With a new year at Chelsea High School underway, CHS introduced some new teachers into the building. An opening left by the retirement of Andrea Maines in the history department was filled by David Slusser, teaching US history and civics, and an opening left by the retirement of Lonnie Mitchell in the math department was filled by Melissa McIntosh, now teaching geometry. Both teachers leave a legacy throughout the school district.
“I actually came to the district about 10 years ago to the high school,” Slusser said. “I was working on the west side of the state at a middle school, and there was a part-time position open at the [Chelsea] high school. I only taught one class a day, and I was a paraprofessional at Beach the rest of the day.”
Slusser reminisced about his decision to take the spot at Beach in 2017 and even added that he thought about whether he would ever want to go back to the high school in a more full-time capacity. He described the feeling of being back at the high school as very satisfying.
“When this position opened up in the spring, I thought, I kind of wanted to take my shot on this. I get to teach US history and civics, which is awesome, like those are two of my favorite subjects to teach,” Slusser said. “And I thought then that was probably a good time to take that shot. It just happened to be good timing. Right place, right time.”
With experience in both the district’s middle school and the high school, McIntosh is able to compare and contrast the culture surrounding the schools. As a teacher with experience at both schools, she finds the difference in the communities clear.
“The teachers in both buildings are very supportive. The High School is a little more serious. I guess, just because we know that things have to be on the transcripts. We are having to get you ready for college,” McIntosh said. “All schools [in the district] are very supportive and welcoming, and we all try to make sure we are always doing what’s best for students. The difference is that in high school, we are making sure that we’re preparing you for college. In middle school, we’re preparing you for high school.”
Both Slusser and McIntosh understand the difference in the students at Beach and the students they teach now. All ages are going to need different things. Slusser, who attended CHS as a teenager, is able to better understand the difference in priorities between ages. And now, as a staff member, he can understand the differences between schools.
“Kids have different needs at this level; therefore, your culture adjusts to meet the needs of those kids. At the high school, we as a department talk.” Slusser said. “And that’s the big difference. At Beach, we would talk as a grade level, it would be me, Schuman, DeLand, and all the seventh-grade teachers talking. And at the high school, it’s mostly the Social Studies department that talks, and that’s who I spend my time with.”
Many of the teaching styles hold up even after the transfer to a new building. Slusser still keeps the goals of understanding and pushing kids to analyze. He did a lot of inquiry-based learning at Beach and intends to continue that learning style at the high school. He always wants to contribute to the culture at CHS, the same way he loved to do at Beach.
“I love Beach. I absolutely loved it, and I absolutely adore working there. And if I worked there right now, I’d be very, very happy.” Slusser said.
The relationship between teacher and student is very important. McIntosh has said that it was great to already know many of her students from eighth grade and begin to rebuild some of those relationships and connections. She had also reflected on the staff that she’s returning to, stating that some of her best friends teach at CHS.
“I’m just happy to be in Chelsea, but each is a wonderful place. High school is a wonderful place, and I like the aspects of growth.” McIntosh said.
