Mr. Robert Morales, a new social studies teacher at Socastee High School, brings years of middle school teaching experience with him.
He taught at middle schools in Horry County for fourteen years – five at Conway Middle School, four at Whittemore Park Middle School, and five at North Myrtle Beach Middle School.
“I have taught all three grade levels in the Middle School,” he said. “I switched because I always wanted to teach high school.”
One noticeable difference he sees between middle and high school is how high schoolers have more freedom, he said.
“You all go on your own to lunch, and we do not walk in a line to lunch and sit by class,” he said.
Mr. Morales grew up in Irmo, South Carolina.
“It was a great town to grow up in and had the Okra Strut,” he said. “The Okra Strut involved a Friday Night Street Dance, and then the next day a parade.”
He attended Dutch Fork High School, where he was in the musical. He was “not in a starring role, but did get to be on stage with a few lines,” he said. “I always thought being on the stage was an excellent experience.”
Mr. Morales wanted to be a social studies teacher because of his passion for learning about the past.
“History was my favorite high school class,” he said.
Sophomore Emmeline Hill, who has Mr. Morales for U.S. Government, says that she enjoys his class.
“His classroom has a positive atmosphere,” she said.
Another student of his, Sophomore Ashlyn Bartelotte, also said she enjoys class.
“Mr. Morales knows how to teach and be a fun teacher all at the same time,” she said.
When he is not teaching, he is spending time with his family or exercising.
“I like to run in my spare time,” he said. “My wife and two kids are also very important to me, so I like to spend time with them as well.”
Mr. Morales is ready to see how this year teaching at a new level unfolds.
“Now, in my 15th year of teaching, I have made it to Socastee High School and couldn’t be more excited for the year,” he said.
