Freshman Focus @ JCHS

This week, Johnson Central students will have the opportunity to campaign for class offices, have leadership input into Friday's student organization fair, be introduced to several of the amazing career and students organizations that we offer at Johnson Central and immerse themselves in school spirit and culture in preparation for our first home football game of the season.

Students spent last week nominating officers for each class and this week brings the excitement of a friendly, positive campaign. Nominated students will have Monday-Wednesday to campaign for an office. We look forward to seeing signs in the hallways and a successful vote that will take place on Thursday.

As a Leader In Me school, students are currently creating the plan for an organization fair to be held in the gym on Friday. The goal of the organization fair is for each and every one of our students to gain the opportunity to see the vast offerings that we have at Johnson Central. This fair will include professional, competitive or nationally linked organizations. We have a current list of organizations that were running in our building before the pandemic began. At this time, we will begin with those groups and work to expand upon suggested offerings.

After the fair is set up, each grade level class will have a dedicated class period to explore our offerings. Each organization will have sponsoring adults and current members on-site to inform our students about each group. We know that students want to hear from other students about what type of experiences actually take place in an organization. This will give everyone the ability to explore their interests.

Lastly, Johnson Central prides itself on school culture. We want our school to be the place that students want to be and truly feel that they are most comfortable. This Friday will be the first home football game of the year. With the game, we also offer a place for cheerleaders to cheer, dancers to dance and the band to play and excite the crowd. Every home Friday night is an event and we encourage each and every one of our students to come out to the game.

Nathan Reel is a 2002 graduate of Johnson Central High School. He currently teaches AP Physics C, Engineering II and III, Engineering Capstone, and Honors Integrated Science. A former swimmer and school record holder for the Johnson Central Swim Team, Coach Reel now serves as head coach of the team that last year took 8 young men to the state championship where the 4x100 freestyle relay broke a 22 year-old school record and was within a second of another record.

Mr. Reel took a unique path to the education profession. After earning a bachelor of science in Geology from Morehead State University, he worked in the oil and gas industry in a variety of roles for Chesapeake Energy. Most notably, he was a company expert in electromagnetic technology for measurement while drilling (MWD) systems and authored technical and training manuals for the Applied Physics Systems MWD system for horizontal drilling. Additionally, he was a company liaison with a team from MIT that was piloting capacitor technology in order to improve signal reliability. During a downturn in the energy sector, Mr. Reel joined his mother, sister, and wife in the education profession as a science and engineering teacher at Johnson Central.

Nathan is also active as a club advisor for the Johnson Central SkillsUSA chapter and is excited to start a new Technology Students of America (TSA) club this year for students in engineering and related pathways. He is the husband of Kimberly Reel, who teaches Engineering I and math classes including dual credit College Algebra at Johnson Central and is integral to the success of Mr. Reel, particularly during annual swim camps. He is the father of two children: Nicholas, a Highland Wildcat and Emma, a future Wildcat. Nathan enjoys camping with friends and family, vegetable gardening, Formula 1 racing, Kentucky basketball and football, and fantasy football.

Email: marc.shepherd@johnson.kyschools.us
Website: johnson.k12.ky.us
Location: 257 N Mayo Trail, Paintsville, KY, USA
Phone: 606-789-2500