We're excited to welcome some new faces to our James Island Campus for the 2024-2025 school year!
Sarah Griz
Science
Hey there, FBS Family! My name is Sarah Griz, and I am so grateful to join you as the new high school science teacher. I earned a B.S. in biochemistry with a minor in Christian Studies from Charleston Southern University. Since then, I have been working towards completing my Master’s in biology and M.Div. in Christian ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I am passionate about equipping students
academically and spiritually, so they leave my classroom more prepared to be young adults who know and love God. My goal is to create a classroom environment where my students feel respected and inspired to learn. I believe that the study of science is fueled by a biblical understanding of who God is. Through my teaching, I hope to demonstrate how understanding the complexities of science can deepen their faith and help them approach their current contexts while showing the love of Christ to those around us. In my classroom, we will engage in hands-on experiments, critical thinking exercises, and discussions that encourage my students to think well about the world around them.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy running, exercising, cooking/baking, being outdoors, and
spending time with my family and friends. I am also actively involved in my local church, where I serve in the children’s and youth ministries and also help lead women’s discipleship groups.
I am so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to meeting you all this fall!
Heather Coggins
English
I have enjoyed serving as an educator for 22 years. For the past decade, I have been part of the community at Bishop England High School. However, I have felt a calling to work closer to my home on James Island, and I am grateful for the opportunity to join the First Baptist family.
I am blessed with a wonderful family. My two sons, Sid and Ethan, are both serving our country. Sid, along with his wife, Pearl, work as helicopter mechanics in the Army. They have a delightful 10-month-old daughter named Meka, who is truly the apple of her Gigi's eye! Ethan recently joined the Air Force and is about to embark on his journey in just a few weeks.
My husband, Jimmy, and I find joy in nature; we enjoy traveling and fishing, and appreciating the beauty of His creation. We cherish our family time, especially when we can all gather at our small cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a special place where our family enjoys reuniting and creating lasting memories.
Doug Mueller
Math
My name is Douglas Mueller, and I am joining the First Baptist School of Charleston as a mathematics teacher at the high school level. I graduated from Fairfield University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. My work background is in finance as a securities
trader for several investment management firms. I come to FBS after two years of teaching in the Bridgeport, CT public school system. My wife, Aimee, and I recently celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. We have 4 children, three sons and a daughter. Our daughter (and
youngest) will be joining our youngest son at college in the fall.
Monica Ball
Dance
My name is Monica Ball and I am excited to join the FBS family as a part of the dance faculty! I have my B.A in Communications from the College of Charleston with a minor in Dance. I've been teaching dance and choreography all over the Lowcountry for over 10 years. Prior to that, I trained in jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary modern, and ballet for 14 years. Professionally, I had the privilege of performing for Moranz Entertainment, Stiletto Entertainment, Holland America Cruise Lines, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and more. Several of my students have advanced their dance careers at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, The Ailey School, and Millennium Dance Complex, with some accomplishing the Broadway stage and performing with the NFL and NBA Dance & Cheer teams. Dance aside, my husband, Edward and I have two young fun loving kids, Jace (3) and Emilia (18mo). A few of our favorite activities include strolling through Charlestowne Landing, dinner at Basil Thai Cuisine, and experiencing the arts in Charleston!
I look forward to getting to know all of you and the entire FBS community!
Riley Matheson
History
My wife of two years, Jocelyn, and I are very excited to be in Charleston, where she has recently begun anesthesiology residency at MUSC and where I will teach Classical history and AP European history at First Baptist! I’m originally from North Carolina and attended UNC Chapel Hill, where I studied Classics (Latin). Since then, I have lived and taught in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and in Memphis, Tennessee. While I was living in Tuscaloosa, I also completed a master’s in political science. In my fifteen years of teaching, I have taught history, government, and Latin and I have further developed my own passion for literature. It’s my goal to kindle in young people a similar love of learning from our forebears, which may best be accomplished through the development of an interest in reading historical literature of various kinds. In my spare time, I enjoy fishing and jiu-jitsu, which I now do at Holy City Jiu Jitsu.
Harrison Boatwright
History
My name is Harrison Boatwright. This is my first year at FBS and I am teaching in the history department. I went to college at Charleston Southern before moving to Louisville Kentucky to do my masters degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I taught history in Rock Hill, SC for four years before moving back to Charleston. My wife Rae and I have been married since 2021. In my spare time I enjoy hunting, fishing, reading, and investing in real estate. I am excited to join the FBS family and look forward to getting to know you all!