Local teacher and recruiter bring all options to high school students

Back row left to right: Army Future Soldier Malachi Wingate, Shelby Army Recruiter Staff Sgt. Casey Raza, U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas McEwen and  Asheville Company Commander Capt. William Rivers.

Front row left to right: Shelby Army Recruiting Center Leader Sgt. 1st Class David Lee, Army Future Soldier Tatiana Phillips,  Ja'Myiah Pressley, who is interested in joining the Army, Army Future Soldier Alleya Roberts, Kings Mountain teacher Hailey Spearman and U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Lt. Col. Robert Garbarino

Photos by Sgt. 1^st Class Jason Westfall

Story by Leslie Ann Sully

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Columbia

On Saturday, Apr. 22, Kings Mountain High School teacher Hailey Spearman was given a new title. She was made an honorary recruiter for the Shelby Army Recruiting Center at a ceremony on Fort Jackson, S.C. She attended a Future Soldier event with her local Shelby recruiter, Staff Sgt. Casey Raza, and some of her students who have joined the U.S. Army this school year. They were all getting the first-hand experience of what Army basic training entails.

Spearman teaches English Language Arts and coaches the Women’s Track and Field team at Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain, N.C.

Lt. Col. Robert Garbarino, the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Columbia Commander, said both teacher and recruiter work together to help students find their options for life after high school.  “Ms. Spearman is a model for what a community advocate does for our recruiting efforts,” Garbarino said. He deputized her by giving her his Army Recruiting Badge in front of over 250 Future Soldiers and their guests. He also presented her with a plaque to thank her for her efforts to promote awareness on Army opportunities. Garbarino said he was pleased to recognize Spearman after hearing how she goes the extra mile for her students.

Hailey Spearman, Kings Mountain High School English Language Arts Teacher and Head Women's Track and Field Coach, and Army Staff Sgt. Casey Raza,   an Army recruiter at Shelby Army Recruiting Center in Shelby, N.C.

Raza agreed about how instrumental Spearman has been for her. “I wanted to reach as many students as possible to show them all of their options,” Raza said and Spearman helped. “She allowed me to give presentations during her English classes and to students who are on her track team."

Spearman said she feels Raza puts the needs of each student first.  “She has a way of building positive relationships with students and therefore, our students look up to her and respect her opinions concerning the Army,” Spearman said.