Eleven new Cougars have begun working at Fallston High School this year. All of them are happy to be here and have enjoyed their experience thus far. Let’s get to know the new staff a little better.
Mr. Jason Bellamy (Business Teacher)
Mr. Bellamy is a new business teacher at Fallston High School. He describes his experience so far as “wonderful,” and says that “the students and staff have been very welcoming and supportive.” One interesting fact about Mr. Bellamy is that he was born on a Leap Day, meaning his actual birthday only happens once every four years. He also is a bit of a traveler, having recently been “to (both) Alaska and Hawaii on separate vacations.” Mr. Bellamy has also seen both The Great Gatsby and Hamilton on Broadway.
Ms. Julie Hemling (Chief Custodian)
Ms. Hemling is Fallston’s new Chief Custodian, taking over after Ms. Taylor’s retirement last year. She says her experience has been “great,” and that the students and staff have been “friendly and welcoming.” Ms. Hemling says that this year she is excited to work with a “good crew,” and that after getting to know them over the summer she “looks forward to coming to work” because of how kind they are. One interesting thing about Ms. Hemling herself is that she has seven grandchildren. The newest additions joined her family in April: “twins – a boy Conner and girl Camryn.”
Mr. Grant Morlock (Physical Education Teacher)
Mr. Morlock is a new Physical Education Teacher at Fallston High School, but he is not new to the building. Mr. Morlock graduated from Fallston High School himself in 2006, and so far, he says that “the students have been very welcoming, and that it’s been a good first few weeks.” However, his favorite part so far has been “the ninety minute block periods” since he has previously worked in middle schools. Outside of school Mr. Morlock has two kids, Blake and Luke. His most recent son, Blake, was actually “born on the side of I-95 on the way to the hospital” and recently, it was his two sons’ first time flying.
Ms. Danielle DePalo (Math Teacher)
Ms. DePalo is a new math teacher at Fallston High School, and she says her experience “has been great so far.” “Everyone is welcoming and helpful” and she’s “looking forward to getting to know all the staff and students.” Teaching is actually Ms. DePalo’s second career, and her favorite thing so far was that “this was [her] first summer off in a long time.” Ms. DePalo got to travel to “Assateague Island and Rehoboth beach this summer,” and she also got to enjoy some of her favorite hobbies, “crafting and [baking] bread.”
Ms. Paula Drumm (Math/Computer Science Teacher)
Ms. Drumm is another new math teacher at Fallston High School. She says that her experience has been “excellent.” “Everyone has been very helpful, supportive, and made it feel [her] like home.” Ms. Drumm says she is looking forward to “getting to know the faculty and students better.” But her favorite part about the job so far has been “the drive” since “[she] lives ten minutes or less from school,” so it has been very convenient. Over the summer, even though it’s a bit further of a drive, she “went to Assateague Island and… got to sit on the beach and watch the horses.”
Mr. Michael Van Volen
Mr. Van Volen is a new PLTW, Intro to Engineering, and Tech Design teacher at Fallston. This is his 17th year teaching, landing here after spending the beginning of his career at Bel Air High School. Before Bel Air, he grew up in Jamestown, New York. He says that “the beginning of the school year has been going great so far. The students and staff here have been very welcoming.”
Ms. Patricia Meyer
Ms. Meyer is a familiar face to many here at Fallston as she has simply moved up the hill from Fallston Middle School, where she was for the past seven years. She has been in the area for quite a while, as her three children all attended Fallston High School. This is her 23rd year teaching, and here she teaches regular and Honors Algebra 2. She also adds that she enjoys “saying hi to many of [her] past students in the hallway.”
Mr. John Patrick
Along with being a teacher for Science, Regular and Honors Biology, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and being the golf coach, Mr. Patrick has had quite the ride, as he has been an international teacher in Korea and Vietnam. He’s been teaching for 18 years and most likely traveling for that long as well. And because he has only been around Asian students for the majority of his career, he does say that “American students are very different.” But they “have been very welcoming to [him], and [his] fellow teachers are amazing. And the golf team rocks.”
Ms. Carla Moore
Ms. Moore is involved in the special education classrooms. She has never been to Fallston but has lived in Maryland for 18 years, coming to us from Ellicott City. She has worked in education for 30 years and with a variety of ages. She says how working in education has “been exciting and a learning experience.” “I love working with the kids and the atmosphere is just so awesome,” she adds. “Everyone here is so welcoming and kind to work with.”
Ms. Sarah Hipley
Ms. Hipley is a Special Education Teacher for English classes at Fallston High School. She isn’t new to the community as she graduated from FHS in 2009, and she is “very excited to be back!” This is her 8th year teaching, but “this school year has been a whirlwind so far.” Her favorite moment so far this year has been “watching the ROAR Rally and seeing all of the students excited to be back!”
Ms. Caroline Abbott
Ms. Abbott is a new paraeducator here at Fallston High School. However, it isn’t her first time in the den as she “went to Fallston and graduated in 2018.” She says it’s “definitely fun to be back, but a little different being on the other side of things.” So far though, her favorite thing about working here has been “getting to know the students and… the staff.” Some interesting things about Miss Abbott are that she absolutely “loves pickles” and over the summer she “became an aunt.”
