IT New Teacher Spotlight: Hunter Jones

Innovation Academy proudly welcomes Mr. Hunter Jones as a new GT Block and IT teacher!

Mr. Jones brings a wealth of experiences to our school. After studying Computer Science at KSU, he taught at Haynes Bridge Middle School. Interestingly, some of his former students from Haynes Bridge are now his current students at IA!

Mr. Jones teaches Programming, Games, Apps, and Society and the Intro to IT portion of GT Block. Incidentally, GT Block is similar to a class he taught at Haynes Bridge called Career Awareness, which allowed students to explore different careers. He looks forward to getting to know his GT Block students throughout the year, compared to the shorter interactions he had with his students during Career Awareness.

Regarding his Programming, Games, Apps, and Society Class: “It’s an elective course for students who have taken most of their programming courses in that track that they need to already. And really, my intent with the course is for students to have the opportunity to express themselves and develop the projects that they are personally interested in. I’m giving them techniques that we use in the industry to develop projects so that they can take those and take them into the career field after high school.”

Mr. Jones is thrilled to be at a school where the staff share his enthusiasm and knowledge base for both IT and Education, and he is looking forward to teaching students who share his passion and excitement.

When asked to give a piece of advice to the ninth graders, he said: “Keep an open mind about the opportunities that are available here. We have our three pathways and a lot of students are coming in saying I want to definitely want to do this one, or I definitely want to do that one. I want to do that one and others are like, I have no idea. I think especially in GT block, being open to all the different things that you have the potential to learn and explore and explore more throughout the rest of high school. I think it’s a cool, interesting opportunity. It’s unique in students at other schools don’t get that.”