New faces appear in the school hallway each year; every one hiding a story behind it. What if – your new teacher happens to be a freelance musician? What if your sub just went to a Green Day concert? What if your admin is also an amateur bungee jumper?

Here are the brief stories behind the new teacher and staff this year.

Chris Sartorious poses for picture with his family. Photo courtesy of Chris Sartorious

Chris Sartorius attended Parkway West High School. The Parkway Central Principal – Dr. Tim McCarthy – was his first high school teacher. After graduation, Sartorius worked jobs across various professional fields.

“Before getting into teaching, I was a parks director for a year. I spent ten years as a college athletic recruiter where I helped high school kids get college athletic scholarships. I worked in sales and then in the HR department. [I also] helped in the recruiting aspect of actually placing students [athletes to different colleges],” Sartorius said. “Before that, [I’ve spent] about ten years coaching college basketball.”

With basketball coaching experience, Sartorius became a basketball coach at Parkway West and a sponsor for their FBLA team. Three years ago he began teaching business classes at Parkway West.

“[Since] I was helping the school [Parkway West] and working with kids. I wanted to get into the teaching and education aspect as well as coaching,” Sartorius said.

To increase class availability in the Parkway District, Sartorius is teaching at both Parkway Central and Parkway West this year. He teaches at Parkway Central  in the mornings, first and second hour, and then travels to West to teach seventh and eighth hour.

“I’m getting to meet new teachers and new students at Central. Everyone’s been really nice, really welcoming. So I’m really enjoying the atmosphere here,” Sartorius said.

Courtney Hill posing with her husband and two daughters. Photo courtesy of Courtney Hill

Courtney Hill is the new mental health specialist at Parkway Central Middle and High School. She does therapy with individual students, connecting them and their families to resources they may need. Before working in  Parkway, she was a contracted therapist.

“This is my first job being employed by a school. I did ten years of school based therapy, but I was always employed by an agency.  I didn’t do a lot of the school meetings. I was my own little island and not as connected with the school,” Hill said. “So I’m really excited about feeling more integrated with the school.”

Hill got her bachelor’s degree in psychology, masters and license in professional counseling. She describes herself as a “therapist at heart” and believes her job helps  people address mental health issues.

“I think growing up, especially in high school, I found myself really enjoying listening to different friends if they were struggling with things. A lot of people would just come to me, and I really appreciated that,” Hill said. “Going through different experiences in my life, I want to be able to help people with this because it’s definitely like an issue that will always be here.”

After undergrad, Hill worked several jobs related to children’s mental health. She worked at foster care case management, which meets  with children who are removed from their family due to neglect or abuse, while at  the same time, visiting and talking to parents who lose their kids.

“It was very eye opening,” Hill said. “The goal was that they be reunified. Sadly, that didn’t always happen. The parents just maybe couldn’t get things together, and the kids may have guardianship with a foster family, a relative, or they may end up being adopted.”

She also did forensic interview at children’s advocacy center – a job that required her to interview child witnesses or victims of severe neglect or sexual abuse crime.

“What was hard about that is I had to be careful. I couldn’t really come into it like a therapist, because I had to be objective since it was going to be used in a court hearing. If it looks like I’m completely siding with somebody, that could interfere with the case,” Hill said. “But I definitely did my best to give them a warm, welcoming place to tell their story.”

Another job she worked was as a home therapy – providing therapy for children in a home environment.

“That was kind of cool because I could actually get a better sense of how their family functioned with being in their home,” Hill said. “It comes with challenges as well, but it was a good experience to be able to see the inside.”

In the new school year, Hill wants all students to know that they shouldn’t be afraid to seek help when going through challenges.

“If there is something really bothering them, the hardest thing is to seek help [and] to reach out. But I feel like it really is worth it because then they can not battle with it alone,” Hill said. “I’m here to help, help guide them along with that and to help.”

Christine Schmitt poses for picture in Disneyland. Schmitt describes Disney as “one of my favorite past times”. Photo courtesy of Christine Schmitt

Christine Schmitt is the administrative assistance for 11th grade level office, working with Dr. Shruti Upadhyay. She delivers passes, answers phones and generally assists students. Schmitt is a native Californian and just moved to Chesterfield last December.

“All of my dad’s side of the family is from the Creve Core Saint Louis area. And we wanted to, as a family, move closer to our extended family.” Schmitt said.

Before coming to Parkway, she worked with various organizations providing therapy and residential services to foster youth and teens in crisis. She realized her love for working with adolescents through her social work.

“When we moved out here, I was looking for a job where I would have high interaction with teens specifically,” Schmitt said. “Teens are so fun, silly, and have great personalities. I love their humor and their conversations.”

Schmitt currently lives in the Green Trails area, with social studies teacher John Meyer and physics teacher Jen Meyer as her neighbors. They recommended the Parkway district to her while she was searching for a job.

“They told me about Parkway Central and how wonderful it was,” Schmitt said. “I looked on the website and there was a position that would provide me with getting to interact with high schoolers, but also doing the administrative aspects of stuff. So it was a great blend.”

Schmitt is very grateful to have this position, and  has had a positive experience so far.

“I cannot speak more highly of the warm welcome of both staff, faculty and students. It has been the most amazing, positive experience that I’ve had,” Schmitt said. “There’s a very Midwest feel here, and I like that – very welcoming – which can be different from what I’ve experienced in California.”

Outside of school, Schmitt enjoys  spending time with her two dogs, family, and going on road trips to national parks. She also loves skydiving and bungee jumping.

Paul Shanker grew up in the Fort Zumwalt School District. Before coming to Parkway Central, he taught music for eight years: two years as elementary music teacher, and six years as assistant band director. This is the first time he assumed the position of head director for a high school band.

“I was really looking for a place where I could be the head director, and this offers an opportunity to do that,” Shanker said.

Beyond the position of head director, Shanker also mentioned that having a good administration and a long tradition of band are factors that make Parkway desirable. The former band director, Doug Hoover, also played a role in persuading him to teach at Central.

“It is rare to find a school that has as much tradition as Parkway Central. We have pictures of the band going back to the 1970s; I really have a lot of respect for that,” Shanker said. “And I knew Mr. Hoover, he was a personal friend of mine. He said that this was a good place to work.”

Shanker specializes in the woodwind section with saxophone being his main instrument. Right after he graduated from college, he spent some time as a touring musician for Tommy Money Jazz Orchestra – playing 45 shows over 60 days.

“The first week was fun because it was something new. The second week was okay. By the end of it, I really missed being home.” Shanker said. “After I got back into town, I got an offer to go back and do another tour, and I was like, I don’t think that’s the life I want to lead.”

His love for music eventually led him to becoming a teacher. He was a White Castle general manager for four years and did insurance underwriting for Gulf of America. Afterwards, he taught private saxophone lessons, which encouraged him to teach more.

“I was lucky I had a lot of really good students that were willing to do the work. So it gave me kind of an inflated sense of ‘maybe I’m special’” Shanker said. “It was all the kids, but it [feels like] I could do this [teaching] and succeed at it too.”

In his free time, Shanker still plays saxophone professionally. He also does worship service for the Crossing Church and plays for the Genesis Project.

New building substitute Amy Utterson attends a MCR concert in Chicago with her husband on Aug. 28. In her free time, she loves traveling to see different bands around the country. Photo courtesy of Amy Utterson

Amy Utterson is the new building substitute. She stays in the building and helps cover any teacher absences, even if they’re last minute.. Previously, she taught middle school English and social studies for 20 years.

“My last few years were in the city. I taught American history at an international school [Long International Middle School], so it was mostly students who were not familiar with English,” Utterson said. “It was interesting seeing our American history unfold to people who aren’t from here. Their version of it is slightly different from ours.”

Before COVID, Utterson temporarily stepped away from the classroom and did private tutoring. Because of the pandemic, many students sought her help. Tutoring led her to become a temporary substitute teacher at Parkway Central, and where she was met with a positive working experience.

“I subbed a whole bunch last year, and then I learned about this open building position. And I thought, ‘well, am I ready to go back to work full time? Yeah, I think I am,’” Utterson said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to teaching, but this is a good jump, giving me a taste of it.”

Outside of school, Utterson greatly  enjoys music.. She and her husband travel around the country to see different shows. Last year, they went to 60 concerts.

“Twenty One Pilots [is] amazing. Green Day is my absolute favorite band. We’ve seen them six times. The Struts  – nobody’s ever heard of them – they are so phenomenal. Those are probably my top big shows,” Utterson said.

Utterson looks forward to getting to know students this year. In the future, she says  that she’s considering returning to teaching.

“I’m excited about reconnecting with some kids and trying to decide if I want to get back and teach again,” Utterson said. “I told them if a long term sub comes up, I’d be willing to do that. That would be a nice way to dip my toe back in.”

Sarah Petroff posing with her dog, Lady, in the parking lot. Petroff describes herself as a “crazy dog lady” and would like to have more dogs in the future. Photo courtesy of Petroff

Sarah Petroff is a Parkway Central alumni. Before moving back to St. Louis, she taught English and Speech and Debate at the Republic School District. She is grateful to be able to return and teach at Central.

“It was always a dream to come back and teach here because I loved high school,” Petroff said. “I’ve taught for different districts; I was always comparing [them] to how great my time was here at Central. I waited until I got more experience, and then when there was an opening, I applied.”

Petroff says  that as a student, she had a very positive experience at Central, which inspired her to become a teacher in the future.

“I went to private school until fifth grade, and I really didn’t love my life in the private school. So I asked to come to the public school. Immediately I had amazing experiences,” Petroff said. “I joined the drama club. I made so many more friends that are interesting, diverse groups of people, and I just wanted to be a teacher. Also, both of my parents are teachers, so it runs in the family.”

Returning as a teacher, Petroff said the building changed a lot, with renovation and the addition of a science wing. However, the building still had a similar feel, as some of her teachers and coaches – such as Tom Schaefer, Hilary Grabow and Ryan Banta – still work here.

“It’s actually shocking how much [Central] feels the same, and in the best way,” Petroff said. “The building feels the same. It still feels diverse. It still feels like a great teacher [works here].”

Going into the new school year, Petroff is excited to learn more about the school as a teacher and to connect with the students.

“I’m looking forward to learning the side of the Parkway that the teachers see since I only really had the student perspective,” Petroff said. “I’m blown away at how great the kids are, how great the teachers are, and the district feels very supportive, like they’re really here to help me if I need it.”

Outside of school, Petroff enjoys movies and politics. She also enjoys spending time with her dog Lady.

“I’m kind of a crazy dog lady. I want a bunch of dogs. I only have one right now because I live in a place that only allows a few. But I would love one day to have eight dogs,” Petroff said.