Teacher Spotlight
The True Side of Johnston
Renaldo Montgomery | Journalism Staff Writer | April 15, 2024
When I first joined Ranchview High School, and it was my first birthday at this school. I went to U.S. History. My first impression was that the class was relaxed and it had a good vibe. Five minutes later, the teacher came back into the class and noticed me. Within the first few minutes, he introduced himself and said, “You joined the best U.S History class in the states.” I was impressed with his confidence.
Coach Johnston joined Ranchview High School in 2022. He is known for teaching U.S. History and coaching Baseball. His classroom is fun to be in, and you get to learn about new things about history that you never knew about.
Coach Johnston earned the title of Teacher of the Year within two years of being at Ranchview High School because of his work methods that he uses on his students to get them more engaged. One of the class favorites is debating. When people talk about his class. The first two things come up: the realism of the debates and his cool personality. When students engage in the debate, it causes an argument between the students in a good way. If someone doesn't agree with someone, Coach Johnston jumps in the conversation to help the students not feel alone against everyone. He's has impacted so many students' lives in U.S. History and Baseball. He is truthful and honest to students and nice to his colleagues. He also gives good advice and listens to people when needed and understands their problem to help them with their problems. Coach Johnston has a great reputation and awesome responsibilities as a teacher. Students get to witness awesome opportunities in his classroom full of joy.
Thank you, Coach Cousins
By Faith Lungu, Editor-In-Chief | May 9, 2023
When I first came to Ranchview my junior year, Coach Cousins was one of the first teachers who welcomed me with open arms. I had him for my psychology class. It was weird because the classroom was very dull, but the personalities were very bright. He let everyone enjoy and express themselves, which made the classroom feel fuller than it was. Coach Cousins was one of the first teachers who understood my sarcasm, and he did not take offense to my comments. I felt very comfortable around him and felt like he was a friend.
Sadly, this is his last year, but it’s also our last year. He came in with the senior class and is leaving with the senior class. Doesn’t that sound poetic? It’s funny because we are graduating in a few days, and this year doesn’t even feel like it’s the end. This man has dedicated the last four years to Ranchview High School to teach AP Human Geography, World Geography, Psychology, Sociology, and AP Psychology. “AP Psychology is a fun class that most students enjoy learning, and I enjoy teaching in”, Coach said in his interview about his 19th year of teaching. He spoke about how he hasn’t gotten tired of teaching high schoolers because “my kids have been the same age for the past 10 years”.
I also sat down with students that have had him for 3-4 years of their high school life, and they had nothing but positive things to say about the Psychology teacher. Jacquline Sastre, who had him since her freshman year, spoke about her experience. “He taught us well and understood more than any other teacher the things we were going through.” She explained. Chloe Hannah, who had him for three years, continued with how “he made senior a lot easier than we expected for an AP class added on to the loads we were taking, and I appreciate it.” The current seniors found Coach Cousins to be someone that was “easy to joke around with and made their mornings a lot more enjoyable.”
Although Coach Cousins is a well-known teacher, he has a greater status as a coach. He was our Offensive Coordinator for the Ranchview Wolves Football team. Football was a sport Coach Cousins knew he’d coach as a career. He joked about not being “big enough to play in college,” so why not coach? Coach reflected on coaching the team and expressed how “different it was compared to the other schools” he’s taught at. “Football is football no matter what. Ranchview just gave me a different experience with learning to work with players that were playing offense and defense.” And the work has paid off, with Ranchview going 9-1 in 2019 and making a comeback this year because of the coaching staff’s hard work. “This job is rewarding even when I’m frustrated. There is still something to look forward to in this job too.” Coach Cousins expressed.
Thank you, Coach Cousins, for being the best teacher a student could ask for! You have made a significant impact not only in the classroom but on the football field. Many people are grateful for you. And I know you will be missed as you go on your next adventure. We wish and hope you the best. We were so lucky to have you and hope Prosper treats you well. :)
The Impact of Emily Hawthorne
By Mikaylah Minor, Business & Advertising Management | May 9, 2023
Emily Hawthorne, one of our culinary teachers at Ranchview, has a major impact on Ranchview. Ms. Hawthorne has helped students in many ways she may not even know about through her teaching. She has opened students' taste palates to a new food most probably wouldn’t have tried. “I like introducing them to new things they haven't tried before.” Mrs. Hawthorne explained. She enjoyed a crepes lab her students tried because most students haven't had a crepe before.
Mrs. Hawthorne believes cooking is a real-world life skill everyone should have. She has shown students how to be independent when it comes to cooking. She teaches her students simple things from learning the parts of the knife to knowing how to cut chicken thighs properly. Speaking of chicken, Hawthorne enjoyed watching the students cook fried chicken this year. Since this was the first time students have done this, it was very successful. She believes that culinary students are mentally impacted by her teachings, and they help them build confidence. New culinary students come in not as confident, but, once they are getting ready to transfer to Culinary 1 with Ms. Gallardo, they are more confident because of what they previously learned.
The Wolfpack would like to give a huge thank you to Mrs. Hawthorne for impacting Ranchview every day.
The Impact of Coach Starnes
By Mikaylah Minor, Business Manager | February 14, 2023
Football coach Chad Starnes has made a huge impact on Ranchview becoming almost like a father figure to many students and growing strong bonds with his fellow coaches. Growing up a coach's kid, Starnes was exposed to the art of coaching early, influencing his current career and love for coaching. On the search for a job as a high school football coach after coaching middle school, he was introduced to Ranchview: “Ranchview was my first opportunity, and I never regretted taking the job.” This was 4 years ago! His favorite aspect of football would be game planning because he says it gets him excited for the upcoming game. Coach Starnes is happy to see the team's improvement last season and is ready for the next football season!
Starnes with his wife
Starnes with football players
Mrs. Bush at her first book signing
Signing books for Killing Me Silently, her second book
Best For First: Mrs. Bush and Her Glory
By Mahya Hemani and Mikaylah Minor, Business/Advertising Managers
This month’s teacher highlight is Mrs. Bush. She is an English I, English as a Second Language, and Journalism teacher; Ranchview’s social media, newspaper, and yearbook sponsor; and scorekeeper/announcer at sports games and pep rallies. She accomplishes plenty at school, but she has a full schedule outside of school. Mrs. Bush is the embodiment of achievement in every facet of her life.
The contributions that Mrs. Bush makes to Ranchview are endless. She is consistent in her love of literature and language as the head of the Poetry Club and the English Department. Mrs. Bush’s personal and professional impact on our school is apparent.
In an interview with Mrs. Bush, she explained her 3 biggest accomplishments. First, she is proud of herself for publishing two books: “I never thought I would publish anything at one point. After a therapy session, my therapist told me to write how I feel…” Her books are Killing Me Silently and The Slip Under My Church Dress (Go check them out!). It really goes to show you that everybody has it in them if they put their mind to doing something.
The second feat she finds amazing is all about her students: “I love having a really strong relationship with students that I’ve taught after they graduated, and they come back to me to tell me thank you, celebrate the fact that they’ve got a kid, or that they’ve accomplished so much… it’s like I’ve done my job. As a teacher, I don’t look for instant gratification…Kids are not gonna get it until after they graduate. That’s why I look forward to seeing them 2-3 years down the line, come back to me, and they can appreciate what I’ve done for them.” I hope these words from Mrs. Bush can inspire anyone as a teacher, administrator, or student. There’s a meaning in her words for everyone. There are teachers who want to see students succeed. They know that what they are doing will help students to do big things.
Her final accomplishment is a tie between being a cheerleader for adults and young writers. As an editor for Pen2Pad Ink Publishing, she helps adult writers find and curate their voices. For young writers, she is the Executive Director of Young DFW Writers. This organization is incredibly special to her because of how she joined it: “I think in 2016, three dudes came up to me and were like, ‘We want to start a poetry club’…I found Young DFW Writers. We've been a part of their organization since 2017.”
So, what is next for Mrs. Bush? She plans to release her third book in 2023: “This one is called Silence Speaks. It’s basically a poetry book about all the things I’ve heard when everything was quiet. And that’s not that often.” She’s also accepted the position as co-owner of her husband’s photography business, T & J Media. She hopes to continue all the amazing things she’s doing in and out of school next year.
Something Mrs. Bush said really stood out to me. If you’re stressed out because of all she does, hopefully, her words will relieve you: “I love doing it all, and I don’t feel like it’s overwhelming. I know a lot of people freak out and ask, ‘God why do you do so much?’ But it’s how I work. I’ve always worked like that. To me, having a lot of stuff to do is probably one of the best things for everybody because then I don’t do stupid stuff.”
Teachers deserve... sorry… need to be appreciated for their achievements in and out of school just as students do. Mrs. Bush has made a sincere impact on so many people in so many different ways, and there’s no way we can recognize her enough.