Clayton High School’s New Teachers

One of the biggest announcements in the school district this summer was the appointment of the new Interim Assistant Principal of Clayton High School, Buddy Sodemann. Sodemann has taught physical education at the high school for the past four years. He has also been head coach of the boy's basketball team throughout his time here and will be continuing at least for this school year.  Both of Sodem...

There wouldn’t be many schools that Brian Parrish would leave Parkway West for after the decade he spent there directing the high school choir. But in the spring of 2022, when Parrish got his first taste of Clayton students while teaching with former director, and friend from college, Claire Minnis, he knew he wanted to be a part of the greyhound community. Parrish knew that though his transfer f...

Ava Hughes was on her way to completing a PhD in comparative anatomy when she had a realization. “I taught two undergraduate labs, and I was spending way more time helping them out, helping them focus and learning new skills than I was actually researching,” said Hughes, who is joining the district as an AP Environmental Science teacher. “And I used that as a sign, that was probably not the...

After the theater education program she was in at Loyola University was canceled, Destiny Hooper became a regular theater major. “However, I realized while studying theater that my English classes were my favorite classes, so then I switched and became an English major, and the rest is history,” said Hooper. Once Hooper finished her accelerated master’s program and received her degree in secondary...

Since childhood, Laura Brugere has been close with teaching. “I was one of the older kids in the neighborhood, [and with] access to my mom's school supplies, we would go ahead and play in the garage. And I would just go ahead and play pretend. And it was pretend school.” recalls Brugere. But the moment that Brugere truly decided to become an art teacher was not in her home– instead, it...

Chandra Brown was born and bred in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended Jennings Senior High School, where she played basketball, volleyball and track. Brown matriculated to Lindenwood University on a basketball and volleyball scholarship However, after her freshman year she left volleyball to focus solely on basketball. After graduating from Lindenwood, Brown obtained a Master’s of Professional...

Athough Nathan Fouquet will be teaching two Spanish classes this year, his family and his name are actually French. “My great, great, great grandfather came straight over from France,” said Fouquet, “And he actually had a stand at the 1904 worlds fair.” Despite Fouquet’s French ancestry, he excelled at Spanish during high school and college. “I took a couple of classes in high school...

"I really enjoy being around kids and teaching, seeing that ‘aha moment’ when kids realize something and are learning something new, or in business when I teach how to open a checking account and a kid comes and says, you know, I opened a checking account yesterday. I’m able to provide them with real world knowledge to use outside of the classroom.” James Maddock is entering his 18th year...

"I think it’s really just sparking curiosity, because I feel like nothing that you leave, like no specific fact, is really important to being successful in life. But it’s all those skills like being curious, if you’re curious about something you’ll find a way to learn about it,” said new teacher Scott Kreher about an important aspect of teaching. Kreher is taking over for Dr. Pieper as the...

"Public service is where my heart is." For Katy-Jane Johnson, public service is at the center of everything she does. Her passion for public service began while interning at The White House when she studied political science at the nearby The George Washington University. She soon discovered that “You can have a job and make the world a better place”. This discovery became a mantra for the remainder...

After a lifelong plan of becoming a theater professor, Kim Zustiak could not be happier with her decision to teach high school instead. “I am one of the rare people who really enjoyed their high school experience,” said Zustiak. “I just loved all of those experiences and opportunities and I think that’s what made me come back and want to teach those very things.” Zustiak comes to Clayton...

Sralla has eighteen years of experience as an art teacher at the high schools in the Hazelwood School District. “Coming from Hazelwood, it is definitely a different kind of culture and I’m looking forward to experiencing it here in Clayton,” he said, “ [...] coming into another experience, it’s nervous excitement.” Although Sralla is new to Clayton, he is familiar with CHS art teacher...

Recognized as a master strength and conditioning coach by the CSCCA (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association) and having previously worked at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) for 10 years as Director of Sports Performance, Joshua McMillion, Clayton High School’s new Physical Education teacher, is set to replace former coach, Buddy Sodeman, who is now serving as Clayton...