Holley Hayes, in green, from the sidelines of the match against St. Pius on Aug. 31. Photo by Hannah Brooker

Wearing Hayes’ hats

Holley Hayes is the new AP World teacher, volleyball coach and girls’ lacrosse coach

Lily Johnson, Nyla Kerr, and Robin Smith

Oct 4, 2023

Features

Hayes brings core values to her new roles

Holley Hayes is the new girl’s lacrosse head coach, volleyball head coach and teaches AP World History. Hayes taught for five years at Westlake High School before joining McIntosh. She joined McIntosh High School this year.

Core values can say a lot about who a person is, and this is how Hayes explains hers.

“Probably just working hard, making the kids that I coach feel supported and safe,” Hayes said.

Choosing a career may be difficult for some. Hayes has always had an interest in teaching and playing sports.

“I’ve always liked sports [and] working with kids. So, it’s just kind of a different way to do that outside of the classroom.“ Hayes said.

Students may know that it can be difficult to balance school, their personal life and in some cases, work. Since Hayes has a lot on her plate, this is how Hayes balances her life.

“I have a planner that everything goes into, make sure I know what’s going on. Making sure everything’s filed correctly. It’s still just kind of really making a plan for each week and further, just following that plan.” Hayes said.

The JV volleyball team plays tonight at Whitewater at 6:30 and the varsity team next plays at Etowah High School, tomorrow, Sept. 26, also at 6:30.

Holley Hayes, in green, from the sidelines of the match against St. Pius on Aug. 31. Photo by Hannah Brooker

Holley Hayes at the August 29 game against Newnan. The Chiefs won 3-2.

Hayes eyes a state championship

Hayes thinks her coaching style will be an asset.

“[I’m] somebody that’s excited to be there, to work with them, to encourage them and make sure that they have the best chance that they can to be successful,” she said.

The amount of hopefulness coming from Hayes could point the team in a positive direction. The Chiefs’ most recent state championship was in 2020.

“[The team] made it to the Final Four last year,” Hayes said. “I hope that we can make it to the state [championships].”

Hayes noted the team’s engagement levels are high this season.

“They’re definitely very excited. For sure they work really hard and they’re very competitive and they always want to win and they usually do,” Hayes said.

A member of the varsity volleyball team, sophomore Claudia Meditz, has been playing volleyball all throughout middle school and this is her second year on the Varsity team.

“I think [Hayes is] a great addition to the team and she’s really nice and she’s fun,” Meditz said.

Holley Hayes at the August 29 game against Newnan. The Chiefs won 3-2. (Nyla Kërr)

Shooting for success

Holley Hayes is a new AP world history teacher at McIntosh High School. She started teaching at McIntosh High School this year, she is the new Head Volleyball coach and a new Lacrosse coach at McIntosh. She studied history at The University of Alabama before moving to Atlanta and teaching.

“I went to The University of Alabama for my undergrad in history, and then I got my master’s in education from West Georgia,” Hayes said.

She taught an AP course before this.

“I’ve taught AP US History for the past four years,” Hayes said.

She taught in Atlanta for five years prior to moving to McIntosh High School.

“I have taught for the past five years at Westlake High School, which is in Atlanta.” Hayes said.

Going from Westlake High School to McIntosh brought a change to the way she planned her classes. Schools in Atlanta support a block-like schedule where they have certain classes on one day and other classes on a different day, bringing the school to have time for ninety minute classes in contrast to the shorter forty-eight minute classes we have here at McIntosh.

“We run a different type of schedule than my previous school. So [in] my previous school we have the ninety minute block classes. So I’ve had to learn to plan for shorter classes, but the students have been great and I’ve enjoyed it,” Hayes said.

When transferring to McIntosh she chose to become the head varsity coach for volleyball. Having no experience playing the sport but having watched it, she decided to go head first and coaching Volleyball and Lacrosse.

“It is very busy, but it is also fun and rewarding,[…] Not as much like playing, but definitely watching them and looking at them” Hayes said.

She loves watching sports, is an Alabama fan and she enjoys the Olympics.

“So I did go to the University of Alabama. So I like Alabama sports and stuff like that. I enjoy sports in general. I’m a big sports fan, like I love watching [sports]. Like when the Olympics are on every four years, stuff like that,” Hayes said.

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About the Contributors

Lily Johnson, Opinion Editor

Lily Johnson is a junior at McIntosh High School and is serving her third year on the Trail and is currently serving as the Opinion Editor. During Johnson’s free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors. She loves going on long golf cart rides, watching the sunset and spending time with friends and family. She enjoys listening to music, her favorite genres consisting of punk, rock, and metal. “I think spending time with family is very important so I try to spend as much time with them as I can.”

Nyla Kerr, News Editor

News Editor, Kërr is spending her third year on the McIntosh Trail. Kërr has always been passionate about writing and has been honing her craft for the past seven years. In her first year on the Trail, she earned a Superior rating on two of her articles at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association. She was a member of the first Trail staff to win a School Newspapers Online (SNO) Distinguished Site award in the 2023-2024 school year. The Trail won its second SNO Distinguished Site award in the 2024-2025 school year. Kërr has also contributed to award-winning journalistic pieces such as the house editorial “The Possibility is Never Zero”, which won a Best of SNO and an All-Georgia at the 2025 Georgia Scholastic Press Association spring convention. Additionally, Kërr has been recognized for high honor roll and has received academic awards for outstanding achievement in biology, anatomy and English. She has also been awarded the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. When she is not buried deep in her classwork, Kërr enjoys spending time with her family, playing the guitar and doing calisthenics.

Robin Smith, Staff

Robin Smith is a junior at McIntosh High school and she is currently serving her second year on staff. Smith has acquired Star rank in Scouts and was on the staff that acquired the trail SNO Distinguished site. She is a varsity lacrosse goalie who tends to draw in her spare time. She tends to look into a lot of internet dramas, including many gaming communities.