Forsyth Central High School
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Academy
2011-2012 Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
WELCOME STEM STUDENTS & PARENTS—MR. RUDY HAMPTON
We are very excited at Central as we embark on the inaugural year for the STEM Academy. Our STEM teachers have
been working all summer designing lessons and initiatives that will challenge, inspire, and motivate your child. FCS
Facility Department has done a remarkable job this summer with the science labs and Engineering renovations.
Students will have state of the art facilities and equipment to work with in all of their STEM classes. We are in the
process of finalizing a date for an open house for parents and students. As soon as the details are complete we will
contact you for a tour of the STEM Academy, classrooms, labs, etc. Included in the first edition of the newsletter is a
biography of all of our STEM teachers this year. They are all dedicated professionals and each brings a unique
perspective to the academy. I hope your son or daughter has a great year in the STEM Academy.
DAWN DIRST
I am Dawn Dirst and I am the Mathematics Department Chair and will be starting my
twenty-sixth year at Forsyth Central High School teaching AP Calculus AB and AP
Calculus AB/BC this year as part of the STEM Academy. After graduating from Forsyth
County High School in 1983, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics
Education from North Georgia College & State University and started my teaching
career at Forsyth Central High School in 1986. During that time, I earned my Master’s
degree in Mathematics Education from NGCSU (1993), and a Specialist’s Degree in
Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University (2001). I am certified to
teach secondary Mathematics Education, hold additional certification to teach gifted
students, and College Board authorization to teach AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus AB/BC,
and AP Statistics. I was honored as our school’s STAR Teacher and Teacher of the Year
in 2004. I am excited and privileged to be a part of this innovative work, because I
think the STEM Academy offers the piece of education that has been needed by many of
the students at Forsyth Central High School for years. The academic rigor and challenge that will come through the
STEM Academy will benefit our students who are interested in the Biotechnology and Engineering fields that we
haven’t been able to offer in the past. The "buzz" about this program over the past six months has been
tremendous, and we are expecting to continue our tradition of excellence at Forsyth Central High School through
the STEM Academy.
JESSICA EASLEY
My name is Jessica Easley, and I will be teaching Physical Science and Honors Biology
classes in the STEM Academy. I am honored that I can return to teach at my alma
mater this year, having graduated from Forsyth Central High School in 2007. I recently
graduated from North Georgia College & State University, earning a Bachelor of Science
degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics. I am currently certified to teach
Secondary Science Education in grades 7-12. I am also working on my Masters of Arts
and Teaching through North Georgia College & State University, and will complete the
program in May 2012. I am excited to begin my teaching career as part of the STEM
Academy at Forsyth Central High School, and look forward to working closely with
Kelli Schuyler, Bill Schuyler, Dawn Dirst, and Keith Martin--all of whom I am joining as
a teaching colleague in the STEM Academy, and from whom I learned so much during
my time at FCHS as a student. I know first-hand that my preparation and experiences at
Forsyth Central High School contributed greatly to my success in college, and that is the very reason that I look
forward to being part of the STEM Academy. I believe that the academic rigor, hands-on elements, and integrative
aspect of the STEM Academy will excite and engage our students. I look forward to watching my students pursue
excellence and achieve their full potential through our work together.
KEITH MARTIN
I am Keith Martin and I will be teaching Math 1, Math 3 and Accelerated Math 3 this
year, including Accelerated Math 1 and Accelerated Math 3 classes in the STEM
Academy. After graduating from Forsyth County High School in 1978, I received my Ph.
D. in Engineering from Clemson University (1991), in Agricultural and Biological
Engineering with a minor in Environmental Systems Engineering, M. S. (1984) and B. S.
(1982) in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia and A. S. from Young
Harris College (1980). My certifications and awards include; E.I.T. (GA), 6-12
Mathematics (GA), gifted endorsement and AP Calculus AB (pending final audit) and
Engineer of the Year in Education, Georgia Society of Professional Engineering (1995).
My engineering-related work experience includes; mechanical engineering assistant,
Conwed Plastics, Athens, GA (1984), Instructor of Engineering, University of Georgia
(1984-1987), Associate Professor and Coordinator of Engineering Studies, Armstrong
Atlantic State University (1992-1999), Assistant Dean of Academic Off-Campus
Programs, Armstrong Atlantic State University (1999-2001) and Math teacher, FCHS (2001- present). I see the
STEM Academy as an important incubator for 21st Century problem-solvers in Forsyth County Schools and in the
State of Georgia. It is my privilege to serve the students, my alma mater, and engineering education by being a part
of Forsyth County’s STEM Academy.
JONATHAN LUCAS ROOF
My name is Jonathan Lucas Roof, and I am a mathematics teacher at FCHS. This year, I
will be teaching Accelerated Math 2 and Math 4, including Accelerated Math 2 in the
STEM Academy. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education from the
University of Georgia in 2004. While completing my undergraduate studies at UGA, I
was a finalist for the Hooten Award--an award given to the most outstanding student
teacher within the Mathematics Education Department. In 2006, I received a Master’s
Degree in Educational Psychology and Gifted Education from the University of Georgia.
I am currently working toward obtaining a Specialist’s Degree (Ed.S) in Curriculum,
Instruction, and Professional Development at Walden University. I began my teaching
career at FCHS in 2006, and look forward to starting my sixth year teaching
mathematics this year. During my teaching career, I have taught Geometry, Algebra 2,
Math 2, Accelerated Math 2, and Math 3. I was privileged to be named FCHS’s STAR
Teacher for the 2009 – 2010 school year. In addition to my work in the classroom, I
have been the Varsity Boys’ Tennis head coach at FCHS since 2007, served as assistant coach with the FCHS Cross
Country team from 2006-2009, and assistant coach with FCHS Track & Field in 2006-2007. I am extremely
honored and excited to be part of the STEM Academy because it will provide our students with a highly rigorous,
relevant curriculum that effectively connects mathematics to the sciences, engineering, and technology. I am also
honored and excited to be part of the STEM Academy because it will provide me with a professional learning
community that will allow me to improve as a teacher.
BILL SCHUYLER
My name is Bill Schuyler, and this year I will be teaching courses in AP Biology,
Anatomy & Physiology, and Biotechnology/Healthcare Science as part of the STEM
Academy. I graduated from Auburn University in 1989 with a Bachelor’s degree in
Biology and a minor in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, I worked at Emory
University and the VA Medical Center as a Research Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine,
as well as being the OSHA Safety and Radiation Safety Coordinator for the Research
Department. In conjunction with the Lead Medical Research Doctor, I have published
papers in Medical Journals such as American Journal of Medical Science and American
Journal of Respiratory Cell Molecular Biology. In 2000, I graduated from Georgia State
University with a Master’s Degree in Science Education and started my teaching career
at Forsyth Central High School. During the last eleven years, I have been honored as
the Forsyth Central High School Teacher of the Year (2003), the Georgia Science
Teacher of the Year (2004), and this year I have been recognized as the Outstanding
Biology Teacher for Georgia (2011). I have worked with the College Board as a national AP Biology exam grader,
and have served as a member of the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) Interview Board for Science at the school,
county, and state levels. In addition to my work in the classroom, I am the coach of the Forsyth Central High
School’s Equestrian and Science Olympiad teams, as well as a sponsor for the National Honor Society. My goal for
teaching courses in the STEM Academy is two-fold: (1) to bring relevant, research-based, hands on science into the
classroom, and (2) to teach rigorous courses developing critical thinking skills and actual science lab experiences
so that our students are more successful in pursuing their dreams in science, technology, engineering, and mathrelated fields.
KELLI SCHUYLER
My name is Kelli Schuyler, and I will be teaching Research I, Honors Chemistry and AP
Chemistry this year as part of the STEM Academy at Forsyth Central High School. I
completed my undergraduate work in Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Auburn
University. I spent eight years in the field of pulmonary research running a research
program at the Colorado Health Science Center, Emory University, the VA Medical
Center and special projects in conjunction with the CDC and Grady Hospital. As part of
research teams, I published work in scientific journals and presented at various
professional conferences like the American Thoracic Society. In 1998, I decided to
change careers to teach high school science, and earned a Master of Science Education
at Georgia State University. I am certified broad field science/ gifted endorsed grades 7
through 12. I have had the privilege to work as the science department chairperson at
FCHS since 2000, and have worked for the last five years with the College Board as a
national AP Chemistry exam grader. During my teaching career, I have been honored as Forsyth Central High
School’s STAR teacher in 2001 & 2003, Forsyth Central High School’s Teacher of the Year (2001), Georgia
Outstanding Educator Award (2002), Nobel Educator of Distinction )2004), Georgia District II Science Teacher of
the Year (2005), and the recipient of the 2005 Milken National Educator Award. In addition to my work in the
classroom at Forsyth Central High School, I have served as the coach of the FCHS Science Olympiad & Equestrian
teams, sponsor for the National Honor Society, coordinator of the Regional Science Fair, and our school’s teacher
representative on the Local School Council (LSC). I am very excited to be part of the development of the STEM
Academy at Forsyth Central High School, because it is my desire to bring real world science to the classroom and
encourage students, particularly girls, to excel in the field of science. Since starting at Central, it has been my dream
to someday to be part of the creation of a program like the STEM Academy, for the purpose of giving Forsyth
County’s students a unique foundation for excelling in science, technology, engineering, and math-related fields. As
a teacher in the STEM Academy, my goal is to develop students who can think critically and solve complex dynamic
real world problems. I hope to ignite, excite and prepare our students for majors and careers in the high-demand
fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
SCOTT WALKER
I am Scott Walker, and I am excited to begin my first year teaching at Forsyth Central
High School in the Engineering Program of the STEM Academy. I will begin my twentyfourth year of teaching by working with our students in the Foundations of
Engineering course. In 1984, I graduated from Shepherd University with a Bachelor of
Arts in Social Studies, and later earned a Master’s Degree in Pre-Engineering from R.I.T.
(2004). I hold certifications to teach both Technology and Social Studies. Prior to my
work at FCHS, I spent the last eleven years as the Master Engineering teacher in Polk
County, Florida. I am proud of the career I built teaching and coaching high school
students over the past quarter century, including being honored as the 1998-99
Teacher of the Year at Durant High School, located in Plant City, Florida (east of Tampa
in Hillsborough County). In addition to my classroom teaching, I served as the head
coach of three different varsity football programs, and I am excited to be working with
the football coaching staff at Forsyth Central High School this year. I am extremely
proud and excited to be a part of the first STEM Academy in Forsyth County Schools and in the State of Georgia. The
students enrolled in our STEM Academy curriculum will complete a rigorous course of study that has real world
application, and will prepare them for the opportunities that await them in a world increasingly driven by
advances in science, technology, engineering, and math-related fields.