AHS English Department
Janie Barrios
My name is Janie Barrios, and I have taught English for over 25 years. I am a product of the Lafourche Parish school system. I attended the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and received my Bachelor of Arts in English Education. Later, I received my Masters in Education from American Intercontinental University.
My husband and I recently moved to North Louisiana from the New Orleans area While my teaching has centered on high school and its curriculum, I am very excited to teach Business English and Technical Writing this year at Airline High School. Both curricula contain a focus on a research paper project, a business textbook, and some literary pieces. My teaching methodology consists of a lot of classroom discussion and making sure that my students master the techniques of research and writing.
In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my family and pets. We have 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a calico cat. I also enjoy reading, traveling, and watching a lot of sports with my husband.
A successful achievement in education requires active participation and dedication by each student and a supportive home environment. My educational philosophy is that “Mediocrity is unacceptable”, and I push my students to achieve their best in all their endeavors.. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email. I look forward to working with my students.
Courtney Brant
My name is Courtney Brant and I teach English I and English I Honors here at Airline High. I started my teaching career ten years ago at Elm Grove Middle School. I taught there for 8 years and then decided that it was time to move up to the big leagues of high school! I am so glad that I made that decision because I absolutely love being a Viking and having the opportunity to invest in the lives of the many students that walk through my door each and every day.
In 2001, I graduated from Loyola and accepted a scholarship from the University of Southern Mississippi to pursue my dreams of playing college basketball. I received a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and began looking for work back home at local television stations. During that time, I decided to substitute teach while waiting for a job offer. The first sub job I ever took was at Platt Elementary. The moment I walked into that classroom, I knew teaching was my calling. It was a good feeling because without basketball no longer in my life, I felt a little lost. Teaching felt like coming home. I immediately enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and and pursued a Masters degree in Teaching. I am so glad that teaching found me because it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I met my husband, Aaron, almost ten years ago and we have been married six of those years. He played football at Iowa State and was even drafted in 2007 by the Chicago Bears. He no longer plays football, but is the best daddy to our baby girl goldendoodle, Maggie! We don't have any children yet, but Maggie definitely fills that void while we patiently pray and wait.
Parents, I am always a phone call or email away. Communication is key to the educational process and I hope that if you all ever need anything you will not hesitate to reach out. Your babies are my babies, their successes are my successes, and we are all in this together!
Rachel Bryant
I am excited to begin my sixth year at Airline High School teaching AP English Language and Composition and English III. This is also my eighth year teaching in total--I spent two years teaching ELA to sixth graders and eighth graders at Elm Grove Middle School. The most important thing to know about me and my teaching philosophy is that I truly love what I teach and love my students here at Airline! I take the content I teach very seriously and believe it is one of the most important skills for our students to succeed in the future: being able to write persuasively, reading closely and analyzing complex texts, and discussing and sharing complex ideas while being able to back up those ideas. These are skills I try to impart on my students each and every day!
I grew up in Haughton, Louisiana, and absolutely loved it! The small town atmosphere is one that indelibly leaves a mark. I graduated from Haughton High School in 2007 and graduated from LSUS in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Teaching. I am currently in the process of earning my MBA at LSUS.
I most recently married my best friend Dale Bryant, and made my Shreveport-born hubby make the arduous move across the river to Bossier. I absolutely love it here, while I am still hearing the Airline afternoon traffic complaint from him--it's growing on him! We have three adorable pups: Shelley (the love of my life--a poodle/terrier that is super feisty), Tucker (a shih tzu/mutt and total chubster), Scout (our gentle giant lab/something-I'm-not-sure-of-what-else).
I am ready for the new year and can't wait to get started! Let's go Vikes!
Mrs. Rachel Bryant
AP English Language & Composition
English III
318-549-5147
1st Block English III Honors: wfaa5v
AP English Language and Comp: h3wud4
4th Block English III Honors: etq25d
Tim Cobb
I’ve been married for twenty-three years to my wife, Tricia. We have three children, Rebecca Ward (22), Timothy (19), and Linden (14), and one grandchild, Amelia Dawn Ward (3 months).
I graduated from Wabash College in 1991 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Speech. I graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2000 with a Master of Arts in Communication and Culture.
This will be my fifth year at Airline, tenth year teaching in Louisiana, and twenty-first year overall. At various points, I’ve taught Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Business and Professional Communication, Introduction to College Composition, Advanced College Composition, 8th grade Remedial English, English I, English II, and English IV.
When I’m not teaching, you can usually find me doing things with my family, reading, or on my bicycle.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: 549-5146
Kaliina Fenner
My name is Kaliina Fenner and I am honored and humbled to return to Airline High School as a 9th grade ELA teacher! I am originally from Illinois and moved to Bossier City with my husband in 2001. I hold a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a M.A.T. in Secondary Education with a focus in English from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. I was previously an English II teacher, a 6th grade Reading instructor, and a 3rd grade teacher. I completed my student teaching in English III and English III Honors.
I am a proud military spouse! My husband is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force and we have two beautiful children. We moved back to Bossier City this past summer after being gone for seven years. During our time away from Bossier I have lived in four different states (Rhode Island, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Alabama).
Catherine Knotts
Let me begin by introducing myself to you. My name is Catherine Knotts. I am the English Department Head at Airline, and this will be my seventh year to teach English. I am a product of Bossier Parish Schools, and I am a graduate of Airline High School. I attended Louisiana Tech University, and I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education (GO DAWGS). I am married to Christopher Knotts, and we recently celebrated the birth of our first child, Katesyn Claire Knotts. This will be a year filled with many first for our family, and we are so excited to take part in the world of parenthood. My priorities include my faith, family, and food!
When it comes to my classroom, I do have high expectations for each and every student. My hope is that my students will have positive attitudes, participate in class, and also have respect for themselves, classmates and myself. I absolutely love teaching, and I am looking forward to this upcoming school year.
I am committed to helping every child on their path to success. One of the most important aspects of our involvement in your student’s education is communication. Illuminate and Google Classroom are excellent tools to help students and parents/guardians stay up to date. If you ever have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
E-mail: catherine.knotts@bossierschools.org
Phone: 549-5108
Department Planning Period: 4th
Click to enter Google Classroom, then type the appropriate code: type the appropriate code:
1st Block:
2nd Block:
3rd Block:
Jordan Landry
My name is Jordan Landry, and I began my teaching career at Airline High School in the Spring of 2016. While I have taught English 1, Reading, Business English, and English 3, I can say English 3 is my true Niche. I am excited to start the 2019-2020 school year teaching English 3 again, and to dive into the new world of Speech 1!
I am a product of the Bossier school system, as I graduated from Haughton High School. I then attended Northwestern State University and earned a degree in Secondary English Education. After college, I discovered “The Airline Way” and have never looked back. On top of teaching, I also sponsor the fishing team and co-sponsor the junior class.
In my spare time, I enjoy finding new places to hike with my husband (our favorite is North Arkansas), Obsessing over our pets (We have a yellow Lab named Nilla, an Australian Shepherd named Gus, and a Calico cat named Grea), reading, shopping, and surrounding myself with family.
My goal is to help students connect literature to the world around them and realize that literature is truly the voice of the people.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: Jordan.landry@bossierschools.org
Phone: (318)549-7168
Heidi Lucas
Hello! My name is Heidi Lucas, English IV teacher and newspaper adviser, and this ‘19-’20 school year will greet my 21st year of teaching in the public school system. Somewhere in those years, I briefly entertained the notion of becoming an administrator, but one night a professor asked everyone to reflect on and write about their motivation, and every avenue that my brain went down took me out of the classroom. It was then that I determined that if I wasn’t going to get to be with students, I couldn’t find the same passion for the field of education. So that’s that. I love being in a classroom--I enjoy planning, teaching, moving students towards understanding and digging into literature or writing that they may not have wanted to do, initially, but afterwards realize that they’ve overcome a hurdle. My heart is that students will know that this process can be repeated even when the hurdles get a little higher and have nothing to do with English.
While it is an honor and a privilege to get to be a “school mama” to so many kids each year, my faith and my family are at the top of my list. I am a proud parent of two Airline Vikings, Elijah and Abigail; one Cope Middle School Cougar, AnaBelle; and one hard-headed, not always well-behaved furry beast named Samson. My husband Dan and I like to spend time with the family going to the lake, going camping, and I personally love to garden, though I can’t accuse anyone else in my family for appreciating dirt the way I do.
If you’ve been called to do something, then you’ve also been equipped, so I try to live up to that, finding in every kid I teach something special--even if it has nothing to do with British literature or their ability to write. I believe that every student can learn and grow in English IV, and I am looking forward to seeing my new set of Airline seniors very soon!
Charlotte Morton
My name is Charlotte Morton, and this is my 2nd year teaching at Airline High School. Last year, I taught Reading and Technical Writing. This year, I am excited to be teaching English II! I look forward to getting to know all of you. Here is a little about me:
I grew up in Keithville and graduated from Huntington High School. From there, I attended LSU-Shreveport with the hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Once I took a few Biology classes, I knew that wasn’t for me. I changed my major twice before I decided on Business Administration. I worked in customer service for several years before I decided to go back and pursue my teaching degree. I am so glad I did! This is my 8th year to teach in Bossier Parish and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
I am married and have 3 amazing children. One of them is grown and out on his own. My other two are 6 and 3. I have two dogs named Miko and Sunny. My family definitely keeps me busy and on my toes!
I am looking forward to this school year! Feel free to reach me with any questions or concerns.
Lacey Oakes
My name is Lacey Oakes, and I have taught English since 2016. I am a product of the Bossier Parish school system and attended Airline High School. GO VIKES! After graduating from Airline, I attended Northwestern State University and then received my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education-English from Louisiana State University-Shreveport.
I began my teaching career in middle school, but teaching high school is my passion. I am so grateful to be teaching at such a wonderful school like Airline. I always knew that I wanted to come here and teach because of the wonderful experience I had here in high school. I am lucky enough to teach alongside some of my favorite teachers who taught me here and inspired my love of learning and reaching my full potential in life. I always tell my students that I want to be the kind of teacher that I needed when I was growing up. I know from experience how much a positive and encouraging relationship with students can change lives for the better. My teaching methodology consists of in depth classroom discussion (not only on education, but also on real-life lessons and guidance), and modeling writing and all other assignments to ensure that each student feels prepared and equipped to succeed academically. I love to watch my students succeed in every way, make positive choices for their lives, and teaching them to use critical thinking skills.
I have two beautiful children. My daughter, Macen, is 11 and my son, Noah, is 9. I enjoy spending as much time with them and my family as I possibly can.
I firmly believe that receiving an education requires participation not only from the school and student, but also from home. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email. I look forward to working with all of my students and helping them in any way I can. In addition to Google Classroom, I also will use the EdModo app to communicate with students and parents via reminders, quizzes, polls, and photos of our daily/weekly learning practices.
Contact information: Lacey.Oakes@bossierschools.org
Classroom Phone: 549-5151
Codes are for Fall Semester 2019
Lisa Rauschenbach
Lisa Rauschenbach teaches Senior English at AHS. Mrs. Rauschenbach enjoys reading, finding plagiarism, and procrastinating. She also has a super handsome husband, two kids that she forces to read (even during the summer!), and two pugs that bring her joy with their loud snores.
Terri Robertson
Mrs. Terri Robertson has taught for 29 years with the past 19 in Bossier Parish - 11 years at Cope Middle and 8 years at Airline High. All those years ago Mrs. Robertson started out teaching 2nd grade. Through the years she moved from grade level to grade level enjoying new challenges at different schools across the state. She has found home at Airline where all three of her sons graduated - once a Viking, always a Viking. She teaches English I Honors and enjoys leading the Freshman Mentor program.
Bryleigh Smith
My name is Bryleigh Smith and this will be my first year to teach at Airline High School as an English I teacher. I come from a big military family, so I moved around as a child. I am a 2013 graduate of Airline High School (go Vikes) and a 2017 graduate of Louisiana Tech University (go Dawgs), where I received both my undergraduate and graduate degree. For two years, I taught at Greenacres Middle School as a 6th grade ELA teacher and I sponsored the dance line and the student council! While in the classroom, I was able to see, understand, and teach some of the key pieces of student writing, reading, and analyzing. Being able to work with the dance line and the student council allowed me to see the students outside of the classroom and build stronger relationships- one of my favorite things to do!
In my free time, I like to travel, read, and spend time with my family. I absolutely love teaching English and see how each individual process and analyzes information and passages. I love how novels can capture a student's attention and make the time fly. I hope to be a welcoming and warm presence to all students and I hope they know that my door is always open!
I look forward to this year and all the new adventures!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brittney Trahan
My name is Brittney Trahan, and I am excited to teach English II at Airline. I attended Louisiana Tech University where I earned my undergraduate degree in Secondary English Education. While at college, I was the feature baton twirler for the Band of Pride, and I loved performing at all the football games and pep rallies. At college, I met my husband, Josh, and we have two boys named Garrett and Reid. My family encouraged me to go back to graduate school, and I earned my master's degree in Gifted Curriculum and Instruction which is something I always wanted to do as a former gifted student.
I have taught the past fourteen years in Caddo Parish: first at Walnut Hill Middle School, and for the last ten years at Caddo Middle Magnet. I have sponsored Student Council, Flag line, Dance line, and Destination Imagination. My DI team won five years in a row and traveled to global competition.
In my spare time, I can typically be found at a sports game cheering on my boys. Garrett plays baseball, and Reid plays basketball and soccer. My husband and I have also opened our house as a billet family for the local hockey team, The Shreveport Mudbugs, for three seasons. We housed five hockey players that have since gone to play Division 1 hockey in various colleges. This past year, we changed from a billet family to an exchange host family, and we welcomed Jacopo, from Italy.
I am looking forward to a great year at Airline! If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me. brittney.trahan@bossierschools.org
Alexa Wardlaw
Hello, everyone! I'm Alexa Wardlaw, and I teach English 1, Reading, and Technical Writing. I'm so excited to become part of the Airline family this year, and am looking forward to helping our students grow into better readers, writers, and critical thinkers! I grew up in Springhill, LA, and graduated from Springhill High School in 2011 as the last lumberjack valedictorian. From there, I attended Louisiana College in Pineville and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelors of Arts in English and a minor in Spanish. My first job out of college was as a human resources assistant at a large eye clinic in Alexandria. However, in 2017, I decided that I needed to move closer to family and began teaching at North Webster High School in August of 2017.
I taught English I and was the assistant softball coach. I quickly learned that I LOVE teaching and seeing the "lightbulb" moment as we learn new concepts and discuss new texts. In May 2019, I graduated from Louisiana Tech with a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a 4.0. In January of 2020, I began working on my Masters of Arts in English with a specialization in creative writing through the University of Louisiana at Monroe's online program. In May 2020, I earned my Intervention Content Leader certification, which has really strengthened my love for making sure all students have the same opportunity to gain knowledge. One of my strengths is getting to know students and making them feel like they can come to me when they need help. I love to joke around, get to know what they like to do, attend their extra-curricular activities, and support them when I can! Relationships are important, and I want all of my students to know that I care about them!
As for me personally, I was just married in December 2019 to my husband Charlie. He is an athletic trainer employed by Christus to serve BPCC. We have two dogs: a chocolate lab named Allie and a beagle/basset hound mix named Tanner. They're a handful! We love to go to escape rooms! We haven't lost one together (yet)! I enjoy reading, writing, lifting weights, playing video games, crafting, and cooking. I'm super excited to become part of the Airline family this year, and look to grow and learn alongside the students!