Name: Debra Redmon

Position: Eleventh grade Algebra II and 12th grade Applied Math teacher at Warren County High School

Experience: Graduate of Lipscomb University, studied math and art education. Taught elementary, junior high, and a preparation class for high school students taking their vocational and technical school tests in Charleston, S.C. 

Interestingly enough, she has never taught art. She ended up in Warren County because her family is here. She worked at F.C. Boyd Christian School three times and is now at the high school.

Fun Fact: Her son Joshua King was in Boyd Christian’s first graduating class. 

Q: How’d you get started in math?

In fifth grade, Mrs. Redmon recalled her teacher Ms. Bell saying, “Debbie, you’re going to get behind helping these students.” That’s when Debbie knew she wanted to teach. In eighth grade, she had the chance to take Algebra I early because of her skills in math.

Q: What’s the craziest thing to happen in a classroom?

In Charleston, Debbie taught third grade. One of the other teachers left without acknowledgement the class would be run by substitutes. If the subs had any issues with a student, they sent them to Debbie’s classroom. One of the kids who was sent to her kept pulling other kids’ ponytails. “Then the kid pulled one girl’s hair in my class,” she said, “and another kid got up and punched him in the stomach. That student didn’t pull another ponytail after that.”

Q: What’s something interesting about you some people may not know?

“After school, I would bowl two games before work at the commissary. I’d open up two lanes because it wasn’t busy at the time, and my ball would return faster than the pins would reset. So, I would bowl in one lane while the pins would set up in the other.”

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

Redmon said she listens to a variety of music. In college, she liked the Bee Gees and said, “At Lipscomb, we would open the doors to our dorms and line dance to the Bee Gees together.” 

Q: What’s the most challenging aspect of teaching in today’s classroom?

Redmon noted the high school has gone to completely online learning. She found Zoom difficult at first. She had a meeting the other day and was confused when no one showed up. Debbie laughed and said, “I forgot to invite them to the meeting.” She was worried about being in front of the camera, but she said, “It’s just like being in the front of the class.” 

Zoom is a learning curve, she said, but she’s adjusting well.