Gibson Southern High school has been around for five decades, opening in the 1974-75 academic year. Thousands of students have entered and exited the building. Upon the final exit after graduation, most do not think of stepping foot back in the building. However, not all graduates stay away, some return years later to teach.
“It never crossed my mind that I would become a teacher, let alone teach in the high school I once attended,” science teacher Jane Toth. “My plan was definitely to do something in the field of biology, but the teaching part came as a surprise. I was told by one of my college professors that I’m an ‘explainer,’ so that’s what I became! It really is fun explaining my favorite topics to students.“
Some teachers are surprised they are teaching, let alone at the school they attended, while others always knew teaching was the path they were going to follow. They just did not know for sure if it would be at Gibson Southern.
“I did not expect to work here right away like I did,” math teacher Kendra Barrett said. “I really thought I would work elsewhere for a while and then hopefully end up back here in the corporation. But, I lucked out, and as soon as I got out of college, there was a job opening, and I got the job!”
Gibson Southern has a great staff that makes it an enjoyable place to come everyday according to the math teacher Valerie Zimmer.
“I love working here,” Zimmer said. “The students and staff are great. I have worked in other schools where teachers do not work together and the students were not very respectful.”
The teachers have noticed a few changes in the school since they were students here, one of them being the technology.
“Technology is a huge change, “ Zimmer said. “We only had access to computers in the computer lab, not at our fingertips like it is now. Cell phones were not allowed during school either. “
According to Toth, everyone talked and passed notes when there was time at the end of a period. They did not just sit on their phones all class period.
“The thing that has changed the most is the phones students have now, “ Toth said. “I am so glad they didn’t exist when I was in high school. They are such a distraction, and as a teacher, I spend so much time each day telling students to put their phones and air pods away. Life was so much simpler when students passed notes. “
The teachers think very highly of Gibson Southern and its students. They are proud to work here according to Barrett.
“I personally think that from our surrounding areas, Gibson Southern is probably the best high school to work at,” she said.
Gibson Southern Staff Who Are Alumni
Jon Adams – Principal
Lynne Adams – Cafeteria
Kelley Asay – Guidance
Kendra Barrett – MAth
Tracey Bender – Receptionist
Adam Bledsoe – Theatre
Kyle Brakie – Math Special Education
Kristin Brasher – Math
Josh Elpers – Industrial Tech
Jared Grigsby – English
Alex Hirsch – Life Skills Aide
Eric Jones – Life Skills Aide
Kasey Knaebel – Science and Math
Parker Lassack – Custodian
Jennifer Lintzenich – Behavior Intervention Specialist
April Maikranz – Cafeteria Manager
Craig Maikranz – Science
Kara Martin – Library Aide
Melissa Matsel – Athletic Secretary
Matt Obert – Business
Michael Priar – History
Laura Russell – Art
Amanda Sefton – Assistant Principal
Mark Thompson – Head Custodian
Jane Toth – Science
Brent Winstead – Band
Valerie Zimmer – Math
