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Lisa Clark Inspirer, Encourager,

Supporter and Volunteer

Camden County High SchoolCCGPS Coordinate Algebra Teacher

I was born in Michigan. When visiting during our childhood, my siblings and I were teased unmercifully about our southern accents and misunderstanding of words like “pop” which is soda. As an adult visiting my grandmother, our streaming tears of laughter over communication blunders had my husband wondering into what kind of crazy family he’d married.

I’ve lived in Georgia for most of my life growing up in neighboring Charlton County and living in Camden County for the past 22 years. As a college student, I worked summers at Kings Bay Naval Base when it first welcomed submarines. My partner and I called ourselves corrosion control specialists. We cleaned rust from water pipes with wire brushes and repainted with brown Rust-Oleum. We got so far ahead of painters, you may still see evidence of our work in remote places on base!

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Freeland, Michigan is 115 miles northwest of Detroit. Until age five, I lived in the same farmhouse in which my mother grew up and where my favorite aunt and uncle have now lived for many years.

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My children both earned the opportunity to attend college in the Northeast. They have experienced the ups and downs of living away from home and emerging adulthood which has given me a broader perspective of the challenges this generation faces. I hope to be a source of encouragement to all of my students as they begin high school with the many adjustments it will require.

Fenway Park in Boston

Both 1000 miles from home, their schools are 2 ½ hours

apart and I love that they have developed a close adult

sibling relationship.

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As a leader and volunteer with 4-H, Girl Scouts, and the Interact Club chapter my daughter founded at CCHS, I assisted with medical supplies collection and blanket projects benefitting pediatric medical facilities in Uganda, Honduras and Nigeria. Students collected 60,000 medical items and made 250 blankets and pillows for children they would never meet but whose culture they came to know and appreciate through these outreach efforts.

I believe service learning greatly compliments academic learning and will energetically promote both in our classroom. Caring for others diminishes the power of social class, an ideal and belief I hope to nurture.

My son was born nine weeks premature and suffered a severe brain bleed resulting in mild cerebral palsy and non-congenital hydrocephalus. His prognosis was “some degree of retardation with learning disabilities at the very least,” words forever burned into my memory. He does have learning disabilities and other medical challenges, but he continues to work to overcome them. He requires support and encouragement, something from which all students benefit. I will look for the strengths and positive qualities in each student so that they can overcome and find success, as well.

I see all types of students who lack the encouragement and motivation to fulfill their potential. I was one of them until in college a financial aid officer handed me a lifeline. I want to be this for my students. I want to inspire them to believe in themselves. I want to convince them that, if developed into marketable skills, they possess the gifts and talents necessary for a good life. 5

I expect students to build each other up academically and emotionally, recognizing that each of us has gifts and talents.

Class Tenets Be respectful to others; think before you speak Be prepared for class: bring supplies, homework, &

pencils (no ink) Keep aisles clear Drinks in plastic bottles with caps are allowed; eating

and grooming in class are not Heads and doodling shall remain off desks Follow all school & district policies

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Consequences 1st offence: Warning, verbal or non-verbal as appropriate 2nd offence: Loss of privilege 3rd offence: Email or Phone call to parent/guardian

Procedures Sharpen pencils before class or use personal sharpener at

desk Utilize time wisely working from bell to bell Use non-verbal signals keeping classroom distractions

minimal Number and name in upper right corner of paper Turn in work at end of class Dispose of all trash at the end of class 7

Expect to have chest-level ID and dress-code-appropriate attire admired daily

Expect to be greeted warmly by name Expect to hear and use polite and appropriate language Expect encouragement, empathy, and compassion Expect to be valued as a person of significant worth Expect to play a little, teach some, and learn a lot Expect to discover new talents Expect to develop new skills Expect to set goals and experience success Expect to occasionally fail Expect to learn from success and failure equally Expect abundant praise and occasionally, candy Expect to make good friends Expect to be a good friend Expect each day to be filled with hope, hard work, and satisfaction 8

9The Clark Family: Hubert, Helen, Lisa and Hugh

I’m looking forward to getting to know you and your family.