All of the academic teachers are current or former middle grades teachers working in the metro Atlanta area. The classes they teach at Challenge & Champions are in their area of certification. All of the physical education teachers are current physical education teachers or athletic coaches at the middle and high school level.
Jamie graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Math and Social Studies Education. After college, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina to teach 7th grade mathematics and Algebra I at Hand Middle School for three years. During her time in South Carolina, Jamie was recognized for significant gains in student scores on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test by Richland School District One. She also was the team leader and wrote curriculum for the summer school program in the county. Jamie then moved to Marietta, Georgia where she currently teaches mathematics to seventh and eighth grade students at McCleskey Middle School in Cobb County. Since 2003, Jamie has been married to her husband David, and they now enjoy a beautiful baby girl named Carleigh Mecayla.
Jennifer graduated from Northwestern University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. After graduating, she decided to pursue her passion, teaching. She taught eighth grade English and reading for two years at Metro Catholic Parish Schools in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2003, she enrolled in Emory University's Master of Arts in Teaching program for middle school certification. She completed the M.A.T. program in May 2004. She taught 7th grade language arts in Gwinnett County Public Schools at Summerour Middle School for three years. After having her son, she transferred to Shiloh Middle still in Gwinnett County to be closer to home. In August 2008, Jennifer received her Educational Specialist degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Georgia. After receiving this degree, she continued her enrollment at the University of Georgia in order to obtain her Leadership Endorsement. In 2009, she became the school’s first Parent Instructional Support Coordinator. Recently she received the distinct honor of being accepting into Gwinnett County’s Aspiring Leader Program. She also facilitates county level staff development sessions for both Gwinnett county teachers and support staff.
David Lakin teaches 9th grade Political Science and U.S.
History at Milton High School, an Academy school, in Fulton County. He has
been part of the Fulton County Schools since 2000. David plans trips to
Washington D.C. for the 9th graders and has had the opportunity to take
his students to places such as the Georgia State Capitol, Savannah, and
Kennesaw Mountain. He also currently works on implementing learning
focused schools. David originally hails from Oak Park, Michigan, and
graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Secondary Education. He currently holds teaching certificates
from both Georgia and Michigan. David did his student teaching in Detroit
where he taught alternative education classes in psychology and economics.
Sam began his teaching career in Clayton County where he taught in the alternative setting for four years. He obtained his education degrees from Georgia State University and Central Michigan University respectively. Sam is certified in the areas of Science, Social Studies and Language Arts. He is currently teaching Earth Science in Atlanta Public Schools and works at the Martin Luther King Middle School afterschool program. Sam has also been a Fellow with the Emory University Center for Science Education where he developed science curriculum and lesson plans for teachers. He enjoys working out daily and spending time with his children Samara and Silas.
Craig Johnson, a physical education instructor for Challenges
and Champions, is currently a mathematics teacher at Lithonia High School.
Born in Lovejoy, Georgia, the Morehouse College (B.A.) and Emory
University (MAT) graduate enjoys playing soccer and football while
coaching the varsity girls' soccer squad. When not changing lives, he
likes to cook and eat Mexican and seafood while doing anything
competitive.
Dave is originally from Rochester, New York where he graduated from Brockport State University with a degree in Broadcast Communications. After moving to Atlanta in the fall of 1995 to take an internship with CNN, he had an exciting career in television broadcasting doing sideline reporting, feature producing, camera operation and video editing. He worked for networks including CNN, Turner Sports, Newsport and a few local affiliates. Highlights of his broadcasting career include working the 1996 Olympics and the 2000 Super Bowl. In 2001 he changed careers to become a teacher and for the past nine years has been working at Lanier Middle School in Gwinnett County. Dave was the Broadcast Journalism teacher for the first 8 years and currently teaches 6th grade math. He is now in his 7th season of coaching the 8th grade boy’s basketball team. His team has twice won the Gwinnett County Western Division Championship. Dave is currently working on his M.S. degree in middle grade education from Mercer University. He loves playing and watching sport and hanging out with friends.
Being from a military family, Todd moved frequently as a child. He was born in Hawaii and spent a couple of years in the mountains of Utah, but grew up primarily in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He has been teaching for seven years. He is currently finishing his fourth year teaching Physical Education to students in grades 6-8 at Lanier Middle School in Buford, Georgia. He is also the boys’ basketball assistant coach and Intramural director. He has coached girls’ basketball and boys’ baseball at the High School level. He played one year of college basketball at Okaloosa/Walton Jr. College before transferring to the University of Alabama. At Alabama, Todd received his undergraduate degree in Human Performance/Physical Education for grades K-12. Also through Alabama, he received his master’s degree in Health Promotion. Todd is currently pursuing a specialist degree through Piedmont College. In his spare time, Todd stays in shape by playing anything and everything. He and his wife Kelly have a 20 month old son named Garrett.