Faces of Hall County: Wes McGee

Meet Wes McGee! Wes is the principal at the new Cherokee Bluff High School in Flowery Branch! He has a passion for education and has channeled that love into helping the new middle and high school in Flowery Branch; with the hopes of raising college and career ready students.
Wes recently sat down with Julia Peake, our Flowery Branch High School intern, to tell us more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I actually started working in Hall County in April of 1994, I was with Hall County for 11 years as a teacher, and eight years as an assistant principal. I was a principal in a high school outside of Hall County for four years, but now I am back in Hall County, and super excited to be back.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “I was going into my senior year at UGA…and this sounds terrible buy I thought ‘Gosh, what am I going to do with all these science courses’ and all these things that I’ve done and I thought ‘Hey! Teachers! They have it easy!’ and little did I know! So that’s when I went in that direction, and started taking my education courses. So, when I graduated from UGA, I had my bachelor’s in science and education, and I was broad field science certified. So, once I got in that I absolutely loved it, and that’s been my passion ever since.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I wouldn’t want to travel just to one place- how about a world tour? Anywhere in the world? I would like to go all around the world, so I could experience a little bit of everything.”
Q: What’s something on your bucket list?
A: “Well, I would like to go to Hawaii. I think they have like, 11 of the different climate zones you can experience on the big island of Hawaii. You can go from snow to the ocean all in the same day, so that would be kind of neat- to island hop.”
Q: What is your favorite artist or band that you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “That’s Bon Jovi isn’t it? Dead or Alive? Just kidding, actually I don’t really have a favorite music- I listen to a lot of different types of music, but probably Third Day is one of my favorite bands.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive, and a non-relative, who would you have lunch with?
A: “I don’t know if it would be just a person, but someone like the director of the CIA, or the FBI, or one of the agencies like that, just to talk to them. Big fan of the Bourne movies.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “There’s not a favorite thing, there’s lots of wonderful things about Hall County. As far as the school system goes, what I love about Hall County is that it is open, you’re not boxed into anything, if you have an idea, you’re  to pursue it, which I think is one of the most wonderful things about this school system, which is what we’re supposed to be about in the schools- encouraging everybody to dream big, to think outside of the box, to follow those dreams, encouraging everybody and providing the support that’s needed to make the dreams come true. I’ve lived here since 1994, when I moved back here from Athens, and there’s lots of great restaurants, lots of wonderful people, it’s just a great place.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Well, I would like to be President of the United States. No, I’m just kidding. I so much enjoy what I do- I know you’re thinking when I said 1994 “Gosh he really is old” but I don’t see myself leaving education anytime soon. I wake up every morning excited to come to work because I love what I do and what form that will be in education- I’m not sure, b t definitely in education.” 
Q: Even from friends and family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I love adventure. I went skydiving and all sorts of crazy stuff like that.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Love, family, and relationships.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County?
A: “Gosh I don’t have a favorite restaurant, I like food, ya know? I like Italian food, I like Chinese food, I like Mexican food. I can’t really pick. There’s lots of them.”
Q: Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “William Schofield. I talked about earlier, that the openness in Hall County, and the way the school system is run, and I think the mindset that he has and the openness that he brings as a leader to the county. You don’t find that in a lot of places, and I think that is what creates the atmosphere for innovation in the school system.”
Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
A: “To love a lot, and to make sure that you live your life for yourself and always remember that it’s all about the relationships.”