Every year, old teachers leave, and new teachers cycle in. Josh Weddle, one of these new teachers floats between three classrooms, teaching both ESOL Algebra and AP Calculus AB. When asked his favorite of the two, he said he liked Calculus more. He has taught for seven years, teaching Algebra, Geometry, and AP Calculus AB at Cross Keys before coming to Chamblee High School.
Many factors led to his teaching at Chamblee High; however, he was mainly drawn to Chamblee because of his daughter.
“My daughter just started over at Chamblee Middle School,” he said. “This way we’re close by, and eventually she’ll come to Chamblee High School, so getting to be with her was the main appeal.”
Before becoming a teacher, Weddle was an attorney. However, he later discovered that teaching was a better suit for him.
“I really hated practicing law,” said Weddle. “I spent quite a while thinking about what I would enjoy, and the idea of working with young people, being on my feet, interacting with students, and helping them learn, appealed to me.”
Another factor that led him to this career was that he knew many teachers who enjoyed their work.
Weddle said, “[my friends] all found it to be an appealing career, so I thought it might be a good fit.”
Weddle is excited to take part in school-sponsored events.
He said, “I’m looking forward to watching football games, seeing the band perform, seeing some of the arts, and [seeing] some of the chorus performances [because] there appears to be a really strong school spirit.”
When he is not teaching at Chamblee, he is watching college football. He is also interested in exercising, specifically enjoying running. He also has hobbies like cooking, drawing, and reading.
“I like to read mystery novels,” he said. “In particular, Agatha Christie is my favorite.”
So far, he loves it at Chamblee High, and he has some advice for every student taking his class.
“In any class, … attendance is critical and that effort is critical,” said Weddle. “[Applying effort is important when completing my] ‘Homefun,’ which is not homework, [in my class] it’s ‘Homefun.’ [Students should be] doing every assignment and asking questions because that’s the way they’ll learn best.”
Students seem to like Weddle too.
Finley Malone (‘26) had Mr. Weddle for only three days at the time of her interview, due to being transferred into his class a week into school, yet she already thought he was a wonderful teacher.
Malone said, “I really liked him the first day, especially since he [caught] me up on everything, and gave me everything I needed.”
Also, according to Malone, he is great at teaching every day as he is good at summarizing important information and finding ways to convey topics.
“He is a very calming math teacher. He tells you the very logical way to think about [mathematical concepts], rather than the hard math way… that the curriculum says to do it”
Oliver Vega (‘26) shared this opinion of Mr. Weddle, saying his teaching style is easy to comprehend.
Vega wrote, “So far, I have understood everything he has taught us.”
Also, some students like his methods with “Homefun” as well.
Vega wrote, “I like [him] as a teacher because… he properly answers questions on the daily homework.”
Some students also think Mr. Weddle is not only a good teacher, but a good person.
Vega wrote, “he is quite nice and approachable, which differs from some other math teachers I have had.”
Malone agreed, believing that he was a wonderful individual.
“He seems like a really nice, … kind, and funny person,” said Malone. “He’s great.”
