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.
After training as a fine arts painter and working as a disc jockey, Jay discovered a passion for teaching while helping his children triumph over learning challenges. Jay currently serves as Literacy Instructional Coach at Shiloh Middle School in Gwinnett County, having previously taught gifted and regular ed. language arts to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Jay combines innovative teaching methods with personal expression to engage learners with diverse learning styles and backgrounds. He is a TEACH Gwinnett mentor teacher, a GCPS Assessment Specialist, and has developed and delivered professional learning workshops at schools around Gwinnett. Jay holds an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College, a Master of Education degree in Reading from Mercer University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His certifications include P-12 Reading Specialist, grades 4-8 gifted language arts and social studies teacher, and P-5 early childhood instructor. Jay lives in Lilburn with his wife Michelle and their three sons, the oldest of whom (he can’t believe) just turned 18!
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. She and her husband David have two wonderful children named Carleigh and Ryan.
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.
My name is Todd Posey. This is my 6th year teaching at Challenge and Champions. I currently teach Physical Education and Health. I’m also the 8th grade boy’s basketball coach. This is my 10th year teaching and I can honestly say I love what I do. Working with young people and teaching them the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle is a passion of mine. When I’m not teaching or coaching, I myself love to stay physically active. My motto is “always find time to play!” What really keeps me active are my children. I have a 5 year old son and a 2 year old daughter and they never slow down. I’m looking forward to another great summer. Bring a positive attitude, a willingness to try something new, some shorts, athletic shoes, water and I promise you will have a great time (not to mention a good workout).