Mrs. Charlotte Bedwell is the art teacher for Cedar Bluff School. She was born and raised in Rome, Georgia and is a graduate of West Rome High School. She has been married to Billy Ray Bedwell (a Cedar Bluff graduate and former Marine) for 44 years. They have two daughters, two sons, three grandsons, and one granddaughter. All her children are graduates of Cedar Bluff also.

After graduating from West Rome, Mrs. Bedwell attended Massey Business College in Atlanta, studying to be an executive secretary. After completing her family, she embarked on yet another career training and studying various methods of art and painting under several nationally known artists such as Bob Ross, Betty Denton, Dana Jester, and Annette Kowalski, and others. During that time, she opened her own business, an art studio and craft shop where she taught lessons in tole painting, shirt painting, crafts, watercolors, and oil painting. She is a certified instructor in the Bob Ross wet-on-wet technique of oil painting.

Charlotte enjoys traveling with Billy Ray, spending time with her family, and serving God as both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School director at Cedar Bluff First Baptist Church. Although she is a Georgia native, Charlotte feels as though Cedar Bluff is her home, and she has been involved in volunteering and working at our school for so many years that she says it feels almost like her alma mater.

"I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to share the art I love so much with the children at Cedar Bluff. It has been a wonderful experience! It is a joy to work with such a great group of colleagues as those at our school. They are all true friends and there is such comraderie here. I love it

Coach and PE Teacher, Joe K. Carpenter, father of Ariel and Caleb continues in the footsteps of many family members in education. He has been with Cedar Bluff for eight years and previously taught nine years at Ragland. Not only is Coach Carpenter a teacher in the classroom but also on the, track and on the court. Coach Carpenter is the head basketball coach as well as the girls' track team. Many of his accomplishments include the following: State Champion Coach Award, 2000; Who's Who Among American High School Teachers, 1998; Coach of the Year-Class 1A Area 13, 1997; Who's Who Among American Basketball Coaches, 1988; St. Clair County Coach of the Year, 1989; State Champion Coach Award, 1989; Class 1A Area 12 Coach of the Year, 1992. After graduating from Pickens County High School in 1978, Coach Carpenter attended Brewer State Junior College. He later transferred to Jacksonville State University where he earned a BS and MS in Education. He also attended the University of Huntsville for 1 year, receiving a degree in earth science. According to Coach Carpenter, education as a chosen profession "seemed a perfect fit." His decision reflects the strong educational background of those around him, as well as his commitment to the children and young adults: "I started in Forestry, but it just never clicked then. When I made the decision to go into teaching, everyone said I would be good at that. Teaching is also a family tradition: my father was a science and math teacher, my uncle was an elementary principal, a close cousin was Pickens County Superintendent of Education, and many others were teachers as well. As far as the teaching profession, I enjoy working with the students. It gives me great joy to see students doing well many years later. I love to watch students change and mature as they make the transition from elementary to high school, to college, and to adulthood. " "Teaching is not that different from when I attended school except for the pressure to pass the tests, not just the class. I don't see where we were less educated than the students today. In general, I think education comes down to mastering the fundamentals of math and English, while being able to apply these to science and social science."

Philosophy of Education:
"The term Education means to me that one needs to acquire knowledge of subject matter, along with social skills and morals. I do feel, however, that, socially, students are more open with their thoughts than we were in school. I feel that discipline is not as strong as it was when I was in school. I feel that most students don't ever think about the circumstances of doing something unaccepted or morally wrong. "Yet, in general, most students are great people, in their shell just waiting to break out when they are given the proper instruction both at school and at home. Teaching is truly touching the future, and I love it."