Last one out, meet me at the craft store

By Ashlyn Thompson, Riley Lambert and Chance Persac

Canton Academy is more than just yellow paint and metal siding. Several of the teachers have made their rooms unique and welcoming spaces. 

Mark Millet, high school art instructor, is known for his creativity in the classroom. He uses previous students’ artwork to spark creativity in the minds of current students. 

“Kids nowadays have not been taught how to let their creativity shine. My job as a teacher is to teach them how to be a leader and be able to speak out and stand up for what they believe in,” said Millet.

On the other side of the building, Kathleen Penn, high school math teacher, uses her posters to mentor her students who struggle to remember formulas. 

“I use math word walls to ease text and quiz anxiety; sometimes they need a quick reminder. All students have had it one way or another. Often, they need a jump start or a place to look to jog their memory. I also incorporate blue light covers to induce a calming environment and reduce glare and flickering. If they get tired or doze off, all they see is math. So, one way or the other, they are seeing math,” said Penn. 

English chair and yearbook advisor Courtney Warren is known for her bright personality and lively classroom decorations. With the help of the yearbook Editor-in-Chief, Eliza Lightheart, they revamped the yearbook room. 

“We felt that changing the yearbook room was important, so that students could look forward to coming to class, instead of it feeling like a task. The change gave the new yearbook staff an inviting room to design the upcoming yearbook in,” said Lightheart.  

EDITOR’S NOTE: With the Canton Academy Reflections Yearbook Staff celebrating the 50th volume of the yearbook, it was important to choose a great title and an outstanding focus. The staff announced the title, “Last One Out, Hit the Lights,” and Editor-in-Chief Eliza Lightheart was inspired to present a family feel for the book. With that in mind, staffers explored the idea of family within CA. The following is an excerpt from the upcoming volume.