By Audrey Lovell, Social Media Editor
The hallways of FFHS have changed recently with two new additions: a 6-foot-8 man towering over eager-to-learn students and a young woman ready to spread her knowledge.
“You can definitely find me walking around because I’m the big, huge, tall, bald guy,” said Brian Kennedy, First Flight’s new ESL teacher.
Before making his way to FFHS, Kennedy went through a long list of careers. He served in the military, lived in South Korea, was a wilderness EMT, drove semi trucks and taught elementary school.
“I feel I’m almost like a cat,” Kennedy said. “I’ve lived multiple lives.”
Kennedy first found his calling to teaching at an elementary school in Charlotte. After working for two and a half years there, his elementary school principal suggested he try another teaching career.
“He said, ‘Mr. Kennedy, based on all of your life experience and all those different things that you’ve done, we don’t want to get rid of you but you would probably be a better fit at a high school,’ ” Kennedy said.
His variety of life experiences has allowed Kennedy to give advice to and make connections with the new students he chats with during class, in the halls and at basketball games.
“I’ve got two two bachelors degrees and a masters, so obviously I value higher education,” Kennedy said. “But at the same time, I also know that you could take a six-week course in truck driving and be making really good money really quick.”
While Kennedy had to spend time getting adjusted to First Flight, another new addition at the semester break needed no introduction. Savannah Wallace made her return to First Flight as a teacher after graduating from here only five years prior. Wallace attended college at Appalachian State University, where she studied secondary education and history.
After replacing the retiring Karen Head, Wallace walks the halls as a staff member but recalls a time when her coworkers were her teachers.
“When I was in high school, I had this problem where I would always call them by their first names,” Wallace said. “Now, I have this problem of only calling them by their ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ title.”
At 23, Wallace has started her career by teaching students in World History and American History classes. Because of her age, Wallace is able to relate to her students in a multitude of ways.
“It’s a cool thing to be able to relate to them from a teacher perspective, but then also being a student here,” Wallace said. “I can be like, ‘I had Mr. Mount for my 10th-grade English, too.’ ”
Wallace also mentioned another way she is able to personally connect with her students. She knows and is friends with many of her current students’ older siblings. In that sense, she not only knows how her students are in school, but outside.
This recollection of common First Flight memories makes it easy for students to get to know these new faces. Both Kennedy and Wallace have the experience to relate to their students in many different ways, a quality that is crucial in teaching. It certainly helps make the transition to a new job easier.
“I’m happy here. I don’t plan to leave. Hashtag First Flight Forever!” Wallace said.
Senior Audrey Lovell can be reached at 23lovellau71@daretolearn.org.
