Meet the new teachers on the block

Colonel Phillips transferred here from Chatham. This is his first year at Tunstall but it is his sixth year of teaching in the JROTC program. He currently has two daughters at THS. Part of the reason he loves working here is that he gets to see them more. He says his goal is to make his students better citizens and  prepared for the world. A former JROTC cadet himself, Phillips wants to make an imp...

Another addition to the English department, Dr. Keane is teaching 10th grade English. This is his sixth year of teaching, but it is his first year teaching at Tunstall. “My goal with my students is that they leave better readers, writers, and researchers,” Keane said. He said he wants to make sure they can pass the 11th grade English SOL. Outside of school he likes to spend time with his family,...

New to the English department, Mrs. McGuire is in her second year of teaching but this is her first year at Tunstall. She currently teaches ninth grade English. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher from when I was little,” she said. She has always loved English, especially in high school. McGuire says she enjoys that at Tunstall she does not feel alone. Her goal is to provide a safe space for her s...

Mrs. Burke, the new freshmen guidance counselor became a counselor in 2010 after working in Child Protective Services for eight and a half years. She has now been a counselor for almost 13 years and came to Tunstall in July of 2022. Her job is helping the ninth and sometimes the tenth graders. She helps with their academics, social and/or emotional issues, and career planning. She is also in charge...

Mr. Gunter is the new agriculture teacher at Tunstall. He likes agriculture because it's always been a part of his life. He came to Tunstall in August of 2022, and this is also his first year teaching. He is enjoying Tunstall because it is very welcoming, and he loves his students because they are very sweet and make life worth living. He attended two colleges which are Virginia Tech and Universit...

Mr. Huffman came to Tunstall in August of 2022 as the new U.S history and comparative religion teacher. This is not the first school he’s taught; he taught at Forest Park Academy from 2008 to 2010 and Magna Vista High School from 2020 to 2022. He attended Virginia Tech in 2008 and got his Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix in 2014. He likes teaching but it's a challenge sometimes mana...