Atlantic Collegiate Academy will open the 2024-25 school year with a host of talented new teachers. Kelly Jones, a new Science teacher from Annapolis, Md., is a big part of that influx of talent.
Jones comes to ACA from the Anne Arundel County, Md., Public School District where she most recently served as the Chair of the Science Department for the last three-plus years, in addition to serving the district in a variety of capacities since 2016.
“Kelly comes in with tremendous experience and I am excited to have her at ACA to teach biology and chemistry,” Principal Mike Lorenz said.
The youngest of three siblings, Jones found a passion for science early in life.
“When I was a young girl, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer,” Jones said. “By high school, I wanted to become a chemistry teacher. I have always been a big science nerd and wanted to be able to share my love and knowledge of science with others. I enjoy working with kids and getting others hyped about things that I am also excited about.”
At Severna Park High, Jones was a lacrosse and field hockey player who also competed on the track team as well as competing in swimming and diving prior to high school. She also served as the sports editor of the school yearbook.
“I loved field hockey most of all in high school,” Jones said. “It was my favorite time of year the team was very good and had great positive attitudes. Our coaches focused on us having fun and enjoying ourselves which was very nice.”
It also helped that her teams won multiple state championships.
After high school, Jones went to college at Coastal Carolina, earning a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science in 2016. She said her favorite subject in school was a little different.
“Invasive species,” Jones said. “I really loved the professor. She was a genius and had a way of speaking about marine life that made you want to learn more. I could listen to her talk for hours about it.”
She returned to Maryland, attending Goucher College on the side while beginning her teaching career. She earned a Masters in School Improvement Leadership this past May with an Administrative Certificate.
During her time in the Arundel County School District, she filled several roles.
“I was a team lead for five of my seven years with AACPS and a Department Chair for 2.5 years,” Jones said. “I wrote curriculum for the county twice and once for the IB program. I was selected out of all middle school science department chairs to lead professional developments for the county. I mentored new teachers through the mentor program, and I co-lead the PBIS program and the Social Committee.”
After completing her graduate work, she started to look for a new challenge. That is when she found ACA.
“I was looking to do something different,” Jones said. “I was ready to move to high school but wanted to be somewhere special. I found ACA and was immediately drawn to it. I loved how the focus is on sports and helping athletes prepare themselves for the future. I was very interested in the schedule, expectations and support systems that ACA has. During the interview, I loved the team that was on the call. It was very clear they all know each other and work together to ensure success for themselves as well as the students.”
Jones describes her classroom style as very hands on, allowing students to learn by doing.
“I think students today learn best that way (hands on), but I also know you have to teach the students how to be fully independent with the use of teacher guidance,” Jones said. “I find connecting with the students is the most rewarding part of the job. As a teacher, we are molding the students into adults, and we have a large impact on their lives. I also love when students start questioning things themselves.”
Jones boyfriend is Eddie Hopeck, a New Jersey native who has been in Myrtle Beach since college. He runs the First Tee Program in much of Horry County and beyond, from Emerald Isle to Georgetown. Jones is a self-professed Harry Potter fan, but also enjoys anything supernatural. She has also worked as a wedding planner and enjoyed helping plan and organize school events at her previous school.
