Cheris Owens has wanted to be a teacher since she was a child. She used to “teach” her brothers and sister until they didn’t want to play school any more, then she started teaching her animals. As she grew up, she pursued other dreams–being a world traveler, studying science and medicine, etc. until she eventually decided to become a teacher for real. After she qualified as a teacher she worked for 36 years in the public school system, finally retiring in 2017. However, she still wanted to teach, so she moved into the private school sector and taught an additional eight years. In 2024, she was ready to stop teaching full time. Fortunately, she saw an ad for MJDS. She taught there halftime in 2004-2005 while on sabbatical from the public school she taught at. Happily, they hired her and she is now in her second year at MJDS. She loves to be here and halftime is perfect for this stage of life!