Teacher of the Year 2014

Known for his comical personality, Kevin Barnard has won the Teacher of the Year award for the second time. Kevin Barnard, aka Beautiful Barnard, was born in Farmville, Virginia. He has taught at Paisley for twenty-eight years, teaching a variety of subjects related to science and math.  These have  included aerodynamics, robotics, algebra, and health. Mr. Barnard currently teaches ninth grade biology and tenth grade chemistry. He has a bachelor’s degree in science and biology with a teaching certificate. He also has a M.E.D. in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on technology.

Barnard says the favorite parts of his job are his students. To keep them engaged, he  enjoys being creative with his lessons. “I try to change things all the time to make it more interesting for the students.”  Barnard tries to break up the class groups so that he can teach the way that each student learns best. He says while some students need structured notes or powerpoints, others need to have picture or other visual to understand the concept fully.

When asked about how he feels about winning this award, he said “It is nice to be honored and recognized by faculty.”  He has won Teacher of the Year previously while he was at Paisley.

2014 Teacher of the Year

Paisley’s 2014 teacher of the year, Kevin Barnard, teaches biology and chemistry to his high school students. Barnard has taught at Paisley for almost 30 years.

Ms. Josephine Monaghan – Student Services

Ms. Josephine Monaghan is the new guidance counselor clerk for Paisley IB Magnet School. Before joining the Paisley IB staff, Ms. Monaghan was a teacher at several elementary schools across the county. She has taught at Whitaker Elementary, Clemmons Elementary, and Old Town Elementary, just to name a few.

Monaghan started her career as an accountant in New York City. There she received her undergraduate degree in accounting. While in school, she held a job at an accounting firm in the World Trade Center. After getting married, Monaghan faced her first career change. She remained in New York, but wanted a slower-paced career to better raise a family and fulfill her dream of working with children. In July of 1996, she received a master’s degree in elementary education. A few weeks later, she gave birth to her first child, Elizabeth.

Monaghan worked as a teacher in New York City for several years. On September 11, 2001, like most adult Americans, her life changed dramatically. She had just started teaching at a new school with new students when she received word that they were “under attack.” She remembers vividly that she was very much shocked and that it felt so unreal. Her first thought was that she did not know her students well enough to know who the parents were that were taking them out so rapidly. That situation made her extremely uncomfortable. So, after much researching and planning, her family decided to move to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The environment was very unfamiliar and different, but she quickly adapted. She continued her passion of teaching and working with children in Forsyth County. Here, she taught and substituted at several schools including the Children’s Center. She continued raising her family and spending as much time with them as possible.

Her third career change is working at Paisley as a guidance counselor clerk. She chose this job to return to having an office job as she did with accounting, to still work with children as she loved to do, and mostly to spend time with her son, William. Her daughter now attends the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on a full scholarship studying Environmental Science. Despite working in an office, Monaghan still tutors children, kindergarten through eighth grade.

Story and Picture by: Kamille Graham

A Bumpy Road for Panther Soccer

Despite the Jefferson Patriot’s explosive start in Thursday’s home match, the Paisley Panthers boys soccer team returned from half time break ready to compete.

The Jefferson Patriots scored a flurry of goals early in the match, something from which the Panthers were unable to recover. The final score was 5-0.

Coach Hatling commended the Panthers who, she said, gave it their all firing off many shots on goal and playing very intense defense. Despite the Panthers second wind the Patriots managed to score in the thirty-seventh minute which sealed the Panthers fate. However, Jefferson did not relinquish their pressure, scoring again in the forty-fifth minute.

The Paisley boys soccer team fell to 0-3 on the year.

The first half of the match was dominated by the Patriots as their offense proceeded to score three goals in the half. They scored a fast goal in the eighth minute, which they followed up with a twentieth minute goal. The Patriots put a lasting impression on the half, scoring in the thirtieth and final minute of the half.

The Panthers next play at the Wiley Wolverines Tuesday, September 30, 2014

By Tony Hardy Pictures by Jasmine Robinson

Katie Welborn-Year One Math

Ms. Katie Welborn, Year One math teacher, is really enjoying her year at Paisley. This is her first year teaching, ever. Welborn was born and raised in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and graduated from Appalachian State University in June 2014.

She accepted Dr. Cone’s offer to teach at Paisley because she enjoyed her interview.

“Paisley felt welcoming,” she said. Welborn says she has a passion for math in particular so when she heard the math position was open she was happy to fill the spot. She enjoys teaching which is what attracted her to education, especially mathematics. Welborn also Plans to be a full time teacher at Paisley.

Welborn hikes for fun. She also enjoys baking cakes, pies, and cupcakes. Recently, she baked a cheese cake for her mother’s birthday. Welborn also likes to knit in her free time.

Welborn loves her job at Paisley. She has fun with her fellow teachers as well as the students.  With the students she tries to plan fun activities and investigations and sometimes they even involve candy. Sometimes Welborn and her teammates and teacher friends debrief and go out to eat on Fridays. She is really happy with her math position and is looking forward to a great year.

Article and pictures by: Lilly Brendle

Alecia Johnson

Ms. Alecia Johnson is Paisley’s new young math study skills teacher. She was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Johnson recently graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she majored in mathematics. Johnson teaches years I through III math study skills and works as a full-time teacher.
Johnson  decided to teach at Paisley because of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP). She is fascinated by the way the IB program incorporates people with different ideas and cultural backgrounds with the goal of creating a learning environment that aims to create a better world through education.
Johnson applied to work in the Winston-Salem Forsyth county school district in late June. After Dr. Cone called to tell her that a math study skills position was open, she came in the following day for a job interview and got the job.
She is passionate about math education because it applies to the real world. Johnson has offered up her passion and love for math to assist students in years IV and V with the IB Personal Project requirement Johnson understands how difficult it can be to work through projects like the IB Personal Project.

Johnson’s remembers the tough time she had delving into projects in school when she did not always have help. Her experience involved building affordable housing communities, driving her to help all students.In her spare time Johnson enjoys running, cooking and playing the trombone.

For students who need math assistance, Johnson is available before and after school on most days in room 99. Please contact her if she can assist you.

Article and picture by Venay Wilkins

Jennifer Garcia Joins Paisley Spanish

Ms. Jennifer Garcia is the new high school Spanish teacher at Paisley. Ms. Garcia was born in Winston-Salem, but has also lived in Virginia. Prior to teaching at Paisley, Garcia taught at Rural Hall ES, North Hills ES, Gibson ES, Southeast Middle, West Forsyth High. Garcia also taught at a Spanish immersion school in Fairfax County, Virginia. This is Garcia’s first position in an IB school.
She currently teaches in rooms 110 and 104 for the first two periods of the day, from 8:00a.m. to 9:50 a.m. daily, and then drives to Clemmons Middle. Garcia has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Garcia has a passion for teaching Spanish. She reports, “I enjoy anything to do with the Spanish language and culture”.
Outside of teaching, Garcia enjoys participating in group fitness classes such as Zumba and Pilates. Garcia also enjoys learning about art history: “I love anything creative”, she says. When she is at home, Garcia loves to watch cartoons with her three year-old daughter, Sophie.

By Katherine Pesce

Boys Soccer Season Opener

In last night’s season and home opener, the Paisley boys soccer team fell to Walkertown 2-0. Early on in the match, Walkertown scored off a free kick giving them an early advantage the Wolfpack never relinquished.

The Panthers applied offensive and defensive pressure on Walkertown throughout the match, according to Coach Maggie Hatling. Paisley players were continuously able to get shots off and keep possession of the ball in the attacking side of the pitch.

Despite many corner kicks and free kicks in the offensive half of the pitch, the Panthers could not put the ball in the back of the net. Later in the match the Wolfpack sealed the Panthers’ fate with a volley that found the back of the net, making it 2-0.

Coach Hatling said even though Paisley lost the individual team members created a good performance and are showing promise for the rest of the season she hopes they realize later in the season.

The soccer program as with all the district’s middle school inter-school competitions alternate between home and away matches. The Panthers next play on the road against East Forsyth Middle School.

Article by Adam Dreyfuss, Photo by Tony Hardy