Heard County Elementary School Welcomes Six New Teachers
Heard County Elementary School added six new teachers for the upcoming school year. These teachers include Abby Barintine (PreK), Nikki Barnes (1st), Kandice Cook (5th-ELA), Caroline Daniels (Art), Heather Jones (2nd), and Makayla Red (3rd-Reading and ELA). “We have been so fortunate that so many quality candidates want to teach in Heard County,” claimed Heard County Elementary School Principal Kim Tisdale. “I believe the six teachers we added are superbly talented and they each truly love our students.”
A graduate of LaGrange College, Barintine will be in her first year as a classroom teacher. “I chose Heard County because I love the close community feel and the excitement for education,” shared Barintine. “I share their values of having a strong positive relationship with my students and their families.” Barintine is excited about the upcoming school year and can’t wait to meet her PreK students.
Barnes, a longtime Heard County resident, has a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia and completed her Masters in Elementary Education at Grand Canyon University. A 2000 graduate from Heard County Schools herself, Barnes is excited to teach in the community where she grew up. “I love Heard County,” exclaimed Barnes. “We are blessed with a wonderful school system, administration, and I am so excited to work with the incredible teachers here.”
Cook, who has been teaching for nine years at Hillside Montessori in LaGrange, attended Oglethorpe University, LaGrange College, and Liberty University. “I chose Heard County because when I moved here a year and a half ago, I was amazed at how active the school system was in the community, and vice versa,” stated Cook. “My children began attending last year, and not only did they receive a wonderful education, but the relationships that were built at the elementary school were so impactful for my own children.”
Daniels will be teaching art at not only HCES, but also at Centralhatchee Elementary, and Ephesus Elementary. She is beginning her fourth year as an educator after graduating from the University of West Georgia, and chose to make the move to Heard County “because I wanted to be in a close knit school system.”
After teaching fifteen years in Troup County, Jones is making the move to Heard County. “Over the years, I have heard many personal and professional testimonies that portrayed Heard County Schools as putting their students first as well as being one big family,” said Jones. “It was my desire to be a part of a system that advocated for children and did whatever it took to ensure they had the best learning experience possible, as well as to be a part of a professional community committed to growing and serving in whatever ways necessary to create this experience for students.” Jones has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from LaGrange College. Additionally, Jones has earned a Specialist Degree in Media Technology from the University of West Georgia.
A graduate of LaGrange College and current Master’s student at the University of Georgia, Red is beginning her first year as a classroom teacher. Red, who graduated from Heard County High School, views this teaching opportunity as a homecoming. “I chose Heard County because it is home and where I went to school,” stated Red. “I loved the teachers I had as a child, and wanted to make the same impact in the place I call home.” Red will also be serving as a tennis coach at Heard County High School.