Welcoming Fresh Faces

By Adyson Rackley, Contributing Writer

The Centralia School District welcomes new staff to Centralia High School(CHS) to inspire academic excellence and crisp curiosity.

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 The new teachers’ enthusiasm and fresh perspectives will be a great addition to CHS. 

High school is the turning point in students’ lives, and new teachers play a crucial role in shaping their academic and personal development. CHS welcomed three new teachers this year. Mr. Ethan Buckman, World History and Advanced Placement Psychology instructor, Ms. Hannah Gates, Language Arts III and IV educator and Mrs. Kendra Smith, Agricultural Education instructor and FFA Advisor.

Although Mr. Buckman is new to CHS, he is not new to the district. Buckman’s previous position was at Chester Boren Middle School as an eighth grade Social Studies teacher. He also has prior experience as a football coach at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, MO. Buckman is continuing his coaching career at CHS as an assistant coach for the CHS football team. Mr. Buckman started teaching in Monroe City, MO in 2020, but when queried about why he wanted to become a part of the Centralia School District, he stated “I wanted to teach at a place that felt like home. Centralia is that place.”

As a first year teacher, Ms. Gates is flowing with enthusiasm, excitement and knowledge for her Language Arts students. Her upbeat and positive attitude keeps her student’s inspired. Ms. Gates is quickly becoming a beloved figure in the classroom. 

Mrs. Smith returned to her alma mater, CHS, to follow in the footsteps of her past agricultural teacher who gave her the passion for teaching. She is also a FFA sponsor for the high school. When posed a question about why she wanted to be a teacher, she responded with, “I love agriculture and I wanted to do something challenging as a career.”

These mentors were chosen for their inspiring attitudes, passion for teaching and commitment for student success. Their energy and eagerness provides great opportunities for CHS students.