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Students and teachers alike are heading back to school. For Ray School District there are four new faculty members added to the roster.
Samuel Colton Sr.
Samuel Colton Sr. will be heading up the new CVIT welding program as well as teaching woods at the senior high school.
Colton has an AAS Welding Technology, Technical Certificate Manufacturing Technology and a BA degree in Sociology.
He chose teaching “as an opportunity to pay forward to others for the gift of a good education from my teachers.” He would like to see Ray High School recognized statewide as the model school for career technical education.
Colton’s wife is Carmen and the couple has four adult children, Samuel Jr., Israel, Kristina and Carolina.
Michael Napientek
Michael Napientek will be taking over direction of the music and band department for grades 5 through 12. The transplant from the suburbs of Chicago holds a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College in Music and Business Administration.
His career goals are to spark the passion and magic of music in as many students as possible.
“I chose to teach after going on a study abroad trip to Jamaica where we taught music in the schools,” Napientek told the Copper Basin News. “Since then, I have been back 8 times and still go every June and adjudicate the Western Jamaica International Music Festival.”
He enjoys riding his bike, listening to music, hiking and “watching my Chicago White Sox.” And he loves Corvettes!
Christopher Ervin
Christopher Ervin joins the faculty and administration at Ray Sr. High School as the assistant principal and athletic director. He will be teaching Earth Science, Forensic Science and Chemistry.
He has been an educator since 2004, teaching science and coaching. He holds two undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Geology and two master’s degrees in secondary education and supervision.
Ervin chose a career in teaching because, “I like to help bring understanding to young minds,” he said. His goal is to become an administrator.
Ervin is single and has three adult sons. He lists his hobbies as all sorts of outside activities including golf, paddling and hiking.
Rachel Mawson
Rachel Mawson will be teaching mathematics at the senior high school. She received her BS in Mathematics from Arizona State University and her M.Ed. in teaching and teacher education from the University of Arizona.
“My teachers pushed me out of a small town,” Mawson said, “and made me believe I could do anything and I wanted to return the favor. Also, I love coaching.”
Her career goals are simple: to get better every day. She lists painting, video games, volleyball, softball and driving as her hobbies.
Welcome to all the new teachers.
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