This past year, Rockbridge County Public Schools hired James Slagle, RCHS Alumnus, to teach three sections of CTE classes for the 2024-2025 school year. 

“I was born and raised in Rockbridge County,” said Slagle. “I graduated from RCHS in 2006.”

Alton Jarvis, Technology and Electronics teacher, taught Slagle during his time in high school.

“It is really neat to see any of our former students come back,”said Jarvis. “He is actually the second student of mine to come back and that’s just really cool.”

Having your former student as a colleague may seem strange to some, but to Jarvis, it’s a positive experience.

“It is really, really great to see him here,” said Jarvis.

Before moving back to Virginia in 2023, Slagle taught at the high school level in Texas. 

“I’ve been teaching math for the last 10 years, computer science for the last 2 years, and I’m currently teaching aerospace, architecture, and engineering here at RCHS,” said Slagle. 

He prepared for his first year teaching at RCHS by leaning on his previous classroom experience and taking training courses over the summer. He also attended a tech conference right before the school year started. 

“All the technology teachers in Virginia met and showcased some things that they’re doing in their classroom so I was able to see what they’re doing and I’ll be able to adapt some of that stuff for my own classroom,” said Slagle. 

Being a graduate student of the school he is currently employed at has been one of his favorite aspects of his new job. 

“[T]he teachers that I had once here at RCHS, I see them wandering the hallways and I’ve gotten to speak with them and that’s a really cool experience as well,” said Slagle.