Destiny Chadwick attended high school here at GEHS and is now back to teach her very first year. Chadwick is a new Lifetime and Aerobics teacher who also coaches volleyball and powerlifting.
Before moving to Gardner and attending high school, Chadwick lived in Independence, Missouri and went to school in the Fort Osage District.
Chadwick explained that her inspiration to have a career in education was her teachers.
“I wanted to be a teacher because this was my safe space when I was in high school,” Chadwick said. “This was the place I could go and I knew my teachers would look out for me, so I want to be that for my students.”
When Chadwick found out that she got the job she was ecstatic.
“I was so happy… It was very surreal,” she said.
Chadwick is looking forward to being involved more in the school now as a teacher than she was as a student. She explained that she is open to helping any clubs and is going to be a part of D.A.N.G. (Diversity and Inclusion Group), this year.
“Anywhere I can help kids,” Chadwick said.
Something that Chadwick is looking forward to this year is the powerlifting season.
“I’m so excited for powerlifting. I see so much potential in kids,” Chadwick said. “I know where they can go if they keep their head on right. I think we will have a great season for powerlifting.”
Since this is Chadwick’s first year teaching she had a lot of goals for herself she wanted to complete. One of the main ones was learning how to complete her work more effectively.
“Just getting faster and more efficient at my work instead of second guessing myself,” she said.
Chadwick described her teaching style as relaxed. She said students are expected to work hard, but when there is time to play a game at the end or middle of class she allows it.
“We work hard, we get stuff done, and we stay disciplined… I don’t want [students] to dread coming to my class. I want to motivate [them] in the right ways,” Chadwick said.
