In Fulton County we believe that the language arts classroom is a place where students begin to connect their own lives to the lives of others through great literature. We believe a balanced language arts program gives students opportunities to read and respond critically to literature; to write creatively, expressively, and analytically; to develop effective oral language skills; to investigate and present topics of interest using research methods; and to use media and technology to communicate for a variety of purposes. In addition to the county’s English Language Arts philosophy outlined above, Roswell HS Language Arts/English department also strives to assist students in finding their own unique voice through student publications and speech/forensics classes.  We collaborate not only within our own department of professionals and content-area experts, but also with other departments to ensure students are destined for success both here and beyond the halls of Roswell High.

Goals
Through our language arts program, the learner will;

• enjoy, appreciate, and evaluate language in all its forms.
• listen, read, view, and think critically.
• write and speak effectively for a variety of formal and informal audiences and purposes.
• pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish, and reflect as a means to more effective writing.
• choose and apply appropriate reading strategies in order to analyze and evaluate written texts.

http://www.fultonschools.org/k12/languagearts

Joel McElvaney
Department Chair, English Teacher

E-mail: mcelvaney@fultonschools.org

Website: http://fultonschools.edmodo.com

Education:
B.Ed in Secondary English Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa; M.Ed in English Education, Kennesaw State University, National Board Certification

Courses Taught:
12^th Advanced Comp-Honors; AP Language and Composition

Sara Allegood
English teacher

E-mail: allegoods@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
BA in English Literature/Journalism, Longwood University; Master’s in Education: Library Media & Technology, University of West Georgia; Educational Specialist in Educational Technology, Lesley University

Courses taught:
10th Grade World Literature

Samira Shakib (Bregeth)
English Teacher

E-mail: bregeth@fultonschools.org

Website: http://mrsbregeth.wordpress.com/

Education:
B.A. in English with Education concentration, Georgia State University; M.A. in English Literary Studies, with Education concentration, Georgia State University

Courses Taught:
11^th AP Language and Composition; 11^th American Lit/Comp-Honors; Literary Magazine

Michael Bryan
English Teacher

E-mail: bryang1@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
BA in English and Political Science Mercer University, Class of 1996; M.Ed. in Secondary English Education University of Georgia, Class of 2003; Ed.S. in Secondary English Education University of Georgia, Class of 2007

Courses Taught:
11^th American Lit/Comp and 11^th American Lit/Comp-Honors

Hillary Collins
English Teacher, 504 Chair

E-mail: collinsh@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Bachelor’s in English Education from Auburn University
Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia Southern

Courses Taught:
10^th Lit/Comp

Traci Damron
English Teacher

E-mail: damront@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Bachelor of Arts in English, Francis Marion University, Florence, South Carolina; Master of Liberal Studies, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida​

Courses Taught:
12^th World Lit/Comp; 9^th Lit/Comp-Honors

Amy Foti
English Department

E-mail: fotia@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
B.A. in English, Wake Forest University; M.Ed. in English Education, Georgia State University

Courses Taught:
12^th AP Literature and Composition; AVID; British Literature; 11^th American Lit/Comp

Kassidy Gaffigan
English Teacher

Email: gaffigank@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Kennesaw State University BS for Secondary English Education

Courses Taught:
American Literature, 9th Honors Literature, National Honors Society sponsor 

Emily Garner
English Teacher

E-mail: garnere@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. MEd. Curriculum and Leadership from Lipscomb University

Courses Taught:
9^th Grade Literature and Composition, 10^th Grade World Literature, 9^th Grade Basic Reading and Writing

Marina Goddard
English Teacher

Email: goddardm@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
B.A. English- Georgia College; M.A.T. – English Education Georgia College​

Courses Taught:
10^th and 10^th Honors Lit/Comp; American Lit/Comp; Yearbook

Debra-Ann Rufolo
English Teacher

E-mail: rufolo@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University; B.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University​

Courses Taught:
12^th Multicultural Lit/Comp; 9^th Lit/Comp

Hannah Sewell
English Teacher

Email: sewellh@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
BA in English Literature, Georgia College and State University; Masters of Arts in Teaching in English Literature, University of North Georgia

Courses Taught:
9^th Lit/Comp

Derek Shackelford
English Teacher

Email:  shackelfordd@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Bachelor of English, Univ. of Georgia, Masters of English Education, Univ. of Georgia, Specialist of Leadership, Lincoln Memorial University

Courses Taught:
11th American Literature, Tag Directed Study, Tag Seminars

Jordan Shonka
English Teacher

Email: shonkaj@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Kennesaw State University BS for Secondary English Education

Courses Taught:
​9^th Lit/Comp; 10^th Lit/Comp

Megan Volpert
English Teacher

E-mail: Volpert@fultonschools.org

Website: http://www.edmodo.com/volpert

Education:
B.A, Illinois State University; M.F.A, Louisiana State University

Courses Taught:
10th Lit/Comp-Honors; Speech/Forensics 1 & 2; Newspaper

Erika Zeidler
English Teacher

E-mail: zeidlere@fultonschools.org

Website: N/A

Education:
Ed.D. Teaching and Learning, Liberty University; B.A. English, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Courses Taught:
12^th Multicultural Lit/Comp