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Behind the Chalkboard: Amanda Hallam

Welcome to Behind the Chalkboard, which gives readers an inside look at the teachers in the community, why they do what they do and their lives outside of the classroom.

Amanda Hallam

Teaches choir and broadcasting at Garrett Junior High School.

Teaching for 13 years and just finished eighth year at Garrett.

Why did you become a teacher?

I specifically became a junior high teacher because it was the low point (in my time as a student). I survived it because of my band teacher. I found music. It helped navigate through a tough time. I’m paying it forward with what happened to me.

What is your favorite part of teaching?

That moment of seeing a kid find a passion and being able to facilitate that passion. I also enjoy having them come back and thank me.

What do you do for fun when you’re not teaching?

I have a husband, and we have two boys. We like to travel. I’m also into yoga.

If you were not a teacher, what would you be doing?

Improv comedy. My goal was to be on “Saturday Night Live” or be a stay-at-home mom.

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Christmas dinner open to everyone

When I first became principal of Martha P. King Elementary School, parent involvement through our Parent Advisory Council, or PAC, was small but full of potential. We began with a single president, then grew to include two co-presidents. Today, that growth has flourished into a fully established nine-member executive committee. That evolution tells an important story about our school and the community that surrounds it.

Christmas dinner open to everyone

Author Ken Poirot once wrote, “The best meals are those prepared by loving hands.”

It’s a great time to be a Bobcat

This past month was a busy but exciting month at Garrett Junior High School, and our campus is so full of energy for the holiday season.

‘BCHS feels like a family’

This time of year, schools across the valley begin recruiting—setting up tables at choice fairs, meeting families, and sharing what makes their campus stand out.

A busy time at Mitchell

As always, Mitchell Elementary is busy providing great learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

What is a critical access hospital?

According to the Rural Health Information Hub, a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a designation given to eligible rural hospitals who meet certain criteria. This designation was created by Congress via the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 due to the closures of over 400 rural hospitals during the 1980s through the early 1990s. The CAH designation was designed to improve health care access to Americans living in rural areas as well as provided financial stability to the facilities that serve these communities.

A Day in the Sun

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

BC schools earn new classification

This past Saturday, Martha P. King Elementary School joined Andrew J. Mitchell Elementary, Garrett Junior High School, and Boulder City High School at the CCSD Recruitment Fair hosted at Rancho High School. This event marked another important step in our community’s ongoing effort to showcase the exceptional educational opportunities available in Boulder City.