Kelly Butler (By Grace Leslau)

New chorus teacher Kelly Butler anticipates an outstanding first year at WJ.

“The reputation of the school is overall very positive in every way,” she said.

Butler has been teaching for 11 years. She grew up in the Midwest and attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Before coming to WJ she taught part time at both Sherwood High School and Eastern Middle School. She enjoys teaching and looks forward to working with WJ students.

“[I like] working with kids who are excited to do well, to be involved and to have fun,” she said.

Outside of school, Butler spends most of her time with her one-year-old daughter. She also likes to travel. Butler describes herself as goofy, energetic and hardworking.

Butler is excited to be working this year at the same school as her husband, Social Studies teacher Jeremy Butler. She enjoys working with her husband. They met teaching at the same school and coach a swim team together.

Butler is adjusting to her new position and has yet to determine if she wishes to make changes to the WJ choral department.

“It would be great to have a men’s and women’s choir someday,” she said.

Regina Rodriguez (By Sabrina Clarke)

Regina Rodriguez, the new ninth-grade administrator, is one of the many new staff members at WJ for the 2012-2013 school year.

Rodriguez has taught for 17 years at various middle schools including Tilden, North Bethesda and other schools in Montgomery County that are not a part of the WJ cluster.

Her grade school education took place in North Carolina, from elementary to high school, and then proceeded to go to college at East Carolina University for her undergraduate degree, and Bowie University and McDaniel College for her master’s degrees.

Rodriguez was apprehensive about working in a high school at first, because her position had been held for ___ years by Christopher Merrill.

“I thought that it would’ve been tough for me because [the administrators] were already in their own circle that included Mr. Merrill,” said Rodriguez.

But in addition to meshing with her fellow administrators, Rodriguez also wants to get to know the students.

“I was worried about establishing relationships with students, especially the ninth graders,” said Rodriguez.

Outside of school Rodriguez loves taking any spare time to hang out with her two daughters, ages 19 and 16. She also enjoys watching baseball and taking road trips.

Rodriguez is uncertain as to whether she prefers being an administrator or a teacher, but she does feel that it is odd being on the “other side”, as teachers prepared their rooms for incoming students.

Carolyn Clark (By Christine Bersabal)

This is Dr. Carolyn Clark’s first year teaching French at WJ, but she certainly is no outsider to the community here. Her three kids, all WJ alumni, advocated what a great school WJ is and encouraged her to teach here.

“I started when I was very young, teaching my stuffed animals… and also my father is a professor and my mother is a high school teacher,” said Clark.

After taking a gap year, Clark continued to develop her passion for teaching at Cornell University, majoring in Classical Civilizations and going on to receive her doctorate in Classics from Johns Hopkins University in 1998.

“I wanted to finish something I started. I was in a master’s program at Brown University. When I left in [1983] I got married [and] had a family and I wanted to finish the Ph.D. in Classics,” said Clark.

Although many may find it impressive, having a doctorate sometimes can be troubling for Clark.

“When you apply for things, sometimes they say you’re overqualified.”

Clark has been teaching for 28 years, first starting out in colleges and universities as an adjunct professor and then simultaneously teaching high school in 2000.

Clark grew up in Ithaca, N.Y. Outside of school she enjoys horseback riding, skiing, tennis, and reading classical mythology.

Christine Hernandez (By Michael Lumbuku)

This is school counselor Christine Hernandez’s first year at WJ. Hernandez graduated from James Madison University and later attended George Washington University for her graduate degree. While at George Washington, she interned as a counselor at WJ and decided that this was where she wanted to work.

Hernandez considers herself to be a down-to-earth, approachable and dependable person.

“I like to think people can come talk to me,” said Hernandez.

As a part-time counselor at both WJ and Cold Spring Elementary, Hernandez often finds herself occupied but enjoys her work.

When asked what she likes to do, Hernandez said, “I’m usually busy, but when I have time I either work-out or hang out with friends.”

She also enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and running in her free time.

Hernandez graduated from Winston Churchill High School, where she participated in many school- spirited events. Now that she works here, she plans to attend some WJ sports games when she has time.