The halls of Bearden look a little different than they have in years past.
The Freshman Academy debuted at Bearden last year, but the academy system is in full swing now.
Students are no longer directed to the English hallway or the math wing, but instead to the Freshman Academy and the BLC hall. Amidst all the adjustment to new classrooms for teachers, it might be easy to disregard a new face.
As he starts his first year as Freshman Academy principal, Dr. Davis Bodie is one such new face. Although he may be new to Bearden, Bearden isn’t necessarily new to him.
“I’ve always had kind of a sideways connection to Bearden High School,” Dr. Bodie said. “My parents both graduated from here in the 70s, and I’ve had 11 aunts and uncles graduate here.”
Before his arrival at Bearden, Dr. Bodie spent time at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Gresham Middle School, and Carter High School. He was most recently at Kelley Volunteer Academy, but this move has given him a chance to connect with some of his roots.
“I’m really glad to be in a school that’s close to home,” Dr. Bodie said.
One major aspect of the Bearden way that Dr. Bodie expects to fall into step with easily is the massive sports culture that surrounds the school.
“He has a background as an athlete, and he seemed to be really into the student section stuff,” said Freshman Academy dean Mrs. Rebecca Nutter.
In addition to being introduced to a new school, Dr. Bodie is also learning about the academy system along with the freshmen. Dr. Bodie only had seniors and a few juniors at his previous school.
Despite being thrown headfirst into a new school model, Dr. Bodie is finding himself adjusting as the year progresses.
“I’ve really picked up a lot quickly,” Dr. Bodie said.
Mrs. Nutter was quick to commend him on his new ideas and contributions to the academy system that he is just beginning to learn.
“He’s shown me some of the spreadsheets that he’s working on to collect student data, which is part of what we need to do more of this year with the Freshman Academy,” Mrs. Nutter said.
Dr. Bodie gives credit to academy coach Mrs. Kelley Darnell and Mrs. Nutter for helping him to better understand how to work in the academy system. He also commends previous Freshman Academy principal Mr. Greg Adams for his work and the administration for welcoming him into the school.
Although Dr. Bodie has only been at the school for a short time, he has already started to make a positive impact on some of the freshman students.
“He stopped by all of the freshman seminar classes to introduce himself,” Bearden mentor Kiana Toms said, “and make sure they knew they could talk to him.”