Weir High welcomed four new faces to its staff this year.  Joshua Garrett, Emily Hores, Gavin Koratich, and Michelle Petrella.  Koratich teaches Civics and Pyschology. Emily Hores teaches Family and consumer science. Michelle Petrella is the new secretary.  Joshua Garrett is the new band director and also teaches music.  The new hires sat down for a interview so their students and coworkers can get to know them better.  

The first staff member is Joshua Garrett.  Starting this year, he is the band and choir director at Weir High School, and the band director at Weir Middle.  Every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45 to 4:30, and nearly every day during second block, they rehearse for upcoming games. 

Garrett grew up in Glen Dale, WV, the hometown of Brad Paisley, and graduated from Wheeling Park High School in 2007.  He comes from a family of artists, musicians, and music educators, so it’s no surprise that he’s so passionate about music, especially the drums, while dabbling in singing and playing the piano.  He acquired his Music Education Degree from West Liberty University this past May, and was hired here only a few months after.   

Before that, he was a professional musician for 20 years, although this is why he says he changed his career, “While I absolutely love that profession, I wanted to pursue a career that gave me more stability and fulfillment in my personal and professional life.”  It sounds like Weir High is giving him exactly what he wanted, as he says his experience at this school so far has been great and the students, staff, faculty, and administration have made him feel very welcomed and supported.  He even explained how he almost teared up at the first home football game while the band performed “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd, which made him confident in his decision that our school was the right place for him. 

The next staff member is Emily Hores , who teaches Family and Consumer science. She was subbing for a couple years, but then decided to teach full time this year. “I had several actually, one would have been my art teacher from middle school. Her name was Mrs. Ring, and then I had a choir teacher, Rick Taylor” Emily Hores was asked who inspired you to teach. Emily was asked what her favorite subject in high school was. She responded that there were  3, Theatre, Choir, and Art.  She was asked what her favorite subject in high school was.  She responded that there were  3, Theatre, Choir, and Art.   

 “As I’m coming back in, I just kept asking for a sign to know this is where I’m supposed to be.  So several of the students in the yearbook class, when I walked in, they asked if we can have a mental health check in, and I said yes.  Afterwords, one of the students came up to me and told me I was really helping them out and making a difference,” Hores answered when asked what was one memorable thing that happened in your class.  Former student, Ty Lyon, and current student, Alauna Baker, were asked if anything what they would change about this class.  Ty Lyon answered, “Wouldn’t change anything, she was such a nice lady.”  “I honestly wouldn’t change anything, I enjoy that class,” Alauna Baker responded.

The third new hire is Gavin Koratich, who is a first year teacher, and educates students in Civics and Psychology.  “My English teacher, Mr. Loher, who showed me teaching can be engaging, it can be fun and you can also think on some hard things you may have not considered,” Gavin Koratich said, when asked who inspired you to teach.  When asked did you originally want to teach the subject you are teaching now, Koratich responded by saying that he has been interested in Social Studies, World History, Economics, and Geography from a very young age.  “I realized later in high school, I had a teacher who didn’t do so well at their job, who was very awful and I felt like they were wasting the potential this job had.  So I essentially wanted to come in and make up for that teachers shortcomings,”  Koratich answered, when asked at what point did you realize you wanted to teach.  Current student, Jordyn Ferguson was asked the same question but about Mr. Koratich’s class. “I would change the notes, we take a lot of notes in that class”

Another new hire this year is the secretary, Michelle Petrella.  Before she started here, she went to Brooke High, then worked at an insurance agency in Weirton for ten years.  When interviewed about her experience at this school so far, she said she has no complaints, except waking up at five in the morning.  “I just sit here and take attendance, that’s the excitement,” she said.  Petrella chose this job because she enjoys working with students and being in the school environment.  She loves getting to know the students and her coworkers, especially her office workers, who she says are very helpful and kind. 

  All of the new employees are enjoying their job and have settled in well, and we’ll have two new hires in the next paper!