David Rawlins, a teacher here at Cass High School, has worked for nearly 30 years, enduring a lot and staying passionately committed to gold and blue.
Teaching is not always a walk in the park, yet Rawlins has tackled every obstacle he has faced. He has jumped the hurdles of teaching, enduring COVID, and managing teenagers. Rawlins has said, “He enjoys his job and has wanted to be a teacher since he was a kid.” Throughout the interview with him, it became more and more evident how passionate he is about this profession. Seeing his heart and dedication is truly inspiring to both students and his teacher peers.
Not only is he a good mentor regarding academics, but he is also an overall fun person, who knows a thing or two about keeping people engaged in class. Anyone who has had Rawlins as a teacher would agree that he has a unique and lively personality. His current student and long-time family friend Lindsay Ziemer expressed how much she enjoys the energetic and fun atmosphere his class brings. Saying, “There is no part of this class I don’t like, with Rawlins as a teacher, there is never a dull moment in class.”
Rawlins’ notorious personality is not a newfound attribute. His coworker, and former student Derek Rader has known Rawlins for years and believes his unique personality has not altered throughout these grueling years. A lot can happen over 28 years; we have had multiple presidents and a pandemic. Numerous trends have come and gone, and we have also seen the furtherance of science and technology. Rawlins’s class has given Rader many memories to cherish throughout the years. His fond memories were not by any means about the periodic table or inertia but were more about the people he sat by and what was going on in the world at the time. One of his memories includes his recollection of flip phones and his first experience using Myspace in the back of Rawlins’s class. Rader does not think working with one of his former teachers is weird. Rader supports this when saying, “I used to nine years ago when I was new, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable. If anything, it was kind of fun to see him behind the scenes.” Further showing people enjoy Rawlins’s presence, Rader also mentions how Rawlins is an encouraging person and a profound influence.
As described, Rawlins has proven successful academically and has shown his notorious-spirited character over the years. Yet, this is not all he has to offer, he also coached cross country for a few years along his teaching journey. In addition, he competed in track in high school and college with an impressive mile time. While coaching here at Cass High, he has led multiple students to prosper in the world of sports. For example, one of the students he has coached, Mary Chind got an offer from and attended Georgia Tech. This reveals his sports knowledge and just how good of a mentor he is.
Rawlins is an influential person who undoubtedly deserves recognition because of his loyalty and incredible dedication to Cass. He has undergone enough to break most other teachers, yet he stands. All things considered, Rawlins is an exceptional and notable teacher who genuinely loves what he does. He has more than exceeded in the world of teaching and has accomplished more than most teachers will before the end of their academic careers. Naturally, this leads him to be one of the most successful teachers, exceeding and overcoming every challenge that comes his way.
