Let’s face it, this school year has been quite an adjustment for everybody. With all the new additions this year, from having people at the Bruin Academy to navigating through all the new construction at the main campus, it may be hard for some to keep up with all the news going around our school. That being said, many may not know or even notice the new faces that have joined our Bruin family. Therefore, as we enter into the second trimester, it’s about time to highlight all the new teachers and staff for the 24-25 school year. This post will be updated daily for the next week or so. Be sure to keep checking in for the updates!
Note: Some teachers went through interviews, while others submitted their own answers through email.Therefore, the length of responses vary as well as the format of this article.
Corey Yates
Corey Yates is the new assistant principal and is regularly on the main campus. He graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 2000, and went on to Western Kentucky University to obtain his undergraduate degree in history and secondary education. He later received his masters in educational administration. Before arriving at Central, Yates taught and coached for 19 years at Elizabethtown High school.
After having such a personal connection with Elizabethtown for so long, many may wonder why Yates made the decision to switch to Hardin County schools.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to grow in a good and well operated school,” Yates said.
Yates explained that he has been enjoying his time here so far immensely. He believes there’s a great community here at Central, and speaks highly of his administration team that has played a vital role in his learning and adjusting to this new role of his.
As far as what Yates’ typical day looks like, you can find him patrolling bus duty in the morning and sending off freshmen to the Bruin Academy. He also handles discipline issues and is getting used to handling unexpected situations.
“My favorite part of the day without question is interacting with all the students,” Yates said.
While Yates has missed the aspect of teaching and being with kids often, he still really is fond of his new role as it is not only a change of pace for him, but also a delight for him to learn and grow into becoming the best effective administrator he desires to be.
One fun fact about Yates is that both his daughter and son started for the Elizabethtown soccer teams. Yates added that at times it can be a predicament when figuring out who to root for while watching Central and Elizabethtown face each other.
David Centers
David Centers is the new band director here at Central Hardin. Before coming here, he worked in Indiana for three years. He has also taught at East Hardin for some time as well.
Some may not know that Centers has worked here at Central previously. This will now be his 18th year instructing here.
“I came back to Central to be closer to family and work with my son, Noah Centers, who is the piano and music teacher here,” Centers said.
Not only that, but Centers also said that he believes that the Central band is fantastic and he wanted to give them a positive and productive experience.
As far as the Centers’ experience here so far, he admits it has been challenging.
“Much of that is obviously due to construction and many teachers have had to deal with this,” Centers explained. “Not having a band room facility makes it challenging to organize and teach, but I am looking forward to moving into our expanded and updated band room next year,”.
One fun fact about Centers is that he loves to travel and perform. He has performed in 10 different countries, and every other year he takes a group of 300 student musicians to Europe where they tour their and its surrounding countries.
Macy Belden
Macy Belden is a new science teacher at the Bruin Academy. She attended both the University of Kentucky and Butler University from 1990-1997, and received her bachelor’s of science in pharmacy.
Before entering her teaching career, Belden worked nearly 30 years in pharmacy as she has been in that career since her freshman year in high school. She felt like she needed change, so she transitioned into substitute teaching for a few years before joining the Bruin staff.
Belden’s experience as a teacher so far has been great.
“I feel right at home in this career path,” Belden expressed. “I am very fortunate for this opportunity and truly enjoy working with all the staff at Bruin Academy.”
Belden also is appreciative of her students.
“I like getting to know the freshman class and cannot wait to watch them grow and learn through their senior year.” Belden said.
One fun fact about Belden is that she has a son graduating from WKU in May 2025, and a daughter graduating from UK May 2026. They are both going into healthcare fields.
Dailey Menendez
Dailey Menendez is a Central Hardin alumni, and she has returned in the role of being the new Spanish teacher. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in both secondary education and English at Bellarmine University, and later received a minor in Spanish at Indiana University.
Unlike some people, Menendez hasn’t always dreamed of being a teacher.
“When I first graduated high school, I wanted to be a news reporter and work for a news channel,” Dailey said.
Once Dailey took her first communications class in Bellarmine, however, something didn’t feel right.
“I didn’t click with other students and it felt super competitive,” Dailey explained, “I remember going home and crying that night because being a news reporter was my dream since middle school.”
After that emotional experience, Dailey went to her close mentor Dana Pearsall, who comforted her and told her she’d be a great teacher. After considering it, Menendez decided to try out her first education class, and that was when she knew that teaching was the right fit for her.
Menendez is super thankful to be teaching here today.
“As soon as I got here it felt like I was at home,” Menenedez stated, “I was in love with everything.”
Menendez not only loves working with her students, but also being back in Central’s atmosphere makes her heart glad. Today Menendez loves the fact that she can now be a mentor to her students, as it reminds her of her mentors she once had in high school.
A couple of fun facts about Menendez is that she likes to travel and absolutely loves cats. She has three cats of her own, and holds the reputation of having the personality of a “crazy cat lady.”
Jey Hodge
Jey Hodge has joined the special education department and teaches science. In college, she received a bachelors in secondary education and biology.
Hodge comes from a family where they believe that women should not pursue an education and become housewives. Hodge’s household growing up, however, thought differently.
“My mother is a believer in us finishing our (Hodge’s siblings) education and she constantly pushes us to get our degree no matter what,” Hodge said. “I became a teacher to help students succeed in their education and break the old family cycle.”
Hodge is more than pleased with her career so far.
“I love working at Central,” Hodge said. “As a new teacher, I get a lot of support from my co-teachers and everyone seems to be friendly here.”
One fun fact about Hodge is that she loves gardening and reading books about plant genetics. She has been breeding daylilies for 20 years and enjoys the new varieties she produces.
Justice Taylor
Justice Taylor is also a new member of the special education department. She graduated from Brescia University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education K-12. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis in Purdue University Global.
“I wanted to become a teacher to be able to help students understand that they can do anything they put their mind to,” Taylor said, “no matter the obstacles they face.”
Taylor is loving her time at Central thus far.
“Central is great!” Taylor expressed. “I am really looking forward to teaching here and developing new relationships.
Samantha Dale
Samantha Dale has joined the Science department and currently teaches at the Bruin Academy.
CENTRAL TIMES: What is your school background?
DALE: I got my bachelors from Western Governors University in 2023.
CENTRAL TIMES: Why did you want to work at Central and become a teacher?
DALE: I wanted to work at Central because I had been coaching track and cross country here for 10 years before getting hired as an actual teacher. All 4 of my kids have gone to Central and it is just home. It was hard to think about teaching anywhere else.
CENTRAL TIMES: Are you enjoying your time at Central so far? What’s your favorite part about working here?
DALE: I love my job here. My favorite part is getting to know my students. My hope is always that they learn the content but also feel that they have a teacher they can count on in the building.
CENTRAL TIMES: Fun fact(s) about yourself or hobbies?
DALE: My oldest son and I graduated college from different colleges at the same time.
Ben Cecil
Ben Cecil has joined the math department and teaches Geometry and Algebra.
CENTRAL TIMES: What is your school background?
CECIL: Graduated High School here at Central Hardin in 2012. Earned my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 2018 at UofL. Earned my master’s degree in Teaching in 2020 also at UofL.
CENTRAL TIMES: Why did you want to work at Central and become a teacher?
CECIL: Tutoring is something I really enjoyed when I was in school and my dad was a teacher which inspired me to be a teacher. There’s no better high school I can think of other than the one I went to growing up, which is what made me want to come work here!
CENTRAL TIMES: Are you enjoying your time at Central so far? What’s your favorite part about working here?
CECIL: Working at Central is great! Really love the work environment with other teachers and the administration.
CENTRAL TIMES: Fun fact(s) about yourself or hobbies?
CECIL: I was born in Germany and it was my first language, I still have a lot of family there so I go back every couple years to see them.
