For many teachers and faculty members at St. Mary’s, their career paths weren’t straightforward. From spraying tanning celebrities to detective work, faculty and staff members shared their experiences before St. Mary’s. But stick around until the end because we saved the most surprising jobs for last.
Grady Harbor
Upper school Spanish teacher Grady Harbor did not always work as a teacher when he was younger. (
Courtesy of Grady Harbor )
College: University of Memphis
Previous Jobs: Worked at a hardware store, employee at a music store, cook at Wild Oats, cook at Automatic Slims, FedEx logistics employee and FedEx international customer service employee
Current Job: Upper school Spanish teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School
Did you always think you wanted to be a teacher?
I wanted to do something that wouldn't adversely impact people or nature and something where I could help people. Teaching seemed like a good way to do that.
Do you have any fun stories about the jobs you talked about?
While I was working at the [FedEx] hub…I worked the night of the famous ice storm. So I worked all night outside, and it was icing.
Would you say teaching is your favorite job than you've ever done? Do you think this is what you're most passionate about?
Yeah, definitely. And probably one of the best was cooking, but unless you're a chef or own a restaurant, there's no money in it, and then the hours are terrible…I remember cooking a lot when people were at Automatic Slims, which is downtown, so people would be partying and having a good time, and I was in the back sweating and working.
Holly Hensarling
College: University of Mississippi and University of Alabama
Previous Jobs: Cleaned for her dad's business, waitress at Huey's, delivered the paper, telemarketer, substitute teacher and coaching on the side and a soccer coach at Cordova High School
Current Job: Director of Student Life, Upper School AP government teacher at St. Mary's and One Schoolhouse teacher
Have you had any jobs besides working here?
Right now, I also teach with One Schoolhouse. I teach AP government and comparative politics, and I've worked for them for about 15 years…but before that, I was a waitress at Huey’s… For about six months in college, I had a paper route where I literally ran and delivered papers. I worked as a telemarketer for about six months. I was terrible at it, because it made me uncomfortable, and when people would answer, I would just hang up.
Did you always want to be a teacher? Or did you figure it out at a certain time?
No, I didn't always want to be a teacher…I started substitute teaching and coaching on the side to make some money, and I realized that that's what I wanted to do, so much to my parents dismay, I dropped out of OT school and then enrolled in a program to get my master's in education.
What specifically caused you to want to be a teacher?
I know this is going to sound cheesy, but I feel like it was a calling. I wanted to work with youth…I do feel like this is what I was born to do. I was born a teaching coach, I could not imagine doing anything else.
Jessica Love
Upper School English teacher Jessica Love worked as a bartender at a steakhouse after college. (
Courtesy of Jessica Love )
College: Christian Brothers University (CBU) and Columbia College
Previous Jobs: employee at a feed store, after-care teacher, actress in college (applied for Disney), bartender at a steakhouse, Writing and Rhetoric teacher at CBU, bartender and taught literature classes at CBU
Current Job: Upper School English teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School
Upper School English teacher Jessica Love teaches in front of college freshman at Christian Brothers University (CBU). Love taught at CBU before becoming a teacher at St. Mary’s. (
Courtesy of Jessica Love )
Did you apply to any jobs before you became a teacher at St. Mary's?
I really liked Disney, and I thought, maybe I'll be a Disney princess. I first started to try to do my own Disney Princess job, and I bought an Ariel costume. I did a couple of birthday parties dressed up as Ariel. Then I saw that Disney has a college program where you can apply to work at Disney for a semester and get college credit and also Disney experience. I applied to be a character performer, and that's the only thing I said I would do…[then in] the second round, I didn't do very well, and I did not get a call back.”
Did you always want to be a teacher?
I never thought I was going to be a teacher. I did not go to school for teaching. Teaching found me.
How did you come to teach at St. Mary’s?
I applied for this job teaching British Literature at this independent school. The position was filled, and this was at Hutchison…St. Mary's was also hiring a British literature teacher. I applied, and then a week later, had an interview, and then was hired.
James Fyke
College: University of Memphis
Previous Jobs: Special Agent of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and a Detective at the University of Memphis Police Department.
Current Job: Assistant Director of Security at St. Mary's Episcopal School
Do you have any interesting stories from during your time working these jobs?
A lot of the interesting stuff I did was when I did undercover work. I worked fraud cases, [and] I worked murders.
Did you originally want to work at a school?
When I left [the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation], I went to the University of Memphis, so that kind of gave me the school environment. That's where I got more interested in school security cameras. Then when this job became available, it was kind of a no-brainer because the best way to keep my kids safe is to be here.
What do you like about working at a school?
Every girl is different and they always have a different perspective. I learn something new every day.
Nathan McHenry
While acting at Playhouse on the Square, Music Teacher and Band Director Nathan McHenry played the role of Mr. Wormwood in Matilda. (
Courtesy of Nathan McHenry )
College: Belmont University
Previous Jobs: High School band, Actor and Music Director at several theaters around the country, Singer and Pianist at Zebra Lounge, Performance Intern, Resident Musical Director, and Resident Company Actor at Playhouse on the Square.
Current Job: Middle and Upper School Music Teacher & Band Director at St. Mary's Episcopal School
What was the moment when you realized you wanted to be a teacher?
I was always kind of a leader in musical groups, and I had a kind of weird rock band in high school that I would kind of be in charge of … and I realized when I was doing music directing shows that I liked the teaching part of it the most, where I was teaching the music and kind of shaping it the way I wanted.
How did you come to teach at St. Mary’s?
I saw a job posting that they needed a part-time middle school band and choir director I had plenty of experience leading choral groups in bands through theater, so I feel like it would translate pretty well. It was definitely a big kind of jump in another direction since I don't have a music education degree.
Taylor Ragan
Performing Arts Teacher Taylor Ragan takes the stage during the national game show “The Price is Right”. (
Courtesy of Taylor Ragan )
College: University of Mississippi
Previous Jobs: Intern for the UN in Nepal, spray tanned celebrities and worked as a makeup assistant, worked for real estate agents to make sure no one stole anything, acted in commercials, paid to be on the "Price is Right", helped track and update alumni information at St. Mary’s, bartended and managed several restaurants, sales associate and eventually manager of a boutique, tested video games for a video game company, acted in a movie that George Clooney directed, managed an Etsy company
Current Job: Performing Arts Teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School
Do you have any fun stories from any of the jobs you mentioned?
One time I had to spray tan a bunch of extras for a film at Paramount Studios, and because it took place during the 70s, I had to spray tan-lines for 70s swimsuits on about 25 people … When I worked for the UN, I was working with another intern from England, and she and I went to visit a village in the mountains. Our visit was to make sure that they were receiving their allotment of rice. When we got there, the people had not received their rice, so they threatened to hold the other intern and myself hostage until they got their rice…Sometimes at the bar or the restaurant where I worked, when I managed, there were times when people wouldn't show up…so sometimes that meant I had to put on an apron and wash the dishes or help cook or do whatever that entailed.
What's the craziest job you've applied for or done?
When I was the Spartan warrior, it was for a promotional for a Black Friday sale for a video game, and I had authentic armor, handmade for me to wear and people would send in questions to ask the Spartan and I had to answer in character.
When did you decide that you wanted to work at a school?
I had come to visit St. Mary's again, and I had told my husband that my dream job would be returning to St. Mary's. I had gone to school here, and this is just a really special place for me…I firmly believe that if I could help one student the way that St Mary's helped me, I would feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile with my life.
