel and Lorelynn. In her spare time, she enjoys editing photos, creating in Illustrator, reading, and blogging.

Pam McCoy graduated from Houston County High in Columbia before continuing her education at Troy University where she earned a bachelor degree in English and History as well as her Masters in Learning Disabilities. She has been teach- ing for 35 years which include 10 years at Webb Elementary, 15 years at Rehobeth, 8 years at Malone and one and half years at Golsen. She will be teaching ESE K-12 and seventh and eighth grade English. She was awarded Teacher of the Year from Vocational Rehab in Dothan in 2008. She and her husband of 37 years Brett have two children Alaina and Blake. She is a member of Rehobeth Baptist and enjoy crocheting, traveling, and reading.

Jerri Moore graduated from Lincoln County High School before continuing her education at Eastern Kentucky University where she earned her Masters’ Degree. She has been teaching for 28 years with 27 years being at Lincoln County Middle School. She will be teaching sixth and seventh grade Social Studies. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, and fishing.

Andrew Newton graduated from Slocomb High School before continuing his education at the University of Alabama. He received his Bachelors’ degree in Physical Education. He has been employed in the education system for 11 years teaching at Slocomb Elementary, Geneva Middle School, and Houston County. He will be teaching K-5 ESE at Graceville. He and his wife Becca have one son, Austin. He is a member of the Christian Home Baptist Church and he loves to watch football. He has experience coaching football and softball and is also a bus driver for Graceville School.

David Smith is another new face on the Graceville campus. Mr. Smith is a graduate of Calhoun County Adult Education and continued his education at Chipola College. He is in his first year of teaching in public education noting that he had conducted various trainings in the military including Family Care Plans, Drill and Ceremony. He will be teaching English Language Arts and his goal is for the student to maintain a “B” average and score a Level 3 on testing. He and his wife, Samantha, have three boys – Jonathan, Gabriyl, and Christopher. He is a member of Rivertown Community Church in Marianna and enjoys fishing, music, and reading Fantasy novels. He finished commenting, “I look forward to working with my students this year to help them succeed.”

Arnold Lynn Wallace is another new face on campus. He is a graduate of Andress High School in El Paso, Texas and received his bachelors and masters’ degree from Pennsylvania State University. He has 32 years teaching experience and will be teaching English, Literature, and Creative Writing. He and his wife Jill have two children Sara Grace and Elynn Joy and he is a member of Lake Jackson United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. His hobbies include creative writing, working on a three-novel story, and Astronomy.

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