LOOK INSIDE LOOK INSIDE - Christ Church Episcopal School

23cavalier facultyFebruary 2012NewChemistryTeacherBegins SecondSemester16 Questions with...Mrs. FergusonCatie BakerStaff ReporterDr. Jamie Norton joined the faculty at ChristChurch in January as a new member of the science department.She will be teaching all levels of Chemistry.Dr. Norton attended USC at Aiken, and Clemson.Brought up in a home with five siblings, she loves to spendtime with her two daughters and husband as well as hermany pets. Dr. Norton has one dog, Angel, as well as, fivecats: Harley, Charli, Anna, Mimi, and Ezma.In her spare time, she loves to listen to her favoriteband, Nickelback.She would love to one day travel to New Zealand.Her special talent is Chemistry and she is very excited to bethe new Chemistry teacher here at CCES!Advertisein TheAthenian!Q: Describe yourself in two words.MF: Curious, imaginative (daydreamer)Q: What were your favorite activities when you were in high school?MF: I ran cross country and track and sang in chorus (musicals).Q: What were you like in high school?MF: I was a nerd--thin, a little awkward. I was introverted, but I had, and still have, a core group of friends from highschool.Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be?MF: A domesticated cat in my own home. I’d have it made.Q: If you could go back to any time in history, where and when would you go?MF: Ooh- hard question . . . I’d pick different time periods and different regions.Q: If you could go back and be anyone in history, who would you be?MF: Very general answer: daughter of a forward thinking father who let me get educated and be independent.Elizabeth I would be an obvious choice although her life was not super easy . . .Q: “Favorite” totalitarian dictator?MF: Stalin fascinates me--but each time I teach the totalitarians (Hitler, Mao, Castro) I learn something new. I am astonishedby the power they possessed.Q: Which historical figure would you most like to meet?MF: Peter the GreatQ: What’s the biggest difference between teaching at a private school and at a public school?MF: Fewer students- which is why I left public schools. I have more opportunity at CCES to work on what I teach insteadof simply grading papers.Q: Biggest pet peeve about students?MF: Not accepting responsibility for their actionsQ: What fact about your life would surprise your students?MF: I lacked confidence when I was younger. I didn’t really ‘fit in’, and I struggled to gain self confidence.Q: How did you get involved in acting in plays?MF: High school-10th grade. I wish I had kept up with the singing/acting in college.Business-cardsize ad now:$20Q: In your opinion, what is the worst mistake of history?MF: It’s trite, but the biggest mistake is not learning from the past.Q: What is your favorite time period to teach?MF: Post WW II 1945-1989 and the Cold War. I have also grown fond of the French Revolution, World War One, andReformation.Q: If you could teach any class in the school (not already offered), what would it be?MF: It would be fun to resurrect the Russian History Class that Kathy Jones (original department chair) created. I havealso toyed with a history through film class-like World War II- study situation and watch the film.