This is a huge year for my career. After two years of interning and a year of being a reading specialist, I am finally taking on my own class room! I am thrilled to be a third grade teacher at J.H. Gunn Elementary School. Now an integrated, full school, it was not always that way.
In the early 1920s the school was a high school called Clear Creek Colored Union High School. It was a really small school that ran all year around, closing only during August and September so the students could pick cotton. In 1936, Mecklenburg County decided that colored high schools needed to be created in the rural areas of Charlotte, thus a full high school was created. After integration in the 60s the school would be re-opened as an Elementary School named J.H. Gunn in honor of a former math and music teacher in the high school.
The school is interesting for several reasons. First, while it is, of course, fully integrated, the population is mostly minority to this day. Second, the school was created to serve students in a rural area, though there is no evidence that this part of Charlotte was ever rural! I am coming to find in general that most of Charlotte has been built up in the last twenty years or so. For example, everything in my immediate area by the lake is new within the last five or so years. Everything is crazy new!
Back to my school, I have been very busy the last several days setting up my classroom. The first impression when I saw the school was that it was HUGE. Coming from Seely Place Elementary School, J.H. Gunn was a shock! While the school is significantly bigger population wise, it is also a big building because the classrooms themselves are quite big. This is fabulous from a teaching perspective, but also means a lot of work to prepare for the students' arrival!
Finishing touches are being done and books are being leveled for my classroom library. I don't want to do a big reveal until it's all done, but I will show you the "before" pictures!
Kids' cubbies and supplies storage
I HAVE A SMART BOARD!!!
I need to learn how to use it... good thing Nick is Smart Board certified ;)
More room... It's SO big
Back of the class and kids' computers
I will probably post the full room next week. I have a few more additions to do to the class library and names to write once I get my class list. Stay tuned!
Best,
Becky
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