Faculty Feature: Carrie Kuehne, Middle School Math Teacher
Ms. Carrie Kuehne joined the Rabun Gap Middle School faculty in 2014 after a career of teaching in public schools. She holds a BSEd. in Secondary Math Education from the University of Georgia and a M.A.Ed in Secondary Education from Piedmont College. She currently teaches Advanced Math I, Advanced Math II, and Geometry to 6th-8th graders.
Ms. Kuehne, her husband Brent and daughter Jessie ‘17, moved from Gwinnett County to Dillard in 2006. Jessie started sixth grade here at Rabun Gap in 2010 and graduated in 2017. Ms. Kuehne has deep roots in the Rabun Gap community - her father is from the area and graduated from Rabun Gap in 1952. She loved coming to the area as a girl when visiting her grandparents. She has fond memories of getting ice cream from the soda fountain at the Valley Pharmacy in Dillard where her grandfather was the pharmacist. She can even claim being related to the Rabun Gap founder; her great grandmother, Mary Ritchie Dillard, was a first cousin to Andrew Jackson Ritchie.
Why did you decide to become a teacher? My grandmother Dillard was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. From the time I was a young girl, I always believed I would one day become a teacher as well. However, I didn’t decide to teach math until my senior year of high school. In addition, I had always admired and respected my teachers growing up, so I hoped to have the opportunity to influence other young people in a positive manner.
What is your teaching philosophy? To me, teaching is like a balancing act. On one hand, I want my students to look forward to coming to math class and to feel comfortable while they are there. However, I also recognize that in order for learning to occur, discipline must be maintained. It is a constant struggle to maintain this balance, but the rewards are worthwhile.
I know that math is not the favorite subject of many students. However, I do believe that all students are capable of learning math. I work very hard to try and make it fun and interesting so that students will feel motivated to give their best effort.
What were you like in high school? In high school I was very studious and out going. I was in numerous clubs such as Student Council, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Junior Civitans. I also held class office every year and was elected class president my senior year. Probably my best memories from high school involve being on the Drill Team and performing at the football games on Friday nights. We would always have spend the night parties after the home games which was a lot of fun.
How many years of experience do you have as a teacher? This is my 30th year of teaching! Twenty-five of those were in public school and twenty-one of them teaching high school.
What inspires you? My students inspire me everyday! Throughout my years of teaching, I have worked with students who had either physical or learning challenges. With motivation and hard work, I have seen them persevere to find success both socially and in the classroom.
In addition, this year’s seniors were the first group of eighth graders I had the privilege of working with at RGNS. It gives me great pleasure to see them on campus and have the opportunity to catch up. I am so proud of how they have matured and all they have accomplished since leaving the Middle School. I would like to think I had at least a little to do with their success.
What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom? I love spending time with family and friends and am an active member of the Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church. I enjoy shopping, decorating, traveling, the arts and following all UGA sports!
What are you known for? I believe I am known for being silly and making funny noises. Call me anything, but don’t call me boring!
What's the makes Rabun Gap special? Rabun Gap is special because students from all over the world learn from each other and respect each other’s differences. Rabun Gap teaches us to be open-minded and that we are not the “center of the universe.”
What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone? I’m not that interesting of a person, but I do have ancestors that go all the way back to the Revolutionary War and coffee is my guilty pleasure!
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
