Pictured, from left, are new teachers, staff and administrators with Hartselle City Schools (front row) Elizabeth Cheatham, Kimberly Fowler, Charleston Parker, Stephanie Roden, Elizabeth Wiggs, Stephanie Sumners, Hailey Clark, Wendy Hembree, Tina Towers, (back row) Dr. Dee Dee Jones, Caroline Weems, Janice Storey, Connie Merrill, Kelley Spangler, Alyson Blackman, Jamie Dutton and Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson.| Randy Garrison

Hartselle City Schools welcomed 16 new teachers onboard during the New Teacher Orientation Tuesday, August 4.

Dr. Vic Wilson, superintendent of schools welcomed the new teachers during the orientation held at the central office. Other leaders of the system also versed the new teachers in other elements of Hartselle City Schools.

One of the new teachers will be entering her first teaching assignment when students return to class Wednesday. Elizabeth Wiggs, a 2015 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Elementary Education will be teaching third grade at F.E. Burleson. Wiggs a Houston, Miss. Native is in the process of buying a house for herself and her blue tick beagle.

When asked why she chose Hartselle, Wiggs responded “before the interview process I came to visit and felt such a positive vibe and that the people in Hartselle are happy and want to be here.” She mentioned that she also felt a similar felling of optimism that she felt in Auburn.

When asked why she wanted to teach, Wiggs responded that she has a love for learning and wants to share that with her students.

Stephanie Roden will be serving as the Library Media Specialist at Crestline. This will be Roden’s first year at HCS after serving one year with Limestone County Schools and 4 years with Decatur City Schools.

Roden had spent 6 years as a stay-at home mom to her children while her husband was deployed to Afghanistan. She has a B.S. in English Language Arts and a Master’s Degree in Library Media.

Roden lives in Hartselle and two of her children attend Crestline, with one in Pre-K and one in 4th grade. She also has a 20 month old. She has been volunteering at Crestline and hoping for the opportunity to apply for the position when it was open.

When asked why she applied to Hartselle, Roden answered “since my daughter attends Crestline I was able to see the comradery with teachers and the unique school system that you fall in love with.”

Roden and Wiggs along with the other teachers will welcome their new students Wed., Aug. 12 for the start of a new school year.

Dr. Vic Wilson addresses the group of new teachers who have joined the Hartselle City Schools Board of Education at orientation last week at the central office. Wilson highlighted his points of what is means to be an educator.| Randy Garrison