The school year in Bryan County has already begun this Wednesday, August 6 with many new learning adventures ahead for both students and teachers. 

Most notably, the new Richmond Hill High School campus will be in use starting this fall, outfitted with renovated classrooms, a collegiate-style lecture hall, and expansive facilities for sports and the performing arts. 

Ahead of the new school year, the Bryan County News spoke with Richmond Hill High School teacher Russ Carpenter (who is also the mayor of Richmond HIll!) for a short Q+A. Answers edited for length and clarity.

Meet Russ Carpenter

• Name: Russ Carpenter

• Title: Mayor of Richmond Hill, high school teacher 

• How long have you been teaching?: 26 years 

• What classes/courses are you teaching this year?: U.S. government (12th grade) and U.S. Military History (an elective, open to grades 9-12)

• What were your first impressions of the new school building?: “It’s amazing. It’s enormous, but very accessible.”

• Favorite part(s) of the new school campus?: “The Fine Arts Department, as well as the Flex space for our classes [Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, health sciences, etc.]”. 

• What’s your favorite part(s) about being a teacher?: “Just teaching, talking to my students about the government [and] showing that our government is relevant to them. In our classes, I also teach them about the importance of voting; we actually take them to vote if there is an election, or we register our students to be ready to vote. And not just [discussing] presidential elections, but gubernatorial elections and local elections as well.”

• What are your goals/aspirations for the new school year?: “To teach my students, make sure they’re learning under the Georgia Standards. And of course, in my Military History history class, turn them into George Patton fans!”  

• Anything else you would like to share?: “I’m looking forward to an awesome year in an awesome school!”