A little-known fact about English teacher Elizabeth “Beth” Coleman is that she once worked with the Olympic Committee. So what was her journey from there to teaching ninth grade English at FCHS?

Coleman grew up in Lynchburg, VA, and graduated from Heritage High School in 1991, then went to the University of Tennessee. While she worked towards her degree, Coleman was very involved in the women’s athletic program, which led to her Olympics experience.

“I was a public relations intern at the US Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, CO, right before the 1996 Olympics, so I was fortunate enough to work that event,” Coleman said.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Coleman started thinking about what she really wanted to do. She said she thought about who had influenced her the most growing up. “I realized my teachers and coaches were the most influential,” she said. Coleman then went back to school at the University of Louisville to get her master’s degree in English.

She worked at Heritage High School for 24 years where she was the English Department Chair, as well as being in charge of the senior graduation. Love struck Coleman when she met her current fiancé, Zach Fisher. They then moved to Fluvanna and settled in with their four dogs: Moses, Jackie, Missy, and Annie.

“We compete with our Labrador retrievers in field trials on the weekends, so life can be a little chaotic,” she said.

Her first full year at her new teaching job in Fluvanna had its challenges. “I hadn’t taught 9th graders in a long time, so learning about their personalities was a big curve,” Coleman said. However, she reassured herself. “I always told myself that when I was tired of being in the classroom, I would change positions. But so far, I still enjoy teaching and plan to stay here for the duration of my career,” she explained.

Now in her second year in her current position, Coleman reminisces, “I really enjoyed having to push myself to be a better teacher and relearn stories and books I hadn’t read in a long time. I have also enjoyed meeting my new colleagues and how welcoming everyone has been.”