Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Valdosta native Hayley Starling planned on using her Bachelor's degree in fine arts to pursue a career in graphic design. That was before her kids came along. Starling was happy to be a stay-at-home mom until her oldest son was approaching school age. "Wanting to be home for my kids put me at a loss of what to do next," said Starling.
Fortunately, she received plenty of good advice that put her on the path to becoming certified to teach. After completing certification, Starling was hired to teach elementary math and science at Madison County Central School (MCCS). "I had a great team that was very supportive," said Starling.
Starling now joins the staff of James Madison Preparatory High School (JMPHS), teaching Algebra 1, Geometry and Liberal Arts Math. "The staff has already been so welcoming and helpful," said Starling.
Though relatively new to teaching, Starling has already found a key to helping her students. "I've found that relationships are powerful," said Starling. "I've seen that taking the time to develop relationships with those that are considered "bad" kids can turn them around completely. I know I don't have all the answers, but I look forward to learning and growing at JMPHS. They have a great staff."