Staff Spotlight: Officer Josh Stokes

Department: Safety Officer

I've been at Saint James for:   6 months

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

High school: Lee High School 

Past Experience: Retired Sergeant with the Montgomery Police Department (20 years)  Certified Police Instructor, Over 10 years as a Major Crimes Investigator 

Favorite Book: War and Peace 

Officer Stokes with his wife and daughter.

Favorite Movie: Jurassic Park Trilogy 

Favorite Food: Steak

Spouse:  Stephanie, married for 19 years

Children: Maya, age 17  

Favorite thing about working at STJ: The family atmosphere between students and faculty 

Favorite Quote: “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”

Staff Spotlight: Cpl. Josh Huffaker

My Title/ Department : Assistant Director of School Safety

I've been in this role for: This is my first week. I recently retired from the Montgomery Police Department after 20 years of service. I spent 10 years in Patrol Division and 10 years as an Accident Investigator/Traffic Homicide Investigator ending my career as the Hit and Run Investigator for the City of Montgomery. Also while in the traffic division I was a part of several college football team escorts, VIP escorts including Presidential Motorcades.

Hometown: Wetumpka, AL 

High School: Robert E. Lee High School

College/Degree/Training: Montgomery Police Academy - APOST Certification

Alabama Trooper Academy -  Accident Investigation/Traffic Homicide Investigation Certification

Favorite Book: The Bible

Favorite Movie: Smokey and the Bandit and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Favorite Food:  Steak

Spouse: Stephanie Huffaker (high school sweetheart) we have been married for 24 years. 

Children/ ages : Jackson (21) works full time / Brody (18) Senior at Wetumpka High School

Favorite thing about working a STJ: The positivity of everyone, faculty and parents, that is surrounded by this school and how much STJ is a family orientented atmosphere.

Fun Fact:  I love to joke around and an occasional prank. My wife and I are part of the “Wetumpka Griswolds” during Christmas. We dress as the characters -I am Art and my wife is Francis. We are the parents of Ellen Griswold from the movie.

#wearesaintjamesschool

Wetumpka Griswolds

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Barry Prim

STJ CFO, Barry Prim.

My role: I am the new CFO

I have been at STJ for: 5 months

Hometown: Montgomery

High School: Jeff Davis

College/Education: Auburn - Economics, UAB  - MBA

Favorite Book: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Mr. Prim with his wife and daughters.

Favorite Movie: Mary Poppins

Favorite Food: Anything Italian

I am married to: Jeana is my wife and we have been married for 33 years! 

Children: Emily (29) and Dodge (19). Both are STJ grads

Favorite thing about STJ: I love this school and this faculty and staff. It's such a great, big family!

Fun Fact: I LOVE music. Especially Steely Dan or stuff from the 70's and 80's. Big jazz and R&B fan, too.

Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Lauren Young

I teach: Third Grade

I've taught for: 8 years, this upcoming year is my second at STJ

Hometown: I was born in Indiana, but I grew up in Montgomery.

High school: I was homeschooled all the way through high school.

College/Degree: B.S. in Counseling from Faulkner University and M.S. in Childhood Education from Auburn University at Montgomery.

STJ Extracurricular: I do after school novel studies (similar to book club)! I also sponsor the STJ Kindness Camp as we read the novel, Wonder.

Favorite Book: Anything that is historical fiction.

Favorite Movie: Titanic

Favorite Food: Pizza

Spouse/Married for how long: I have been married to my husband, Bryan, 8 years.

Children/ages: Jayce is 4 and Everleigh is 2.

Favorite thing about working at STJ: I love the culture of excellence here at STJ and the family atmosphere.

Fun Fact: My kids will be with me as STJ this year as little Trojans!

#wearesaintjamesschool

Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Norma Jo Roberts

I teach: I teach ESL and Learning Support

I've Taught for: I have taught for 31 years. I have previously taught AP Language and Composition and Junior English at STJ 12 years ago (I have actually taught several current STJ teachers!)

Hometown: Anderson, Indiana

High school: Indiana Christian Academy

College/Degree: BS from Maranatha Baptist Bible College; MAED from Trident University

Favorite Book: Macbeth by Shakespeare

Favorite Movie: Braveheart

Favorite Food: watermelon

Norma Jo (Nana) with her daughter and grandson

Favorite thing about working at STJ: The best part about working here is being a part of the best school I have ever taught at in 31 years. I love the campus and co-workers and organization - I love every aspect!

Fun Fact: I love my grandson Silas to the moon and back as you see in the pictures as well. He calls me Nana and it is the best sound I hear every day. I also love kick boxing!

Faculty Spotlight: Rhea Grate

Sra. Grate wearing an authentic flamenco dress from Spain.

I teach: Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Spanish 2 Honors, Spanish 3 Honors, and Spanish 4 Honors

I've Taught for: 16 years. This is year 10 at Saint James School.

Hometown: Paramus, New Jersey

High school: Paramus High School

College/Degree: Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania/ Bachelor of Arts with a double major: Economics & Business/ Spanish

University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts/ Masters in Business Administration

STJ Extracurricular: Spanish Club and Knitting Club

Favorite Book: This is a tough question. I enjoy Dan Brown for American fiction. Carlos Ruiz Zafón is great for foreign contemporary fiction. A classic: Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Nonfiction: Healthy at 100 by John Robbins. The Joy of Cooking. I tend to read nonfiction, biographies and autobiographies most.

Favorite Movie: Any James Bond movie.

Favorite Food: Another hard question. I eat a great variety of food ....If forced to choose....seafood.

Sra. Grate, with other Alabama educators, as Governor Ivey signed a bill officially recognizing the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

Favorite thing about working at STJ: The students! I keep in touch with many former students and even get wedding invitations from some!

Fun Fact: I have visited 48 countries, backroads and major cities in five continents. I have lived in two other countries besides the U.S.

Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Maria Light

I teach: Pre-K3 Teacher's assistant

I've Taught for: I worked at Maxwell Elementary/Middle School as an Educational Aide in Kindergarten for 3 years.

Hometown: Miami, FL

High school: G. Holmes Braddock High School

College/Degree: Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, Faulkner University 2015; Master of Science in Human Resource Management, Troy University 2017

The Light Family

Family: Husband Rob, daughter Eva (7th grade), and son Joseph (6th grade)

Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favorite Movie: Life is Beautiful

Favorite Food: Paella

Favorite thing about working at STJ: The STJ staff and students have welcomed my family warmly. My 12 and 11 year old children are happy to come to school every morning.

Fun Fact: My family and I have a small farm with chickens, goats, dogs and cats.

Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Hampton Mitchell

I teach: Middle School PE

Ive taught for: 8 months (first year)

I was born: Mobile, AL but Ive lived in Montgomery since 2000

High School: Alabama Christian Academy

Education: B.S. from the University of Montevallo and a Masters of Education in Exercise Science from AUM

STJ extracurriculars: I am the head cross country coach, assistant indoor track coach and assistant girls soccer coach

My favorite book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

My favorite movie: Rudy…fun fact Ive met the real Rudy!

My favorite food: pickles

My favorite thing about working at STJ: getting to know all the students and athletes I get to work with

Fun fact: Ive been skydiving 3 times!

Faculty Spotlight: Mr. Wes Smith

I teach: Honors algebra 2 and Pre-calculus

I've been teaching for: 3 years (1st year at STJ)

Hometown: Fultondale, AL

High school: Fultondale High School

College/degree: Huntingdon College with a bachelors in mathematics

Married to: Kennedy Smith, married for 3 years

Children: Bennett, age 17 months. He will be starting PreK2 at Saint James this fall.

STJ extracurricular: Assistant Trojans Wrestling coach

Favorite book: The Harry Potter series

Favorite movies: anything and all Marvel

Favorite food: chicken wings

Favorite thing about working at STJ: the fantastic community that STJ has built!

#wearesaintjamesschool

Faculty Spotlight: Mr. Adam Osborn

I teach: 9th grade English & World History, Public Speaking

I've taught for: 10 years, this is my 11th! 6 years (college-level), in my 5th year here at the MS/HS level. This is my first year at STJ

Hometown: Lafayette, LA

High school: Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts

College/Degree: Tulane University -- BA in English (History minor); University of Chicago -- MA Program in the Humanities (Middle English Literature)

STJ extracurricular: Just dipping my toes into the world of Speech & Debate

Favorite Book: (This is extremely tough!) The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin

Favorite Movie: (This is also extremely tough!) Pan's Labyrinth, dir. Guillermo del Toro

Favorite Food: Absurdly elaborate sushi

Married to: Joanne Spotswood, fiber artist extraordinaire!

Children: No humans, just two nefarious mutts

Fun Fact: Though I look like a Kenny G fan, my favorite types of music are actually things like punk & heavy metal!