My name is Kalysia Bates, and this is my first year teaching English Language Arts at Smiths Station High School. I am super excited about beginning my journey as a teacher. Before my teaching role, I worked as a Mental Health Professional, serving individuals from six years old to over sixty-five. Additionally, I have over three years of coaching experience, having led my own teams, club teams for travel volleyball, and young girls at the YMCA. I am a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and hold a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree from Alabama State University, where I also played volleyball (Go Hornets). Students can find information and classroom materials on Google Classroom and other class websites, which are accessible through Clever.