In "Faculty Features," you'll learn more about some of the amazing individuals who help make HIES such a special place. We're so grateful for the faculty and staff members who inspire, support and guide our students everyday!

John Baum, Upper School English teacher, has been part of the HIES community for a total of seven years, though not consecutively.

“Back in the days of chalkboards and horse-drawn buggies (2001-2003), I had the opportunity to teach here as well,” he said. “It was nice of them to let me come back.”

Mr. Baum currently teaches ninth-grade English, eleventh-grade English and journalism, which includes sponsoring The C&G, the Upper School student newspaper. He earned a bachelor's in English at Tulane and a master's in literature and creative writing at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he discovered his love for teaching as well as “the secret to really good barbecue.” He later earned a Master of Fine Arts from Georgia College and State University, where he continued honing his creative writing skills and developed a love for bass fishing. Mr. Baum's appreciation for his subject matter is evident in his enthusiastic and often humorous teaching style.

“The greatest moments are the light bulb moments—when the student who’s been struggling says, ‘I get it!’” he said. “Working with teenagers keeps you young, and it’s also fun to watch them cringe when you incorrectly use their lingo on purpose.”

Originally from Columbia, S.C., Mr. Baum and his wife live in Peachtree Hills with their dog, Junior, whom he describes as “the happiest soul on the planet.” Outside of teaching and writing, he has a wealth of fun anecdotes from his life, including stories about his first job as a paperboy, his love for music and the time he met Carrie Underwood while hiking in the Smoky Mountains.