The new school year brought about many exciting changes, one of which was in the math department. As Carmel Christian’s math department changes and grows, take some time to get to know the wonderful math teachers! Starting with a few new faces, Maggie Horne and Michael Owen, leading into the familiarity of Jenni Briggs, who was previously in the middle school, and finally, the returning matriarch, Terry Gilmore, who is in her 6th year teaching at Carmel!

Maggie Horne 

Maggie Horne is one of the three new Carmel Christian high school math teachers! She teaches Algebra III/Trigonometry, AP Calculus and Pre-Calculus to primarily juniors and seniors. Horne is a North Carolina local, having grown up just down the road in Monroe. She attended Central Academy of Technology & Arts for grades 9-12, and she then attended Chapel Hill with a major in math and double minor in exercise and sports science and neuroscience.

Horne has always been a teacher, and although she briefly moved to Savannah, Georgia after college, she returned to North Carolina to be closer to family. She felt that the Lord was calling her to teach at a Christian school. Horne had previously worked with the youth ministry at her church in Savannah, so she felt that teaching at Carmel would be an opportunity to combine her love of teaching with the Biblical mindset she has always had.

Horne decided to specifically pursue math because she enjoyed tutoring her peers in high school. She also was inspired by her mom, who she states is her “biggest role model,” because she was also a math teacher and had such a passion for the work.

One thing about Horne that everyone must know is her love for Taylor Swift. Horne states “I have been a Swiftie since her first album came out. I have such an appreciation for people who can make art and who have talent, and I just think Taylor Swift is a mastermind.” Horne also loves running, her cat and playing tennis.

Although Horne has only been at Carmel for a couple weeks, she says that her favorite memory was the first day of school and the welcoming and loving environment created by the students. Horne says that “The students were all so welcoming, and their faces were so kind. Meeting the whole student body during the assembly on the first day made me feel so loved, and I felt so thankful that the Lord led me here.”

Michael Owen

Though Michael Owen is new this year to teaching Carmel Christian High School, he is quite comfortable in his alma mater.  Owen graduated from Carmel in 2018 and continued his education at Emory and Henry University in Virginia. He majored in engineering and originally planned to have a career in that field. 

Owen chose to pursue math rather than engineering due to the fact that he’s always enjoyed the subject math. He states, “I’m a very logical person. Math just makes sense and makes everything make sense.” Despite his original engineering plan, his paths changed as he began to coach baseball at Carmel last spring after acquiring his math degree from Emory and Henry. 

Owen decided to return to Carmel after college because of how much he enjoyed his time in high school. He felt that God was calling him to be more involved in the school than he already was coaching at, and he had always had a passion for baseball. One of his favorite memories at Carmel Christian was the first win the team had in Southlake last year, bringing the team confidence and team bonding opportunities.

Fun facts to get to know Mr. Owen:

• He got married this past summer to his high school sweetheart!
• His favorite baseball team is the Philadelphia Phillies
• He has an adorable dog named Chiggs

Jenni Briggs

Jenni Briggs, previously teaching in Carmel Christian middle school, is now teaching Carmel’s freshman and sophomores! Before Briggs came to Carmel, she lived in Chelsea, Michigan. She spent the first portion of her life in Michigan, growing up there and attending college at Central Michigan University. Briggs then moved to Charlotte and began teaching at Myers Park high school before moving on to Charlotte Christian. During her time at Charlotte Christian, she started growing her family, and made the ultimate decision to stay home for a time with her three boys. 

 When her children became older and started going to school, she had more time on her hands to dedicate elsewhere  Dr. Jack Kelley reached out to  Briggs with a position to be a third grade assistant teacher at Carmel Christian, and she was thrilled by the opportunity. The year after that, Briggs’s friend was going on maternity leave and asked Briggs if she wanted to cover her middle school math class. For the next four years, Briggs stayed teaching math in middle school.

Briggs decided to pursue math because of her passion for the subject. She has always loved it, as she states that “my teachers always made math so fun. I was always naturally good at math, and I knew I should pursue a career in the subject.” She loved teaching middle school and says that some of her best memories were from her Washington, DC trips with her students. She remembers that the entire experience from those trips were so magical, and she loved the opportunity to bond with her students in that way. 

Fun facts about Mrs. Briggs:

• She loves to read, cook and garden in her free time
• She is the biggest fan of the Michigan Wolverines
• Her family consists of 2 rabbits, 2 cats, and 3 sons

Terry Gilmore

Terry Gilmore has been teaching at Carmel Christian for six years, and she has enjoyed every year greatly! Gilmore has always lived in North Carolina and is originally from Mint Hill. She lives on the same property that she grew up on! Gilmore attended Independence High School and then moved on to East Carolina University to carry on her education and earn her college degree. She has always been in the teaching profession, but before she came to Carmel, she taught at Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools for many years. 

Gilmore says that compared to her public school experience, Carmel is “like teaching in heaven.” She states that what she most enjoys about working in a Christian school is the ability to freely pray and speak to students about the Lord. She feels that the Lord put such a call on her heart to teach at a Christian school, specifically Carmel Christian, and that she is so thankful that God called her here. 

Gilmore has always had a passion for the subject of math. She decided to pursue math as a career because of her Algebra I teacher in high school. Gilmore’s teacher sparked an inspiration that would continue as Gilmore would later pursue a career in mathematics. . She also remarks that she has always been strong in the subject, and she had wanted to find a job that fit in with her strengths. 

Gilmore’s favorite experiences in all of her years at Carmel Christian are her Impact week trips in Chattanooga. This is an all-girls trip to the ministry Widow’s Harvest, and Gilmore says that she enjoys every year that she goes. She loves to do construction with all of the girls, learning and growing in their skills, laughing and just enjoying each other and the Lord’s presence.

Fun Facts about Mrs. Gilmore:

• She has 7 grandchildren that are from ages 1-13!
• She lives on the same property with all of her family members
• She loves the beach and the mountains
• She would go shopping all day every day if she could!

The revamped math department has been a welcomed and exciting change for this year’s students. Each of the teachers are dedicated to helping their students achieve in their four years at Carmel. The passion for the subject and the love for the students, creates a learning environment that is sure to spark a passion for mathematics.