It takes a lot to keep the crowded halls of Chamblee High School functioning. Many students take time to appreciate their teachers and administrators, but in the shade of others, there’s sometimes little light shone on the other staff members working to maintain Chamblee.
When students and staff first walk into school in the morning, the first faces people usually see are the administrator assistants at the front office.
“My job entails mainly making sure attendance is updated for kids. I am responsible for checking kids in and out and making sure kids sign in tardy,” said Nikki Evans. “I also make sure kids get to class on time, and remind them to put up phones, earbuds, and earpieces.”
Because Evans’ job predominantly revolves around the students, she makes it a priority to form bonds with them.
“Students feel comfortable enough to come to me and talk about [personal matters]. If I see that they’re down, they may want to come to me and tell me about something,” said Evans. “It’s always good when they’re happy and know they have somebody else behind them that’s encouraging them.”
Another face students see right when they walk in are the security guards. It’s the security guards’ jobs to keep the school protected and to ensure that everyone — students and staff alike — come to school feeling safe. At Chamblee, the security guards make an effort to build relationships with the students.
“My favorite part [about my job] is connecting with the kids, being able to interact in the hallways during class change, and just learning everybody’s personalities,” said Adrian Hylton, one of Chamblee’s School Resource Officers. “I’ve got personalized handshakes with a couple people, and I try to learn tendencies so if somebody’s having a bad day, I can de-escalate the situation myself before it goes to administration.”
Chamblee High School has nearly 2000 students, and many would agree that it takes a lot of work to keep it safe, and that having the role of doing so isn’t without some difficulties.
Another job that requires an extra level of attention to the students’ wellbeing is the job of being an ESOL teacher. The Georgia Department of Education’s ESOL program focuses on “developing [English learners] students’ academic English proficiency in each content area of Georgia’s K-12 Standards,” according to GaDOE. At Chamblee, many ESOL teachers are dedicated to their profession and their students.
“The students are so much fun. They’re entertaining. They’re energetic. They inspire me every day. They motivate me every day,” said Ms. Bahar Bakhtiar. “Sometimes they can be a handful, but it’s always a fun handful.”
Many teachers agree that the best part of their job is working with students. Colonel Gloria Dunklin, the senior army instructor for the JROTC program, believes that the best part of her job is not only teaching her students, but learning from them as well.
“I have been [teaching] for 10 years now and I’ve learned that every day, I’m growing differently and learning what unconditional love is,” said Dunklin. “I see students inputting something that they have learned from class, and I see them actually putting it in action, not just in the classroom, but when they’re out and about.”
There’s no doubt that the staff at Chamblee work hard to keep this school thriving for students, whether it’s honing in on safety, academics, or ensuring that Chamblee High School is a space where students can express themselves. It’s important to show appreciation for all faculty members because every staff member has something to contribute.
“People are very vocal about telling me how much they appreciate me. I do my best to do a very good job, and I try to be responsible,” said Melissa Timberlake, the administrative assistant for the counseling office. “I have a couple of students that I see almost daily and they will tell me, ‘I’m so happy that you’re here, and I’m really glad that you’re here for me.’”
