As told to JACKIE LAWSON, Gaither High

A 1991 Gaither High graduate celebrates her first graduating class as principal of the school.

My years at Gaither were filled with lots of activities. I was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, and I was in the DECA club, which is a fashion marketing club. Also, I was involved with the first co-ed service club at Gaither — Interact. The first couple of years, I participated in school sports, but then I got a job working at Marshall’s, which led me to be a part of the OJT (On-the-Job Training) program at the school.

When I graduated college, I started (teaching) at Jefferson High until 2001. Because of the seniority rule, I was to be transferred to another school. Gaither’s current principal Ken Adum hired me as a special education teacher. I was very excited to be working at Gaither. The saying goes, ‘‘once a cowboy, always a cowboy.’’ I later became the student intervention specialist. Then in ’04, I was transferred to Middleton to work as an assistant principal. In the summer of 2009, I received news that I would become Gaither’s new principal. This year is my first true graduating class as a principal.

Becoming a principal at the school I went to and taught at gave me a huge advantage. I knew (more than) 80 percent of the staff from the many years I spent with them. I was part of the community. I knew the feeder patterns, rules and regulations. It definitely helped with the transition from assistant principal to principal. But I still have lots to learn.

At Gaither, I learn something new every day.