By Jordan Gross,
Features Editor

The month of February is known for its connotations of love, relationships (or lack thereof) and the way they surround us with warm feelings during the frigid winter. Valentine’s Day allows students and faculty to celebrate their love for one another, but some Reynolds staff members get the chance to share the holiday in the same work place: There are five married couples working at Reynolds.

Despite having teachers who share last names, some students are astonished at the realization.

“There’s always one or two that don’t (figure it out), and they are always surprised when they do,” Civics teacher Cris Wiley said.

Wiley met his wife Heather Wiley, who teaches English 1 and AP Literature & Composition, when she was teaching at Reynolds and he was a student teacher from Wake Forest. With a marriage approaching eight years, the Wileys did not originally intend to stay at RJR.

“Mrs. Wiley was already working here. We were going to move to Brooklyn to teach there,” Mr. Wiley said. “While we were waiting, Reagan opened; lots of teachers left (Reynolds) and there were suddenly many openings, so we decided to stay.”

Like the Wileys, Seth and Nicole Beale also met at Reynolds: “I was helping (Mrs. Beale) look up some data and I realized that she was single,” said Mr. Beale, who teaches English as a Second Language students and is the adviser of Key Club.

The Beales have been married five years. Mrs. Beale is Director of Student Services, a position she holds after returning to Reynolds following a brief departure.

“I originally left Reynolds to work at Reagan partially because I was dating Seth and I figured we would break up or get married,” she explained. “Either way, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be at the same school. Since returning – married – I can’t believe that I thought working together would be a challenge. It is actually, most days, a really good thing!”

Jeff and Allison George have been married nearly 11 years after meeting through mutual friends during their college years. They have worked together at Reynolds for nine years.

“We both really love what we do,” Mrs. George said. “It was memorable when (our son) Will was born; we were the first married couple at Reynolds to have a kid and the faculty and student response was big news.”

The Georges are planning to remain a part of the RJR family for a while: “We like it very much,” Mr. George said. “We both love Reynolds, and we both really love what we do.”

Guidance counselor Starr Brown-Hayes also said that it was an unforgettable experience for her and husband Jonne Hayes when their daughter, Amelyah, was born last year.

“So many were very supportive and so kind,” Mrs. Brown-Hayes said. “At the staff baby shower, we realized how generous and supportive the Reynolds community is.”

Working together also allows the couple to devote the entirety of their time at home to Amelyah: “There is a great cohesiveness by us working together (in regards to) alone time and family time,” Mrs. Brown-Hayes said.

Mrs. Brown-Hayes and Coach Hayes – who works in the ESL department – met while working at Reynolds and were married in June of 2012.

Most of the teachers agree that sharing a work place makes schedules easier to coordinate, and many of them ride to school together.
“Sometimes I’m ready to go when he’s not,” Mrs. Brown-Hayes said.

Responded Coach Hayes: “I make up for it by making a fantastic dinner.”

While the Hayes family is the most recent married couple at RJR, Teri and Mike Meeks will be celebrating their 21st anniversary in June. They have been working at Reynolds together for six years.

“I think it’s nice to be able to talk to your spouse, to be able to share life together in that way,” said Mrs. Meeks, a Parenting teacher. When they have the opportunity to carpool, they enjoy discussing their day together.

“When I first started teaching (Technology and Business) here I was like, ‘Do I really get to do this?’ ” Mr. Meeks said. “That was nice; it was sort of a ‘pinch me’ moment.”

For most of the married RJR faculty members, working together proves to be a beneficial aspect for their careers.

“It’s a great collaboration,” Mrs. Brown-Hayes said. “(Coach Hayes) sees things in the classroom that (as a counselor) I don’t get to see, but I have access to bigger solutions that he may not have access to.”

Although there are many benefits to working in the same environment as one’s spouse, to some of the teachers there are a few disadvantages as well.

“People do not always distinguish us as individuals professionally,” Mrs. Wiley said. “People call me and ask me if I know (Mr. Wiley’s) whereabouts.”

But seeing each other during the day – both at unexpected times and planned – seems to be an exciting part of the job.

“It’s comforting to see her in the midst of my day to know that she is also in the midst of her day,” Mr. Wiley said.

Added Coach Hayes about his wife: “I enjoy seeing her smile every time I pass through the office. It’s like (seeing her for) the first time all over again.”