MS Corner

Summer is essential throughout any time of life, it’s where the memories are made. But could you imagine spending summer in a foreign country? For Guadalupe and Rayko Pustavrh, no imagination is needed. Guadalupe (15) and Rayko (13) Pustavrh are Argentine exchange students from Mendoza in Federal Hocking Middle and High School. You might be confused on the “summer” part, and that is because our winter is actually summer in Argentina, and so they are visiting us on their summer break. They’ve been coming to FH for four years now, after meeting the former FH superintendent and being persuaded to…

Mikayla Rhodes is an intervention specialist at Federal Hocking Middle School. Rhodes originally wanted to be a physical therapist, but later changed her mind and started down the path for early childhood education. She is now getting her masters in educational leadership. She is inspired by people and that's what keeps her going. “I think people are such interesting creatures,” Rhodes said. Rhodes plans to stay in special education and doesn't plan on becoming a principal. She hopes to move to central Ohio as her boyfriend lives in Johnstown. An Intel plant is opening there and she feels it will…

Lori McNabb is a math teacher at Federal Hocking Middle School in 7th grade. McNabb had worked at Belpre before and she started teaching social studies, but eventually went to teach math. Her old math teacher inspired her to become a teacher. McNabb was inspired because one of her teachers wouldn't move on from a subject until everyone knew what they were doing and understood it. McNabb loves her students, she thinks the kids are hard workers and cares about what they are doing and what they are learning. When she had her first interview to be a teacher for…

Rebecca Castelino is a 6th grade teacher at Federal Hocking Middle School. Castelino teaches social studies. In past years of her career, she has taught science and math. She said she enjoys teaching social studies because it is a subject that is so in depth and interesting. Her favorite era in history is the Revolutionary war.  In her spare time, she enjoys nice peaceful walks. This is because at home she lives with her mother and father and they constantly have errands for Castelino to run or some type of task. Her house is always full of noises and sounds…

Chuck Robinson, the middle school health class teacher, absolutely loves his job. Robinson used to coach football, and enjoyed being a positive influence.  “I helped them become their best selves.”  Robinson adores working with kids and this influenced his career choice because he wanted to help others. Besides coaching, Robinson loves to play sports himself. In high school Robinson played football.  And now Robinson gets to recruit his own football team because he is one of the FHHS football coaches. Robinson gets joy from a lot of things but mostly from “watching kids compete.”

Have you ever heard of Emma Harter? If you haven’t, it’s probably because she is new to teaching. You will see Harter around the halls mostly in the 7th grade hallway. She is a history teacher. She was a student teacher for Rebecca Castelino and learned a lot of stuff from helping teach with Castelino. Harter, at a young age, wanted to be working with kids and both of her parents are teachers. When working as a student teacher, Harter got to teach first hand as Castelino’s student teacher. Harter said she wouldn’t be here without Castelino. Castelino went to…

Laurie Torrence is an 8th grade teacher at Federal Hocking Middle School. Torrence has taught at Federal Hocking schools for 35 years. She started off as a student teacher, then went to a high school teacher, and is now teaching 8th grade. Torrence’s love for teaching grew in 7th grade when her 7th grade math teacher introduced algebra to her. Torrences love for math grew when she was 12 years old. Her inspiration is her middle school math teacher Mrs. Delong. Torrence said the Federal Hocking Middle School principal, Sonya White, reminds her a lot about Delong, so White has…

Trystan Peyton is a new teacher at Federal Hocking Middle School. Peyton teaches sixth grade math and this is his first year teaching at Federal Hocking, even though Peyton has been around FH for six years due to coaching and pre-service hours. He loves FH because of its community. Peyton has taught for three years in total. He taught eighth grade at Meigs for two years. Peyton wishes to go back to teaching eighth grade because it can be quite difficult to keep younger students engaged and on task. Peyton also coaches girls basketball for Federal Hocking, and has done…

  On Nov. 9, 2023, Federal Hocking Middle School invited veterans into the school to honor them for their service. The assembly started off with the Federal Hocking Marching Lancers playing the “Star Spangled Banner.'' After they played the national anthem, students played “America the Beautiful.” The band’s director, Julia Brewer, was absent at the assembly so Raen Ridgway and Luke Marcum lead the band in the playing of the songs.  “It could have been a lot better. But at least we [the band] didn’t crash and burn,” Morella Ridgway, who plays bass clarinet for the marching band, said in…

Jaclyn Casey is from Poland, Ohio and is now a 6th grade teacher at Federal Hocking Middle School. She worked as a principal for the last three years, before that she was a teacher at WOUB. She took a break from teaching for a long time; she stopped in 2005 to travel, and came back to the classroom this year.  She lives at home with her husband who works at the Lancaster Prison as a sergeant and her three dogs. All five of her kids are grown. One of her kids Meredith  had a still born baby about three years…