Mr. Michael Doughtery, commonly referred to as ‘Coach D’, is in his third year of being a teacher here at Armuchee High School. While only more recently joining the tribe as a teacher, Dougherty has been a long time member of the tribe. He graduated from Armuchee High School in 1998. As he returned to the school with a new role in 2022, he joined his wife, Mrs. Dougherty, who is the high school art teacher. Dougherty’s children also attend the Armuchee schools. When speaking about his journey back to Armuchee, he said, “When the job came open it was just easier to have the whole family in one specific place.” 

This school year, Coach D has taken on teaching a new subject called AP Research. Because AP Research is a college level course, Dougherty was forced to miss the first couple days of the 24-25 school year, in order to complete his AP certification. As Dougherty describes being AP certified, he says, “It was strenuous, a lot of information in a short period of time. The workshops they’re good, but going out and actually teaching it, doing it for the first year you learn more than you ever do in the workshops.” According to AP College Board, “AP Research is an interdisciplinary course that encourages students to demonstrate critical thinking and academic research skills on a topic of the student’s choosing.” This is not Dougherty’s first time teaching a college-level course. Coach D has been teaching AP Human Geography for the past few years. He speaks on his experience teaching this course for the first time. He said, “It’s very difficult. There’s nothing to go by, for me there’s a lot of research trying to find information trying to find activities to do, but like I said the first year is always the hardest.” Needless to say, taking on a new AP course has been a difficult but moving process for Coach Dougherty. 

In relation to AP Research, Dougherty has had to stop teaching his favorite course, US History. This is because in order to take AP Resources, he had to drop a course. He said “I’ve taught it every year but just because I have picked up research this year I had to give up something so I had to give up that.” Dougherty says, “Honestly my favorite is probably US history still. It’s more relevant, I think kids enjoy it more than anything else.” 

Aside from the classroom, Coach D is involved in more than just teaching here at Armuchee. Dougherty takes part in athletics as well. He is one of our baseball coaches, and has been at others schools he has taught at as well. Coach Dougherty is a very large advocate for baseball. He said, “I’ve played or coached baseball since I was 5 so I just love the sport, I love the competition, I like getting kids better, I like seeing them progress, I just love everything about it. He has ”He has taken his family to major league games, and has baseball posters in his classroom. 

Coach Dougherty has had a long teaching career, with this being his 24th year. He taught at Coosa for 5 years, Rome for 11 years, Breantly for 5 years, and of course this is his 3rd year at Armuchee. With all of that, he takes the most pride in “Just being prepared for my job and hoping that the kids learn every day when they’re at school.” Dougherty also kids his students in a good mood. Student Coy Abney who attends AP Human Geography says, “I like how fun he is, he makes the class a whole lot more fun with the jokes he makes, and he’s a funny guy overall.” Freshman Conner Wilson says, “His mood is very uplifting, he jokes around in class, and if we need help then he clarifies things and makes sure we know it.”

Armuchee High School has taught thousands of children who have grown to be adults in the real world. We are very pleased to have the privilege of calling Mr. Michael Doughtery a teacher and a coach here at Armuchee High School.