Black History Month at CCHS
Stories by Journalism I students, package by
Anna ShaikunClarke Central High School science department co-chair Valinda Miller displays a biology textbook in Room 347 on Feb. 8. An alumna of Claflin University in South Carolina, Miller felt that going to a historically Black university was a positive experience that impacted how she teaches today. “It's the four years that you have in an institution where you are not the minority, where you don't have to join an affinity group. You're surrounded by positivity. You're surrounded by culture. You're surrounded by people that are pushing you to do your best,” Miller said. “So I demand excellence. I'm not one of those teachers that is just going to give you a grade.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Lea D’Angelo.
Clarke Central High School fine arts department teacher Dr. Anthony Rucker sits on the Mell Auditorium stage on Feb 7. Rucker has taught at CCHS for 37 years, and founded the piano program in 1987 after years of personal experience. "My mother started me on piano at a very young age, about 6 or 7 years old. During that time, my cousin played for church. It was a very small country Baptist church that she played for,” Rucker said. “When she went to college, I was one of the only ones (left) that was taking piano lessons and so eventually started playing for the church in my teen years. I've been playing for church since about 15, 16 years old.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Iliana Tejada and Isabella Westrich
United States Army Sergeant First Class
Ken Washington, a JROTC Army Instructor, stands in the JROTC Building at Clarke Central High School on Feb. 1. Washington served in the Army for 20 years before becoming involved with JROTC, and has continued to be an influence in that field. “I wanted to do something to help children, to be a positive role model. This was the best thing for me when I got out of the Army,” Washington said. “(My favorite part of JROTC is) making an impact on the students, a daily impact. When you become an instructor, you become a counselor, a friend, a professional, everything a student needs. I think that's important.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Isabella Gresham
Henderson
Stadium on Feb. 5. Dawson has been a coach at Clarke Central High School for three years and has enjoyed working with students to help them find their own success in the program. “I think success ultimately comes down to doing what you set out to do in your life. I don't think it's an amount of money or accomplishment, but I think it's a feeling inside. Being able to have peace every day, I think that's a success,” Dawson said.
Varsity football Defensive Coordinator Joshua Dawson stands in Billy Photo and story by Ammanuel ArnoldUniversity of Georgia Director of Curriculum Innovation Dr. Zoe Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker, sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center Courtyard on Feb. 7. As a social worker, Johnson has worked to amplify overlooked voices by offering a safe place for them to share their stories. “It’s important for me to support folks that are in marginalized communities (when) there's not a lot of space for their stories or their experiences,” Johnson said. “It's really great for me to be able to do that work specifically with, for, and on (the) behalf of black and brown folks. I'm very clear on making sure folks feel seen, heard, and (have) their experiences affirmed.” Photos by Aza Khan, story by Carolyn Griffeth
Rick Dunn, the Executive Director and founder of the Athens Clarke County High School Completion Initiative, sits in the radio studio of Education Matters, a youth-run radio show, on Feb. 8, 2022. Dunn started the HSCI in 2007 and Education Matters in 2010 as a way to increase graduation rates by giving students a place to grow, and has enjoyed watching that development over the years. “It's like (being) a proud father or proud grandfather to see your kids just blossom and grow,” Dunn said. “I ask the students, ‘What is it that you want to do?’, and then help them go (in) the direction that they want to go in. So if they want to go to college, then we work on college, (or) if they want to join the military, then we work on that, (and if) they just want to get a job, then we work on that.”
Photo by Lucas Donnelly, story by Lea D’AngeloFormer Clarke County School District educator Fannie Smith sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Feb. 2. As a teenager in Athens during the Civil Rights Movement, Smith felt that she had a duty to attend Athens High School during the early stages of integration in 1965-68. “It was an interesting time, right after the death of Kennedy, (in) the ’60s, (because of) the war and all the civil rights struggle. It was your current events, it wasn't something historical,” Smith said. “I spent my time (attending) all the (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) meetings. I felt going to the meeting was part of what I do. When I was told I was going (to AHS), that's (why) I went. But it was scary. Not because of fear of my life, but being in an environment that you didn't feel comfortable in.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Emlyn McKinney
Clarke Central High School fine arts department teacher and Director of Bands Christopher Simpson plays the trumpet in Room 630 on Feb. 7. Simpson has taught at CCHS since 2018, and has coached dozens of students to succeed in prestigious music competitions like All-State Band. “I'm the type of person where I'm going to celebrate you and then I'm going to say, ‘Now you go, now you need to go do the next thing,’” Simpson said. “I’m always pushing them to not be complacent with what they've accomplished, but (to think of) the next goal that we're trying to get done.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Emlyn McKinney and Anna Shaikun
Clarke County Magistrate Judge Donarell R. Green, a Clarke Central High School Class of 1989 alumnus, sits outside CCHS on Jan. 30. Green was a lawyer for roughly 22 years before he became a magistrate judge on Sep. 8, 2020. “There's nothing that you can do with this life that you are given (that is) more significant than helping someone when they are in a time of great need,” Green said. “(With) the things that you can do as a judge, and there’s a lot that you can do, (it) just feels good to be of service.”
Photo by Aza Khan, story by Mzée Pavlić
Science department teacher
Sophia Campbell stands next to a whiteboard displaying biology concepts in Room 349 on Feb. 5. Campbell has been a teacher for five years and has put a focus on building relationships with her students. “I love it. I love my kids. I adopt them once they're my students. They're mine, even to the point where my students bring their friends, so kids that I don't even teach are mine, as well,” Campbell said. “I love the connections. I love being able to make a difference, being a mentor, sometimes just being that person to share things with or giving an outside opinion.”
Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Liza LarsonRetired Clarke Central High School educator and Athens High School Assistant Principal Walter Allen, Sr. sits in E. B. Mell Lobby on Feb. 8. Allen served as Assistant Principal for two years before AHS and Burney Harris Lyons High School integrated to form CCHS in 1970. “The system didn't do a good job of getting people ready for integration. I have never seen the kids not get along. It was the adults who started all the crap all the time. The ole die-hards, (who said) ‘We’re not having any integration during our time,’" Allen said. “It could have been a beautiful transition, but it was an ugly transition because people told themselves, ‘We don't want that’ (and) ‘We're not ready for that.’” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Liza Larson
University of Georgia Class of 1974 alumnus Clarence Alfonza Pope stands in front of “The First Five: Georgia Honoring Football Trailblazers” monument outside UGA’s Stanford Stadium on Feb. 10. Pope was a member of The Five, the first Black football players to integrate the UGA football team in 1971, where he learned how to deal with hardship. “My hope is that (Black youth) individually and collectively begin to understand that there is a future so that they can prepare for it.
It's so important that when you're young (that) you're able to enjoy yourself and have fun, but always know that there's a purpose for your life,” Pope said. “If you're not preparing for (adverse) situations that will come, how are you going to deal with it? I think some of the (issues) that are happening now are (because) people are moving and reacting emotionally instead of having a foundational base of solving problems.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Jovi Grantham
Dawg Gone Good BBQ owner and chef William Hardy sits in his restaurant at 224 W Hancock Ave. on Feb 12. Hardy owned a salon for 15 years before he reinvented the location as a restaurant in 2009. “If you're going to be successful, you're going to have to minus your distractions. You're gonna have to know what your distractions are, and (knowing) you can't have everything you want. You're gonna have to sacrifice, (and) pay the price to be the boss,” Hardy said. “If you're pursuing it for money, (you're) already behind the eight ball. It better be a love and a passion in it.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story
by Iliana Tejada
Dr. Jamie Johnson-Huff, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Piedmont University sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center Courtyard on Feb. 8. After joining Piedmont University in 2007 as Assistant Professor of Nursing, Johnson-Huff became the first African American Dean at Piedmont University in May 2023. “My daily job is supervising other faculty members and staff members and mentoring students, as we run the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program,” Johnson-Huff said. “This job is very important to me because it helps us to develop nurses (as we) have a national shortage of nurses, and definitely (a shortage) in the Athens community. I take it personally because one thing about health care, everyone will have some type of experience in the hospital one day, and so I want to develop nurses.”
Photo by Aza Khan, story by Aza Khan and Sylvia Robinson
Dr. Leah Lowman, an obstetrician-gynecologist
at the Women’s Healthcare Associates, stands in front of the signage at 355 Hawthorne Lane on Feb. 12. Lowman has been a physician for 30 years and has worked to mentor Black medical students on what can be achieved in the healthcare field. “(I) try to do mentoring to be a face in the community so (Black youth) can see that it's possible to become a physician,” Lowman said. “If you see somebody that is like you (succeeding), then you have more of a feeling like, ‘I can do that, too.’” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Andréas Dillies
Timothy Road Elementary School Early Intervention Teacher and Family Engagement Specialist Kisha Bailey stands by the TRES sign on Feb. 8. Throughout her 24 years of teaching, Bailey introduced several extracurricular and co-curricular programs to TRES, such as yearbook and the Black History Month Program.
“Having taught for so long, I have seen hundreds of students matriculate through school and have successful careers. Having been a part of their path is very rewarding,” Bailey said. “Being able to bring enrichment things (to the school) led me to being the Family Engagement Specialist, which I love doing because it brings community resources to the school and opens up all kinds of possibilities.”
Photo by Aza Khan, story by Isabella GreshamClarke Central High School registrar
Armendy Harris-Reid sits in her office in the Administrative Suite on March 8. As registrar at CCHS for five years, Harris-Reid has interacted with students and provided mentorship. “(I) check in with them to see if they're on track for graduation. The first question I usually ask is, ‘What are the plans for after graduation,’” Harris-Reid said. “I've seen students that have left, and now (are) either (in) school or in the workforce, and I see the level that changed from when they were here. The maturity kicks in once they go across the stage.” Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Andréas Dillies
Nena Gilreath, the Facility and Program Supervisor of East Athens Educational Dance Center, leads a class at EAEDC on Feb. 1. Gilreath trained as a professional ballerina and founded the Black-centered ballet company Ballethnic in Atlanta before working at EAEDC, and has continued to value expression through dance. “When you move, it allows you to feel better because you're moving in space and you're with your friends and your peers,” Gilreath said. “Anytime you're moving and expressing joy, that's helpful. When the students sometimes come from school and they've had a bad day, or they've had something go on at home, we always tell them to leave their stress outside the door and come into a safe space where they can really be expressive, and not worry about the things that they came in worrying about.” Photo by Aza Khan, story by Brandon Frazier and Anna Shaikun
Clarke Central High School AssistantPrincipal Terry Liggin stands outside the CCHS Ceremonial Entrance on Feb. 6. Liggin has worked at CCHS since the start of the 2023-24 school year, and in that time, he has helped guide young adults in thinking about their future. “I approach young people like they're grown, and I speak to them like that. I think there is a level of respect that happens (in) the conversations that I have. I tell kids all the time, ’You have a lot of choices when you enter high school, but the educational process is a long-game process,’” Liggin said. “’If you want to reap the benefits, (you’ve) got to go four years of high school, then usually (two to fours years) of something (else). And then (you’ve) got to get a little experience depending on what field you dive into to make the money you want to.’ That's a long process for kids.”
Photos by Aza Khan, story by Mzée Pavlić
Longtime educator and retired Coile Middle School Principal Dr. Marsha P. Thomas sits in the Clarke Central High School Courtyard on Jan. 31. According to Thomas, one step in the path to Black Excellence is to provide students with enrichment opportunities. “They need somebody (to) imitate, they need somebody that's willing to expose them to what success looks like,” Thomas said. “I'm exposing you to college life. I'm exposing you to a UGA game to see students interacting. I'm exposing you to a civil organization where young people thrive, whether it's Upward Bound or UGA summer programs I would send my kids to. It's exposure, and the mentor would do that. Yeah, going to the ballgame is nice, but what about going to a museum? What about going to a historical landmark to make you more knowledgeable and grateful about what you had?”
Photo by Izzy Duncan, story by Jovi GranthamRashe Malcolm, owner of Jamaican restaurant Rashe’s Cuisine, stands beside her food truck on Feb. 6. A local business owner known for her community service, Malcolm has drawn inspiration from her own family as role models during Black History Month.“I grew up seeing things within my own family, within my own community, that I learned from and didn't even realize,” Malcolm said. “All my (family), they all have their own things they want to do. A lot of (people) came to work with me because they wanted to start their own business. I taught them the business, they learned some things and then they moved on.”
Photo by Lucas Donnelly, story by Lydia Rowell and Isabella Westrich
Clarke Central High School Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education department teacher Jaclyn Brown holds a poster for CCHS Black History Month Spirit Wear in the Foreign Language Hall breezeway on Feb. 2. Brown has brought awareness to the importance of Black History Month by organizing the annual CCHS BHM program for the past two years. “(Lack of education) is really not (the students’) fault because we're not teaching (Black history) at school. There's no excuse,” Brown said. “There's nowhere we're actually helping expose (it to) them. We should learn all history, not just different pieces of it. We can't pick and choose like we're just gonna learn addition, we're not going to have subtraction. So we need to learn by everybody because we're allinclusive, and America is inclusive of everybody from everywhere.”
Photo by Aza Khan, story by Sylvia Robinson