Interview by Gainesville High School Junior and Abernathy Cochran Intern Kate Willis

Meet Dr. Hannah Reaume! Hannah is a teacher at Gainesville Middle School’s East Campus and was just recently selected as Teacher of the Year. She moved here from Florida when she was 10 years old, attended college in Georgia and worked in Hall County for several years. She loves teaching and enjoys being a part of Gainesville and the school district. 

Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

Answer: “I’ve always enjoyed working with people who want to learn. I started tutoring math when I was in middle school and continued to do so in college. When I was in college, I was a children’s dance team director at my church. So when it was time to decide on a career, my mom was like, ‘why don’t you think about teaching?’ That’s really where I started pursuing it, and I enjoyed it and loved it and here we are.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?

A: “Outback is probably my go-to. I love the Alice Springs Chicken there.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?

A: “I started working here in 2002 at the hospital for 6 years, taught at the Hall County School District for 3 years, worked with the YMCA for a couple years, then ended up coming here to Gainesville.”

Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?

A: “When I was in highschool, we were doing this Forensics unit, and it made me fall in love with science. It is one of the reasons why I enjoy teaching science to this day; it’s just one of those memories that always stuck with me.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A: “Italy; I love Italian food, the culture and everything. It would be kind of cool to go and see different architecture.”

Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

A: “Probably ‘Lion King.’”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?

A: “It’s never too late to learn, and you are never too old to learn.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: “I would love to go up in a hot air balloon. When I was little and my aunt got married, that’s how they were sent off at the end of their wedding. As a kid it was really kind of cool to see.” 

Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A: “I listen to a lot of contemporary Christian music. I love Natalie Grant, Casting Crowns, and Anthem Lights.”

Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County and why?

A: “I remember there was a place that was called Dylan’s. We would always go out there, and it was where we always hung out back in high school. As a band kid, it was just a great time and a great place to hang out after games.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?

A: “The family. A lot of people know each other, but they also don’t know everybody; there’s a great diversity here but it’s also very welcoming. It’s easy to get involved and make friends.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

A: “I’m hoping that I will be in that next step in my career. I would really like to move into administration. I would love to be in one of those roles helping teachers be successful and helping their students be successful.”

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: “I have a green belt in Taekwondo and a brown belt in Tang Soo Do.”

Q: What three words mean “Home” to you?

A: “Family, friends, and love.”

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A: “Tom Hiddleston.”

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose?

A: “I’d probably choose one of my best friends, and I would have them help keep me sane. Just make sure I’m not forgetting different things, that I don’t get lost in the trenches of everything.”