By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
Escambia County Middle School has several new teachers this year. Actually, a couple of them are new and not new at the same time.
Returning to school this year is a bitter-sweet experience for Shiren McGlothren. She took a year-long leave of absence to care for her ailing father. He has since passed away.
In her second year at ECMS, she is teaching seventh and eighth grade science. She taught for three years at Huxford Elementary School before going to the middle school. She has been in education for 13 years.
Vicki Corey teaches fifth grade math and sixth grade reading. This is her first teaching position though she has worked with kids for 15 years. That job convinced her to become a teacher.
Corey took the initiative and got her master's degree. She said she hopes to influence her students, perhaps to keep some from getting into the system she left behind.
A previous resident of Atmore, Corey moved back five years ago.
Cathy Tims, who was an aide for 11 years, said she always wanted to be a teacher and decided to go back to school and fulfill that dream. But she has found that the two positions are vastly different.
Daunting though it may be, Tims said she's glad to be in this position.
Tims teaches seventh and eighth grade math and a reading class. The hardest part of the job is learning all the students' names.
And the best part?
Adrian Johnson is in her first year teaching. She teaches fifth and sixth grade science.
Teaching didn't hold any surprises for her as far as students are concerned. She has worked with children in summer programs in Brewton. But there are other surprises.
Johnson said she hopes to make a difference in her students' lives.
ECMS has three more new teachers and a new librarian. They will be featured in an upcoming edition of The Advance.