This fall, Chapman welcomed Rebecca Thompson in the English department. Thompson moved to the Landrum area and knew Chapman was a great school.

Thompson said students motivate her to teach.

“I mean, that’s what we’re here for, right?” she said. “And I love English and the subject and not everybody loves it, but to just help the students to mature and grow (is motivation).”

Aside from English, Thompson loves traveling, hiking and being outdoors with her husband. 

“I’ve done some international travel but now my husband has a state park kit. Over the last three years we’ve done two cross-country trips stopping at the state parks,” she said. 

Thompson also served in the Coast Guard for six years and started teaching when she was 28. She’s been a teacher for 19 years and currently teaches English II and IV. 

Her students enjoy having her as a teacher. 

“Mrs. Thompson has already taught me a lot in these three weeks I’ve had her,” senior Paola Armenderiz said. 

Thompson said favorite thing about Chapman so far is the kids. 

“You all have really good young people, and it says to me a lot about the community,” Thompson said.