Black History Month spotlight: Angela Gay’s return to the jungle
In 1984, Angela Gay entered the Cedar Shoals building as a wide-eyed freshman. Twenty-five years later, she returned to the Jag family to provide for students as the school’s social worker.
“Cedar is like home. I went away, but I’m back, proud to serve the students of this generation,” Gay said.
Over the years, Gay has seen not only the physical building change, with the new building added in 2001, but also the atmosphere. She recalls the tight-knit community that her graduating class had.
“My class, which I called my class because we were together for all four years, (was) very close. Everyone went to middle school together, so we really got to know people over a long period of time,” Gay said.
Gay recognizes the difference in Cedar’s morale back in the day and now. She notes the disconnect and instability that the current Cedar often hosts, as more and more students come and go.
“I think we could definitely improve our school climate. Just talking to students, they tell me that school isn’t fun. We don’t do anything to promote school spirit, and back then, we were very proud of Cedar; we had pep rallies almost weekly,” Gay said.
As a way to uplift spirits, Gay does her part in sponsoring Cedar clubs. She feels strongly that the school does well with promoting various organizations and wants to continue to encourage involvement. Gay supports the Student Government Association (SGA) and the BEE club, for example, and has also worked with the Beta Club to spread awareness about the canned food drive, which is an annual success.
“I would say you guys have more clubs and extracurricular things that you can join now. Back then, I was part of the Spanish Honor Society and played basketball, but now it’s more broad. You have an art club, dance clubs, genders and sexualities alliance, you have BEE club and SGA. There’s more opportunities for you guys like tutoring after school. We didn’t have that,” Gay said.
One thing will never change within the Clarke County School District: the Classic City rivalry. Gay remembers the nail-biting games and hyper fans like it was yesterday, but she also appreciates the opportunity it provided to bond with the crosstown competitors.
“Those rivalries will always stand out because that was also a time that I could get together with a lot of my friends,” Gay said. “Even though it was a rivalry, it was kind of like a reunion.”
As of 2009, Gay assists Cedar teens with overcoming both academic, mental and personal challenges. She helps homeless students and families with transportation, shelter and food as she supports them through times of need, and her involvement in food and toiletry drives go a long way in her continued work. Gay also devotes time to aid victims of abuse and neglect, and =is always willing to lend an ear to any student.
“It’s such a wide range, and that’s why I love my job — because I know that I’m helping someone,” Gay said.
Gay is linked to the community through many outlets. The public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, allows her to volunteer with voter registration guidance, including student aid and encouragement at Cedar, and has served as a Boys and Girls Club board member. She has helped both the East and West side through her church, Ebenezer Baptist, and as an alumna, Gay is especially connected to the region.
“I give 120% of myself to Cedar Shoals because I care about my community where I grew up. I care about all students, not just the ones here, but I take a little more pride in serving Cedar because I am an alum. I want to see students and families grow and to accomplish as much as they possibly can,” Gay said.
In addition to the diverse student body, Gay remembers Cedar’s unique roots as a desegregated school. Clarke Central, the first high school in Athens to integrate, was a new opportunity for Black students on the West side in the 1970’s. East side minorities, on the other hand, still went to Athens High and Industrial School, the all Black school at the time. 1972 marked a year of social and academic progress, as Cedar Shoals High School was built.
“I actually had an aunt that went to Central that first year. It was very dangerous because some people didn’t want them (the Black students) there. There was a lot of pushback and they got a lot of mean words said to them, but she said it was necessary that she went through that,” Gay said. “That’s why it was so vitally important that we had a school like Cedar at that time in 1972 for all students to attend on the East side,” Gay said.
Gay stretches her schedule thin these days in an effort to support any and all students facing adversity, but she is still determined to plan for the continued success of Cedar’s outreach. Expanding the Cedar Care Center, a place for students to get food or personal care/hygiene products, is Gay’s main goal. She hopes to partner with more nonprofits and local churches to receive donations.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty. The most impactful part of my job is helping families to feel like there are solutions to their circumstances, no matter how dire they may seem. Eventually, we will get them the help that they need,” Gay said.
